Behringer Updates Neutron To v2.0, Intros Free Neutron App

Behringer today released a new firmware for its Neutron Eurorack synthesizer, adding new features and support for the Neutron application.

The new app lets you connect your computer to the Neutron, via USB, and edit its settings.

Here’s what’s new in Neutron v2.0:

  • Added full support for the Neutron Application. For more details please see the
    updated User Manual.
  • Added Restore Default Parameters button combination.
  • Added LFO One Shot mode.
  • Added LFO Re-trigger option for overlapping notes.
  • Added LFO rate Key Track – The LFO rate will double or halve for each octave played above or below a user defined note.
  • Added LFO Shape re-ordering – Any of the LFO shapes can be placed in any of the 5 available locations, including duplicate shapes.
  • Added LFO Phase o set – Each LFO slot can have an independently set phase o set (configurable to 0, 45, 90, 135, 180, 225, 270 or 315 degrees).
  • Added the ability to set the maximum LFO Depth between 0-100%.
  • The VCF in key track mode will track with porta & pitch bend.
  • Added an internal VCF mod source with the following options: Disabled, After Touch, Mod Wheel and Note On Velocity).
  • Added the ability to set the Filter Mod Depth between 0-100%
  • Added independent Auto Glide options for each oscillator. The user can set an auto glide range of
    up to +12/-12 semitones. The rate of auto glide is de ned by the Porta time control.
  • Added configurable pitch bend range between 0-24 semitones (The same value is used for both +’ve and -‘ve pitch bend ranges).
  • Added note priority options of High, Low and Last note.
  • Implemented Oscillator keyboard split for Oscillator 1 and 2. Oscillator 1 plays below the split
    point and oscillator 2 plays above the split point (Also dependent on note priority).
  • Added the ability to configure a maximum and minimum note numbers. This limits the MIDI notes that the Neutron will respond to.
  • Added the ability to Mute out of range notes.
  • Implemented SysEx commands for all con gurable settings, including MIDI Channel selection.
  • OSC 2 can now be configured to ignore incoming MIDI notes.

Fixes and Improvements

  • Improved filter tracking when key track (KEY TRK) is enabled.
  • Assign Out (Note Velocity) CV is now held after a Note O message is received.
  • Sustain implementation fixed.
  • Memory optimisations and improvements.

See Behringer’s Neutron page for details.

43 thoughts on “Behringer Updates Neutron To v2.0, Intros Free Neutron App

  1. Unbeatable value already and so many improvements with this update, outstanding work, superb support. Other hardware manufacturers who sell for 10x more do not offer this level of updating (same with my X32, so much was added over the years for free)

  2. I’m absolutely loving this synth. The continued support is extremely impressive. After being burned in the past by their products they are winning me over.

      1. I did some experimenting last night. This parameter lowers the amplitude of the LFO output, presumably in the digital stage. So yes, it should resolve your issue (although if you have LFO bleed, it’s probably covered under warranty)

  3. It’s too bad that the interfaces of synths like the Neutron and the Moog Minitaur are so convoluted, or have so many ‘buried’ features, that you need a computer editor to make them usable.

    It’s ok to require a computer editor for things that should be extremely rare to need to do – like running an update or retuning the synth – but if you need a software patch editor to access all of a synth’s functionality these days, you’ve failed with your design.

    1. Its more a case of being able to set it up the way you want to use it- it is still basically a one knob per function synth, very tweakable!

      Any more knobs and it gets bigger (or more cramped) and more expensive, its a fair compromise.

    2. I agree but I find that to be more frustrating on the Minitaur, because it’s a programmable instrument, and you could recall a patch that doesn’t behave as you expect when you try to tweak it.

      Some of the things you can change in the Neutron app are personal preference that you’d probably set and forget (like note priority or assignable output), while others are weird/interesting things (LFO shape mutations, “autoglide”) that you would only be likely to engage while you’re experimenting, and then you’d set them back to “normal” when you’re done.

  4. I wish manufacturers would clearly indicate the revision and date of publication at the front of updated manuals. So annoying to never be sure if the PDF that’s been sitting in my documents folder is the most current one.

  5. The download icon on Behringer’s site shows a Windows icon for the app. I was worried it would be Windows only, but you get an archive containing the Windows and Mac versions.

    1. Yeah, I was boycotting them at first too, but I heard too many great sounds from their Model D on YouTube and gave in. Just got my Model D hooked up to my EWI tonight (thanks to a Hexinverter Mutant Brain & a Division 6 Multiplicity XV). For me, with CC2 patched to cutoff CV & loudness CV, the Behringer Model D sounds wonderful.

    2. If you’ve got an iPhone or an Android in your pocket or if you’re typing your message from a Windows or Mac laptop then your boycott is completely pointless and self inflicted

      1. A boycott is self inflicted, as a native English speaker one would say ‘self imposed’.

        If you did something previously but are not currently doing it and will not do it in future, this behaviour is pointless?

