Arturia MiniFreak 49 Polyphonic Hybrid Synthesizer

About: Arturia MiniFreak 49 Polyphonic Hybrid Synthesizer

MiniFreak 49 is a 6-voice hybrid synthesizer: two digital engines, an analog filter on every voice, and a pressure-sensitive touch matrix that puts modulation, macros and presets under your fingers. Blur the line between expression and experimentation, and discover new sweet spots where control, instinct and the unexpected collide.

• The MiniFreak formula
  • Semi-weighted keybed: Now with 49 full-size keys with velocity and mono aftertouch bringing responsive dynamics and expression to every phrase.
  • Two engines, 30+ modes: Virtual analog to granular, with algorithms by Arturia, Mutable Instruments and Noise Engineering.
  • Per-voice analog filters: Low-pass, band-pass and high-pass modes, with resonance reaching self-oscillation.
  • Modulation & expression: Two LFOs, a cycling envelope and 64-step sequencing with four modulation lanes, plus Spice & Dice, Chord and Scale modes.
  • Three stereo FX slots: 13 algorithms per slot, including chorus, reverb, distortion, Super Unison and two vocoders.
  • Software and connectivity: MiniFreak V included, plus MIDI, USB-C, clock, audio input and stereo outputs.
• New with 49
  • XYZ touch matrix: Route modulation, browse presets and perform with Freak Control on one pressure-sensitive surface.
  • Expanded engine controls: Dedicated Type, Wave, Timbre and Shape controls, plus three group shortcuts per oscillator.
  • Voice Panning: Selectable spread algorithms place all six voices across the stereo field from one 270° control.
  • Audio-rate Filter FM: Modulate the analog filter cutoff from either engine for new harmonics, grit and vocal-like textures.
  • Expanded memory: 256 MB for samples and wavetables. Eight times the memory of the original MiniFreak.
  • Aluminum pitch and mod wheels: Physical wheels put pitch bends, vibrato and expressive modulation directly under your hand.

Explore the Unconventional

Some synths want to be understood. This one wants to be provoked. Two engines colliding, an analog filter you can push until it howls, six voices scattering across the stereo field, and a pressure-sensitive matrix that turns every swipe and press into sonic motion. MiniFreak 49 doesn't hold your hand. It gives you 49 keys and asks what you're going to do with them.

• Push every sound further: Filter FM drives the analog filters from smooth to feral. Voice Panning opens individual voices into stereo space, while deep modulation keeps patches moving. Direct controls for both engines and three FX slots make shaping and disrupting sound immediate.
• Touch, press, transform: The XYZ touch matrix brings performance, modulation and navigation onto one surface. Slide across it, press into it, assign modulation directly and browse presets with a swipe. Every patch invites you to reach in and reshape it.
• Room to play: 49 full-size semi-weighted keys with velocity and mono aftertouch give you room for chords, melodic lines and two-handed playing. Aluminum wheels, hands-on sequencing and arpeggiation keep ideas moving, while MiniFreak V carries everything into the DAW.

Touch Your Sound

Move across X and Y, press into Z, and reshape several parameters in a single gesture. Open a filter as a wavetable shifts, bring effects into motion and explore the space between them. Find a point worth keeping, hit Hold and play on without losing the transformation.

