Behringer today teased a new polyphonic synth design, inspired by the Moog Source, the Polysource.
Details are to come, but it appears to be another of their Euro-format synth module that are closely modeled on a vintage synthesizer.
While many of the Behringer’s products are designed to be straightforward knockoffs, the Behringer Polysource is much more interesting. It copies the look, the branding and the synth voice of the original Moog Source, but it also remixes these elements significantly – and in interesting ways.
The front panel of the Behringer Polysource is immediately recognizable as a copy of the Moog Source. But on closer look, the panel has been redesigned significantly, and adds physical controls. Where the original was limited to a single data entry knob, the Polysource interface is positively knobby, by comparison.
Like Behringer’s other Euro-format synth copies, the Polysource offers limited patchability. In this case, the Polysource offers a single Sync In patch point.
Here’s what the company shared about the Behringer Polysource:
“Marc, one of our mad product designers, asked me to show his PolySource draft to you, which is inspired by the Moog Source.
He stands right behind me and said he won’t leave the office until I have posted it, as he wants to read your feedback over the weekend.
Marc is actually a pretty cool guy who was deeply involved in the PRO-800. Before I press the send button he said “tell the folks we could make this bad boy also with 8 analog voices, full patch memory and for the same price as the PRO-800.”
Behringer did not announced any timetable for the Polysource, but based on previous previews, it’s likely to be a year or more before it ships.
Are you interested in a $400 polyphonic take on the Moog Source? Leave a comment and share your thoughts!
This is the most interesting synth that they’ve announced since the Deepmind 12.
I like that they allowed their designer to actually get a little creative. This looks like it steal the mojo of the Source, but uses it for something original.
I also like that it’s not another ripoff of a synth that’s currently in production.
Looking forward to hearing it!
It’s a basic polysynth that’s using the graphic design of the Moog Source to boost sales through association.
That doesn’t detract from the fact that this is an interesting concept, although it should be named the Blorp or Buzz and feature an original panel design that doesn’t riff off a classic Moog, Oberheim or Roland.
Moog sold out, so who cares about that anymore?
This looks much more tempting than the Pro-800 (if they nail the sound).
That’s a tempting offer indeed
POLYMOOG please, Behringer
Tell mark he’d really have to nail the basic oscillators please. The raw waveforms out of the source are some of the heaviest and it would be criminal not to do them justice in a clone
Looks good in a ‘retro’ sense (not sure how that would translate to stage use though..)
One thing I’d like to see revised – ADSR in two horizontal rows plz!
Looks cool but they should really stay away from the membrane buttons >:(
White is the way to go for synths
The world would be so boring if everything was white or black…..colors make life fun.
Dear Mr B, an 8 voice polysource would be lovely but please don’t limit control with membrane buttons where knobs and sliders would be better. Blow the budget and go high-end. You could call it the Briver.
A little reference to the River by Baloran, 8 voice polyphonic inspired by the Moog Source.
I would love to see 16 voice versions of this new series of polysynths too, 8 is already rocking great, but 16 would take it even one step up!
I see a lawsuit with inMusic(who own Moog) suing Behringer. Copyright is real.
So, people don’t get your hopes up. This is a nice mockup.
Hey Behringer, look at this open source ZynthianLabs, Zynthian.
Something Behringer could make available. You hear!!!
Behringer’s knockoffs are basically designed by lawyers, so there’s nothing Moog could get them on.
Copyright isn’t relevant and anything patented would be expired.
What could be relevant would be trademark and trade dress, but Moog has been bought and sold so many times since the Source was released that those are probably irrelevant, too.
no, they are not; that’s silly. it’s common practice *not* to let engineers look at patents for “plausible deniability” when reverse engineering any product.
anytime anyone mentions “patents”, a lawyer gets gets their wings. just don’t do it.
John – your comments would be less ponderous if you did more than spout pro-Behringer fantasies.
Uli Behringer has stated publicly that the company’s business model is copying other company’s gear, and that their products are designed by lawyers. He discussed this in response to the controversy over the Behringer Swing, which he said is an Arturia Swing copy that’s as close to the original as his lawyers would allow.
If you’re not aware of this fact, you’re ignorant of Behringer’s fundamental business model, and you’re ignoring their 30-year track record of making knockoffs defined by lawyers.