        How do you feel about the concepts of rehabilitation or redemption?

  6. A software editor for a basically modular synth is a big deal. I have no dog in this hunt, but if Behringer made no clones and instead offered several original synths of this caliber, they’d be seen as demigods. If people like their budget clones of vintage gear, no problem, but they deserve added points for getting so much right with the Neutron. If Korg or Roland had released this one, people would be crapping cheeseburgers over it.

  7. Seems like a cool update. Too bad i had to return mine. I love the layout and possibilities of this synth but the execution was pretty trashy imo. My first one had major problems in the socket connections, so i had it replaced. the 2nd one had great sounding oscs but everything after the oscs sounded bad to me. also had a ton of bleed on some sockets and was just too one dimensional tone wise. great idea and killer price but they got to pull off the whole thing a little better for me to keep it, but i have no shortage of synths so any new synth needs to be pretty good for me to really need it. i got credit now for a bro one or 808, so im not a lost customer. good thing about being so cheap, you dont take much risk.

    1. is it possible to say more about why it was one-dimensional and why the filters etc sounded bad? everyone else is so positive, I’m interested to see some constructive criticism

      1. A few things for people to be aware of: The manual states “Comprehensive MIDI implementation with MIDI channel and Voice Priority selection” They definitely need to remove the word “Comprehensive”. It does not even respond to velocity. Since this is a Eurorack compatible synth, it would have been nice if the external input was switchable between line level and Eurorack. More obviously are the facts there is no PWM and the LFO is only switchable between square and triangle.
        But this is a $300 dollar analog synth, it does sound great and it does have a number of crucial CV inputs including cutoff CV & loudness CV. Also they recently released the Model D Synth Tool which does make it a lot easier to switch the MIDI channel & voice priority mode.

        1. Eh?

          The Neutron has always had MIDI velocity, it can be routed out of the Assignable Out and then into wherever you like, amps, etc. In the new update theres a software improvement regarding midi velocity routing to filter cut-offs.

          The Neutron oscillators have always had PMW

          The Neutron LFO has always had 5 waveform shapes, key sync, delay and MIDI sync.

          It seems a shame that you sent back a synth for not having features which it DOES actually have. You missed out there!

          1. I think they’ve confused the Model D with the Neutron. Of course, since the Model D is supposed to be a recreation of the original Minimoog, the lack of velocity, PWM and different LFO shapes makes perfect sense because the original Minimoog didn’t have them either.

      2. for sure, im not saying its trash, just wasnt good enough for me. It has a great price point and overall layout. So for me the OSCs sounded good. My gripe is that the rest of the chain sounded too harsh and was very hard to get a non overdriven sound from even without the overdrive going hard. delay is very noisey and boring. personally id just leave that out i have plenty of better delay options. but overall it was too gritty for me and that wasnt present when i patched the oscs out to other stuff. the filter is fine, and is def different than a standard 4p ladder but it is also a little aggressive for me, but interesting. its great it had s and h and some great utilities but my patch bay connectors had a weird mix of bleed that caused some weirdness (maybe it was randomly cool but it wasnt normal). maybe it was just a bad one but my first one had a broken connector on one of the patches. so maybe i was just unlucky on the first batch and got 2 bum ones and didnt jive with the overall tone. no worries like i said i just returned it for credit that ill use on the pro one.

        1. It’s very easy to get a non-overdriven sound. Route oscillators to attenuator then send that to filter input. By attenuating the level going into the filter this allows a whole other level of tone control. i.e. can boost the filter resonance without distorting any circuits easily allowing acid patches. The great thing about semi/modular is you’re not locked to fixed architecture so changing the way it operates is pretty easy and very effective.

  8. This synth is insane value. I bought two of the Model D’s and I’m going to buy a second Neutron, too. Behringer is truly stepping up, never had a problem their quality and I am likely to buy whatever they come up with it in the future. Crazy times we live in.

    1. the problems will come later, when your components starts to faulty or when the cheap plastic starts to get sticky on the surfase 🙂 *Still too early, but will come*

      1. seriously? It’s built like a tank, nothing “cheap” or “plastic” about the machine. You’ve obviously never seen one in real life. These anti-Behringer posts are getting boring.

        1. Aside from the tuning pots turning too easily for my taste, my one complaint about the build quality is that one of the attenuator knobs came loose, which I fixed with a shim because of course I did. Everything else is very solid, and even the somewhat ridiculous red faceplate looks surprisingly good in person.

          And if the anodized aluminum, painted steel and plastic knobs start to get sticky, it’ll be my own fault, not Behringer’s.

      2. What is with people trying to find reasons to hate on these synths? Did Behringer insult your mother or something? The only thing “plastic” on the Neutron is the knobs, and that is pretty standard.

  9. Just installed and tested the upgrade and app. Great stuff, everything seems to work perfectly. Makes using the Neutron much easier. Sounds wonderful

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *