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Behringer MonoPoly [2021 – ]

Behringer’s version of the classic Korg synth. The original was the only one of the Older Monos that has been on my to-get list since I got into analog synths. At the time, 2004-ish, you could get a decent “antique” mono from 500€ upwards, and I remember seeing the original Mono/Polys going for somewhere between maybe 1000€ and 1200€. But when it came time for me to get one, the prices had gone insane, so I never got one. Imagine my joy when this one came out. And it’s a really fun synth to waste time with. Turn on the arpeggiator or sequencer, and let it do its thing. That stepping-through-oscillators thingy is quite nice.

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Behringer 2600 [2020 – ]

Another case of Behringer cloning a piece of synth history, the ARP 2600. The original was on my wish list, the one you know will never happen. So Behringer really did a lot people happy by bringing this one to market. It’s a r-e-a-l-l-y nice semimodular synth, endlessly tweakable. Loads of patch points and, best of all, sliders! Sliders are so much more fun than knobs. Too bad they let in more dust into the units, but you can’t have everything. This is one of those sit-down-and-tweak-and-at-four-o-clock-in-the-morning-consider-going-to-bed-as-the-alarm-will-go-off-in-three-hours kind of machines. Again, hard to resist with the Behringer pricing.

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BEHRINGER PRO-ONE [2020 – ]

Another Behringer clone-of-a-classic, this time the Sequential Circuits Pro One. I also have the original, and they do sound quite the same. So, again, for this price, no reason not to get it if you need live analog voices. Oh, patch points!

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BEHRINGER CAT [2021 – ]

More Behringer clones. A noise machine definitely, in ARP Odyssey territory. Really fun and quirky sound, lots of modulation possibilities (plus the patch points), so definitely a fun thing to sit down with.

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BEHRINGER WASP DELUXE [2020 – ]

Behringer clones again. They’ve really chosen quite a nice set of synths to copy. This is quite a straightforward and basic synth, but the repeating envelopes make it special. The sound itself is great, as really is the case with practically all analogs I’ve ever tried. I guess I would call it “juicy”. However, it could definitely benefit from more patch points.

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KORG ARP ODYSSEY MODULE [2020 -]

Lovely! A modern (= better working) version of the wonderful classic ARP Odyssey. My original one is becoming a bit tired, so this one is a really welcome addition to the Heap. Compared to the original that I have, this one has clearly snappier envelopes, and overall it sounds a teeny-weeny bit different. It has selectable filters, so it “emulates” the three different original models from the early 70’s by just selecting the filter with a switch. That’s quite nice. Always loved the original, and this one is right up there. Sliders! Simplicity!

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BEHRINGER CRAVE [2020 – 2024]

Saw it in the store, bought it. Took it home, tried it. Gave it to my brother. Not really anything wrong with it, but there’s something about this form factor that just does not work for me. Somebody said it is a blatant copy of Mother-32. Could be interesting to compare the two…

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MOOG GRANDMOTHER [2020 -]

This could be one of the best synths ever made. Proof that less is more. It’s really simple and wonderfully inspiring, has patch points and sounds HUGE. You can’t go wrong with this one. And the arpeggiator / sequencer by no means lessen the experience. Full points. Desert island stuff.

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MOOG SUB 37 [2015 – ]

This is one of those synths that I’ve bought and then criminally underused. It’s a quality piece of gear with a great sound, but I just haven’t gotten around to use it that much. It is also currently my most complex analog synth, so that might have something to do with it, as I’ve lately cherished simplicity. Interestingly (or not), after I bought this, I did not buy another synth for more than four years. Not blaming this one, though. Solid Moog sound, cool sequencer/arpeggiator, all in all extremely capable, but not as immediate as the simpler Moog stuff.

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WALDORF BLOFELD [2013 – 2015]

Got it for some nice presets I heard on the net. Then I looked at it for a couple of years and sold it after Judgment Day. Nothing wrong with it really, it just wasn’t for me.

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