Behringer PRO VS Mini

[egbert101]

So it's very clearly a cynical money grab, with no interest in reproducing the original instrument (which was eight voice) and therefore hardly making a profit, and every interest in maximizing profit. Profit prophet, get it?
However, these are the times we live in, and people lap it up. It means that people get a taste of the past and feel that they own something of value, but that's not really about music but about consumerism.
I think the original is a beautiful sounding instrument, and while Arturia's software version has a digital filter and not an analog one, it's good enough and isn't restricted to a ridiculous 4 polyphony.

[VitaminD]

That's Behringer's shtick though right? Essentially copying ideas and bargain basement manufacturing to either recreate an original or, like these, design a toy based around it at extremely low cost. Then market it as being for the people because they 'hear you.'

[Magnus101]

I wonder if two units can be linked up to create an eight voice "version"?
Ie 8 voices that can be fully programmable and saved from one unit (not having to copy the settings from one unit to the other). Plus that the 8 voices are spread equally.
Just like it works for the Korg Minilogue Xd...
Then two of these would be amazing.
As it is now, it is just plain ridiculous to have something with vector Synthesis which just begs for polyphonic pads which can only play four voices...

[Stefken]

I guess it depends on what you expect or need.

I think it sounds good, doesn t require much space and 4 voices isn t too shabby for 100 bucks.
( I m quite into modular these days and 4 voices is quite the luxury in modular).

But this is a boutique line of sorts.
E.g. the Roland JU-06A also had only 4 voices but at 4 times the price.
But if you don t like that sort of things, then don t buy it .
Buy a full-key synth instead. Easy peasy.

Chances are these mini synths will get full versions at a later date. (Jupiter 8, CS-80, OB-Xa, ...) )

[VitaminD]

Yes I agree. But at that point why not just create a slightly larger 8 poly version for 200 dollars ? Or even a 16 poly version for 400 dollars?

It would be less kludgy to have it all in one device instead of carrying around and chaining multiple together. Maybe that is for a future date though?

[Stefken]

I can t speak for Behringer but a CS-80, Synthi etc seems in the works but they are not quite there yet for the full-fledged synths.

These mini synths seem a spin-off of sorts from the JT-4000 mini synth that, I quote, even children could buy /afford. (All part of the Behringer mission to bring synths to the masses and save humanity in the mean time . )
I guess they reasoned. We can t produce the full fledged synth yet, but in the mean time we can keep them occupied with these mini versions.

As for the Prophet VS, they are also making a modular version, so I guess integrating the engine into a full-key synth would not be so far a stretch.
Hell, they could even integrate it into their Groove Key Arturia ripoff which will also have it s own sound engine??

( This is all conjecture of course. I m just guessing here....)

[egbert101]

To give some context, the Behringer Odyssey, a larger version than Korg's version is extremely well constructed (although I don't much like the effects or arpeggiator which look ridiculous) and that goes for £436 currently and the Deepmind 6 is £499.

Could they do a full size replica, 8 not polyphony with analog filter for £499? I guess yes. Would it sell more? Probably not.

[vurt]

I guess they reasoned...

"4 is plenty to play jump! ba ba bahhh ba ba ba bah"

[perpetual3]

I have an RD9 and Pro800, both instruments are great.

This VS looks great other than the small size / knobs.

[vurt]

Yes I agree. But at that point why not just create a slightly larger 8 poly version for 200 dollars ? Or even a 16 poly version for 400 dollars?

It would be less kludgy to have it all in one device instead of carrying around and chaining multiple together. Maybe that is for a future date though?

id imagine they will.
but one of ulis things, is getting kids in to synths and music.
parents aren't going to buy a fully fledged synth for little squirt, to possibly get bored in ten mins and want to play xbox. they might throw 99$ at someone to shut the kid up for a bit though.

then kid gets hooked, wants more!!!
gets a wage and their own place, buys all the fully fledged keyboard versions and the cycle continues...
to the sound of everyone playing jump!

[zerocrossing]

I guess they reasoned...

"4 is plenty to play jump! ba ba bahhh ba ba ba bah"

Four full voices, but not four voice paraphonic. Each note in Jump has its own filter and envelope.

[vurt]

I guess they reasoned...

"4 is plenty to play jump! ba ba bahhh ba ba ba bah"

Four full voices, but not four voice paraphonic. Each note in Jump has its own filter and envelope.

sounded ok in the video.
but tbh, im not really a big vh fan, so maybe it's not perfect, but it's good enough for annoying people if you just repeat the opening bit

[zerocrossing]

Yes I agree. But at that point why not just create a slightly larger 8 poly version for 200 dollars ? Or even a 16 poly version for 400 dollars?

It would be less kludgy to have it all in one device instead of carrying around and chaining multiple together. Maybe that is for a future date though?

The math would not really look like that, because this synth has a single analog filter/EG for all voices. So having two of these would not be the same as one Sequential Prophet VS.

But I do agree that for me, I’d get in line to buy an 8 full voice version, even if it’s $600, but would never be interested in a four voice paraphonic VS. I’m not saying it’s bad or worthless, it’s just that I demand a higher spec from my synthesizers.

[zerocrossing]

So it's very clearly a cynical money grab, with no interest in reproducing the original instrument (which was eight voice) and therefore hardly making a profit, and every interest in maximizing profit. Profit prophet, get it?
However, these are the times we live in, and people lap it up. It means that people get a taste of the past and feel that they own something of value, but that's not really about music but about consumerism.
I think the original is a beautiful sounding instrument, and while Arturia's software version has a digital filter and not an analog one, it's good enough and isn't restricted to a ridiculous 4 polyphony.

I don’t think it’s a cynical money grab, as much as it’s making a product that isn’t for you and me. I can think back to a younger and much more broke version of myself who would have peed his pants to get a synthesizer like this so cheap. Especially adjusting for inflation. For someone who hates using software and has little money, this is perfect.

[vurt]

So it's very clearly a cynical money grab, with no interest in reproducing the original instrument (which was eight voice) and therefore hardly making a profit, and every interest in maximizing profit. Profit prophet, get it?
However, these are the times we live in, and people lap it up. It means that people get a taste of the past and feel that they own something of value, but that's not really about music but about consumerism.
I think the original is a beautiful sounding instrument, and while Arturia's software version has a digital filter and not an analog one, it's good enough and isn't restricted to a ridiculous 4 polyphony.

I don’t think it’s a cynical money grab, as much as it’s making a product that isn’t for you and me. I can think back to a younger and much more broke version of myself who would have peed his pants to get a synthesizer like this so cheap. Especially adjusting for inflation. For someone who hates using software and has little money, this is perfect.

not just hates using software, it's far too easy to imagine that everyone has a computer, forget the third world, that isn't even true here, not everyone can afford the things many of us take for granted