Behringer shared this official demo video for the new UB-Xa MINI, a mini-synth with a synth voice based on their flagship UB-Xa keyboard, which copies the classic Oberheim OB-Xa.
Behringer calls the UB-Xa MINI a polyphonic synth, but it would probably be clearer to describe it as a monophonic/paraphonic design, with three VCOs, that can be controlled individually, feeding through a single signal VCF-VCA signal path.
Now matter how you describe it, though, the UB-Xa MINI packs a lot of features into a tiny package.
Features:
- Portable analog polyphonic and programmable synthesizer
- Reproduction of OB-Xa VCO and VCF circuitry from the ‘80s
- Analog signal path based on VCO, VCF, and VCA designs
- 27 touch-sensitive keys
- 3 separate VCOs with saw and square waveforms
- Multi-mode ring modulator on square waves for metallic sound effects
- 16-step motion sequencer with 10 memory slots and recording of knob movements
- Extensive play modes featuring poly, unison, octaves, fifths, ring unison, and ring poly
- LFO with 3 waveforms and sync for pitch, filter cutoff, and pulse width modulation
- Selectable dual-slope 12/24 dB analog low-pass filter with adjustable resonance
Pricing and Availability:
The Behringer UB-Xa MINI is priced at $109 USD and is starting to show up at retailers as available to pre-order.
I’ve waited years to finally have a poly synth that has analogue square and saw VCOs.
Groundbreaking.
I doubt the words groundbreaking and 109usd are mentioned in the same sentence very often, especially when it comes to synths. Not that I´d buy this, but I´d say there´s a lot of fun to be had with these for people wanting to dip a tiny toe into analog synthesis.
If Fender releases a new budget strat, do you go `Geez, 6 strings, 3 elements, that’s not very innovative”?
Yep.
?
That dude in the video playing Behringer Wave will never play this toy again, because he has a Wave.
sounds great for an affordable playable mono-ish synth. When will the UBXA get the new oscillator modes?
This and the ProVS MINI are definitely cool. 🙂
I want to daisy-chain 4 of these and create a 12-voice baby Obie. Oh, sure I do.
Each of these only has a single filter, so it would sound really dodgy.
The SVF is what makes an Obie an Obie. Why bother if you aren’t going to have this?
Behringer creates the equivalent of “fast fashion” in the music gear sector. Products like this are cheap impulse buys that will end up collecting dust after a week. Next stop: the landfill.
I could not agree more. I kinda want this but also know it’d be on a shelf collecting dust within a couple of weeks.
Also, I hope the lovely irony of your post isn’t lost!
Your review reads very much like a 1981 Rolling Stone/NME/etc review of Depeche Mode’s first record (disposable, landfill…). Of course, “Depeche Mode” is French for “fast fashion” and they seemed to have lasted pretty well. 😀
Again, I don’t disagree with your review but I’m trying to check myself a bit: What would a 19 year old Vince Clarke (and/or Martin Gore) do with $100 OBX voices with solid tuning and MIDI control and…?
Why do people feel every device is made for them?
Most mini sized audio gear products are considered a waste until someone does something with it that gets attention.
It then becomes that secret weapon everyone is dying to have.
Sad we are now caught in a world where people look at videos that are supposed to show them how to be creative.