Don’t bury your head in the sand. If you do that, you’ll look like an ass.
I would definitely if it wound up being much more than a knock-off, adding significantly more patch design ability utilizing several different oscillator and filter types (and polyphonic of course).
I have two hardware synths still in use after all these years — a Prophet 600 and a Source. I’m stunned to see this announcement. Having failed to retrofit my Source with a midi kit, this will be a must-have for me. And it’s polyphonic, too? I’ll miss the modulation wheel — such a great performance tool, but ditto on the need to faithfully replicate those fat, juicy oscillators.
This is very promising. As mentioned above, it’s nice to see that they were inspired by the OG design but then decided to modernize it in key areas. I feel better about something that is not a copy of a product currently in production by another manufacturer too.
Why does Behringer make eurorack synths you can’t control the pitch with cv?
Who has keyboards designed to play 8 polyphonic voices via CV?
eurorack is coopted as a dual use mechanical spec for a low cost enclosure; either leave it in it’s provided skif, or mount it up in your eurorack rig. having or not having ‘CV inputs’, isn’t part of the problem that they’re addressing; which is shipping low cost products.
@Synthhead Just wanted to say that I appreciate the editorial change making it clear that these B announcements are just that. :clapclapclap:
yes, behringer follows an open innovation path to development, rather than the traditional marketing/trade show circus. not every announcement is a product availability announcement. personally, I prefer to know what’s coming down the pike before I spend my money on just what’s available currently/in stock.
hm.. If all 8 voices are full synthvoices.. then this would be very close to a single filter Omega-8…
I know this is stupid/childish but I’ll admit that I’m slightly more interested in cheap BOOG knockoffs than I was before Jack InMusic Bastard bought Moog. Wanna support the workers at Moog for sure but also kinda like the idea of depriving Jack.
Well, buying now from Moog wont do a thing for their employees since they lost everything (union, co-owners of Moog, etc). If anything what is expected from Moog NC is to several employees in corporate like accountants to lose their job due to redundancy of the company who bought them. There are plenty articles around regarding the Moog buyout, some giving more info than others, and it should make a great YouTube video to have all this info in the same place.
If anything check out Behringer new China building in all it’s corporate glory: https://youtu.be/tshychHzoa8
I own a Moog Source I bought new in 1981 for $1500 with an Encore Electronics midi-kit I installed myself in 1990. Perhaps the most underrated synth of all time, as a guitar playing buddy of mine used to say “that thing is fatter than a 3-legged hog”, the idea of a Source with 8 voices…sounds good to me, I’m getting one as soon as it’s available.
Stay as far away you can of membrane buttons. My air conditioner and microwave use these things and it is the first ting to crap out even if they work mechanically perfect.
Looks very interesting. 8 voices for $400ish seems too good to be true.
I feel like 6 voices with a HPF on each might be more useful.
I would buy this just for the Saturday Morning Cartoon ARK II color scheme. *and* their moog inspired stuff sounds just fine for my use cases.
2 LFOs is a nice addition. S/H is missing which was available with the Level 2 Button. Maybe have this selectable by pushing both LFO wave buttons. Rather than 2 LFO On/Off buttons, these should be changed to 4 Destination buttons: VCO, VCF, PWM, VCA. Will there be support for Velocity to VCF and VCA? Maybe move the MIDI In jack to the rear panel and use that space for 2 velocity sensitivity knobs, or add it to the incremental control section.
Just like Sequential made a Trigon-6 variant on their Prophet 6 platform, now Behringer will make a PolySource variant ofn their Pro-800 platform. Change the filter type, replace polymod with a 2nd LFO, and change the way frequency is set… almost there. not a bad move.
Next will be a SEM filter based polysynth in Eurorack format? Or another filtertype?
I have been waiting for someone to replicate that unit, it was a fine synth and easy to program and use. some of my favorite sounds came from the source. count me in, I’ll buy one as soon as it’s on sale.
There are some differences with the center section, but otherwise this layout is nearly identical to the Pro-800. They even left “p-800” visible in the display of this mockup ! Oops! I imagine that under the hood the approach is not so different…
Please add more CV & Gate control.
Membrane switches suck. Please don’t use them.