Behringer KOBOL Expander: Synthesizer REVIEW!

[@winesynths]

Here is my discovery tour of the new Behringer KOBOL Expander analogue synthesizer. Enjoy! KOBOL Affiliate-Link: thmn.to/thoprod/571630?offid=... My Label on Bandcamp: drehstrom.bandcamp.com/ #behringer

[@grindhouseglitch]

The Kobol has quickly become my favorite Behringer monosynth.

[@NoirEater]

YESSSS!! There's not enough videos talking about this synth. Which is a bit odd since you could get a hold of it pretty easy for almost a month now.

[@winesynths]

Thomann just sent them out end of last week. They were already available in UK for quite a while, I think.

[@goodvibrations2311]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3bIapmPnZhmgNksi=L_rmPzbSU6Rwpq5u

[@TheCubanGiant]

Huh… Ive been waiting months to get one on backorder. Been eyeing their availability for about 6 months now. Not sure what ya’ll are talkin about. No videos on them cause they ARE NOT easy to get.

[@robertocaba5915]

It is currently my favorite synth,so inspirational. More even than other more expensive synths I own. It does sound a lot like early DM which is cool

[@TRILOBYTETV]

Me too!

[@MJanovicable]

Your studio is so relaxing just to look at, Christophe! It says "home," so very cozy and tasteful and ideal for creation. You really check all of the boxes as to what issue and features are important to address, and this Behringer Kobol clone comes off as very exciting in your expert hands, no sarcasm. I'm a little on the fence here, but I have to assume there are at least a few things this little expander can do the rest of my equipment cannot quite capture. Powerful! Great review!

[@grahamtait4915]

Nice! I have 2 of these and am going for another 2 for a lovely polychain. As for those dissing the copy, stop fussing and go get one - the price is a no brainer; and trying to find an original will either break the bank or you’ll hit a dead end. ❤

[@winesynths]

Enjoy! 4 in a poly chain? Sounds like a lot of fun for 800 Euros! 👍

[@lambertlambert7076]

800€ is expensive for a chain that is quite unsure to work fine without any bugs@@winesynths

[@lanfeustdaytona4483]

Great little french synth for the price but we are all waiting for the KING : The RSF PolyKobol clone !

[@synlux5674]

merci toujours intéressant de se servir des points de patch du Kobol

[@unclemick-synths]

5:44 starting to get vibes of Beaubourg by Vangelis! 👍 This is a really interesting sounding synth!

[@KaeRZed]

Thank you for sharing. The only fact that the ADS envelope segments are CV controlled is quite unique for such a cheap synth : for example, the possibility of modulating decay time with an external S&H is quite fun ! Personnally I don't think it's redundant at all... :)

[@zap7759]

I like the voltage controlled everything on it. Needs a switchable LP/HP modification.

[@happyjessus]

The drum sounds from this sound more clicky than my drm1, I'm quite impressed!

[@synthsamuraiproductions]

Oh babaaaay the kobol!!! Nice.

[@winesynths]

It's cool! Specially for those znappy drums! But if you already have a 2600, an Ody and a Matriarch it's also kind of redundant. 😁

[@synthsamuraiproductions]

@@winesynths dont got either waiting for the UBXa desktop

[@EscapeMCP]

Love the T shirt :) I used to live in Germany, so I get the reference. Beer & synths now!

[@asynchronicity]

I really like that you use the Kobol for the drums also. Great stuff!

[@jean-francoisdeschamps5833]

To cut LFO from VCO just put a patch cord in the socket

[@winesynths]

👍🤖

[@Roland_Tr909_Swing]

Good for a starter synth

[@jumpingman8160]

And beyond

[@christdolphin69]

god, this thing is gorgeous. need that filter in my life

[@abominablemusic]

this is defo on my shopping list, it's something a bit different. it does seem to be taking ages for the UK to get stock though.

[@osands]

Good sir, how did you attach those guitar pedals to your rack? I'm guessing velcro strips? I have a couple of those racks and think I might want to do the same!

[@winesynths]

Cable Ties! 🤖

[@osands]

@@winesynths oh like the adhesive ones with the tie attached right? Thanks!

[@CollapseReport]

It’s a very interesting instrument with a darker sound .

[@goodvibrations2311]

Wow, I am almost 5 minutes in but I had to comment I had the same unstoppable modulation that i may have solved out to vco1 waveform. Cool synth!

[@nicholasrichardson102]

I have a LOT of behringer synths and their weakest link is typically their envelopes being sluggish, Its a common criticism so, hopefully they'll work harder on that issue in the future, I'm glad you had no issues with that.

[@winesynths]

No! Envelopes are nice and snappy. I critisized that heavily on the Pro-800 when it came out. And it was quickly updated!

[@RaquelFoster]

I like this thing, but I like the K-2 more. I wish they'd make just the External Signal Processor from the MS-20 in a box the size of a SQ-1.

[@winesynths]

Or the Kobol Expander 2!

