£3,429 / €3,999 / $4,449, arturia.com
The authentic PolyBrute was Arturia’s first analogue polysynth and the corporate mainly nailed it proper out of the gate. Its Morphée and ribbon controls provide distinctive choices for expression; the twin filters ship sturdy sound shaping capabilities; and the expansive modulation matrix is able to turning a easy noticed wave into aural witchcraft.
Upon its 2021 launch, the 2 massive complaints have been that, in a world the place MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE) was changing into extra frequent, the PolyBrute caught with monophonic aftertouch. And 6 voices simply wasn’t a heck of lots for an enormous bi-timbral synthesizer. Arturia addressed each of these points with the PolyBrute 12 and within the course of could have constructed probably the most highly effective analogue synthesizer of the trendy age.
One factor that hasn’t modified is the core sound engine and sign path. There’s nonetheless two oscillators per-voice, with noticed, triangle and sq. wave choices, together with pulse width modulation. The primary oscillator has Arturia’s patented Metalizer wavefolder for turning these light triangles into one thing fiercer. The second has a sub-oscillator for including physique, which is welcome as a result of the uncooked oscillators on the PolyBrute sound a contact skinny at instances.
These run into the twin filters, one ladder and one Steiner Parker, which could be run individually, in parallel or serial. There’s three envelopes, three LFOs, a noise generator, a digital results part and an enormous modulation matrix that leaves virtually no nook of the synth untouchable.
The PolyBrute’s sound design potentialities are virtually overwhelming. It may ship traditional noticed leads, light analogue pads and even does a good job with bass (although, it’s not its robust swimsuit.) However the Metalizer wavefolder, FM, Sync and digital results part (to not point out the modulation choices) broaden the sonic palette effectively past your typical analogue synth. The PolyBrute does traditional analogue, however it will also be one of the crucial wild and virtually digital-sounding analogue synths we’ve ever heard.
There’s an arpeggiator with seven completely different modes, together with a generative one and a 64-step polyphonic sequencer. You’ll be able to report sequences both in step mode or play them in stay, although modifying them isn’t notably intuitive. It’s a pleasant function to have however looks like an afterthought.
All of this was already true of the unique PolyBrute, although — if you wish to know extra, we suggest studying our evaluate..
What units the PolyBrute 12 aside is the brand new FullTouch keybed and 6 further voices. Let’s begin with the best of those two issues to handle. Six voices is a lot on a smaller, monotimbral synth, however, on one thing the scale of the PolyBrute, which might stack or break up sounds, it may possibly show to be a bottleneck. If you happen to have been stacking sounds on the unique PolyBrute, this restricted you to a few notice chords and voice stealing turned a significant challenge. With 12 voices at your disposal, it’s a lot much less of a priority.
Might an completed keyboardist pushing the boundaries of the PolyBrute 12 run into some points? Maybe. However most sound designers and synth followers will discover fault within the keyboards capabilities.
Including extra voices is a welcome improve, however it’s hardly revolutionary — the numerous change with the PolyBrute 12 is the keyboard. The FullTouch keybed brings polyphonic aftertouch to the PolyBrute, which is big. Nevertheless it does a lot extra.
The PolyBrute 12 is Arturia’s first MPE-capable instrument and the actual implementation right here is exclusive. Its closest level of comparability might be the Expressive E Osmose, however even that isn’t actually apt. Whereas the Osmose has full-sized keys with one thing nearer to a piano motion that wiggle forwards and backwards, the Polybrute 12’s keys are synth motion and don’t transfer aspect to aspect.
A button on the left aspect of the synth cycles between three completely different aftertouch modes: Mono, Poly and Alt. Mono and Poly are simple. Although, the additional expressiveness that Poly aftertouch provides to the already spectacular lineup of the ribbon and Morphée controllers shouldn’t be missed.
Alt mode has three completely different sub-modes that you choose from the menu: FullTouch, FullTouch Envelope or FullTouch + Z. These every provide distinct implementations of MPE and aftertouch that may utterly change how a specific patch behaves.
Common FullTouch triggers notes instantly once you contact the keys. However, as a substitute of utilizing simply the final little little bit of journey for aftertouch, it makes use of your entire journey distance of the important thing. This offers you a lot larger management, which might make a giant distinction for the reason that sensitivity of the aftertouch on the PolyBrute 12 is tough to dial in. For instance, if you happen to’ve acquired aftertouch related to the Grasp Cutoff, it’s mainly unattainable to have it open up all the way in which whereas having the ability to subtly and slowly get to totally open with commonplace aftertouch. However with FullTouch, you’ll be able to gently push particular person notes to full brightness and discover many shades in between.
FullTouch Envelope makes use of the journey of the keys to regulate the envelopes. Slowly and gently press on the keys and also you get a sluggish assault. Press rapidly and also you’ll get a sharper sound. On this mode the sliders for the VCF and VCA behave utterly otherwise. The speed slider provides a pluck to the entrance of the envelope to spotlight these faster extra percussive notes. The assault and decay sliders management how delicate these parts of the envelope are to your enjoying, and maintain can be utilized to attenuate the envelope quantity when set under 50 p.c. This mode is especially helpful with string patches and brighter pads.
Lastly there’s FullTouch + Z. This behaves much like common FullTouch mode the place notes are triggered instantly and aftertouch is managed by the journey of the important thing. The distinction is that the traditional aftertouch vary on the backside of the important thing now controls the Z modulation lane. If you happen to’re enjoying bigger, extra spread-out keyboard items that require two arms this may be fairly helpful because it’s unattainable to regulate the Morphée pad if you happen to want each arms to finger a chord.
These options set the PolyBrute 12 aside, not simply from its older sibling, however from most different synths available on the market. It gives an virtually infinite array of choices for including expression and modulation to your enjoying. Conventional pitch and mod wheels? It’s acquired these. A 3D touchpad? Certain, why not? A ribbon controller? Haven’t seen a type of shortly; let’s do it. Expression pedal jacks? How about two? A customisable modulation matrix with 12 sources and 32 locations? Heck yeah. Oh, and naturally, 4 completely different implementations of polyphonic aftertouch with MPE compatibility. With all of the above on provide, virtually each different synth goes to look simplistic compared.
The mix of a world-class sound engine and tons of choices for expressive enjoying is an apparent winner. However there’s a massive hurdle for Arturia to beat. At €3,999 the PolyBrute isn’t low cost. It actually delivers lots for the worth, however this may virtually actually imply solely professionals and people with cash to burn will splurge.
The unique PolyBrute was proof that Arturia may make a flagship high quality analogue polysynth. However the PolyBrute 12 proves that it may possibly out-innovate even probably the most established names within the recreation.
Key Options
- 12-voice analogue multitimbral synthesizer
- 2 analogue VCOs per voice with sub-oscillator
- Mono, unison and polyphonic modes, with break up and layering choices
- 3 envelopes
- 3 LFOs
- FullTouch keyboard with polyphonic aftertouch
- Morph blends between two separate units of parameters
- Morphée, ribbon and polyphonic aftertouch efficiency controls
- Ladder and Steiner Parker filters
- Complete modulation matrix
- 64-step polyphonic sequencer
- 3 results slots with 26 results
- Dimension: 972 x 435 x 156mm
- Weight: 23kg