How to Mod the Arturia Minibrute and Microbrute! (add LFO out and Waveform Out!)

Modding the Minibrute

For some time now I have really loved the Brute series from Arturia. I also tend to be the type of person to just never be satisfied even when things are going great. So today I decided to modify my brutes.  The one feature I always wished the Minibrute had was LFO output so that it could be used to control my modular.  Well today I rectified that problem with a simple mod that you can do with very basic tools.

All that is needed is a few mono 1/8″ jacks, some wire, some solder, a soldering iron, a screw driver and a drill.

Here is a list of the solder points and what they are. The video below details not only how to perform this mod, but how to actually find these types of modifications yourself!

Minibrute waveform output list

—- LFO OUTS :

PT34 = SAW LFO , PT32 = TRIANGLE LFO, PT35 = SINE LFO, PT33 SQUARE LFO, PT130 = RANDOM LFO,

PT176 SELECTED LFO

——-    VCO OUTS :

PT180 = SQUARE SUB VCO, PT7 = SQUARE VCO, PT119 = TRIANGLE VCO, PT120 = SAW VCO

—————-

MICROBRUTE

TP93= SQUARE VCO, TP94 = SAW VCO, TP102 = SUB VCO, TP124 = TRIANGLE VCO

 

 

 

Arturia Microbrute SE Unboxing and Overview/ Review video

  • Main Features
    Monophonic synthesizer
    100% Analog Audio Signal Path
    Steiner-Parker 2 pole Multimode Filter (Low Pass, Band Pass, High Pass)
    Analog Voltage Controlled Oscillator
    Oscillator Mixer (Overtone, Sawtooth, Square, Triangle, audio in (on rear panel))
    ‘Overtone’ sub oscillator/5th generator
    Signal Enhancers :
    Pulse Width Modulation
    Ultrasaw generating fat sawtooth waveforms
    Metalizer bringing extreme harmonics
    Brute Factor™ delivering saturation and rich harmonics
    LFO with 3 waveforms (Sine, Sawtooth, Square)
    LFO clock syncable to Arpeggiator (Arpeg, or free).
    ADSR Envelope Generator
    Keyboard Tracking on the VCF Cutoff
    25 note minikey keyboard
    Mod Wheel (assignable to Cutoff, or LFO amount)
    Pitch Wheel (with selectable bend range via software)
    Octave selector from -2 to +2 octaves
    External Analog Audio Input
    CV In jacks: Pitch, Filter, sub-harmonics, pulse width, metalizer, saw animator
    CV Out jacks: pitch, envelope, LFO
    MIDI Inwith 5 pin DIN connector
    USB MIDI In/Out
    1/4” Audio Output and 1/8” Headphone Output
    Full Function step sequencer :
    8 memories
    up to 64 steps per memory
    tap tempo
    rate control
    step divisions (via software)
    trigger modes (via software)
    MIDI Sync
    Steel bottom panel
    12V DC 1A power supply

Synthrotek VCA triple response Dual VCA

The Synthrotek Triple Response Dual VCA uses high quality op amps to give you the sound quality you are looking for in affordable kits and completed units. This VCA has three different response curves per channel: 2 Exponential and 1 Linear. The amplitude of EX2 (switch at right position) can be slightly attenuated via 1 trimmer pot per channel on the PCB. This allows for 3 different curves per channel. EX2 has a slightly more exponential curve than EX1. This VCA operates at 0-5V; a 5V CV input will give you 5V point to point audio output. Use over 5V if you want a super ballsy, loud VCA!
Intended for AC and audio use only (DC coupling will not function properly).
Features include:

– ~5V peak to peak output with a +5 DC CV input

– 2 exponential and 1 linear response per channel

– Channel 2 is normalled to channel 1

– Compact 4HP sized module

– Kits, complete and PCB/panel combos

– High Quality Op Amps

– Module depth: 1 7/8 inches (4.7 cm)

– Max current draw: 1mA on -12V rail, 9mA on +12V rail

 

Buy it HERE 

Here is the live build event where I build the resistor section of the VCA and hold a Q&A during it. It is a quite long video as it was held off the cuff, very laid back.

Arturia to Announce unveil new Audio interface soon!

Arturia announces upcoming unveiling of next-generation audio interface

audio interface

GRENOBLE, FRANCE: music software and hardware developer Arturia is proud to announce that it will be boldly stepping into a new market sector for the cutting-edge company when unveiling the next-generation audio interface in 2015…

Arturia President Frédéric Brun bowled over an audience of invited industry insiders and VIP guests when making the astounding announcement during his captivating keynote speech at the Museum of Grenoble as part of the company’s 15th anniversary celebrations on October 3, 2014. Here he touched upon several problems pertaining to popular portable audio interfaces that modern-day musicians have been forced to live and work with for quite some time. Some related to workflow, some to compatibility, and even audio quality. This has prompted Arturia to take significant steps to solve these issues once and for all!

But why run the risk of entering an arguably already overcrowded market sector with yet another audio interface? Why, indeed, Mr President? Indeed, during the keynote, Frédéric Brun bravely admitted that a distributor had warned him not to go there, stating that there are already “…too many competitors — large companies with history in the field.” His reasoned response? “Yes, that’s true. But at Arturia we are stubborn, and we think we can do something different. We think we can bring something new to market.”

 

Clearly, creating something that is both genuinely different and new to an already existing and hotly- contended market sector is no easy task. Take the mind-boggling number of audio formats out there. Think microphone, line, phono, and instrument inputs, each with different levels requiring different impedance. How about effortlessly connecting to Mac and PC computers, an Apple iPad or an Android device? Then there are all the digital audio formats (ADAT, S/PDIF, et al) as well as word clock to cater for those wishing to synchronise with the professional audio world. USB and MIDI might be useful, too! You get the picture. One visionary presidential person present at Arturia’s 15th anniversary celebrations sees the bigger picture perfectly clearly. Asked an incredulous Frédéric Brun: “Do you know how many audio interfaces on the market offer that? Zero!”

Then again, a well-thought-through portable audio interface that stylishly overcomes these perceived problems while bringing other mind-blowing features to the table is clearly closer to market than thought possible previously. Watch this space… seeing (and hearing) is really believing, believe us!

Watch an edited excerpt from Arturia President Frédéric Brun’s 15th anniversary company keynote speech that is as informative and entertaining as it is intriguing and enticing here: https://youtu.be/K6w7hza4Z2o

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