All current and future owners of Arturia's MicroFreak synthesizer have a new reason to sing its praises: a free firmware update that includes a brand-new Vocoder mode.
The 16-band Vocoder lets you manipulate your voice with all of the sounds and effects that have already made the MicroFreak a popular instrument. You can connect any microphone (or, really, any external sound source) through the MicroFreak's existing 3.5mm headphone jack, which now doubles as an input.
The Vocoder mode itself has 16 presets in addition to its 16 tweakable frequency bands. You can then combine the Vocoder mode with the rest of MicroFreak's features: the built-in sequencer, LFO, modulation matrix, and more.
To get the new V2.1 firmware, simply download it from Arturia's website here. Separately, you can also find a limited-edition MicroFreak Vocoder model, which features a detachable gooseneck microphone and a new design on its chassis.
But you can enjoy all the same new Vocoder stylings with any used or new MicroFreak on Reverb.