Arturia minibrute User Manual
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Arturia minibrute User Manual

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USER'S MANUAL
Arturia MiniBrute User's Manual
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Summary of Contents for Arturia minibrute

  • Page 1 USER'S MANUAL Arturia MiniBrute User's Manual...
  • 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

    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....................15 Tweak the envelope.....................16 Meet the LFO......................17 Create arpeggiated sequences................18 General description.............20...
  • Page 4 Gate Source.......................... 42 4.3.5 AUDIO............................. 42 4.3.6 CV / GATE IN.......................... 42 4.3.7 CV / GATE OUT........................42 Configuration software: MiniBrute Connection..........43 Using your MiniBrute............44 Let's create a basic sound...................44 Sound modulations....................46 External sound processing..................47 Legal statements..............48 No liability for consequential damages.............48 FCC Information (USA)..................48...

  • 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: 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 4.3.1 for more details). ARTURIA accepts no responsibility for damage caused by use of an unauthorized power supply.
  • Page 10 • Do not use the instrument when there is a gas leak nearby. • ARTURIA is not responsible for any damage or data loss caused by improper • operations to the instrument. ARTURIA recommends the use of shielded and less than 3 meters long cables •...

  • Page 11: 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 12: Warm-Up And General Tuning

    • 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. Warm-up time depends on the external temperature;...
  • Page 13 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 14: 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 15: 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 16: 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 3 Quickstart...

  • Page 17: 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 3 Quickstart...

  • Page 18: 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 3 Quickstart...
  • Page 19 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: Complete details of the different sections that make up this fantastic •...

  • Page 20: 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 21: Unpitched Signal Generator

    4.1.2 Signal enhancers 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: Arturia MiniBrute User's Manual 4 General description...
  • Page 22 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 4 General description...

  • Page 23: 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 24 In notch mode (or rejection filter) the cutoff frequency becomes a band’s center frequency; partials within this band are attenuated, while partials above and below this band remain unchanged. Arturia MiniBrute User's Manual 4 General description...

  • Page 25: Resonance Or Emphasis

    Its gain is controllable through various modulation sources such as an LFO, envelope generator, or some kind of external control (like a foot-pedal). The amplifier is primarily responsible for shaping a sound’s dynamics. Arturia MiniBrute User's Manual 4 General description...

  • Page 26: Modulators

    (set by the sustain parameter; see next). The speed of this decay can vary from 1ms to 10 seconds. Arturia MiniBrute User's Manual 4 General description...

  • 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...

  • Page 28: Inputs And Outputs

    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). As to control, the MiniBrute can accept control voltage signals from devices like an analog step sequencer or MIDI controller (e.g., a MIDI drum pad or wind...

  • Page 29: Minibrute Diagram

    4.1.8 MiniBrute diagram Arturia MiniBrute User's Manual 4 General description...

  • Page 30: Front Panel

    (like a oboe). The pulse width is also under the control of two modulators: the Filter Envelope [4.2.2.7], 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 Arturia MiniBrute User's Manual 4 General description...

  • Page 31: Triangle And Metalizer

    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: The Filter

    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 350 Hz up to approximately 8 kHz. To extend the oscillation range, use the Brute Factor knob [4.2.8.4].

  • Page 33: Env Amt (Envelope Amount)

    The Release slider sets the duration of the envelope’s final stage. Depending on the filter section’s ENV Speed switch [4.2.2.6] the Release time ranges from 1ms to 1s or from 10ms to 10s. Arturia MiniBrute User's Manual 4 General description...

  • Page 34: The Amplifier

    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 35: Aftertouch

    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). 4.2.5 Vibrato The Vibrato is a specialized low frequency oscillator dedicated to oscillator pitch modulation.

  • Page 36: Lfo

    4.2.6 LFO The LFO is a low frequency oscillator. It is the primary modulation source for the MiniBrute’s other sections. 4.2.6.1 Wave The LFO offers several modulation waveforms, selected by the Wave knob: sine, triangle, sawtooth, square, random stepped (also referred to as Sample &...

  • Page 37: Pitch

    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: 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, •...

  • Page 38: Octave

    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: General Controls

    You can also define the tempo empirically with the Tap button, which provides a “tap tempo” function. It too acts differently if MiniBrute detects an external MIDI clock on the MIDI Input or USB connector, and works interactively with the Tempo knob: With no external MIDI clock, you can set the tempo with a “human touch”...

  • Page 40: 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 (32.7 Hz) up to C6 (2093 Hz), with the Pitch wheel altering these even further.

  • Page 41: Fine Tune

    MIDI cable to connect MiniBrute MIDI In connector your external MIDI device’s MIDI Out connector. To control an external MIDI device from MiniBrute keyboard, patch a MIDI cable from MiniBrute MIDI Out connector to your external MIDI device’s MIDI IN connector.

  • Page 42: Gate Source

    By factory setting, the MiniBrute sends and responds on MIDI channel 1. This can be easily changed through the MiniBrute Connection software [4.4]. 4.3.4 Gate Source The Gate Source switch selects which gate signal triggers the MiniBrute envelopes. The default KBD triggers the gate from the keyboard.

  • Page 43: Configuration Software: Minibrute Connection

    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 44: 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 [2.3]. Set the Gate Source switch [4.3.4] on the MiniBrute rear panel to the KBD position.
  • Page 45 “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 5 Using your MiniBrute...

  • Page 46: 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 47: 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 [4.3.5] 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 48: Legal Statements

    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. 6.3 Canada NOTICE: This class B digital apparatus meets all the requirements of the Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment Regulation.

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