We’ve criticized a couple of misguided web site redesigns recently, but Peter Kirn at Create Digital Music beat us to the punch on the strangely familiar new Behringer site:

Look out: Behringer, already a notorious rip-off artist, is taking the “first step in [the] company’s reinvention of online presence.” I shudder to think what the coming steps will look like. But yes, the new site looks a wee bit familiar. It actually gets worse as you dig into the layout.

In fairness, for over a decade now, Apple’s site has perhaps the most ripped-off Website design on the Internet. But then, Behringer is special.

I don’t know about you….but I’ve got a strange feeling of déjà vu…..

This is an overview of energyXT software at the Behringer booth, Winter NAMM 2009.

This is a demo for the Behringer VM-1 Vintage Time Machine. The VM1 is an effects pedal that offers chorus, vibrato and delay effects, with up to 550 ms of analog echo. 

Features:

• Get up to 550 ms of organic echo, chorus and vibrato
• Dedicated Delay, Chorus/Vibrato, Feedback, Mix and Level controls
• Blue status LED for effect on/off and battery check
• True hard-wire bypass for ultimate signal integrity
• Runs on 9 V battery or the BEHRINGER PSU-SB DC power supply (not included)

Tupapupa mapped the functions of the Dave Smith Instruments Evolver onto a Behringer BCF 2000 in order to use the Evolver like a TB-303 – but with more options.

GearWire demos the Behringer BCF2000 With Ableton Live.

“No one knows more about the right mixer for their style of music than the DJ”, stated Scott Garside, Behringer Corporate Communications Manager. “Any company eager to listen to their users is going to learn not only what is right about their mixers, but also where they have missed the mark. Our greatest hope is that DJs who use any brand of mixer will see this as an opportunity to get a design really right. In any case, the DJ wins.”

A completed survey is also an entry to win one of five Behringer DDM4000 digital DJ mixers. Winners will be announced on January 1st, 2009.

“Developing RSM pedals has been a multi-year program for us that has resulted in a platform on which we can develop in many directions”, states Duwe. “Our 24-bit hardware, firmware and software system will allow us to model many acoustic spaces, instruments and electronic modifications; at very little cost to the customer. One could easily be misled by the compact pedal form factor, but under the hood of our RSM processors you will find a lot of substantial FX for DJ’s, keyboardists and guitar amp effects loops alike.”

Behringer RSM pedals include chorus, phase shifting, flanging, reverb, delay, echo, octave, dynamic formant eq, acoustic modeling, rotary, harmonizing and synthesis modeling.

All pedals feature:

• Real Sound Modeling with advanced DSP algorithms
• 24-bit A/D/A conversion
• Rugged impact-resistant injection molded cases
• Sealed rotary controls
• Dual outputs for stereo or split-signal applications
• Ultra-bright On/Battery LED
• Battery or DC powered

US List $74.95

Behringer has introduced the U-CONTROL UMA25S Keyboard controller – a MIDI controller with on-board USB audio interface.

The on-board USB audio interface accepts mic or line signals; headphones with boom microphone included. The UMA25S operates on DC, battery or USB power.

The UMA25S ships with energy/XT2 Compact BEHRINGER Edition DAW software plus over 100 plug-ins. BEHRINGER provides a low latency ASIO driver compatible with Mac or PC (Windows XP and Vista).

Features:

• Ultra-slim design
• 25 velocity-sensitive keys
• Eight assignable rotary controllers, pitch bend, mod wheel and transport controls
• Stereo USB audio interface with mic and line level inputs
• Headphone with boom mic included
• Gig bag and strap included
• DC, battery or USB powered
• Ships with energy/XT2 Compact BEHRINGER Edition DAW software and 100 plug-ins
• Mac and Windows (XT and Vista) compatible

US MSRP – $189.99

Behringer has introduced the new B-Control Fader BCF2000-WH, a white version of its popular fader control surface.

Features:

• Eight 100mm motorized faders
• Eight rotary/push encoders with LED value indicator rings
• Four encoder groups for up to 32 rotary/push controls
• 20 assignable push buttons
• External footswitch and expression pedal input jacks
• 32 recallable presets
• LED display
• USB / MIDI connection
• 100 – 240 V A.C. Power

Eight 100mm motorized faders recall and automate mixes. Continuous rotary/push encoders and assignable switches give access to the channel strip and commonly used recording and plug-in functions.

The BCF2000-WH’s capabilities are larger than its compact size might suggest. Four encoder groups allow for 32 recallable rotary/switch parameter controls. 32 presets allow the unit to be instantly reconfigured for different tasks. Multiple BCF2000’s can be cascaded for larger mixes. The unit can be configured to control virtual instruments and organ drawbars (inverse mode). All faders, encoders and assignable buttons are configured manually or by the user-friendly Learn Mode.