• Modulation Matrix - Connect sources and destinations, with active routings visible across the grid.
  • Rows are sources, columns are destinations. Touch an intersection to create or select a routing, then use the Matrix encoder to set its depth in either direction. Active routings stay visible across the grid, keeping complex modulation easy to navigate.
  • Send an LFO to Cutoff for repeating sweeps or use aftertouch to change Timbre as you lean into the keys. For custom LFO shapes, select steps with the capacitive buttons then adjust Curve across X and Amplitude across Y on the touch matrix. Watch the waveform take shape on screen.
• Freak Control - ​Shape sound and rhythm through movement and pressure.
  • Freak Control turns the matrix into a playable surface. Choose premapped layouts, then move across X and Y and press into Z to shape filter, timbre, effects and more in real time.
  • Bipolar layouts place opposing values along each axis; vector layouts vary four destination amounts as you move between corners. Press Freak Control while touching the matrix to hold the gesture after you lift your hand.
• Macros, Gate and Spice - Morph your timbre, tighten the pulse and introduce controlled unpredictability.
  • Two Macros move multiple parameters together, while Gate and Spice reshape an active sequence or arpeggio. All four controls can be used simultaneously, turning the matrix into a direct performance surface.
  • Push a Macro further, tighten the Gate or use Spice to introduce variation, keeping rhythmic and tonal transformation directly under your fingers.
• Preset browsing - Find your next sound with preset browsing by type and color.
  • Presets fill the matrix in pages of 49, with color showing sound type. Swipe between pages, filter straight to basses, pads and more, or keep your favorites close at hand.
  • Touch a slot to view its preset information on the OLED, move to another slot to inspect it, then release to load your selection.
• Visualizer - ​Watch your sound move with four reactive animation styles.
  • Envelopes bloom on a pad, LFOs sweep on a lead, steps march on a sequence, grains scatter on a texture. Nothing to configure; the matrix responds automatically to the preset and performance. Play a chord and watch the tail decay, or let a sequence ripple across the LEDs as it runs.

A Closer Look

Explore MiniFreak 49’s layout, controls, and secret sonic weapons in detail, from the Modulation Matrix to the multi-functional touch strips.

• Oscillators 1 & 2: Type, Wave, Timbre and Shape controls for each engine, plus three shortcut buttons per oscillator for direct access to key engine groups.
• Filter FM: A bipolar control applies audio-rate modulation from Engine 1 or Engine 2 directly to the analog filter cutoff.
• Mixer: Set the level of both engines before they reach the analog filter.
• Analog filter: Type, Cutoff, Resonance and Env/Velo controls for the per-voice state-variable analog filter, with low-pass, band-pass and high-pass modes.
• LFO: Select either LFO, set its rate and trigger, choose a waveform or shape a custom curve on the matrix.
• Cycling envelope: Rise, Fall and Hold controls with Env, Run and Loop modes, extending up to audio rate.
• Envelope: Attack/Glide, Decay, Sustain and Release controls, alongside Mono, Poly, Para and Unison voice modes.
• Display and Presets: A larger OLED for real-time feedback, with Edit/Back/Utility, Save and the Presets encoder beside it.
• XYZ touch matrix: Visualizer, modulation, preset browsing and Freak Control on one touch surface, with X/Y movement and pressure-based Z expression in Freak Control.
• Stereo / Voice Panning: Spread all six voices across the stereo field and choose between Centered and Gradual Voice Panning distributions.
• Digital effects: Three dedicated FX slots with direct selection and Type/Sub, Time, Intensity and Amount controls; 13 algorithms per slot.
• Arpeggiator / Sequencer: Arp, Seq and Mode controls, 16 multifunction step keys for sequencing and arp variation, plus dedicated Tempo/Swing.
• Hold, Chord, Scale, Octave: Latch notes, trigger chords from one key, lock playing to a scale and shift octaves.
• Pitch and modulation wheels: Aluminum pitch and modulation wheels positioned for immediate left-hand control.
• Keybed: 49 full-size semi-weighted keys with velocity and mono aftertouch.
• Pedal: Sustain pedal input.
• Clock: Clock in, clock out and reset out to keep analog gear and modular in sync.
• Audio In: Route external audio through Engine 2, the analog filter and FX.
• Outputs: Left and right outputs for the full width of Voice Panning and stereo FX.
• MIDI: In, out and thru — get MiniFreak 49 talking to your setup.
• USB-C: Updates, preset management and MiniFreak V in sync with the hardware.
• Power: 12 V DC in and power switch.

Two Engines Endless Possibilities - From wavetable sweeps to fractured samples, find your own sonic territory.

