MiniFreak 5.0 Hardware Update Causes Noise Issues

Freak MiniFreak
#1

I just updated my MiniFreak via the MiniFreak V app, having updated the app first, and now my MiniFreak hardware sounds awful! Crackling, voices WAY too hot and loud- just awful.

I have redone the firmware update, this time by using the file downloaded from the Arturia website, but to no avail. I’ve checked everything else, such as cables, audio interface, etc., but the MiniFreak is not at all happy.

I get the same awful performance via the headphones, and I’ve tried resetting the device to factory settings, but it doesn’t help.

There is something very wrong with this. The plugin works and sounds fine, and nothing like the hardware does now.

Anyone else getting this?

New firmware... when?
#2

Does the problem present with a new INIT patch or is it confined to existing patches?

#3

It seems confined to presets so I’m wondering if they need updating?

#4

I think restoring a backup of the presets has fixed it. I will continue to monitor it.

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#5

Ok, I’m pretty convinced that the presets got messed up during the update with many of them distorting to ridiculous levels. A complete restore of the presets via MiniFreak V seems to have fixed the issue.

I was also experiencing the FW Update pop up coming up every time I connected the MiniFreak hardware, even though it had been updated. When it wouldn’t go away, and I wasn’t able to link the HW, I clicked Update and was told to restart MiniFreak V. This seemed to sort the issue.

For anyone interested, I’m running an M1 Max Mac Studio, macOS 26.6.2, 64GB RAM, 4TB SSD.

#6

Good advice to create a backup of your presets with the old minifreak version first!

I also created a backup after the update and can see that for some presets the fx have changed. From distortion to bit crusher for example.

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#7

I have the same issue.
From my observation, only the presets that have “basic waves” or “audio in” got corrupted.

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#8

HI @Failed_Muso and many thanks for reporting this.

@Gleb could you list your system spec too please?

@edd Yes, i’ts ALWAYS a good idea to back up ANY ‘valuable’ data before updating etc.

#9

Yes, it was very much like the distortion and/or bit crushing was set to max.

#10

No problem Mat. Happy to help :slightly_smiling_face: :+1:

#11

Hi, I’ve shared this with the MiniFreak team, thanks!

4 Likes
#12

I noticed multiple presets had their Delay fx changed to Distortion after the firmware update. The same presets MiniFreak V showed Delay while the hardware showed Distortion; Shifter and Retro Space are examples.

#13

Oh gee that’s a little concerning, we’ll look into it, do you have any examples of presets? (their names, and steps to reproduce?) thanks

#14

I just tested this on my MiniFreak after upgrading MiniFreak V and the hardware firmware. Both presets you mentioned (Shifter and Retro Space) still have the delay FX both on the software and hardware for me.

By the way: I have the MiniFreak Vocoder edition. Could this be an issue specific to the standard hardware version of the MiniFreak?

#15

@lily.arturia I’m away from MiniFreak until tonight, so I can’t check for more presets besides Shifter and Retro Space, which had Distortion instead of Delay when compared to MiniFreak V.

@stanft I wouldn’t think there would be a difference in the Vocoder vs my standard MiniFreak that could cause this kind of issue (I thought color and the vocoder mic were the only differences); maybe someone from Arturia can chime in about that.

I have since fixed and saved changes to those two presets on my hardware, but I’ll look for other discrepancies tonight.

Edit: oops! Forgot to include steps to reproduce:

  1. Power on MiniFreak and do NOT connect it to computer / MiniFreak V
  2. Manually select the Shifter preset (287? I forget the number since I’m away from MiniFreak now)
  3. Play notes on the built-in keyboard

Expected result: clean, non-distorted tones are produced
Actual result: distorted tones!

I then flipped through the FX and saw that Distortion was in (I think) the 2nd FX slot; changing it to Delay fixed the sound. Comparing with MiniFreak V (again, disconnected from my hardware), there was no Distortion FX in the patch).

#16

The update has no issues for Minifreak V VST in Linux. importing wavetables and samples are working like a charm. Some online wavetable makers already have Minifreak as target output. Linking to the hardware is still difficult in Linux. But that has to do with the USB drivers in wine.

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#17

I followed your instructions step by step but was not able to reproduce the issue. Yes, there is a little distortion on higher velocities, but this is not coming from the FX. And it seems to be intended as the MiniFreak V has those harsh harmonics, too. I am sure that this is not the distortion you are referring to.

#18

I can confirm after my own update, i noticed all the fx settings on the preset patch has defaulted to things like distortion not delay etc. I checked the forum afterwards and found this. There is a volume difference too, i cant put my finger on it but my patches are not the same and it never occured to me to save my presets prior to updating now as it hadnt happened before… lesson learnt.

#19

Maybe there is a connection between this problem and my report[Possible Bug] Effects messed up after Update to 5.0