Arturia PolyBrute £2,259
Future Music|Autumn 2020
The French brand mark their anniversary with a new flagship polysynth. Si Truss attempts to tame the beast…
Si Truss
Arturia PolyBrute £2,259
News 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 modular (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.

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 setup is carried across here too, which pairs Steiner Parker and Ladder Filter designs that can be positioned in series or parallel.

This story is from the Autumn 2020 edition of Future Music.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the Autumn 2020 edition of Future Music.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM FUTURE MUSICView All
SONIC DESTRUCTION
Future Music

SONIC DESTRUCTION

From overdriven signal paths to rhythmic malfunctions, there’s plenty of creativity to be found by doing things just a little bit wrong

time-read
10+ mins  |
Autumn 2021
Feed Me
Future Music

Feed Me

EDM producer Jon Gooch revives his cartoonish Feed Me moniker. Danny Turner finds out how the use of live instrumentation changed his production approach

time-read
10+ mins  |
Autumn 2021
Exploring Akai MPC
Future Music

Exploring Akai MPC

Leo Maymind takes a detailed look at an iconic groovebox whose influence helped shape modern hip-hop and much more besides

time-read
8 mins  |
Autumn 2021
Liars
Future Music

Liars

Dissolving the contours of rock and electronics, Danny Turner charts the making of Liars’ 10th album with Angus Andrew and Laurence Pike

time-read
10+ mins  |
Autumn 2021
Jean-Michel Jarre
Future Music

Jean-Michel Jarre

The pioneering musician who introduced generations to futuristic sounds the first time around is at it again. He joins Matt Mullen to talk experiments in VR gigging, spatial audio and more...

time-read
10 mins  |
Autumn 2021
Noise
Future Music

Noise

With roots as far back as 1913, noise is the genre that’s also a state of mind

time-read
4 mins  |
Autumn 2021
1010 Music Bitbox mk2 £549
Future Music

1010 Music Bitbox mk2 £549

Rob Redman finds out whether this updated sampler box of tricks contains any more surprises

time-read
3 mins  |
Autumn 2021
Erica Synths and Sonic Potions LXR-02 £499
Future Music

Erica Synths and Sonic Potions LXR-02 £499

Rob Redman braces himself for another resurrected blast from the past

time-read
6 mins  |
Autumn 2021
Modal SKULPTsynth SE £169
Future Music

Modal SKULPTsynth SE £169

Modal are back with an update to their SKULPT synth. Bruce Aisher takes a listen to see if it can rustle up a big sound

time-read
3 mins  |
Autumn 2021
Reason Studios Reason 12 £399
Future Music

Reason Studios Reason 12 £399

Now in both DAW and plugin realms, Reason gains a sampler and refreshed Combinator. Si Truss investigates

time-read
3 mins  |
Autumn 2021