Behringer BMX Drum Machine Overview & Demo
Just a few days after unveiling the JN-80, its eight-voice Juno-60 clone, Behringer has dropped another affordable recreation of an ’80s classic: the Behringer BMX.
Today, Behringer shared this official intro to their new BMX drum machine, an updated take on the classic Oberheim DMX.
Though the German manufacturer had previously teased the BMX at the NAMM show in January, today Behringer has made BMX available for pre-order, with first units shipping in May.
The Behringer BMX is an original design, but copies its look and some features from the Oberheim DMX, like its retro 8/12-bit sample rates.
BMX is based on the Oberheim DMX, a drum machine released in 1980 that featured prominently in many early hip-hop productions and can be heard on New Order’s Blue Monday and The Police’s Every Breath You Take. It was the second digital drum machine ever to hit the commercial market, closely following the Linn LM-1.
Like most of Behringer’s clones, the BMX is not an exact replica, but a modern drum machine that draws inspiration from a much-loved classic. It features the original DMX sounds, analogue filters and a 8/12-bit sound engine for vintage grit, while adding a handful of contemporary enhancements, including a LCD screen, MIDI support and digital effects.
BMX offers eight channels, each with its own 1/4″ analogue output, and a dedicated DAC with variable sample rate and adjustable 8/12-bit resolution. Each channel gets its own volume fader and pan control on the interface, and below these you’ll find 24 velocity-sensitive pads that look much more playable than the DMX’s somewhat fiddly buttons.
Along with the original DMX samples, BMX features 121 onboard sounds, including samples from the Oberheim DX, the DMX’s stripped-back successor. You can import your own samples or record live via the line input. Along with the analogue filter, which sports both low- and high-pass modes, BMX features Behringer’s Wave Designer transient shaper.
BMX’s 64-step sequencer is capable of polymetric and probabilistic sequencing, swing, flams and randomization, and can store up to 256 patterns and 16 songs. A Pattern Mode allows for the arrangement of patterns into full songs, while Song Mode can be used to chain songs together for live sets.
BMX is well-equipped in the I/O department for a budget drum machine: there’s MIDI In, Out and Thru over 5-pin DIN, USB MIDI, a 1/4″ stereo output and headphone output, three trigger outputs and sync in/out, alongside its eight channel outputs and line input for sampling.
Features:
- Drum machine with 8/12-bit sampling sound engine
- Line input allows for live recording and storage of your own samples
- Analog circuitry including ‘original’ lowpass filters
- 8 DAC’s with variable sample rate and 8/12-bit resolution
- 8-voice architecture with independent level and pan controls for each voice
- 64-step drum sequencer supports poly-meter, step-repeat, note-repeat, real-time triggering, track-mute and track-solo
- 8 independent analog outputs for external processing or recording your rhythms as multi-track audio
- Integrated FX bus features Wave Designer and dual-mode Analog Filter with per voice assignment
- 24 velocity-sensitive drum pads with after touch
- Live recording, editing and playback of analog filter cutoff via automation
- Storage of up to 16 songs and 256 patterns, all of which can be imported/exported during playback for unlimited songs and patterns
- Pattern Mode allows arrangement of patterns into full songs and setting number of repeats per song part
- Song Mode allows chaining songs together for live sets and expanded compositions
- Unique Auto Scroll feature enables improvisation in all modes
- Comprehensive MIDI In/Out/Thru plus USB implementation for synchronization and connection to external devices
- Sync options include USB, MIDI, Clock and Internal for maximum versatility
- Encoder for editing parameters such as Tempo, Swing, Probability, Flam and Random
- High-visibility 128×64 LCD graphic display for easy editing of program parameters
- Powerful headphone and main outputs on 1/4″ connectors
Behringer BMX is priced at £349/$459 USD outside the US. Behringer does not list a US price, but at least some US vendors are listing it for pre-order at the same price. Find out more on Behringer site.
