Arturia MINIBRUTE User Manual
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Arturia MINIBRUTE User Manual

Analog synthesizer
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USER'S MANUAL
Arturia MiniBrute User's Manual
1
6 Legal notes

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Summary of Contents for Arturia MINIBRUTE

  • Page 1 USER'S MANUAL Arturia MiniBrute User's Manual 6 Legal notes...
  • Page 2 Information contained in this manual is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on behalf of ARTURIA. The hardware unit and the software product described in this manual are provided under the terms of a license agreement or non-disclosure agreement. The license agreement specifies the terms and conditions for its lawful use.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Introduction ................5 Installation ................9 Usage Precautions ....................9 Register your Instrument ..................11 Connecting the MiniBrute to the World ............11 Warm-Up and General Tuning ................12 Quickstart ................14 Create your first sound: the “basic patch” ............14 Add some vibrato ....................
  • Page 4 4.3.6 CV / GATE IN ..........................43 4.3.7 CV / GATE OUT ........................43 Configuration software: MiniBrute Connection ..........43 Using your MiniBrute ............. 44 Let's create a basic sound .................. 44 Sound modulations ....................46 External sound processing .................. 47 Legal notes ................

  • Page 5: Introduction

    1 INTRODUCTION Congratulations, and thank you for your purchase of the ARTURIA MiniBrute analog synthesizer. You now own what many players feel is the best sounding, most versatile, and most powerful analog synthesizer in its class. The MiniBrute is the culmination of a lengthy (and very enjoyable!) collaboration between ARTURIA’s engineers and analog synthesizer “guru”...
  • Page 6 After recreating so many legendary analog synthesizers by translating “golden” versions of these classic instruments into sophisticated DSP algorithms, the time was right for ARTURIA to introduce an analog synth of its own. But reproducing analog circuitry is not the same as designing great-sounding analog circuits, so we enlisted the aid of Yves USSON —...
  • Page 7 Yves USSON and a couple of wired friends Combining ARTURIA’s acclaimed savoir-faire in designing innovative musical instruments, and Yves’ deep knowledge and experience, the MiniBrute analog synthesizer has its roots in the 1970s yet incorporates the best of the 21 century.
  • Page 8 So, we made a bet it would be a hit, and geared up to produce MiniBrute in volume — allowing us to obtain quantity pricing on parts, and translate the techniques of a craftsman to industrial manufacturing.
  • Page 9 MiniBrute is truly a musical instrument. We loved designing it, building it, and now, playing it. We hope you will share our enthusiasm, and find inspiration in its sounds. But that’s enough talk — plug in your new analog friend, and start vibrating the walls...

  • Page 10: Installation

    2 INSTALLATION 2.1 Usage Precautions The MiniBrute uses an external power adapter. Do not use any power supply or adapter other than the one provided by Arturia and specified in this manual (see chapter for more details). ARTURIA accepts no responsibility for damage caused by use of an unauthorized power supply.
  • Page 11 Do not place the instrument near a heat vent or any place of poor air circulation.  Use only the provided AC adapter, as specified by ARTURIA (see chapter for more details).  Make sure the line voltage in your location matches the input voltage specified on the AC power adapter.

  • Page 12: Register Your Instrument

    Connect to your Arturia account via this URL: http://www.arturia.com/login Go to the section “My Registered Products”, and add the MiniBrute synthesizer by entering its serial number, as printed on the sticker located under the machine: 2.3 Connecting the MiniBrute to the World Always power-off all audio gear before making any connections.

  • Page 13: Warm-Up And General Tuning

     Power DC Input ..Internal 2.1 mm, external 5.5 mm 2.4 Warm-Up and General Tuning As with all other true analog synthesizers, after being powered-on the MiniBrute needs a warm-up period of approximately five to ten minutes. The allows reaching a stable operating temperature, which insures accurate oscillator pitch.
  • Page 14 Fine Tune knob to tune the MiniBrute to the desired pitch. The MiniBrute has been designed for rock-solid pitch stability when operated in normal temperature and humidity conditions, at external temperatures between 20°C and 32°C in temperate areas.

  • Page 15: Quickstart

    Set the LFO section’s Clock switch to the Free position. Set the ARPEGGIATOR section’s Hold/On/Off switch to Off. Switch on your MiniBrute, let it warm up, and set the Master Volume knob to center. Set the MIX section’s square wave slider to maximum.

  • Page 16: Add Some Vibrato

    Now, press a key; you should hear your very first MiniBrute sound! Nice... but it sounds a bit like a pocket calculator, doesn't it? We’ll improve this in the very next chapter, but for now play the keyboard while pressing either the Down or Up OCTAVE section button.