[@cnfuzz]

I would like they would make the ms50 for the k2 , i agree k2 has more color in the sound , the signalrouting of kobol is a bit all over the place

[@cnfuzz]

The Behringer reboot of the sq10 seems to integrate the ms02 trigger processor , i had one together with the Korg ps3200 although it made more sense with the ms20 triggered by csq100 sequencers

[@IanWaugh]

What's it like? Well, I think you said it all 😊 Can't go wrong at the price but it's so similar to other B modules it seems a strange addition don't you think? I read somewhere that it was France's answer to the Minimoog. Do you think they're close? How does it compare to B's Model D? You don't have to answer any of these questions 😊

[@winesynths]

Hi Ian! I don't have a Behringer "Moog" to compare. But as I said, I feel it somewhere in between a Moog and an Arp. All in all, a very "traditional" synth style. But despite being French myself, I never had the opportunity to try a real Kobol.

[@jean-louispech4921]

The kobol is inspired by the minimoog , but it has nothing related to the mini moog D, the continuous waveforms are unique to the kobol, even the filter was unique , it has its own sound, character . The originial had a great power of overdrive when the level of the oscillators are high, more than the minimoog, and the envelopes are the more snappy. The sound of the kobol is so characteristic, that depeche mode has used it a lot before going to sampling , and when you hear some videos of the original kobol, or even the B kobol , we can hear this depeche mode sound, and not with a mini moog D.

[@leftmono1016]

Pair the Kobol with a Korg SQ1 and you can sequence any parameter with ease. Having patch points for everything is brilliant.

[@whendaychokesthenight]

Nice!

[@XepeiaDj]

Nice Review!

[@arjanpetersen]

its like ableton analog. Also a great device

[@TroelsRohde]

So as someone who just want a synth to play around with. Not many skills or ambition, but want some disls and wires, to understand the field more. This seems super nice, and something i could not find before. I am confused by the expander name. I understand it to be the opposite of a compressor? But since i dont understand that in its entirety... Lets me ask you What am i not getting, in this little synth? (Of course no Keyboard or recording/loop), but i have midi keyboard and abelton for that. I know the i can play woth virtual synth plug ins, but that is not the experience i am going for here.

[@winesynths]

The term expander was widely used for synthesizers without a keybed. The most prominent representant of this kind might be the Oberheim Xpander! 😁 So it has nothing to do with compression or other studio outboard. I can totally recommend this synth to start with this analogue stuff. It's really simple but versatile.

[@TroelsRohde]

@@winesynths thank you very much. I think I will put this on my wishlist then.

[@michaelpierce3264]

damm it you always make it fun!

[@RadekPilich]

What are those monitor speakers you have there?

[@winesynths]

Divatech MC-26 from the 90ies. It's a rebadged Focal broadcast monitor.

[@andrewcoltrane9850]

Can it play without a midi devise or can it drone on its own??

[@winesynths]

Did not try this yet! But nice idea for a future tipps and tricks video! 👍

[@tonytooke76]

The Voltage Processor with no input sends out 10v, patch the Voltage Out to Gate In and turn up Sustain for a stand alone drone.

[@Swodie_Jeetin]

Cue the gatekeepers: "Poor people have to use clones of this - I hate them for it"

[@decibel.sintetico]

Do you really think anyone cares? LOL

[@aguycalledbunny5186]

1. Just bought one today. 2. Where's the wine??

[@arjanpetersen]

can it do poly?

[@winesynths]

No!

[@AndyVonal]

Always been fascinated by this synth (the original RSF, I mean...) as it was so rare but featured heavily in lot's a cool music from JMJ, DM etc... I think this version from Behringer sounds great but I have no way of knowing if it comes close to the original, except that I know that the their D and Pro1 definitely do (I own and OG Pro-One and the B version is spot on...) so I have no reason to think this synth would be different. Thanks for a cool demo!

[@winesynths]

The original RSFs are so rare that it is difficult to find someone for a comparison. But I also feel some similarity to the Pro-1 soundwise.

[@blenderbuch]

I got a used b2600 blue marvin for 350euros so quite redundant for me 😂🎉

[@winesynths]

Wow! Great price! I will also check the Kobol with the 2600 together. Should make a nice pair!

[@iwanwesterduin]

So as someone already owning a Neutron and a Pro-1, what would this synth bring to the table for me? This seems like a bit of a halfway point between the two when it comes to "patchability"

[@winesynths]

Exactly my thoughts. On the other hand, there are also people stacking 4 of these in a poly chain! 🤓

[@leftmono1016]

Patch points for every parameter is amazing. Put a random LFO (or use a Korg SQ1) on envelope decay or attack and a boring sequence comes to life.

[@FurioRupeni]

sound veramente miserabile... come tutti i synth moderni SMD... sicuramente il clone farà rapidamente raddoppiare il valore di KOBOL originale da 50 a 100x

[@LagoLhn]

You are polluting your otherwise solid channel by featuring this low integrity company.

[@winesynths]

But those low integrity synths make solid sounds! 😁

[@robertocaba5915]

Not everyone can spend a bazillion on an original Kobol.

[@supercompooper]

Stolen valor 😢

[@Swodie_Jeetin]

No patent = fair game Deal with it

[@jean-louispech4921]

Stolen to nothng, RSF is dead since the 80's, and only some hundreds of them were sold.

[@tihinter]

About 1000 of the Kobol Expander 1, about 200 of the Expander 2, afaik. ​@@jean-louispech4921

[@kenniferlopez1]

Rad Sir!