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Is It Their Best Analog Monosynth ?

Today, Behringer announced the Proton – an all-in-one paraphonic synth in Eurorack format – is now shipping to retailers, with a street price of $399.

The Behringer Proton is arguably the most original synth that the company has released in the six years since they introduced the Neutron, and it looks to be an intelligently designed synth module, offering both a powerful normalized synth voice, and lots of patchability for integrating it into larger Eurorack modular systems.

The Proton is an analog paraphonic semi-modular synth, building on the work that the company did with the Neutron to create what’s essentially a modern monosynth in Eurorack format.  It features 2 VCOs, 2 VCFs, and 2 VCAs, with 4 envelopes and a wave folder.

While the design is not as easily understandable as most of the synths that Behringer has introduced in the last six years, it runs circles around the sound designs possibilities of their Euro monosynth knockoffs, which generally mimic synth designs from 40 years ago, and the engineering constraints of 40 year old technology.

So, where 70’s and 80’s analog monosynths designs tend to offer limited waveform choices, a single filter and minimal modulation options. the Proton features dual VCOs with continuous waveform control, sub-oscillators, dual multi-mode filters, dual ASR envelopes plus dual ADSR envelopes, extensive modulation options, lots of hands-on control and a metric but load of patch points.

Features:

• Analog synthesizer with dual VCO design
• Paraphonic mode allows both oscillators to be independently controlled
• Semi-modular design requires no patching for immediate performance
• Analog signal path with VCO, VCF and VCA
• Dual oscillators with 5 waveforms, oscillator sync, pulse width modulation and individual sub-oscillators
• Oscillator waveform control blends between 5 shapes (tone mod, pulse, sawtooth, triangle and sine)
• 2 self-oscillating, multi-mode VCFs can be configured in parallel or series with linkable CVs
• 2 ASR envelopes with reverse/ inverse/loop/bounce options to control VCAs and wave folder
• 2 analog ADSR generators for modulating the VCFs
• Multi-mode wave folder
• 2 flexible LFOs with 5 waveforms, MIDI clock sync, key sync, phase and depth controls
• Noise generator
• External audio can be summed into one or both VCFs
• Utility functions include attenuverters, multiples, signal/CV mixer and summer
• External audio input with level control and soft clipping circuit for processing external sound sources
• 64 patch points for advanced modular connection and integration with external equipment
• 68 controls give you direct and real-time access to all important parameters
• Eurorack compatible – module can be transferred to a standard Eurorack case
• MIDI support

The Behringer Proton is shipping now from their factory, priced at $399. Based on previous history, it can be several months between when they start shipping and when their gear becomes available at retailers.

What do you think about the Behringer Proton?

Check out the official intro video and specs, and then share your thoughts in the comments!

A Classic Analog 16-Voice Multi-Timbral Polyphonic Desktop Synthesizer with 8 Vintage Modes and Dual VCFs

Ever since the Behringer UB-Xa synthesizer was announced, people have been begging for a desktop version.

Today, Behringer announced that the UB-Xa D – a 16-voice polyphonic analog synth module, based on the synth voice of the classic Oberheim OB-Xa – is now shipping from their factory.

The UB-Xa D has the same features as the keyboard version, but in a desktop module. It’s designed to be compact and the width is just 46cm, and can be used either as a desktop synth module or mounted in a standard rack.

Features:

• Analog polyphonic synthesizer based on OB-Xa, including original factory patches
• ‘Vintage’ mode allows selection of 8 synthesizer signatures including OB-Xa, OB-8 and more
• 16 voices with 2 VCOs per voice and oscillator sync mode
• Multi-timbral capability allows splitting or layering 2 different sounds
• VCOs and VCFs based on reproductions of original 3340 and 3320 semiconductor designs
• Both VCOs generate sawtooth, triangle or square waveforms with variable pulse width
• Selectable dual-slope 12/24 dB analog low-pass filter per voice with adjustable resonance
• Desktop version for stage performance or rack mount operation with rack mount brackets included
• 8-channel modulation matrix
• Dual-layer arpeggiator and sequencer with real-time sequence transpose
• Velocity and after-touch can be optionally used for more expressive performance
• 2 dedicated LFOs with 7 waveform shapes for modulation of pulse width, oscillator pitch and filter cutoff frequency
• 2 ADSR generators per voice for control of VCF and VCA
• Stereo VCA per voice to allow control over voice/layer panning
• 26 rotary controls give direct and real-time access to important parameters
• LCD Display with encoder for rapid parameter editing
• Assignable preset recall switches for program selection
• Spring-loaded pitch and assignable modulation paddles
• 512 user program memories with “compare and match” feature to quickly match all analog controls to stored program values
• Fully servo-balanced outputs
• CV/pedal inputs for connection to expression pedals and footswitches
• MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE) to enable multidimensional controllers and multiple parameters per note
• Comprehensive MIDI implementation (including NRPN/ CC control of all parameters and bulk load/save)

The Behringer UB-Xa D is now shipping from the factory, with a price of $799. Based on Behringer’s previous shipping announcements, it can be several months before their shipping products are available via retailers.

Submerge adds a touch of modern magic to a classic production technique. With mid-side processing, filtering, EQ and sample rate reduction, Submerge offers more than your average ducker.

Slate Digital has unveiled Submerge, a new advanced automatic sidechain plugin that enables you create the classic ducking and pumping effects popular in electronic music, while offering a few modern twists that take it beyond the capabilities of a conventional ducking plugin.

Sidechain compression is an effect that uses the level of one sound to trigger a compressor on another, making room in the mix for the first sound by reducing, or ducking, the volume of the second. This is most often used to create space for the kick drum by compressing a bassline, but there are many more ways that sidechain compression can be used creatively.

Submerge can be hooked up to another track in your DAW (audio or MIDI) to trigger its ducking, or it can be applied automatically by syncing up with your project’s tempo. Threshold sets the level at which sidechain-triggered ducking will be applied, while Delay does what you’d expect it to, delaying the effect following the trigger. The plugin offers a choice of three curve shapes that can be further tweaked using Morph and Depth controls.

Where things get interesting is Submerge’s choice of eight effects, which can be applied in place of conventional sidechain compression. The plugin gives you the option to apply high and low shelf EQs, high and low pass filters (with adjustable resonance) and sample rate reduction, using the Tweak control to further sculpt each effect.

Hitting Gain M/S and dialling up the Tweak knob will apply gain reduction to the mid and side portions of a signal separately, making it possible to create some interesting stereo imaging effects.

Submerge is available now for macOS and Windows in VST/AU/AAX formats. Priced at $49, it’s also available as part of Slate Digital’s Complete Access and All Access Pass subscriptions.

Find out more on Slate Digital website.