Arturia PolyBrute

Polyphonic analog synthesizer

With Polybrute Arturia introduces something new in the field of synthesizers. In the style of the monophonic. but very rich MatrixBrute. Arturia PolyBrute is now the first own polyphonic analog synthesizer. This six-voice instrument shines with two analog oscillators. two very different filters (Steiner-Parker and Moog-style). an extensive modulation matrix. a sequencer and several effects. The pleasantly playable keyboard covers over five octaves with 61 keys. is velocity-sensitive and even has aftertouch. Sonically. Polybrute covers a wide range of classic analog sounds from the 70s to today. Thanks to the oscillators. which also offer mixable waveforms and of course do not miss the proven Metalizer. the basic sound itself is both modern. and timeless. The large keyboard with 12 x 8 controls fulfills different tasks depending on the operating mode. This is used to program the polyphonic sequencer, manage saved sounds, assign morphs and set all modulation assignments. If you want to operate this stock flagship like a primitive analog synthesizer, simply press Panel Mode - from then on, what you hear corresponds to the current settings, regardless of what was previously in the memory space. The real highlight of the Arturia PolyBrute is the morphing. It is possible to continuously jump between any two memory locations. With 768 presets available, you can save a sound variant with different oscillator levels and/or modulation intensity and morph between these two presets. Or you can morph between a percussive bass and a pulsating pad sound - let your creativity run wild.

Sound generation

The rich basic sound of the Arturia PolyBrute is created by two analog oscillators that generate Metalizer waveforms in parallel. Pulse Width and Sawtooth. The Metalizer is mainly a triangle wave with a waveform generator. which generates harmonics. which tend to become metallic as the value increases. Pulse Width is a classic square wave with pulse width modulation - the sawtooth more than does its job - rich in overtones and punchy. Oscillator 2 also has a sub-oscillator. Between both oscillators. the FM oscillator and the Hardsync can be adjusted continuously. Both tone generators and the tunable noise generator are located in the mixer section. where for each signal source the leads to the two filters are also set.

Filter

The color-coded filters are the Steiner-Parker State-Variable-Filter and the 24dB Lowpass. The former is continuously adjustable from Lowpass to Highpass to Bandpass and has as an additional parameter the Brute Factor known from Arturia synthesizers. which is intended as a feedback circuit inside the filter. The SVF has a very grainy sound with a growing resonance. The second filter is a classic 24dB Lowpass filter in the style of a Moog ladder filter. which many may know from the Minimoog. The full and rich sound of the LPF is a classic in its kind. Additionally, the second filter has distortion and can be continuously mixed with the Steiner-Parker filter from series to parallel in the signal path between the mixer and the VCA. For both filters there is a master cutoff control with adjustable keyboard tracking. If you need Tracking for the filters in detail. you can add this with a quick grab to the modulation matrix.

Modulation

You can see at first glance. that there is no red pencil used here. Next to the keyboard. on the left side of the instrument. the control panel is decorated with a touch controller X/Y/Z (aka Morphée). X and Y implement finger movements up. down. left and right. Z responds to pressure. All three can be assigned to any location. allowing for expressive and lively sound reproduction. Above the keyboard is a ribbon controller. which takes up less than half the length of the device. Two intensity controls are permanently assigned to it. which direct oscillator 2 to filter 1. and noise to filter 2. Two of the three looped ADSR envelopes are permanently assigned to filters and VCA. but like almost all ''generating functions'' they can be combined with other destinations. Thanks to the fader design, we can testify here: Form follows function. Three BPM-synchronized LFOs join the modulation sources. The first two offer seven waveforms and can operate monophonically. polyphonically or triggered. LFO 1 can be moved in Phase. and LFO 2 has an adjustable fade in delay. LFO3 can freely shape the waveform using Curve and Symmetry and can be switched to OneShot mode.

Effects

The effects section in PolyBrute consists of delay. reverb. EQ and modulation effects and can be switched as insert or send. Delay is capable of working in BBD and Pingpong modes and can be synchronized with a MIDI Clock. Reverb is 

uses reverb. Plate and others and covers a wide range from gloomy atmospheres over industrial halls to ''middle Grand Canyon''. Modulation effects include chorus. ensemble and phaser and provide undulating and floating sounds. Additionally, the voices played can be panned using the knob - a psychoacoustic benefit. :)

Note Recording.

Each sound memory in Arturia PolyBrute has a programmable polyphonic sequencer track. which can be up to 64 steps long and can be assigned to Shuffle and other playback modes. In addition. there is an Arpeggiator with extensive playback capabilities and a motion recorder. which can be used to record and automate parameters.

Arturia PolyBrute:
- Analog synthesizer
- 6-voice polyphonic
- 61 keys
- Velocity sensitive
- Duophonic aftertouch
- Ribbon controller
- X/Y/Z touch controller
- Panel morphing
- 2 analog oscillators. including Metalizer. PW and Sawtooth
- FM Oscillator
- FM Filter
- Noise Generator (tunable)
- Mixer with Filter Routing
- Steiner Parker State-Variable-Filter
- 24dB Lowpass Filter
- Flexible Filter Routing from Serial to Parallel
- 3 ADSR Envelopes
- 3 LFOs (BPM Sync)
- Third LFO with Variable Waveform and OneShot Mode
- Modulation Matrix with 12x8 Inputs
- Random Generator for Random Sounds
- Motion Recorder
- Chord Mode
- Arpeggiator
- Step Sequencer
- Sequence Length Up to 64 Steps
- 768 Presets
- Panel Mode
- Stereo Spread
- Delay
- Reverb
- EQ
- Modulation Effects
- Sizes: 97 x 11 x 38 cm
- Weight: 22 kg