Behringer UB-Xa Synthesizer (OB-Xa clone)

[egbert101]

I think knowing just how close the original factory bank presets are to the real OB-Xa, will be a big factor on price. There are no preset designer videos released yet, and I would have expected dozens of videos by now, so we'll wait and see.

[CoolColJ]

here is the desktop
- I see a fan on the back of the desktop, so does the keyboard have a fan....?

[Constructed Identity]

here is the desktop
- I see a fan on the back of the desktop, so does the keyboard have a fan....?

Probably, and it might be the same noisy fan they use in the Deep Mind.
Here is where it would be nice if you could go to a retail store to listen for yourself...

[Scotty]

Deepmind fan can be dialed back or turned off completely. It is a non issue.

[Constructed Identity]

Deepmind fan can be dialed back or turned off completely. It is a non issue.

Yes, and a fan is the easiest thing in the world to replace!
Now that I've seen the video, I see they have a new kind of power cable, could this mean a universal power? AND polyphonic aftertouch! AND sounds great, first synth of the new year for me probably and glad I didn't get the Pro-800.

[VitaminD]

For a bit more I could get the Trigon-6, or for a bit less, I could get the Take 5.

Where do you see a price?

Price of the UB-Xa? It is currently rumoured at $1500 on another forum.

It's on the Behringer facebook announcement. It says "List Price: $1,499 (stay tuned for a little surprise)"

[egbert101]

I will say that the fan in the Deepmind is not really audible and it would not surprise me there is a fan for 16 voices. It may indicate low quality components, but I find that the build quality of the Deepmind is very solid. So it doesn't put me off entirely.

[Jim Roseberry]

MoogOne has multiple fans. When first powered-on, it sounds like a vacuum cleaner.
Even on the Low setting, the fan noise is always noticeable.

Montage M has a fan.
If you put your ear right down on top of the screen, you can barely hear it.
At normal playing position, the fan isn't audible.

Kronos has a fan... which can be disabled.
If not disabled, I find it distracting.

Axe-FX III has a fan.
In studio, I find it distracting.
Replaced the noisy fan both times I've owned it.

RND 5059 Summing Mixer has a fan... which they describe as "silent".
It resonates the entire aluminum chassis like an acoustic guitar.
It's anything but silent.
Had one... couldn't begin to deal with the noise.
Replaced the fan with a Noctua model. The fan noise was gone, the resonance of the chassis was still present.
Ironically, the Neve 8816 Summing mixer doesn't use a fan.

I'd much prefer not having to deal with a fan.
If a fan is used, hopefully they've got it running quiet.

[WatchTheGuitar]

I’ve run my Deepmind 12 with the fan speed so low you can’t hear it in a 30+ ’C summer (no A/C) and it’s been fine.

[zerocrossing]

Axe-FX III has a fan.
In studio, I find it distracting.
Replaced the noisy fan both times I've owned it.

That was what finally got me to sell my AxeFX III. I guess I could have tried a different fan, but I wasn’t in the mood, and I started getting results from software that I felt was on par with it, so off it went. I don’t really miss it.

[zerocrossing]

My biggest concern is the keybed. If it doesn’t feel any better than the ASM Hydrasynth Deluxe, I’ll pass on this one, even though I think it sounds nice. I’ve got plenty of nice sounding analogs in my studio, though nothing with the Oberheim sound. Well, I do have an ATC-X that’s got a SEM clone filter, but that doesn’t really count.

[Jim Roseberry]

Axe-FX III has a fan.
In studio, I find it distracting.
Replaced the noisy fan both times I've owned it.

That was what finally got me to sell my AxeFX III. I guess I could have tried a different fan, but I wasn’t in the mood, and I started getting results from software that I felt was on par with it, so off it went. I don’t really miss it.

I agree.
It's a nice piece of gear... but I don't miss it.
Many other options available (software and hardware)

Picked up a Fender Tone Master Pro... and it's been pretty decent.
Like the 5150 (gain turned down) with a MESA 4x12 (v30s).

Might grab a QC (again) to see how it's developed.

[Constructed Identity]

This is really the golden age of music hardware. We discount new products for such little things because we are spoiled for choice.

[bmanic]

I’ve run my Deepmind 12 with the fan speed so low you can’t hear it in a 30+ ’C summer (no A/C) and it’s been fine.

I've never even turned on the fan on the Deepmind 12D since I got it (turned it off completely the first day).. that's several years ago now and it's been perfectly fine. 100% a non-issue on that synth.

.. however, I suspect the UB-Xa will be creating a lot more heat. We'll see.


As for the synth itself, I'm really interested in the desktop version. Wonder what price point they will put that at? I also wonder about the mod matrix and how deep you can go. If they used the same method as in the Deepmind then it'll be exceptionally deep and an instant purchase for me! I'm not really interested in the synth as an Oberheim emulation, at all.. I want to explore new sonic territory and having 16 voices and all those lovely tuning/drift options (also something that was part of the Deepmind!) is very nice. I suspect this will be an awesome synth!

[egbert101]

I've seen £850 flying around the rumour mill for desktop version.