Two Takes on Behringer - Which Do You Fall Under?

The following videos feature two perspectives on Behringer. I was going to skip both of them, because honestly, I'm kind of tired of the whole thing, but I figure it was worth posting for those unaware of the toatality of it. Jorb does a good job summarizing it all. Note, this will be the last post on the topic, unless something else new and stupid happens.

I do want to clarify what goes up here on MATRIXSYNTH and why. Firstly this site is about the gear, not people. People can have whatever opinions they want. Secondly, this site does factor in how people including manufacturers treat each other. I post what I want to post, and after running this site for over 18 years, I've come to appreciate those who appreciate the site and what I do. Supporting members let me know they appreciate the site by supporting the site. Banner sponsors on the top and right of the site let me know they appreciate the site by sponsoring the site.

Behringer does not support or sponsor the site, and I am aware that they pose a significant and existential threat to some of my supporters and sponsors. So, why do I sometimes feature Behringer? Because this is a synth news site and is meant to be an archive of synth gear over time. I can't just ignore that. So what do I feature? I limit Behringer posts to new product announcements, significant news, and supporting member videos and content only. I skip everything else.

As for sponsors and supporting members, I share whatever they want me to share, within reason, as a thank you for supporting the site. As for non supporting members and sponsors, I share what I want to share. Some clarity on that: when I first launched the site in 2005 I posted everything anyone sent in and everything I came across. Everything was new. YouTube launched in 2005. This was the first time we were able to see people messing with their synths, and this site was the first to cover it. Eurorack and modular was in it's infancy back then and botique manufacturers had limited exposure, mainly on forums and email lists. I remember going to NAMM and someone working for one the manufacturers asked me if I thought eurorack would take off or was just a fad. It was that new. I thought it would take off, and it did. That said, it's no longer possible to post everything that goes up as it would just become too much noise in the end. I'm sure the amount I post daily is already noise to many. So, now I post what I want to post, and yes, how a manufacturer treats others is always factored in.

That said here are the two takes on Behringer. Where do you stand?

Let's Talk About Behringer.

video upload by Jorb

0:00 Intro
3:27 The Clones
10:17 Antagonism
19:52 Wasted Potential

LET'S TALK ABOUT BEHRINGER SYNTHESIZERS... AND JORB | THAT SYNTH SHOW EP.45

video upload by SYNTH SAMURAI

The Buchla Music Easel II from 2006

The 2006 Buchla Music Easel II that never was.

Today is Don Buchla's birthday. He was born on April 17, 1937, which would have made him 85. He passed away five years ago on September 14, 2016.

via @shastacults

"I was planning to save this until i got some more info from the parties directly involved but the Behringer announcement yesterday [posted here] kinda inspired me to just drop this one...

Years ago I sat down with Don to discuss ideas for a new 200e keyboard.. I mentioned that the system needed one, that it was his signature and completed the system... we discussed the merits of capacitance touch plates vs membrane before Don finally settled on membrane (I was pro capacitance). Before I got up I suggested a new Easel would really be the ideal way for people to experience his ideas without being sucked into the modular vortex.

Later while recovering from illness Don began design of the next instrument, one which went though the paces only to be shelved and never seen again.. instead we got low quality reproductions of a 40 year old design (the BEMI Easel) that were rushed into production to beat the inevitable DIY clone which was not so secretly being developed.

Let there be no mistake, Don was not happy about the 208e but slodged through it, making circuit and physical changes against the wishes of his new bosses who wanted an exact copy, something I don't think Don was capable of.. or just didn't want to do cause they told him to, both are possible.
here is the new Easel design which could have been..

Model 209e Matrix Potpourri
Model 222e Multi Dimensional Kinesthetic Input Port
the 209e responded to the lightning rings and was programmed via the 222e keys acting as virtual sliders , 24 stage MARF, Dual Envelopes, Mod and Princ Osc, Morphing Filter, Dual LPG, Random, Programmability... etc

The LEDs animated and depicted offsets and modulation activity, something we got later on the 296e. #buchla"



Don Buchla and the Buchla 200e at the 2006 NAMM Show via wikipedia.

The same here the Buchla Music Easel II was under consideration.

Behringer PRO-800 – Engineer's Update #NAMM 2021

video by BEHRINGER

This one was spotted and sent in via Soviet Space Child.

Behringer's Prophet-600 "copy" with eight voices, first posted here.

NAMM 2021 - Behringer 2600 Blue Marvin and Gray Meanie Limited Edition

BEHRINGER

This one was spotted and sent in via Soviet Space Child.

"Introducing some of our finest synthesizers ever designed - the Behringer 2600 Blue Marvin and Gray Meanie.

