One of my favorite budget synths just keeps getting better. After adding three new amazing oscillators before this time, Arturia is bringing custom wavetables to the MicroFreak as a free firmware update The MicroFreak formerly had a wavetable machine erected in, so this is not a huge stretch. But being suitable to import your own wavetables opens up a the capability to really make your own unique sounds. There are innumerous sources fo free wavetables out there ranging from classic analog tones, to icy atmospheres, to blasts of noise. But you can principally use any sound train you want. Hum into your phone, or prisoner audio of the slapdash pussycats in your neighborhood fighting, also upload it to the MicroFreak and turn it into a synthesizer.

Adding custom wavetables is easy enough using Arturia’s MIDI Control Center desktop app. There is a devoted tab for them at the top of the interface once you connect your Microfreak. You can only have 16 custom tables at a time, and the format can be a little tricky to nail if you are concerned about impeccably smooth sounding swells — 32 cycles conforming of 256 samples per cycle. But, if you just embrace its tricks, the WaveUser machine is able of strange, wild and abrasive sounds that speak to the MicroFreak’s strengths To show off the new WaveUser machine, of course there are 64 new presets. But, let’s be honest, plant presets with Arturia handed wavetables kinda defeats the whole purpose then.

The new4.0 firmware has a many other minor advancements as well. Including a briskly scrolling speed option for the oscillator controls and the capability to use Unison and Chord modes can now be applied to every note, wether they are being played live, coming from sequencer or an external source.