  • Page 17: Tweak The Envelope

    Now the sound rises slowly up to the sustain level. As soon as you release the key, the sound stops abruptly. Raise the Release slider, and the sound will fade out to its minimum level when you release a key. Here’s an overview of the patch: Arturia MiniBrute User's Manual 6 Legal notes...

  • Page 18: Meet The Lfo

    In the FILTER section, set the Cutoff and the Resonance knobs to their middle positions, and set the Mode selector on BP. In the LFO section, set the Filter knob to maximum. Here’s an overview of the patch: Arturia MiniBrute User's Manual 6 Legal notes...

  • Page 19: Create Arpeggiated Sequences

    Tempo in the ARPEGGIATOR section, as both clocks are now synchronized. Now in the ARPEGGIATOR section, set the Hold/On/Off switch to Hold. Here’s an overview of the patch: Arturia MiniBrute User's Manual 6 Legal notes...
  • Page 20 While the sequence is playing, tweak the Octave knob to extend the octave span; also tweak the Mode knob to alter the arpeggio’s direction. In this chapter, you’ve been introduced to just a few of the MiniBrute’s sonic possibilities. But there’s much more, in the following chapters we’ll cover: ...

  • Page 21: General Description

    4 GENERAL DESCRIPTION Your MiniBrute is a true analog sound synthesizer, so all sounds are produced by analog electronic circuits. No digital computer circuitry is involved in the generation, filtering, or basic control of sound. This is one of the reasons why MiniBrute creates rich, animated, and lively electronic sounds.

  • Page 22: Unpitched Signal Generator

    Signal enhancers (or wave-shapers) transform or distort the oscillator’s basic pitched signal to increase their harmonic content, and make them sound brighter and richer. The MiniBrute provides three signal enhancers:  The Ultrasaw builds two phase-shifted copies of the basic sawtooth signal.
  • Page 23 This results in “metallic” pitched sounds that are ideal for harpsichord- and clavinet- type tones. Dynamic modulation (LFO or envelope) of the warp/folding parameters opens up a realm of clangorous, spring coil-like sounds. Arturia MiniBrute User's Manual 6 Legal notes...

  • Page 24: Filter

    A filter can operate in various ways or modes. These modes are called transfer functions or spectral responses. In the MiniBrute the filter can operate either as a low-pass filter, a band-pass filter, a high-pass filter, or a notch filter.

  • Page 25: Resonance Or Emphasis

    This parameter can be increased up to a point where the filters no longer acts like a mere filter, but starts to oscillate on its own. Arturia MiniBrute User's Manual 6 Legal notes...

  • Page 26: Amplifier

    (0.05Hz up to 100Hz). In general the waveform options are sine, sawtooth, square, random steps, and random waves. These waves’ amount and polarity (i.e., whether they go positive or negative) can be controlled before being fed to the target devices. Arturia MiniBrute User's Manual 6 Legal notes...

  • Page 27: Player Interface

    4.1.6 Player interface To play a tune with your synthesizer, as a player you need a player interface. The MiniBrute provides you with a two-octave, piano-type keyboard. Besides offering a way to play notes, this keyboard provides additional controls for adding expressiveness: ...

  • Page 28: Inputs And Outputs

    Alternative ways of playing the synthesizer are available through MIDI control and external CV/GATE signals. 4.1.7 Inputs and outputs In order to hear the MiniBrute, its audio output needs to connect to an audio amplifier either directly or through a mixer console (or use the Headphones output).

  • Page 29: Front Panel

    4.2 Fron 4.2.1 The osci llat sign oscillator delivers three basic waveforms sawtooth, pulse, and triangle wave. These waveforms are accessible through the signal mixer and their respective levels can Arturia MiniBrute User's Manual 6 Legal notes...

  • Page 30: The Waveforms

    Filter envelope, the polarity and amount of which can be adjusted with the ENV Amt knob; and the LFO [4.2.6], the polarity and amount of which can be adjusted with the PWM & Metalizer knob Arturia MiniBrute User's Manual 6 Legal notes...

  • Page 31: The Sub-Oscillator (Sub Osc)

    Audio In The Audio In slider potentiometer adjusts the amount of an external audio source (guitar, microphone, etc.) that can be plugged into the MiniBrute signal chain via the rear panel Audio In jack [4.3.3]. This makes it possible to process an external audio signal with the filter and amplifier;...

  • Page 32: Cutoff

    When the knob reaches its last quarter zone, the filter starts to oscillate on its own. However this oscillating behavior depends on the cutoff frequency; the MiniBrute filter oscillates within a range beginning around 350Hz up to approximately 8kHz. To extend the oscillation range, use the Brute Factor knob [4.2.8.4].