Explore 30+ oscillator modes across two engines, with algorithms from Arturia, Mutable Instruments and Noise Engineering. Blend contrasting sounds or let Engine 2 reshape Engine 1.

Dedicated shortcuts and Type, Wave, Timbre and Shape controls keep both engines within reach.

Sequences That Never Sit Still - Blur the lines between sequencing and arpeggiation with wild results.

MiniFreak 49 combines a 64-step sequencer, performance arpeggiator and four modulation lanes into a single creative system. Start with a simple bass line, chord figure or repeating melody, then introduce ratchets, changing note lengths, modulation and controlled variation until the pattern develops a life of its own.

• 64 steps to explore: Build phrases across four pages of 16 steps. Record in real time or step by step, then long-press any step to shape its Length and Velocity directly on the touch matrix.
• An arp made for playing: Turn held chords into broken rhythmic figures, send notes jumping across octaves or build fast, percussive runs that respond as you play.
• A little Spice. A roll of the Dice: Roll Dice for fresh variations, then use Spice for subtle or wild shifts in pitch and gate. Adjust Gate and Spice on the touch matrix.
• Four modulation lanes: Record movement from filters, envelopes, effects and other parameters, so each pass can evolve in tone, pitch and rhythm.

Sculpt the Edge, Shape the Impact - Six analog filters. A sharper range of expression.

Give digital complexity an analog edge. Every voice has its own resonant filter, bringing weight to basses, focus to chords and bite to leads.

• Three ways to cut: Low-pass keeps the weight, band-pass focuses the harmonics and high-pass clears the lows. Push resonance into self-oscillation.
• Shape the response: Use Env/Velo to control how the filter responds to each note, from gentle movement to sharper, more expressive attacks.
• Filter FM: Modulate the cutoff at audio rate from either engine for sidebands, grain and vocal-like resonance. Move from subtle colour to an abrasive edge.

Widen the Field, Push the Texture - Place each voice. Give the sound a new dimension.

Build depth, tension and space with three stereo FX slots, each offering 13 algorithms. Add movement, distortion or a long reverb tail, then push the whole chain somewhere new.

• Three slots, your combination: Use three FX slots in insert or send mode, moving from subtle finishing touches to complete transformation.
• 13 ways to transform it: Move between modulation, space, distortion, dynamics and vocoding, with each algorithm ready to become part of the patch.
• Voice Panning: Two selectable spread distributions place all six voices across the stereo field from a dedicated Stereo control, opening chords and sequences into wider, animated space.

Your Sound Beyond the Hardware - MiniFreak 49’s hybrid architecture, mirrored in your DAW.

Move between keys and screen without breaking the flow. MiniFreak V brings the same hybrid sound engine into a synchronised software instrument, ready to play standalone or build directly into your productions.

• Exclusive to MiniFreak 49 owners: The dedicated MiniFreak 49 version of MiniFreak V is included at no extra cost and available to registered MiniFreak 49 hardware owners.
• Presets in sync: Move presets between hardware and software, edit from either side and keep your sounds together as the track develops. MiniFreak 49 also remains compatible with original MiniFreak presets.
• Build with multiple Freaks: Open multiple instances in one project. Give bass, chords and lead their own MiniFreak sound, with independent patches ready to develop together.
• Hands on. Fully connected: Control MiniFreak V directly from the hardware and bring your performance into the DAW. Import samples and wavetables in software, then send them to the hardware when you want to take your sounds beyond the studio.
• Take control further: Use MiniFreak 49’s sequencing and expressive controls with MiniFreak V or your other software instruments. Keep the keyboard at the center of your setup.

Freak Renaissance - Freak favorites reborn

Freak Renaissance adds 250 free presets to the 206 sounds included with MiniFreak 49, giving you 456 presets to explore in total.

Move through synths, leads, sequences, SFX and atmospheric textures, with a curated bank designed to push the Freak architecture into stranger territory.

