![]() Classic analog synths from yesteryear are back in vogue, and let’s face it, what synth enthusiast wouldn’t like own an original ARP2600 or CS80? However, the originals that are in decent condition are going for outrageous sums of cash on the second hand market. For example, a Yamaha CS80 in good condition will set you back around $8000! And as a free bonus, you get all of the unreliability issues that accompanies these awesome machines! We’ve seen a few of these classics being re-manufactured in recent times. Korg has the MS20 mini and the ARP Odyssey mini. News from Korg at NAMM is the announcement for a full sized version of the ARP Odyssey. However, there are some really interesting things going on over at Behringer with some serious cloning activity. The rumour mill has been working overtime in the last year about various clones in the making and this has been fueled by Uli, the founder of Behringer who has announced interest in remaking classics such as the ARP2600 and OSCar synths. Is this all marketing hype or is there something behind this? Well, the proof is in the pudding as they say and we’ve just seen the Model D shipping across Europe for the outrageously good price of £299! Some synthesizer enthusiasts will be cynical and may even be critical of these clones, but at this price point, it’s got to be worth a closer look. ![]() In a post, Uli says how, for him, authenticity is all about replicating the circuitry. Using the same components or manufacturing replacements for obsolete ones. It cannot be about VST, DSP or emulation. He is all about the sound of true analog synths. This is an interesting proposition and captures the essence of the allure of analog synths. It does what it says on the tin – its analog! In addition, Uli says that they have decided to completely open up the company. To make the development transparent and involve the public in that process. This is a good move, because with Behringer we’re getting the opportunity to be part of the development, to have a say and to see it all come together over time. So the Model D is shipping and early reports look very promising. We’ve also just seen the announcement for the Neutron semi modular analog synth that looks great and again, at an affordable price point. So whats next? ![]() Oberheim OB-Xa to UB-Xa The latest journey is a clone for the Oberheim OB-Xa. Uli went into details of how this was the most requested polysynth and how, with its complexity, will be given to the same engineering team that developed the DeepMind 12. The UB-Xa will look even closer to the original than the Behringer Model D, right down to details like colour and font selection. Behringer hasn’t revealed a price or release date for this synth yet, but images show that it will have MIDI and USB connections, as well as footswitch and pedal jacks. Uli has said that it will likely take more than 12 months to complete the UB-Xa. Its great to see a the founder and CEO of a company being so dynamic and engaged with the synthesizer community and I think its great to see these clones coming back to the market at such fantastic prices. Behringer is bringing an authentic flavour of these vintage classics to a much wider audience of synth enthusiasts that don’t want to take out of mortgage to buy a piece of kit that is 30 or 40 years old and could breakdown at any time. One could say that the myriad of VSTi analog emulations are just as good. Yep, they sound great and there is a sense of nostalgia when you see the front panel of these vintage classics. They certainly play a major role in my studio. However, they lack that analog signal pathway that gives the originals a particular character and they also lack that tactile experience that makes hardware analog synths so fulfilling to work with. It seems to me that Behringer are creating authentic sounding analog instruments at a truly affordable price so more people can enjoy this type of synthesis. Surely, this can only result in more creativity and that’s got to be a good thing!
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Tim HardwickI'm a composer, producer and author. I've been creating music for many years now and over the last 8 years, I've been focused on the fusion of electronic, orchestral and acoustic music that tells a story. Archives
April 2018
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