US MSRP $249.99

In February of 2006, the FCC proposed a $1 million fine against Behringer USA for apparent violation of the FCC’s equipment authorization rules. The equipment found to be in violation of the FCC rules included audio processors, equalizers, mic preamps, sample-rate converters, mixers, amplifiers and lighting controllers.

“The products in question were shipped to the US between the years 2000 and 2005,” stated Ron Koliha, Global Communications Director. “One of the FCC’s allegations was that we didn’t comply quickly enough with their notifications. Behringer’s top management took that as a serious ‘wake-up call’ and set about to prevent mistakes like this from happening again. That’s one reason why all currently available models shipped to US dealers after our response to the complaint in early 2006 fully comply with FCC regulations and are properly identified as such.”

CEO Michael Deeb cited Behringer’s investment in what he called “state-of-the-art safety and RF emissions pre-testing facilities” with a staff of 15 technicians and engineers, appointment of a Corporate Compliance Officer, consolidation of compliance activities and operations to ensure all products comply with FCC and other global regulatory standards, and development of an in-house tracking and global regulatory review system

“Testing and labeling oversights like the ones that happened prior to 2005 are behind us now,” said Deeb.

Musikmesse: Behringer has introduced the TRUTH B3031A and B3030A, 2-way active studio reference monitors featuring state-of-the-art ribbon tweeters and Kevlar woofers.

The main features are:

• Ultra-linear frequency response with individual frequency diagrams
• Built-in 150- and 75-watt power amplifiers for the B3031A respectively, 75- and 35-watt power amplifiers for the B3030A
• 2″ velocity ribbon transducer for ultra precise sound reproduction
• Long-throw 8-1/2″ (B3031A), 6-1/2″ (B3030A) woofer with die-cast chassis and Kevlar fibre diaphragm for ultimate bass response

METALIEN iAXE629-MA USB GUITAR plugs straight into your PC or Mac computer without the need for any other hardware. The package includes “Guitar Combos Behringer Edition” modeling software from Native Instruments, which turns your computer into a guitar amp.

The METALIEN USB Guitar pack features:

• A double-cutaway electric guitar with solid aspen body, 24 medium jumbo frets, rosewood fingerboard on hard maple neck, powerful HSH pickup configuration, double-locking tremolo licensed under Floyd Rose patents for professional tuning stability even with extreme vibrato effects
• Kristal 16-track music production and Audacity editing software
• Ultra-low latency ASIO driver for PC audio optimization
• Stereo headphone output
• Variable-speed file playback function for MP3, WAV, AIFF audio files—perfect for easy learning and practicing

There’s been no official announcement about the product, but it’s designed to match the white cases of Apple’s iMac line perfectly. Our sources told us that the company hoped to get the custom version of the B-Control into Apple stores.

The BFC2000 is an inexpensive but powerful USB/MIDI controller for use with music software such as Apple’s Logic. The production version of the B-Control is a charcoal gray color. For more info on the production version, check out Synthtopia’s B-Control review.

There’s no word on when, or even if, these will show up in Apple stores. Based on what we saw at the NAMM show, though, there are probably a lot of Mac-based musicians that would like to get their hands on one of these.

GUITAR LINK UCG102 guitar-to-USB interface lets you jam and record using modeling amps and effects without the need for any gear other than your guitar and a computer. The interface links your electric guitar to a PC or Mac computer via a USB cable, allowing you to play using software like the included Guitar Combos Behringer Edition from Native Instruments, Kristal Audio Engine multi-track sequencer and Audacity audio editor. It also features a Headphone output for listening.

Guitar Link UCG120 is powered via USB, so no additional power supply is required.

Guitar Link has a list price of $49.99.

Europower PMP2000, PMP1280S and PMP518M are the new boxed-style/rack-mount type mixers in the series, available in a variety of power output options. They come with Behringer innovative amplifier technology, which provides strong sonic performance in a super light-weight package.

Europower PMP5000, PMP3000 and PMP1000, are new tabletop powered mixers, which have the traditional horizontal format, similar to Behringer XENYX non-powered mixers. They also come in a variety of power output options, with a light-weight design achieved through new-generation amplifier technology.

Most of the PMP mixers feature studio-grade 24-bit stereo FX processors with 100 presets including reverb, chorus, flanger, delay, pitch shifter and various multi-effects, and the proprietary Behringer FBQ Feedback Detection system which reveals critical frequencies for easy feedback removal.