Featuring carefully selected high-grade components for improved performance, a mechanical spring reverb and unicolor fader LED's, the Behringer Blue Marvin and Gray Meanie look back at the rarest first editions of the 2600 that was released in 1971.

We further added some very useful features such as a dual filter, an additional LFO, VCO syncs, USB MIDI, and much more.

Rumoured that only 25 Blue Marvin's and 35 Gray Meanie's were ever made, these modern-day and authentic recreations bring you closer than ever before to these rarities that have always been so out of reach. This time, at a price within reach.

Shipping begins in February 2021 at US$ 699.

Behringer. We hear you."

NAMM 2020 STG SOUND LABS - Updates

Published on Jan 26, 2020 sonicstate

"STG Sound Labs - new updates on the new Boatrocker Eurorack case for Mother 32 and Behringer, nearly ready for production. Also the Radiophonic 1, .SRC, .VCO are really close to production too - the drift generator signal is now accessible to send out to modulate other parameters in your system."

NAMM 2020 - Introducing the Behringer RD-6

Published on Jan 18, 2020 BEHRINGER

"Introducing the RD-6 for #NAMM2020"

NAMM 2020 – Behringer Introduces a System 55 Modular Synthesizer

Published on Jan 17, 2020 BEHRINGER

"Let’s switch on the time machine and go back to the sound of the 1970s. Introducing: Our Modular 55, 35 & 15 Series! We’ve got more than 20 modules for you – all authentic reproductions of the circuitry from the 'Modular 55, 35 & 15' Series. And all brought to the Eurorack standard but still staying true to the era with some specific features.

That warm sound was loved by Artists from Tangerine Dream to Depeche Mode. And an earlier version used by Wendy Carlos on the famous album “Switched on Bach”. That brought the sound of synthesisers into mainstream music and became basically the founding father of all synths in pop music.

#NAMM2020"

Also see: NAMM 2020 - Introducing System 100 - Behringer Modular Synthesizer

Behringer NAMM posts

NAMM 2020 - Introducing System 100 - Behringer Modular Synthesizer

Published on Jan 16, 2020 BEHRINGER

"Introducing eleven new Eurorack compatible modules – all of them authentic reproductions of original “System 100M” circuitry from 1975. With ultra-fat oscillators and creamy filters the sound became famous in the early 80s used by artists like Depeche Mode, Human League, Tears For Fears but also Vangelis, Tangerine Dream and even Aphex Twin.

If you’re into super-fat bass sounds, in-your-face leads or flowing soundscapes, definitely check them out! All modules are incredibly feature rich, have tremendous patching capabilities and a lot of them come with dual function, like:

- 112 dual oscillator with 3 waveforms, PWM and two sync modes
- 121 dual filter with 3-channel mixer per filter
- 130 dual VCA, again with dual 3-channel mixers
- 140 dual envelope has 3 outputs per ADSR plus a built in LFO that can be triggered and phase synced
- 173 gates module comes even with four gates that can switch audio and 6 quad buffered multiples
- 297 has a dual portamento controller plus two independent CV mixers
- 150 brings a ring modulator, 2 noise generators, syncable LFO and a sample and hold generator
- 172 module delivers a 6-step phase-shifter, an analog delay, an LFO and a gate delay
- 305 is an output module a four-band parametric EQ, a 4-channel mixer, line and separate headphone output and even a tuning oscillator
- 182 there is a powerful analog sequencer with either dual 8 steps or 1-16 steps and tempo, portamento and gate time controls
- 110 is a complete synth voice with VCO, VCA and filter in a single module

#NAMM2020"

Update: Word is this might be an AMSynths joint project. From their website:

"Behringer Partnership In June 2019 I joined forces with Behringer to design analog synthesizers that will be manufactured in China and sold to customer across the world. I am working on a number of projects which I will let Behringer announce when they are ready. AMSynths is continuing to grow with more Euro Rack modules being manufactured, as well as complete synthesizers like the SH05 and Jupiter One. In 2019 I started to restore vintage music gear, and you will see the repair stories in my Blog. I am also creating videos of my modules and the vintage synths that they emulate."


Update: some product sheet scans in in via Soviet Space Child and a note on one of the forums from Uli.

"I like to share with you the initial drafts of our M100 Eurorack Series.

These are 13 MID's or concept documents we create for every single product as part of our PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) process before we hand them over to our R&D departments for development.

We haven't decided yet which of these modules we will actually produce as it is important that we achieve a certain production volume.

As usual do we appreciate your valuable feedback which will give a better indication of validity of these products.

Thanks!

