Which synths to get? (Thinking about 3x Behringer) [setup help]

[isuckatproducing]

Hi,

I own a M4 Pro Mac Mini, Novation Mk4 and wired headphones.
Never used hardware before except BS2 many years ago.

I'm interested in only fully analog, raw sounds.
I'm also on a budget, so I'm obviously considering some Behringer synths.

When it comes to music, I'm mostly into "modern" techno, melodic techno, tech house and sometimes some trancy stuff, but for that I will mostly use Spire/Dune 3.

I don't have a lot of space, so I have to take it into consideration.

What I have on my mind now:

Audio interface:
Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 4th Gen (beautiful design, compact)
or
Arturia MiniFuse 4 (cheaper, has USB port for midi keyboard I think)
A better idea might be something like BEHRINGER UMC1820, but it takes a lot of space I believe.

Synths: (I want to buy 3)
Behringer Pro-1
Behringer Pro-800
Behringer Model D

I'm also thinking about Behringer Cat, but I've a mixed feeling, people don't talk much about it.

I'm working in Logic Pro, 100% of the time in the DAW, so I need to be able to easily create tracks in Logic and be able to play any synth I choose using my Novation MK4 keyboard, and easily record.

Afaik synths don't come with cables, so I will need some "guitar" cables too? And perhaps some USB cables for MIDI?

As for connection/recording, I'm not sure how it works, will I be able to create 3 tracks with MIDI in Logic and have it play 3 synths at the same time live?


Oh and are there any tiny desk rack stands available for cheap in the UK?
Behringer has one on Amazon, but it's 1m tall. I didn't check yet how big the synths are so maybe there is no choice?

Thanks for any tips!

[kritikon]

As for rack stands, Behringer sell a triple stand. The constraint of these are that they need synths of the same width - Pro1, Pro800 are the same but IIRC the Model D is the slightly smaller size down. Personally I'd rather have the K2 mkII rather than Model D and that's the same size as your other 2, but I guess it's entirely subjective.



But if you need a rack instead, each of those synths is 3 rack units high, so you need a 9-unit rack. Not standard from memory, as 8 unit racks seem to be the thing, might be able to get a 10U jobbie. You can actually buy the rack arms separately at varying lengths, and it's a pretty easy thing to build a wooden cabinet/frame that you screw the rack arms onto - I've done it for a 8U BARP2600 and it was easy done in a day - and way cheaper than buying a whole rack too.

As for the actual synths - all subjective. As mentioned, I personally don't much like the Model D, but if you really want a Moog then obvs it's the thing to get. The Pro1 is good. The Pro800 really doesn't ignite me at all though it sure is good value. I love the Wasp with such a dirty filter - but a lot more limited (but also cheap as chips for a real character). K2 mkII gets you a perfectly close enough MS20 with PWM and limited FM - gnarly as f**k. I haven't yet bought a Neutron but it's on my list - full of character rubbery filter and quite versatile. Cat - I like it but have to say the actual filter is quite vanilla BUT the unusual amounts of modulation give you a great range of good sounds, esp with the sync. It'll give you way more weird and gritty sounds than the Model D IMO and has a similar-ish filter. It often surprises me, and I use it less than I should because it can always be happily abused and it's pure fun to play with.

Cables - yeah you'll need some basic 1/4" mono cables. The MIDI is fine over USB on all of them.

Can you play 3 at the same time - yes. I don't know Logic any more but it must have that capability. All DAWs do. Some of those Behringer synths have little dipswitches at the back to select the MIDI channel, but the Behringer app also lets you assign MIDI channel on most of their synths and is a useful app.

[kritikon]

That's 16.99 squids from Andertons on a very quick search. Only 8U but there must be a 10U somewhere. I've bought 10U racks in the past - similar thing that folds down flat, and way cheaper than the rack cases you see everywhere. And the Behringer rack ears cost pennies. They probably pay you to take them away .

