Behringer’s Poly D is now official. The Germans’ photocopier is back to work, and this time it’s Moog’s turn again.
Because the Americans already went through the Behringer turmix with the Model D, one of the first Behringer synths that was also very well received. In fact, it is still in the catalog, and continues to sell well. Here is a video so you can see that it is very similar:
Logical, given that it costs a tenth of the original (the reissue, rather). Yes, if you have a real Minimoog you have a little piece of music history, but for those of us who can’t afford to spend €3,000 on a synth, the Behringer alternative was very welcome thanks to its successful similarities to the original. Which is not perfect, of course, but in a mix it gives a lot the hit.
Poly D: PolyMiniMoog
And we expect the same from the Poly D, a paraphonic version of the Minimoog. That is, it has 4 oscillators, but they share a filter (ladder of 24dB per octave, like the original) and VCA. Another interesting addition is the chorus, which comes from the Roland Juno 60. The Behringer factory already has this chorus under the umbrella of TC Electronic (another brand of the group) under the name June 60, in pedal format, which is also selling very well. Add a distortion (Boss DS1 type, as we saw on the TD-3) and all the connectors necessary these days (CV-Gate, 5-pin MIDI In-Out-Thru, MIDI-USB, Sync,…) and you have a thick sounding synthesizer and a formidable aesthetic.
Characteristics
- Analog synthesizer with quad VCO allows for incredibly thick music creation.
- 4-voice polyphonic design with monophonic, unison and polyphonic modes.
- 37 full-size semi-weighted velocity-sensitive keys.
- Authentic reproduction of original “Type D” circuits with transistors and JFETs combined.
- Ultra-high precision 0.1% thin film resistors and polyphenyline sulfide capacitors.
- Pure analog signal path based on authentic VCO, VCF and VCA designs
- 5 variable oscillator shapes with variable pulse widths for the best sounds
- Classic filter ladder 24 dB with resonance for legendary sound performance
- Incredible stereo chorus based on authentic Juno 60 synthesizer circuitry*
- Multi-stage delay based on legendary technology BBD (Bucket Brigade Delay).
- Distortion circuit based on the Boss DS-1 adds spicy and edges to your sound.
- Easy-to-use voltage-controlled 32-step sequencer with 64 sequence locations
- Arpeggiator for great sound effects.
- Switchable high/low pass filter mode.
- LFO with dedicated, fully analog triangle wave/square wave.
- Noise generator dramatically expands waveform generation
- 84 controls give you direct, real-time access to all important parameters.
- Audio input for processing external sound sources.
- Stereo outputs with balanced servo stages for high signal integrity.
- Comprehensive MIDI implementation with MIDI channel and voice priority selection
- Designed and manufactured in the UK.
Well, here we are, waiting for it to hopefully enter our warehouse at the beginning of next year. For now, we can delight in listening to the Poly D arpeggios and sequences in this Firechild video:
- Seen at Behringer.
