{"id":1781590,"date":"2024-06-04T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-04T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/?post_type=articles&p=1781590"},"modified":"2025-05-30T16:03:55","modified_gmt":"2025-05-30T20:03:55","slug":"arturia-polybrute-12-quickstart-guide","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/www.sweetwater.com\/sweetcare\/articles\/arturia-polybrute-12-quickstart-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Arturia PolyBrute 12 Quickstart Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NOTE<\/strong>: This guide is for the Arturia PolyBrute 12 released in 2024. If you have the original Arturia PolyBrute, our SweetCare guide is at this link<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Arturia PolyBrute 12 is a complex and powerful analog synthesizer that adds additional polyphony and new expressive features to its smaller sibling, the original PolyBrute. In this guide, we\u2019ll help you get started, introduce you to the PolyBrute Connect editor-librarian app<\/strong>, and point out some of the PolyBrute 12\u2019s unique features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Register Your Purchase with Arturia<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
  2. Create a Patch<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
  3. Performance Controllers: Arturia Morph\u00e9e and Ribbon Controller<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
  4. Arturia FullTouch MPE Polyphonic Aftertouch<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
  5. Using the PolyBrute 12 Connect app<\/a><\/strong><\/li>
  6. Arturia PolyBrute 12 Tutorial Videos<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Register Your Purchase with Arturia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Register<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Take the time to register your purchase on the Arturia PolyBrute 12 installation page<\/a>. Click Start Now<\/strong>, then log in to your Arturia customer account or create a new one. Follow the prompts, and enter your PolyBrute 12\u2019s serial number<\/strong> and unlock code<\/strong>, which are found on the label on the underside of the keyboard. Once your purchase is registered, you can access Arturia\u2019s product resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Download the User Manual<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    With a synth this powerful, there\u2019s no substitute for reading the user manual. It\u2019s good to have a digital copy for reference, so download it from the PolyBrute 12 Resources page<\/a>. Scroll down to Manuals<\/strong>, then select PolyBrute 12 EN Manual<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Download the Arturia PolyBrute Connect app<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Arturia PolyBrute Connect is a powerful editor\/librarian app for the PolyBrute 12 and the original PolyBrute. It’s also used to update the firmware on your synth. You run the app on your Mac or Windows PC. You need version 3.1 or higher to work with the PolyBrute 12. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Download the newest version from the Arturia PolyBrute 12 Resources page<\/a>. Scroll down to the bottom section labeled Software<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Connect your PolyBrute 12 to your Mac or Windows computer using a USB Type B data cable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Launch PolyBrute Connect. You will be prompted to log in with your Arturia user name and password that you created when you registered your purchase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Update the Firmware<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    From time to time Arturia will release a new firmware for the PolyBrute 12, which fixes bugs in the synth\u2019s digital control, may add new features, and will provide compatibility with the newest version of the PolyBrute Connect app. Arturia makes updating easy. Here\u2019s our SweetCare PolyBrute 12 Firmware Update<\/strong> guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/div>

    Arturia Polybrute 12 Firmware Update<\/p>

    <\/p><\/div><\/div><\/a>\n\n\n\n

    Create a Patch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    In the PolyBrute 12, you can create two separate parts (Part A and Part B) and morph them from one to the other in various ways. However, let\u2019s keep things simple for now and create an initialized preset with one part, Part A.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Warming Up and Calibrating the PolyBrute 12<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Before you create your first patch, let\u2019s point out that since the Arturia PolyBrute is a true analog synthesizer, the internal components need time to warm up to operating temperature in order for the tuning to remain stable. This typically takes 5\u201310 minutes. If the tuning doesn\u2019t seem settled after 10 minutes, run the calibration procedures. Learn more in the PolyBrute 12 User Manual > 2.3 Auto-calibrate PolyBrute 12<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Creating Your First Patch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Turn on the PolyBrute 12 and wait 10 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Press and hold the left arrow Panel <\/strong>button, then press the Presets<\/strong> button. Alternately, go to Settings<\/strong>, navigate to Preset Info<\/strong>, and select Init<\/strong> with the Assign 1<\/strong> button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Set the knobs and faders to create your patch, following the basic signal flow. Starting with the VCOs<\/strong> (voltage-controlled oscillators), move to the VCFs<\/strong> (voltage-controlled filters), then go to Modulation<\/strong>, using Envelopes<\/strong>, LFOs<\/strong> (low-frequency oscillators), and other sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    (The PolyBrute 12\u2019s Modulation Matrix is a powerful and complex feature that you will want to look into in more detail later.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Then follow through the VCA<\/strong> (voltage-controlled amplifier) and any Effects<\/strong> you wish to add.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Learn more in the PolyBrute 12 User Manual > 3. Create a Patch<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Once you\u2019re finished, name your preset and save it. There are multiple ways to do this; refer to the PolyBrute 12 User Manual > 6.5 Saving a Preset<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Performance Controllers: Arturia Morph\u00e9e and Ribbon Controller<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    In addition to the traditional controllers for real-time expression that you are familiar with on synthesizers, namely the Pitch wheel and the Modulation wheel, the Arturia PolyBrute 12 provides two interesting features that are a lot of fun to play with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Morph\u00e9e<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The rectangular wood panel to the left of the keyboard is the Morph\u00e9e<\/strong>, Arturia\u2019s proprietary touch controller. By stroking a finger left and right (X-axis), up and down (Y-axis), or by pressing the spring-loaded panel down while you slide your finger (Z-axis), you can morph parameters from a patch\u2019s Part A to Part B. Touch the Morph\u00e9e, and the display screen shows you the real-time position of your X-, Y-, and Z-axes. Learn more in the PolyBrute 12 User Manual > 12.4.4 Expression > Morph\u00e9e Modes<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Ribbon Controller<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    In the center of the walnut panel between the keybed and the controls is a long, shallow groove routed in the wood. Stroke a finger along it, and you will discover that it\u2019s an embedded ribbon controller. With each preset, you can program how it modulates the sound. Learn more in the PolyBrute 12 User Manual > 12.4.5 Expression > Ribbon Modes<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Arturia FullTouch MPE Polyphonic Aftertouch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The PolyBrute 12\u2019s keybed provides FullTouch, Arturia\u2019s novel implementation of polyphonic aftertouch with MIDI polyphonic expression (MPE). In addition to traditional aftertouch, which is a \u201csecond touch\u201d that takes place at the bottom of the key travel, FullTouch enables a new kind of polyphonic modulation from the initial trigger point throughout the full range of travel of each key.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Aftertouch <\/strong>button lets you choose from three modes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n