Uli"

Modules:

SYSTEM 100 140 DUAL ENVELOPE/LFO
SYSTEM 100 112 DUAL VCO
SYSTEM 100 121 DUAL VCF
SYSTEM 100 130 DUAL VCA
SYSTEM 100 131 MIXER/OSCILLATOR/HEADPHONE AMP
SYSTEM 100 132 DUAL CV/AUDIO MIXER & CV GENERATOR
SYSTEM 100 150 RING MOD/NOISE/S&H/LFO
SYSTEM 100 165 DUAL PORTAMENTO CONTROLLER
SYSTEM 100 172 PHASE SHIFTER/AUDIO DELAY/GATE DELAY/LFO
SYSTEM 100 173 QUAD SIGNAL GATE/PATCH BAY
SYSTEM 100 174 PARAMETRIC EQ
SYSTEM 100 110 VCO/VCF/VCA
SYSTEM 100 182 Analog Sequencer

CLICK FOR MORE »

Berhinger Set to Announce Moog Eurorack Modules at NAMM

2 Days To Go... Published on Jan 14, 2020 BEHRINGER

Behringer revealed the 923 Noise & Filter here. This one appears to be the 921 OSCILLATOR. Note there are several clones of this module from other manufacturers as well. Curious if this is based on one of them, the original, or their own. Their EDP Wasp clone closely resembles the Jasper clone.

Update:
NAMM 2020 – Behringer Introduces a System 55 Modular Synthesizer
NAMM 2020 - Introducing System 100 - Behringer Modular Synthesizer

Behringer TR-606 Clone Coming to NAMM?

3 Days To Go.... Published on Jan 13, 2020 BEHRINGER

New teaser from Behringer. Note the numbering style compared to an original 606 below.

Introducing the Behringer Crave Synthesizer

Published on Jan 27, 2019 BEHRINGER

Priced at $199.

Update: two more videos added to the end of the playlist. You can use the player controls to skip to them.

"We had a blast at our Music Tribe Experience Center Pre-Namm Event this past Wednesday, but we've got one more special surprise for you all...

The Behringer Crave!"

Playlist:

1. Introducing the Behringer Crave Synthesizer
2. Brand New: Behringer Crave Synthesizer
3. Behringer Crave Synthesizer - Track by MrFirechild
4. Behringer CRAVE First Demo - No Talking!
5. Behringer Crave - Feat. Moot Booxlé

NAMM 2019 Behringer VC340 No Talking

Published on Jan 27, 2019 sonicstate

"The last of our previews from the Behringer event in LA. The VC 340 strings/vocoder - available this Spring we're told"

Exploring the Behringer RD-808 Rhythm Designer - Feat. Moot Booxlé

Published on Jan 26, 2019 BEHRINGER

"Our friend Matt Baxley (aka Moot Booxle) made the trip to our Music Tribe Experience Center in Los Angeles CA to share his exceptional talents at our Pre-Namm event! A true consummate professional in every sense, he took some time to tell us what excites him most about our new RD-808 Rhythm Designer."

NAMM 2019 Behringer Odyssey

Published on Jan 26, 2019 sonicstate

NAMM 2019 Behringer Odyssey No Talking

Published on Jan 25, 2019 sonicstate

"Another demo from the Behringer event in LA, no talking Odyssey - expected availability March 2019"

NAMM 2019 Behringer MS-101 No Talking

Published on Jan 25, 2019 sonicstate

"Ok so not really NAMM as the Behringer event was in LA, but we had someone attend and grab some sound examples of the new MS-101 which we hear is coming in March"

Behringer Intros $299 MS-101 Keytar Synthesizer

Published on Jan 25, 2019 Synthtopia

"At a pre-NAMM event in LA, Behringer officially introduced the MS-101 - a keytar synth, based on the Roland SH-101.

Here's a quick overview and demo."

Behringer Odyssey Synth Hands-On Demo

Published on Jan 25, 2019 Synthtopia

"At a pre-NAMM event in LA, Behringer officially introduced their Odyssey - a modern clone of the classic ARP Odyssey..

Here's a quick overview and demo from Matt Baxley."

Behringer Pre-NAMM Event [Episode 107]

Published on Jan 24, 2019 CatSynth TV

"Behringer presented their latest synthesizer offerings, including some brand new models, at the MUSIC Tribe Pre-NAMM event in the Chatsworth neighborhood of Los Angeles. We try out a few of the instruments for ourselves

The synthesizers we previewed include:
Behringer Odyssey
Vocoder VC340
Rhythm Design RD-808
Neutron
MS-101 monophonic analog synthesizer

The VC340 and Neutron are currently available, the others are still in preview.

For more NAMM coverage, please subscribe to this channel and visit www.catsynth.com"

Behringer RD-808 Drum Machine (Roland TR-808 Clone) Hands-On Demo

Published on Jan 24, 2019 Synthtopia

"At a pre-NAMM event in LA, Behringer officially introduced the RD-808 drum machine.

Here's a quick overview and demo from Matt Baxley." aka Moot Booxle.