Arturia MiniBrute 2

Return of the legend

The MiniBrute 2 is the spiritual successor to the famous MiniBrute, which revolutionized the market a bit by making analogue synthesizers affordable. The sequel offers potential buyers a comfortable 2-octave keyboard with aftertouch support, a built-in step sequencer, an arpeggiator, and a semi-modular structure. This made the synthesizer as versatile as possible, allowing you to play powerful basslines, acid leads, gooey pads or get lost in sound design for hours, turning knobs and playing with modulation.

Welcome to the world of modular synthesizers

The star of the show here is the semi-modular structure. The MiniBrute 2 features a comprehensive modulation matrix with dozens of sources and routing options, allowing you to experiment with your own instrument sound, or connect an external effects unit or a full-fledged Eurorack system to it. With wires, you can connect literally anything to anything. Modulate the Metalizer with a second oscillator? Easily. Loop the envelope around itself, constantly modulating the attack and decay? No problem. Mix in FM modulation with an LFO? This is also possible. In general, everything is limited by fantasy.

The foundation of the Eurorack system

Thanks to a matrix of almost 50 outputs / outputs, many begin to assemble a modular system from such synthesizers. It's a question of profit — for little money we get a set of all the necessary modules, a keyboard and a sequencer in one box. And everything else can be built around this goodness, since Arturia has provided for everything by releasing a double case that fits the MiniBrute 2 itself and a small modular system. For comparison, an average eurorec module that performs one or two functions will cost an average of $200. And here for everything about everything $ 700.

Thousand Improvements

If we return to the first MiniBrute, then there are enough changes even without a modulation matrix. In the second version, we have a pair of oscillators at once, an additional LFO, new loopable envelopes for the filter with an amplifier, and an updated Steiner-Parker filter that produces bright acid sounds. A nice touch is the MiniBrute 2 cookbook with lots of initial patch ideas. Given the colossal possibilities of modular architecture in creating unusual timbres, this is quite a useful read.