Behringer UB-Xa Synthesizer (OB-Xa clone)

[kritikon]

I'll have a listen to the demos later. Probably won't like it though - I didn't like the original Xa, so I doubt I'll like the Behringer one either. It'll be a helluva price compared to others though. What was the latest Oberheim nostalgia fest thingy...$6k?

I doubt anyone but Korg will be seriously competing with Behringer for any poly analogue. I kinda regret a tiny little bit not buying a Prologue8 at NZ$1770 on sale recently - I noticed they went back up to $2200 not long after. But I still don't really need a big poly.

I don't think I have enough long, frizzy permed hair and spandex leopard print pants to play an Oberheim.

[cryophonik]

I don't think I have enough long, frizzy permed hair and spandex leopard print pants to play an Oberheim.

The new Oberheim comes with spandex pants, a wig, and black eye liner. Can’t wait to see Nick Batt’s review.

[pixel85]

To be fair, Anderson's videos never sold me any synth. Quite the opposite.
Demo of MS1, 2600 (some Korg's if I remember correctly) and now this just showed that synth has all the features I can see on the panel (shocking I know) and that synth sounds boring.

I don't understand why they're giving synths to this guy. It's like they would give me Hammond to make a demo. I can't care less and I know nothing about what's so special about Hammond organs.

[astralprojection]

I have to agree with many of the comments, that demo didn’t do Behringer any favors. Very harsh and nasty sounding. Not sure if it was the recording or the terrible choice of patches and sound design (all of the above?), but ugh, I’ll wait for some proper demos before I pass judgment on the synth, thanks.

to me it sounded like there was some compression and high passing added to the audio in editing. even sounds like OTT at times. and the way the stereo spread changes note by note is also a bit annoying.. it just sounds all wrong to me.. and im sure thats not the synths fault, probably some wacky editing or strange settings on the synth...

[WatchTheGuitar]

Jack’s a good player, but knows sweet FA about synths and he doesn’t really play the way most synth players are going to, he basically treats everything like an electric piano.

[Vectorman]

I read on GS that some beta testers with UB-Xa's are saying something seems to have gone quite sideways with that demo and are eager to put out more accurately representative ones. I was figuring that something surely must have wrong as soon as I heard it...whether the review unit was damaged/went out of spec during shipment, a problem with the recording, or whatever. If that does turn out to be the case, then yikes...perhaps Behringer should have stayed in-house for their first demo vid in almost a year so nothing of that sort could go wrong.

[trusampler]

Sounds like it was recorded pretty terrible, we've already heard this from behringer on YouTube videos and it sounds fantastic.

[AdvancedFollower]

If true, that's one of the worst marketing moves in recent synth history (I know the video isn't from Behringer directly, but it's still part of their marketing). They know how hyped up people are and they drop this poorly recorded demo with phase issues and nausea-inducing round robin panning like they're deliberately trying to make it look bad. It's almost hilarious how the guy looks like he's just experienced an epiphany every time he presses a key or twists a knob even when it sounds like some toy keyboard.

-Now let's hear some BASS!! *thin sounds reminiscent of someone dragging nails over chalkboard while farting emanate* - WOW, this is the most amazing synth I've ever heard!

[chk071]

If true, that's one of the worst marketing moves in recent synth history (I know the video isn't from Behringer directly, but it's still part of their marketing).

Rather a poor choice to get them to do the sound demo.

On the other hand... weird leakers with no real knowledge about what they are leaking is daily business in marketing these days. So... if you find that bad, then simply your demand might be too high.

[AnX]

I liked it, reminded me of Diva

[cryophonik]

You spelled Avid backward

[WatchTheGuitar]

reminded me of a div

He was doing his best

[kritikon]

I liked what they showed of the actual features on it though - bucketloads of functionality. But yeah, sounds vanilla and boring ultimately. But Oberheims do - that's not Behringers fault. They chose to reproduce a boring synth IMO. All of the gizmos on it tempt me, but the sound really doesn't. It sounded nothing different to a cheap and pathetic Juno filter - which is exactly what I thought of the original OBXa. One glaring option they missed was filter drive - that might give it a soupcon of character...possibly.

[Aliens]

More interested in the p16 and ds80, especially if they're both 16 voice poly with poly aftertouch.
Hoping the layers or splits can have separate midi channels.

Of course Rockshop and music works will gouge but hopefully not too much.

[kritikon]

Musicworks seem to be charging the going price for Behringer currently (I've seen them charge silly prices previously) - they still have the TD3 for $189 - that goes for >$200 everywhere else. Rockshop have definitely increased all their prices recently even stuff that they must have already had in stock - bastards. RubberMonkey seems to be the cheapest for synths - I saved $150 on my MonoPoly and freight isn't too expensive either. Was <$50 shipped from Wellington up to the top. Had to wait for stock though.