  • Page 33: Filter Envelope

    Velocity signal sent by the keyboard (when the Velocity function has been enabled over USB by the MiniBrute Connection software; see the Software section of this manual). 4.2.3 The amplifier The amplifier controls the sound’s amplitude dynamics, as determined by the...

  • Page 34: Controls

    Pitch wheel ranges from -1 octave (lowest position) up to +1 octave. 4.2.4.4 Glide The Glide knob sets the amount of portamento (i.e., how long it takes for the pitch to glide from one note to another when notes are played Arturia MiniBrute User's Manual 6 Legal notes...

  • Page 35: Vibrato

    Turning this knob clockwise increases the portamento effect. At the maximum setting, it takes approximately 4s to glide from the lowest C of the MiniBrute keyboard to the highest C (two octaves above).

  • Page 36: Modulation Routing

    The arpeggiator offers a way to sequence notes that are played on the keyboard. It can create simple arpeggio patterns as well as complex, intertwined patterns. 4.2.7.1 Hold/On/Off The Hold/On/Off switch is enables or disables the arpeggiator: Arturia MiniBrute User's Manual 6 Legal notes...

  • Page 37: Octave

     Off disables the arpeggiator, and the MiniBrute synthesizer is in “normal” operation mode.  On activates the arpeggiator as long as keys are pressed down. In this case, the arpeggiator repeatedly plays the notes in a sequence that corresponds to the pitch order in which the keys were pressed.

  • Page 38: Tempo & Tap

    The Tempo knob sets the arpeggiator’s clock rate from 30 bpm to 260 bpm. The red LED under the knob blinks in sync with the tempo beat. The Tempo knob acts differently if MiniBrute detects an external MIDI clock on the MIDI Input or USB connector: ...

  • Page 39: Octave

    To shift the keyboard up by one octave press the Up button. With the Down and Up buttons the MiniBrute can play notes from C0 (32.7Hz) up to C6 (2093Hz), with the Pitch wheel altering these even further.

  • Page 40: Master Volume

    4.2.8.6 Master Volume The Master Volume knob sets the MiniBrute overall output volume, which fits the standard +4dBu line level. To silence the MiniBrute, turn this knob fully counter-clockwise. 4.2.8.7 Fine Tune The Fine Tune knob provides precision adjustment of the oscillator pitch.

  • Page 41: Gate Source

    MIDI devices. The MiniBrute can serve as a MIDI polyphonic controller or MIDI sound module. If you are using MiniBrute as a sound module, use a MIDI cable to connect MiniBrute MIDI In connector your external MIDI device’s MIDI Out connector.

  • Page 42: Cv / Gate Out

    Pitch wheel. The keyboard’s GATE signal is also available on the Gate Out 1/4” jack. 4.4 Configuration software: MiniBrute Connection However being analog, the MiniBrute synthesizer comes with a software allowing various configuration tasks, such as: Global settings...

  • Page 43: Using Your Minibrute

    Let's define a basic, initialized configuration for designing your own sound. Connect your MiniBrute to an external audio amplifier and power on your MiniBrute as previously described []. Set the Gate Source switch [] on the MiniBrute rear panel to the KBD position.
  • Page 44 “darker” and warmer. Next, increase (turn clockwise) the amount of Resonance and tweak the Cutoff knob. The increased resonance gives more “edge” to the sound and with a Arturia MiniBrute User's Manual 6 Legal notes...

  • Page 45: Sound Modulations

    FX! For more pronounced modulation effects we’ll use the LFO, which provides six different modulation waveforms. These waveforms can modulate most of the other MiniBrute sections: the PWM and Metalizer, oscillator pitch, filter cutoff and eventually, the sound’s amplitude.

  • Page 46: External Sound Processing

    Env Amt knobs, which are very useful when you want to create lively sounds. 5.3 External sound processing Plug your external audio source in the Audio In 1/8'' jack [] on the MiniBrute’s rear panel. Your audio source must provide line level signals, so with electric guitar you’ll need to patch a preamp or other processor (e.g., compressor, distortion,...
  • Page 47 Arturia MiniBrute User's Manual 6 Legal notes...

  • Page 48: Legal Notes

    ARTURIA was previously advised of the possibility of such damages. Some states do not allow limitations on the length of an implied warranty or the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusions may not apply to you.

  • Page 49: Canada

     If these corrective measures do not bring any satisfied results, please the local retailer authorized to distribute this type of product. If you cannot locate the appropriate retailer, please contact ARTURIA. The above statements apply ONLY to those products distributed in the USA.

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