The Arturia Polybrute is a powerful analog, polyphonic synthesizer with a huge raw energy!
The PolyBrute looks a bit like the popular MatrixBrute, but has one more octave and thus 61 keys. Just a little nicer for the keyboardist. What also immediately stands out is the Morphée controller, which allows you to control the synth in 3 dimensions. It is actually a traditional X/Y-pad, but you can also press it. So that pressing forms the third controller.
Arturia has also revived the classic ribbon controller (a well-known feature of classic hardware synthesizers). Positioned directly above the keybed, this controller is assignable to your chosen modulation destination and can effortlessly glide through the sound spectrum. These powerful elements combined with a premium touch / pressure sensitive keyboard, pitch wheel, assignable mod wheel and inputs for foot pedal controllers, make the Polybrute a real standout!
Sound characteristics of the Arturia PolyBrute
The Polybrute has two Brute wave shapers, each with its own envelope, plus noise, sync and FM. There is also its own envelope for the extended filter. Furthermore, three LFOs to liven up your sound.
To thicken your sound, there is a thick effects section and a sequencer/arpeggiator on board.
Through the flexible mixer, all this goes to Arturia's famous filter combo: first the Steiner Parker filter and then a classic ladder filter. These can work both in parallel and serially and both have a distortor built in. The Steiner is adjustable via a potentiometer (and thus modifiable) between low, high and band pass.
If you have played with a (Matrix)Brute before, then the operation will be recognizable. Morphing is an important aspect of the PolyBrute. You can select/create an A sound and a B sound and you can morph - in terms of parameters - between them. And then of course the modulation matrix in which you can link a lot of parameters.
The matrix grid has several applications. You can use it as a preset selector, or for example with the sequencer/arpeggiator (and also as a modulation matrix). This grid reduces "menu-diving" so it's safe to say that operating the PolyBrute is very fast. In other words, a truly hands-on, intuitive synthesizer.
Are you more of an in-the-box DAW producer? The PolyBrute works and integrates perfectly with your computer. Check out the PolyBrute Connect plug-in software for this.
Connections:
On the back of the synth we find the stereo line out, midi in/out/thru, usb-midi, cv/sync in/out. 2 connections for expression pedals and one for a sustain pedal.
Finally; the construction and looks of the synth are very nice; lots of controls in a nice casing, definitely a nice synth to look at! Ready to gear up?
Specifications:
- Arturia PolyBrute analog synthesizer
- super flexible analogue polysynth
- touch-sensitive keyboard with polyphonic aftertouch, 61 keys
- equipped with morphing controller: X-Y-Z controller
- Sound morphing capability, A and B for each preset
- ribbon controller
- 6 polyphonic voices
- per voice: 2x Brute waveshaping + noise + sync + FM
- filters: 12 dB Steiner Multimode, 24db lp Ladder Filter, Master Filter, Filter FM
- 3x LFO
- 3x envelopes with looping
- modulation matrix with 64 connections and 32 destinations (12x32 modulation matrix)
- modding effects section (3 effects: reverb, chorus and delay)
As an option, you can expand the Polybrute with the Arturia Wooden Legs for an insanely retro look.
Dimensions: 975 x 130 x 378 mm
Weight: 20 kg.
Be sure to check out the latest V2.0 firmware update: it expands the Brute's uniquely powerful morphing capabilities and provides inspiring new presets and cool features.
