Arturia

N
ews of an Arturia
polysynth wasn’t a
total surprise.
Since the
early-’10s, the
French brand’s
lineup of synths
has grown to encompass budget
analogue (MicroBrute), semi-
modulars (MiniBrute 2/2S), a
behemoth monosynth (MatrixBrute)
and eccentric digital synthesis
(MicroFreak). Their 20th anniversary
seemed an obvious moment to unveil
a new flagship instrument.
setup is carried across here too,
which pairs Steiner Parker and
Ladder Filter designs that can be
positioned in series or parallel.
There are key differences to the
hardware itself. Unlike the
MatrixBrute, the control panel is in a
fixed position, so it can’t be
angled-up Minimoog style. While the
61-key velocity and aftertouch-
equipped keyboard is essentially the
same as its monophonic counterpart,
the PolyBrute adds additional
expressive tools to the mix, with a
ribbon controller subtly indented
above the keyboard and a new
three-dimensional expression pad
labelled ‘Morphee’. This latter
element is like a simplified version of
Expressive E’s Touché controller, with
a touch-sensitive wooden panel that
allows users to apply modulation by
depressing the panel or dragging a
finger across the x or y axis. These
modulation sources can be applied to
almost any synth parameter using the
matrix [see Matrix Reloaded], and
while the Morphee and ribbon
controller don’t entirely negate the
presence of traditional pitch and mod
You may spot the similarities
between the PolyBrute and
MatrixBrute; most obviously in the
inclusion of a similar button matrix,
but also in the general architecture.
Although it wouldn’t really be
accurate to describe this synth simply
as a polyphonic MatrixBrute, it’s not
entirely baseless. Like the
MatrixBrute, the PolyBrute is a
digitally-controlled analogue synth
combining multiple VCOs and VCFs
with a powerful modulation matrix,
sequencer and arpeggiator. The
MatrixBrute’s distinctive dual filter
THE PROS & CONS
+
Morphing engine is
fantastic for
creating evolving,
complex sounds
Hands-on
modulation matrix is,
once again, a great
design choice
Digital effects
sound excellent
-
No audio input or
CV I/O
Only six voices
Arturia PolyBrute | Reviews
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FMU362.rev_arturia.indd 75 07/09/2020 10:44