Behringer Model D

The 1970s spawned the first truly portable analog synthesizer, and while it was quickly adopted by lots of renowned musical artists including Jan Hammer, Chick Corea, Rick Wakeman, Jean-Michel Jarre, Isao Tomita and Keith Emerson to name a few, it was somewhat temperamental and very expensive. An ultra-affordable homage to that iconic synthesizer, with all the features of the original and then some, the BEHRINGER MODEL D lets you conjure up virtually any monophonic sound imaginable with incredible finesse and ease. The pure analog signal path is based on authentic VCO, VCF, VCA and ladder filter designs in conjunction with a dedicated and fully analog triangle/ square wave LFO. And when it comes to protection and convenience, the MODEL D can even be mounted in a standard Eurorack, making it ideal for the studio and/or the road. Owning a MODEL D is like having your own personal time machine, enabling you to freely embrace the past – or shape the future!

A Brief History of Analog Synthesis

The modern synthesizer’s evolution began in 1919, when a Russian physicist named Lev Termen (also known as Léon Theremin) invented one of the first electronic musical instruments – the Theremin. It was a simple oscillator that was played by moving the performer’s hand in the vicinity of the instrument’s antenna. An outstanding example of the Theremin’s use can be heard on the Beach Boys iconic smash hit “Good Vibrations”.

Ondioline

In the late 1930s, French musician Georges Jenny invented what he called the Ondioline, a monophonic electronic keyboard capable of generating a wide range of sounds. The keyboard even allowed the player to produce natural-sounding vibrato by depressing a key and using side-to-side finger movements. You can hear the Ondioline on Del Shannon’s “Runaway”.

Storytone Piano

Designed by famous piano manufacturer Story & Clark in association with RCA, the Storytone piano debuted at the 1939 New York World’s Fair. Hailed as the world’s first electric piano, the Storytone is prized by musicians and collectors alike for its realistic piano sound – only 500 or so were ever built.

Mellotron

Finding a high level of acceptance in the 1960s, Harry Chamberlin’s Mellotron was an electro-mechanical keyboard that generated sounds by playing back pre-recorded tape loops. Although tempermental and prone to pitch and mechanical issues, the Mellotron was used extensively by many U.K. artists. Classic tracks from the Moody Blues “Days of Future Passed”, the Beatles “Strawberry Fields Forever”, and the Rolling Stones “She’s a Rainbow” are prime examples.

Arp 2600

Manufactured by ARP Instruments, Inc., the Arp 2600 was one of the most successful synthesizers to come out of the 1970s. They were ideal for players new to the synth world, and allowed patches to be changed via switches or 1/8″ audio cables. The list of recordings and artists that used the venerable Arp 2600 reads like a veritable Who’s Who of rock, pop and jazz, and includes The Who, David Bowie, John Lennon, Depeche Mode, Edgar Winter, Frank Zappa and Herbie Hancock – to name just a few. An Arp 2600 was even used to create the voice of the Star Wars character R2-D2.

FEATURES

• Legendary analog synthesizer with triple VCO design allows for insanely fat music creation
• Authentic reproduction of original “D Type” circuitry with matched transistors and JFETs
• Ultra-high precision 0.1% Thin Film resistors and Polyphenylene Sulphide capacitors
• Pure analog signal path based on authentic VCO, VCF and VCA designs
• 5 variable oscillator shapes with variable pulse widths for ultimate sounds
• Classic 24 dB ladder filter with resonance for legendary sound performance
• Switchable low/high pass filter mode for enhanced sound creation
• Dedicated and fully analog triangle/square wave LFO
• 16-voice Poly Chain allows combining multiple synthesizers for up to 16 voice polyphony

• Semi-modular design requires no patching for immediate performance
• Overdrive circuit adds insane spice and edge to your sounds
• Noise generator dramatically expands waveform generation
• Complete Eurorack solution – main module can be transferred to a standard Eurorack case
• 48 controls give you direct and real-time access to all important parameters
• External audio input for processing external sound sources
• Low and high level outputs featuring highest signal integrity signal stages
• Comprehensive MIDI implementation with MIDI channel and Voice Priority selection
• 3-Year Warranty Program*
• Designed and engineered in the U.K.