[Uncle E]

It looks like the 2-XM would also fit into the rack stand that kritikon mentioned. That and the K-2 would be better choices than the Pro-800 and Model D, IMO. We've sold synths to some famous tech house producers and at least two of them bought MS-20's, none bought Moog's.

[Seafire Mk2]

You can't beat the pro800 for analogue polyphony at that price
The Proton is a good choice for mod possibilities
The Pro1 is a good basic beast, and the K2mk2 is great too.

Just get them all.

[D-Fusion]

Pro 1 and the Pro 800 are a great team since the Pro 800 has more of a typical tamed Poly sound and the Pro-1 has more Balls and in your face sound.
To get the idea of what the Pro-1 would sound like would be to try out Uhe Repro 1 (not 5) and set the filter type to Crispy in the tweaks menu.

For a third Synth The Sem would be a great one so you get the Prophet and oberheim sound in one tiny space.
I had high hopes for the Proton but it failed me because the Oscillator out signal goes to hot into the filter making it sound distorted in a nasty way and there is no way to dial the Oscillator volumes back to get around it since the synth doesn't have Volume control for the Oscillators and using more than 1 Oscillator is also a pain because of the hot Oscillator signals.

The Model D is is not as large as the Pro-1 and the Pro 800 so you would need a extension to fill up the extra space for it to fit in the Behringer 3-tier stand.

[isuckatproducing]

Thanks all.

I have ordered this stand:
https://amzn.eu/d/0fE7lQ11

Will my synths sit tight in it?

I was thinking about getting K2 MK2 instead of Pro800 but then I would lack polyphony, and it would be a bummer to not have that Moog sound.

So I ordered:
Model D
Pro 1
Pro 800

Perhaps I will just add K2 MK2 in the future, it’s not like it’s that expensive.

[jethrobull]

I think they a slightly different in width. The pro 1 and 800 are 80hp while the model d is 70hp
(I see D-Fusion already mentioned this)

[isuckatproducing]

I think they a slightly different in width. The pro 1 and 800 are 80hp while the model d is 70hp
(I see D-Fusion already mentioned this)

But in the stand description it says "70, 80 and 104 HP", so it should support them all?
I just received the stand 10min ago but didn't unpack it yet.

Synths will be here in 1-3 weeks.

[isuckatproducing]

Looking at the video on product page, I think unfortunately you have to set the width of the whole thing, you can't changhe the width of each "slot" lol.

Not sure how would I mount it then?

If it won't be possible maybe I will email them to switch Model D to K2 lol

[D-Fusion]

Thanks all.

I have ordered this stand:
https://amzn.eu/d/0fE7lQ11

Will my synths sit tight in it?

I was thinking about getting K2 MK2 instead of Pro800 but then I would lack polyphony, and it would be a bummer to not have that Moog sound.

So I ordered:
Model D
Pro 1
Pro 800

Perhaps I will just add K2 MK2 in the future, it’s not like it’s that expensive.

Like i said in my previous post is that the Model D is not as wide as the Pro-1 and the Pro 800.
You can buy a extension to make it fit.

The other option is to have the Model D at the bottom so it stand freely.
That is what i did when i had the same setup.

The extension i found was so expensive with shipping to my country so i could have bought a 4th behringer module for that price.

[D-Fusion]

I think they a slightly different in width. The pro 1 and 800 are 80hp while the model d is 70hp
(I see D-Fusion already mentioned this)

But in the stand description it says "70, 80 and 104 HP", so it should support them all?
I just received the stand 10min ago but didn't unpack it yet.

Synths will be here in 1-3 weeks.

You can only set it to one size.
Both of the side plates are solid metal so you can't adjust the width individualy for each slot.

[Seafire Mk2]

The extension is just for rack mounting I think, so won't work on that stand?

[Uncle E]

Looks like you could get the Model 15 instead of the Model D. I still think the K-2 would be a better choice.

[isuckatproducing]

Anyone knows if the power cables included in those synths are long?