Keep Your Freak Evolving

Expand your library with dedicated soundbanks from artists and sound designers. Explore the Arturia Sound Store for innovative presets, new creative directions and more ways to push your MiniFreak.

Presets

Out of the box, explore over 200 presets built to feed your appetite for Freaky hybrid sound, from deep basses and restless sequences to shifting textures, sharp leads and stranger territory.

In Perfect Harmony - MiniFreak plays by the musical rules when you need it to.

Focus on getting creative and experimental with your sound without worrying about hitting the wrong notes or chord voicing mishaps. MiniFreak’s Scale & Chord modes keep tabs on your musical input so you don’t have to.

• Chord mode: Play full chord voicings with a single key thanks to this familiar musical feature. By default, Chord mode is set to a major triad, but you can input your own custom voicings one note at a time, which will be saved to MiniFreak’s memory.
• Polyphonic, diatonic: Combine both Chord mode and Scale mode for creating full chord sequences, polyphonic ideas, and harmonized melodies that stay in key at all times, making musical creativity effortless, enjoyable, and rewarding without fail.
• Scale mode: Wave goodbye to wrong notes by locking MiniFreak’s keyboard and musical input to a scale of your choice. Choose from 5 pre-loaded scales, or punch in your own for melodies that never go outside the lines.

Find Your Freak

MiniFreak 49 expands the Freak formula with full-size semi-weighted keys, an XYZ touch matrix and deeper hands-on control. Prefer a tighter setup? MiniFreak keeps the dual-engine hybrid architecture in a compact 37-key format.

Main Features

• 6-voice polyphonic hybrid synthesizer
• 49-note full-size semi-weighted keybed with velocity and mono aftertouch
• Aluminium pitch and modulation wheels
• 2 digital sound engines with 30+ oscillator modes
• Dedicated Type, Wave, Timbre and Shape controls for both engines, with direct engine-access shortcuts
• Engine 2 can process Engine 1
• Analog Filters and VCAs per voice
• Audio-rate Filter FM from Engine 1 or Engine 2
• 1 envelope per voice
• 1 cycling envelope per voice
• 2 LFOs per voice with customisable shapes
• XYZ touch matrix for modulation, preset browsing, Freak Control and visual feedback
• Freak Control with Macros, Gate, Spice, bipolar and vector layouts
• Voice Panning with selectable stereo spread algorithms
• 3 digital FX slots with 13 algorithms, including Ext In Vocoder and Self Vocoder
• 64-step sequencer with 4 lanes of automated modulation
• Performance arpeggiator with octave, ratchet, repeat, mutate and Spice & Dice controls
• 256 MB sample and wavetable memory
• Larger OLED display for real-time feedback
• Over 200 factory presets
• Compatible with original MiniFreak presets
• MIDI in/out/thru
• USB-C connectivity
• Sustain, audio in and clock in/out connectivity
• Balanced stereo outputs
• MiniFreak V included

Specifications

• System Requirements
  • Windows
    • Win 10+ (64bit)
    • 4 GB RAM
    • 4 cores CPU, 3.4 GHz (4.0 GHz Turbo-boost)
    • 3GB free hard disk space
    • OpenGL 2.0 compatible GPU
    • ARM processors not supported on Windows
  • Apple
    • Mac OS 11+
    • 4 GB RAM
    • 4 cores CPU, 3.4 GHz (4.0 GHz Turbo-boost) or M1 CPU
    • 3GB free hard disk space
    • OpenGL 2.0 compatible GPU
  • Required configuration: Works in Standalone, VST, AAX, Audio Unit, NKS.
  • Work with ASC: An elegant and simple solution to help you install, activate, and update your Arturia software instruments.
• Dimensions: 30.59 x 2.80 x 11.34 in (777 x 71 x 288 mm)
• Weight: 12.57 lb (5.7 kg)

What's in the Box

• MiniFreak 49 Unit
• Universal PSU - 12V 2A
• USB C to USB C cable
• Registration card