Behringer Cat, Neutron, or Pro-800

[Ex Machina]

So I have space for one more smallish tabletop synth. I was planning to get the Behringer Pro-800 because it seemed like a no brainer for a $400 8-voice analog VCO poly. But I already own a 16-voice REV2, a Tetra, and a Matrix-1000 along with every rackmount analog synth that Roland made in the 80s and my beloved original Juno 60. Oh, and I also own a Waldorf Pulse 1 and 2 plus loads of hybrid and digital hardware synths.

So it seems like I already have that Sequential Curtis sound covered even if my modern DSI and Sequential synths along with my Matrix-1000 are all DCO “Synth on a Chip” budget synths.

So I’m thinking of getting something that sounds a little different that I would use primarily for sound design. I would most likely autosample the patches and sequences I create on whatever synth of this sort I buy. (I just can’t deal with synths without patch storage for normal songwriting duties because I’m usually working on several projects at once and don’t want to have to constantly recreate patches which I can never recall perfectly.) So I usually sample these sorts of synth sounds and sometimes layer them with custom recorded percussive attack transients and so forth in HALion or Falcon.)

I think the Behringer Cat clone sounds really interesting. But the Neutron is also cool and includes many more patch points for crazier sound design possibilities.

I’m curious if anyone owns both a Behringer Cat and a Neutron and which one you think is more appropriate for creating more unusual analog sounds that could be used for Depeche Mode “Black Celebration” era style sounds.

Of course, the Cat and Neutron are not the only quirky small, semi-modular analog synths. There are synths like the Dreadbox Erebus, Grp A1, and even the more expensive Studio Electronics Boomstars that could all be used to create more interesting sounds than my current analog synths are capable of.

I should probably mention that I don’t want to go down the Eurorack rabbit hole even though a modular rig would provide the greatest flexibility for creating cool sound design-focused patches.

[jethrobull]

Neutron. I love that thing
But I can't compare with the other two. I do have the K-2 and PRO 1 also, but honestly, you can't go wrong with any. But if had to pick just one it would be the neutron. The blending of waveforms, distortion and the delay makes it tons of fun. It's a quirky little beast

[Ex Machina]

Neutron. I love that thing
But I can't compare with the other two. I do have the K-2 and PRO 1 also, but honestly, you can't go wrong with any. But if had to pick just one it would be the neutron. The blending of waveforms, distortion and the delay makes it tons of fun. It's a quirky little beast

Yeah, I’m leaning in the direction of the Neutron. A buddy of mine has one and he loves it. He creates little musical interludes and sound FX for Clear Channel radio shows and says that the Neutron comes in really handy for that kind of work. Plus the Neutron is so ridiculously inexpensive that you really can’t go wrong with one.

[vurt]

have you looked at the taiga?
that has some range and sounds lovely. unless you want filth if course, which it can also do.

[Stefken]

If you can wait some more months, you could go for the proton instead of the neutron.
Release is projected around october, say the end of the year.

Proton adds a Wave folder, a 2nd filter, usable in series or in parallel, sub-oscillators, and envelopes that can loop. It lost the overdrive and delay however (something had to give).

[Ex Machina]

If you can wait some more months, you could go for the proton instead of the neutron.
Release is projected around october, say the end of the year.

Proton adds a Wave folder, a 2nd filter, usable in series or in parallel, sub-oscillators, and envelopes that can loop. It lost the overdrive and delay however (something had to give).

Yeah, I thought I read somewhere that Behringer was planning to release a “Neutron 2.0.” But then I was confused when I watched a Loopop YouTube video of what was described as the “Neutron 2.0” when all this referred to was the 2.0 firmware.

So it’s the Proton that will be an upgraded version of the Neutron. I don’t mind losing the delay but the overdrive seems to add a lot to the sound of the Neutron. Maybe the Proton’s wavefolder will make it possible to create an even wider range of unusual sounds.

Hell, maybe I’ll get both a Cat and a Proton given how inexpensive they are. And then I’ll just need to find room somewhere to put the extra synth. Maybe I’ll get one of those racks (not a Eurorack) that lets you stack three Behringer Model D / Pro-1 size synths vertically at a slight angle.

[vurt]

If you can wait some more months, you could go for the proton instead of the neutron.
Release is projected around october, say the end of the year.

has there been any discussion on the vcs? that's the one im waiting on.

[cryophonik]

If you can wait some more months, you could go for the proton instead of the neutron.

Or, get a Pro-800 or Cat now and add a used Neutron for dirt cheap once the Proton is released and people start dumping their Neutrons. That said, out of the three you’re asking about, my personal choice would be Pro-800 > Neutron > Cat, but I’ve never owned any of them, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

[Stefken]

If you can wait some more months, you could go for the proton instead of the neutron.
Release is projected around october, say the end of the year.

has there been any discussion on the vcs? that's the one im waiting on.

I m seeing some reports on the Aks mini scaled down version. Shipping was due in summer, so i guess they are not making that deadline.
And i bet you want the full size version anyways.

I guess your modular will grow quite a bit by the time you can get your hands on this puppy.

[vurt]

If you can wait some more months, you could go for the proton instead of the neutron.
Release is projected around october, say the end of the year.

has there been any discussion on the vcs? that's the one im waiting on.

I m seeing some reports on the Aks mini scaled down version. Shipping was due in summer, so i guess they are not making that deadline.
And i bet you want the full size version.

I guess your modular will grow quite a bit by the time you can get your hands on this puppy.

well, yes, i want the full size.
but, now i know there's a mini version too, i might want that as well

and yeah, im currently working on making space for another rack

[vurt]

thanks

[Stefken]

You could check out the Erica synths Syntrx II. This is quite another budget though.

[egbert101]

Korg ARP Odyssey module version (if you absolutely must have a desktop) or even the Behringer ARP 2600 clone if you have the room and want more options. The Behringer Crave/Edge might be a good combo too. If you want presets (and who doesn't) and like the Juno sound then the Behringer Deepmind 6/12 desktop is also an option.

[ghettosynth]

nm

[Ex Machina]

If you can wait some more months, you could go for the proton instead of the neutron.
Release is projected around october, say the end of the year.

Has there been any discussion on the vcs? That’s the one I’m waiting on.

Sorry, I’m not too familiar with synths without patch storage. And most of my synths are polys. I guess I just like the ability to play chords on my synths. That’s why I often sample my monophonic synths, especially those without patch storage.

Before I sold my original Sequential Pro One keyboard a couple of years ago for a hefty profit I used to sample the shit out of that synth. I almost never used it “live” while writing songs because it didn’t have MIDI to allow me to trigger monophonic sequences on it while twirling the knobs for more expressive parts.

Anyway, what is the VCS? Is it another proposed Behringer clone or an original synth made by another company?

Again, sorry for my ignorance. My synth journey began with a Juno 60 back in 1982 (or 1983?) and it’s been one poly synth with patch storage ever since.