MiniFreak V “Link to hardware” disables ARP/SEQ MIDI output from hardware (FW 4.0.1)

Freak MiniFreak V
#1

Hi,

I’m running into a workflow-blocking issue with the MiniFreak hardware ↔ MiniFreak V link.

Desired workflow

  1. Use the hardware to explore sounds.
  2. When I like something, record the generated ARP/SEQ MIDI notes into the DAW.
  3. Then use MiniFreak V to continue playing that MIDI clip.
  4. Build multiple layers, each on its own track, each with its own MiniFreak V instance and preset.
  5. Use the hardware surface to control whichever instance I’m currently working on.

The problem

On the hardware:

  • Utility → MIDI Settings
  • Local Control = ON
  • ARP/SEQ set to send MIDI notes (so generated notes are transmitted over USB)

In this state, everything works correctly:

  • When ARP/SEQ is playing, the DAW receives the generated MIDI notes (confirmed in Snoize MIDI Monitor).

However:

As soon as I click “Link to MiniFreak” in MiniFreak V:

  • The hardware stops sending ARP/SEQ-generated MIDI notes.
  • The DAW only receives the notes I’m actively holding.
  • The Utility → MIDI settings appear to be overridden.
  • Even if I manually restore the hardware MIDI settings, ARP/SEQ notes are still not transmitted.
  • The only way to restore ARP/SEQ MIDI output is to:
    • Unlink
    • Power-cycle the hardware

This happens:

  • In Ableton Live 12 Standard
  • In MiniFreak V standalone
  • So it does not appear to be DAW-specific

System

  • macOS Tahoe 26 (M1 MacBook Air)
  • Ableton Live 12 Standard
  • MiniFreak firmware: 4.0.1.2229
  • MiniFreak V: 4.0.2.6369 (arm64)
  • Snoize MIDI Monitor used to confirm actual MIDI output

Question

Is this expected behaviour when linked?

Or is this a known bug where the link process overrides the hardware’s ARP/SEQ MIDI transmit setting?

If this is by design, what is the recommended workflow for:

  • Recording ARP/SEQ-generated MIDI from hardware
  • Then using MiniFreak V instances to build layered arrangements
  • While still using the hardware as the controller surface?

Thanks in advance.

#2

Hi, I will investigate this and get back to you!

2 Likes
#3

OK I tested on my side:

It does seem like it’s designed so that when Link is ON, the sequencer on the MiniFreak V side plays the Arp/Seq. but the MIDI Seq/Synth and Local Control settings no longer respond.

To get the individual MIDI notes played by the Arp/Seq in the hardware to record in the piano roll in your DAW:

  • Link OFF
  • MIDI from: “MiniFreak MIDI”
  • on the MiniFreak hardware: go to Utility->MIDI->MIDI Seq/Synth and make sure the configuration is set to MIDI->Synth

Now, whatever Arp/Seq you launch on your hardware, you can record the exact MIDI notes from within the hardware onto your DAW piano roll.

Hope that helps!

2 Likes
#4

Thanks for the attempt, but unfortunately it doesn’t help. I know how to record MIDI notes when the VST is not linked. But after I link, it is no longer possible to send MIDI notes from the hardware sequencer, even if I re-enable the Utility > MIDI > MIDI Seq settings. I’m struggling to understand how that could be intended behaviour. Am I misunderstanding?

#5

Yes thats what I said. At the moment, if you have link on, you cannot record the arp/seq MIDI notes from the hardware.

#6

I don’t know. I don’t have the hardware.

But is’nt it so, that when linked the hardware and software play the same preset?

It does’nt make sense to me, if both play a sequence/ ARP. Each time the software may start again.

The software version also output midi notes from the seq and arp. That output can be recorded on a track in the DAW. How depend on the DAW.
The generel idea is to select the MiniFreak V output as input for a track.

#7

Sounds like yet another problem with the hardware arp/sequencer when synced to MiniFreak V. What you would think would happen is that both the hardware and the software present and play the same sequence, also as audio from both VSTi and physical output. It just doesn’t happen. The hardware resets the sequence at random intervals, modifying the sequence doesn’t always correctly update both VSTi and hardware, and the audio out from the hardware do not match the output of the VSTi. Setting different midi setings, local control et c seem to change the behaviour, but as far as I can tell (and I’ve spent quite some time on this), it just seems to make it wrong in different ways, no setting seem to get it to sync properly. I’ve bug-reported several of these problem, several years ago, but as far as I can tell, it’s still broken.