Archive for May, 2017

Behringer DEEPMIND 12 Synthesizer

 




The Behringer DEEPMIND 12 features 49-key, 12-Voice Polyphonic Synthesizer with 4 FX Engines, 2 OSCs and 2 LFOs per Voice, 3 ADSR Generators, Unison Detune, 8-Channel Modulation Matrix, 32-Step Control Sequencer, Tablet Remote Control and Built-In Wi-Fi.

OSC1 allow manual, envelope or LFO control of the square waves’ pulse-width and OSC2 offers similar options for modulating the Tone. Both have independently selectable octave ranges and pitch modulation. One advantage of the DeepMind 12 plentiful polyphony can be found in the Poly section. This is the home of the synthesizer unison modes that stack voices in a variety of modes – from simple doubling to a monumental 12 voices. Given the relatively pitch-stable DCOs, the Detune parameter plays an important role in fattening everything up by shifting the pitch of combined voices up to the centre. This section is also home to the parameters that allow DeepMind to be a little more like its less linear forebears by applying ‘drift’ to oscillator tuning. Drift Rate, provided by a randomized ramp generator, is also available to tweak.

In addition, the filter section offers both 24dB and 12dB/octave flavours. In both guises the filter can be pushed into self-resonance without an oscillator signal present and can therefore be pressed into service as a pitch-stable third oscillator. Front panel access is also provided for Envelope Depth and LFO modulation. The source for this, velocity control over envelope depth, and other modulation settings are accessible via the VCF Parameter Menu. There are four effect slots that can be placed together in an insert or FX send configuration. The quality of effects, and the scope for editing, is also high. The two LFOs are also very well-equipped, with each capable of generating one of seven waveforms. The Arpeggiator has all the features including Swing, but also adds a pattern sequencer that automates velocity and gate time for each step independently of the current ARP pattern. The Mod Matrix offers a wide range of control destinations – with eight user configurable slots where 22 modulation sources can be routed to nearly 130 destinations including individual envelope stage times, levels and curves, panning, drift, high-pass filter cut-off frequency, effects parameters and the mod depth of other modulation slots. This section is comprehensive, very powerful and better than many soft synths.

The DeepMind 12 is an impressive first entry into the synth arena for Behringer. The Behringer DeepMind 12 is certainly flexible, interactive and powerful.

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Arturia MatrixBrute Analog Synthesizer


The Arturia MatrixBrute is simply a synth powerhouse..features 3x Osc, 2x LFO, 3x EG, 2x filter, effects, sequencer and that programming matrix. The hardware quality is really impressive and the Arturia MatrixBrute Analog Synthesizer is an imposing and unique looking machine, designed by industrial design guru Axel Hartmann.

The 4-octave velocity and aftertouch enabled semi-weighted keybed has a high-quality feel with a positive action that beds out softly, yet can be played fast. The aftertouch response is also spot on. The MatrixBrute features three modes; Preset lets you use the 256 buttons as patch select buttons for the 256 writable preset slots and Mod mode lets you set modulation routings – simply pick from the 16 sources on the left and select a destination at the top; set up to 16 destinations per source. There are also four user modulation slots that can be set by holding any user mod-slot button and moving a front panel control to assign. Seq mode turns the MatrixBrute into a 64-step sequencer – add steps manually or record on the fly. You can then add accents, glides and modulation per-step. The sequencer sends/receives CV/Gate and MIDI. Sequencer modes include swing, variable gate, forwards, backwards, forwards/ backwards and random. Filter 1 is a diode-base Steiner filter which has LP/HP/BP and notch modes and 2/4-pole slopes. Filter 2 retains low-end at high resonance settings and it also has LP/HP/BP modes and 2/4-pole slopes.

Besides the matrix,  Legato, Glide, Legato-Glide, Mono, Duo/Split and 3-note Paraphonic modes are also available and you can play standard leads but also 3-note chords with envelope articulation. Plus in Duo/Split mode you can run the arpeggiator to the left of the user-definable split-point and a lead to the right. On modulation, VCO1 can be modulated by VCO2, VCO3 can modulate 1 or 2, VCO3 can modulate VCF1 or 2 and noise can modulate VCO1 or VCF1. There are three envelopes;- Env1 goes to the filter(s), 2 to the VCA and 3 is freely assignable via the matrix. The three LFOs go nicely fast into audio range/overdrive and are all MIDI-syncable. To top it all, the five unique modulatable bucket-brigade delay-based analogue effects sound wonderful when blended with the VCOs; – mono/stereo delays, chorus, flanger and reverb.

Arturia have really made something special here. The Arturia MatrixBrute is most well-featured analog monosynth. It is rock-solid, capable of a genuinely mind-blowing array of sounds and it is very versatile.

Arturia Matrix Brute Analog Monophonic Synth

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