2007 Winter NAMM Show: Behringer’s first attempt at a DJ controller, the BCD2000, didn’t generate the hype that some of their other B-Control controllers have. The company didn’t waste any time coming out with an update, though, and was showing the B-CONTROL DJ BCD3000 software controller at the Winter NAMM show.

Based on the brief glimpse we got at NAMM, it looks like the new dj controller addresses most of the limits of the earlier controller. The B-CONTROL DJ BCD3000 features a 4-channel audio interface, Traktor DJ software, phono-preamps and even a mic preamp for voice-overs.

Here are the details:

Main Features

• Play, mix and scratch MP3, AAC, WMA, OGG, WAV and AIFF files with vinyl feeling
• Native Instruments TRAKTOR 3 LE DJ software with iTunes import, Beatport music store integration, as well as podcasting and recording software included
• Powerful 4-channel USB audio interface with 24-bit converters and ultra-low latency operation under Windows XP and Mac OS X operating systems
• DJ setup in a single box: dual player, mixer, effects, 2 phono preamps plus a full-fledged monitor section
• Two versatile jog wheels to control typical DJ functions like scratching, pitch bending and cue searching
• Total performance control through 3-band kill EQ, loop buttons, pitch and level faders per channel plus an ultra-smooth crossfader.
• Two internal phono preamps to mix vinyl records with MP3 files or run as a digital DJ mixer with full effects control.
• Internal microphone preamp with dedicated Level and EQ controls for MC performances or DJ’s talkover.

The B-CONTROL DJ BCD3000 will list for $299.99 US.

The podcasting kit comes with a studio-grade FireWire audio interface which includes the Behringer Edition of Ableton Live Lite 4 music production software for PC and Mac computers. The package also includes an 8-input mixer, high-quality headphones and a studio microphone plus cable.

Pricing is expected to be $269.99.

The FCC has concluded that Behringer violated its rules by marketing in the US unauthorized digital audio devices. Rules require that these devices are tested and verified to be compliant with FCC technical standards prior to marketing them in the United States.

From the FCC Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture and Order:

We find that Behringer continued to import and market substantial numbers of these unauthorized devices for more than a year after the Enforcement Bureau initiated an inquiry into Behringer’s compliance with the Commission’s equipment authorization requirements. Based on the facts and circumstances before us, including the egregious nature of Behringer’s continued non-compliance, we conclude that Behringer is apparently liable for a forfeiture in the amount of one million dollars ($1,000,000).

In proposing its forfeiture amount, the Commission considered that Behringer marketed the unauthorized devices for more than five years overall and for almost a year after it was on notice of the FCC’s investigation, and that Behringer derived substantial financial gain from the sale of the unauthorized devices.

Behringer Unauthorized Class B Digital Devices Marketed in the United States include dynamic processors, equalizers, mic preamps, digital effect processors, UB Series Mixing Consoles, Analog Mixing Consoles, DJ mixers, DJ gear, guitar amps, instrument lighting systems, pro lighting systems, and the Behringer Control series of devices.

Source: FCC NALF (Acrobat file)

Behringer

The U-CONTROL UCA202 is an ultra-compact USB audio interface with two inputs and outputs for recording and playing back via PC or Mac. High-resolution, 48-kHz converters ensure high-end audio quality.

Other features of the U-CONTROL UCA202 include:

• Ultra low-latency 2 In/2 Out USB/audio interface with digital output
• Works with PC or Mac – no setup or drivers required
• Stereo headphone output with dedicated level controls allows the monitoring of both input and output

Behringer

All three of the keyboards in the UMX series feature full-sized velocity-sensitive keys, 10 programmable MIDI controllers and eight user-set control buttons. Each UMX keyboard comes with 50 software instruments plus Ableton Live Lite 4 BEHRINGER Edition and a USB/Audio interface to allow playing straight out of the box – in the studio as well as on stage.

Other features of the UMX series include:

• Compact USB/MIDI controller keyboard with USB/Audio interface
• Full-sized velocity-sensitive keys (U-CONTROL UMX61: 61 keys), (U-CONTROL UMX49: 49 keys) or (U-CONTROL UMX25: 25 keys)
• Freely assignable modulation wheel, Volume fader and sustain foot pedal port
• Eight high-resolution rotary controls plus eight assignable switches
• Octave tone range via the octave shift function (U-CONTROL UMX61: 11-octave), (U-CONTROL UMX49: 10-octave) or (U-CONTROL UMX25: 8-octave)
• Separate MIDI Out
• Plug-and-play with Mac OS X and Windows XP
• USB cable