Less than two weeks into 2020 and I have already bought four new synths. Three software synths and one analog. Software synths were on sale and addition to that I got extra discount when bought more than one at same time. I could have bought them last year but there were reasons why postponing buying to this year made more sense. And those brought something new to my setup. So this didn’t change my plans for 2020. Minibrute 2 was more impulse buy but I have considered getting it for two years since it was announced. My eurorack system was in Rackbrute case which you can connect to Minibrute 2. Getting it fit to my plans for 2020. Watching too many Korg Arp 2600 videos made me want to have keyboard to eurorack system. Minibrute was obvious choice since eurorack system was already in Rackbrute. Price was also better than when synth was launched.
Minibrute 2 is replacement of original Minibrute but actually it is love child of original Minibrute, Microbrute and Keystep. Minibrute was hugely popular analog synth which is big reason why we have so many analog synths without complete midi control. Microbrute was Minibrute’s little brother with eurorack compatibility. Keystep is industry standard sequencer and midi/cv controller. When someone is demoing synth which doesn’t have own keyboard they are more often than not using Keystep. Minibrute 2 got synth section of Minibrute with some changes. It expanded patch bay of Microbrute to become fully semimodular synth. Addition to that it has sequencing features of Keystep.
I have played with it for one evening. Should have got it earlier. I was hesitant getting it when I already have Minibrute and Microbrute. But having complete setup in one package improved whole system more than I expected. In the other hand this doesn’t make Minibrute or Microbrute redundant. Minibrute 2 doesn’t have similar saturation as previous models. It is not as wild as them. Arturia could still sell old version too. Minibrute 2 is improvement and step to different direction. Arturia have counted Microbrute is enough to give wilder side of brutes. Minibrute 2 is better synth than Minibrute but original still have its uses.
I generally like Minibrute but there are couple things I wish it had. Both are related to using it with Rackbrute and eurorack modules. First I am not sure which this should replace and I assume this was on table when instrument was designed. I wish it had mix of Osc1 output in patch bay. You can get individual waves and noise but not the mix. If you want to get mix of them to use in other modules you have to use mixer module on your eurorack. I like to mix with Minibrute’s faders. Second is you need two power cords when you use Minibrute with Rackbrute or when you use system with two Rackbrutes. I wish Rackbrute had power out which you can use for powering Minibrute 2 or another Rackbrute. That would get rid of another power cord and make it feel more like complete system.