Behringer Phara-O Mini A Bizarre Egyptian-Themed Clone Of The Korg Volca Keys
After announcing the release of products based on the PPG Wave, Roland Jupiter-8 and LinnDrum this month, Behringer has turned to the modern era for its inspiration, releasing a mini-synth that has a remarkably similar set of features to the Korg Volca Keys.
Today, Behringer has introduced the Phara-O Mini, a knockoff of the Korg Volca Mini, with Egyptian styling and hieroglyphics.
It’s the latest in their line of Mini synths, which like the Volcas, pair basic synth engines with a capacitive touch keyboard in a compact package.
The official intro video:
Phara-O Mini is an analogue synth with three oscillators, each equipped with saw and square waveforms. It’s paraphonic, meaning that multiple notes can be played simultaneously, but its voices share envelopes and filters and can’t be shaped independently.
Like the Volca Keys, the synth’s oscillators run through a 12dB/oct analogue filter based on the MiniKorg 700S, a quirky analogue monosynth from the ’70s. A single ADSR envelope is joined by a single LFO equipped with three waveforms and adjustable rate, that can be used to modulate the pitch and filter cutoff.
Phara-O Mini also features a multi-mode ring modulator that can be applied to its square waves to create unusual metallic tones, and there’s a basic delay effect onboard too. The synth’s six play modes include poly, unison, octaves, fifths, ring unison and ring poly.
Below the main panel, is a 27-key touch-sensitive keyboard similar to the one found on other instruments in Behringer’s Mini range. This can be used to program its 16-step sequencer, which can be used to record parameter changes as well as melodic sequences, and can store up to 10 patterns. In the connectivity department, you’ve got USB-C, MIDI in, sync in/out and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Features:
- Portable analog polyphonic and programmable synthesizer
- Analog signal path based on VCO, VCF and VCA designs
- 27 touch-sensitive keys
- 3 VCOs with saw or square waveforms
- Low-pass filter based on Mini-700S synthesizer from the 70s
- Multi-mode ring modulator on square waves for metallic sound effects
- 16-step motion sequencer with 10 memory slots and recording of knob movements
- Delay effect
- Extensive play modes featuring poly, unison, octaves, fifths, ring unison and ring poly
- LFO with 3 waveforms and sync for pitch and filter cutoff
- Envelope generator to modulate VCA, pitch and filter cutoff modulation
- USB Type C allows powering via smartphone, power bank or computer
- Sync Input and Output to synchronize with your other synthesizers or drum machines
- MIDI implementation (including NRPN/CC control of all parameters and bulk load/save)
The Behringer Phara-O Mini is shipping now, priced at $99.
*Note: It typically takes a month or two for Behringer gear to be available at its retail partners after it starts shipping.
Visit the Behringer website to find out more.