Behringer MonoPoly part 1/3 - 1st contact

Today my Behringer MonoPoly arrived. So I´m quite excited to make some music with this beautiful instrument and share my impressions with you.
In the first video I´m going to present some basic sounds in a musical context so that you get a rough idea of the synth with its capabilities.
In another video I would like to compare the Behringer MonoPoly with the original synth from Korg. A friend of mine was so kind to lend me his Korg Mono/Poly so that we can do an A/B comparison of both instruments.
In the last video of this small series I´m going to present an entire song exclusively produced with the Behringer MonoPoly, as you already know from my other videos.
Stay tuned and enjoy the music !
Bernd

[@thelantern9075]

11:15 on was absolutely beautiful my friend. Great playing and emotional sound.

[@yoyodunno]

The sounds are so classic and creamy! Love it, and great playing to demo it too. I have mine coming in the mail today :D

[@thomaskolb8785]

I was initially a bit worried that it might be a Poly D with a different color scheme, but I can already hear that it is a completely different beast. Without looking and just listening, I would immediately guess either Polysix or MonoPoly. Yes, I have had both. That Korg sound is truly there. Thanks for the video, lovely playing!

[@dave09453]

i had the same thought regarding the model d.

[@Agerian7]

Oh man I can't wait for mine after watching this!

[@dusanvukasovic2525]

I have more sentiments for Polysix, but M/P is actually my #1 favourite classic. VST version has gigantic modulation matrix, but Behringer made it sound REAL.

[@Bernd_Bruening]

Polysix and MonoPoly complement each other very well, a dream team so to speak.

[@SanderAnderon]

what a sweet sounding synth/demo, looking forward to parts 2/3

[@hotfirecaster]

Wonderful synth and fantastic player ! 😊

[@Bernd_Bruening]

Thanks a lot !

[@woodster909]

great sounds and nicely played, thanks Bernd

[@mattg082]

Wow the poly mode sits in the mix so nicely! Just what I was wanting to hear!

[@roland4507]

Sounds amazing and well played.

[@Bernd_Bruening]

Thanks a lot!

[@666app]

The Behringer MonoPoly is as good as the original - most imported on this synth is the FX-Section, which is crazy, can do unexpected sounds - this why I love the MonoPoly - would recommend the Behringer clone as it is exactly the same overall then the too expansive Korg original !!!

[@EquestrianSport]

That M/P with the piano is sooooooo sweeeeetttt.. it just sits in the mix like ray of light in a dark forest .

[@DJfreddyfresh]

badd ass playing man

[@Bernd_Bruening]

Thanks a lot! I do my best.

[@skinfadegascoigne9819]

More thanks Bernd. Just got mine on the basis of your ace presentation. As a guitarist (!!), of course I have NO IDEA what I'm doing, so it's been so helpful to follow your settings and actions. Since the 70's I've always dreamed of having a synth that could do Hawkwind sounds, and at my ripe old age, I'm finally in space heaven ;-) Of course, all the sounds are amazing, and it may be some time until I ever go out again... ;-)

[@Bernd_Bruening]

Thanks a lot for your response and for taking my video as inspiration.

[@hawkrel]

It does Hawkwind nicley

[@fiddlestickzmuzik]

synth part from 8:20 onwards for a bit really reminded me of Ozric tentacles.. Shpongle etc..

[@mikeexits]

I can definitely see that. The arpeggio he was playing reminded me of the very mystique-filled Shpongle synth sounds they're known for. Have you heard Flux & Contemplation yet? It's the newest Shpongle album, themed around 2020. It's definitely the darkest album under the Shpongle name, but Simon does a very good job bringing it from darkness to beautiful light. I recommend checking it out. Maybe have a couple of sober listens before getting Shpongled for it, if you know what I mean. ;P

[@juno6]

It sounds fantastic really.

[@Bernd_Bruening]

Indeed it does. Thanks a lot.

[@unclemick-synths]

Very nice sounding synth.

[@Bernd_Bruening]

Just to mention, the noise in the video is coming from the Waves Plugin H-delay

[@mmrva]

Old plugins increase noise level thru the time.

[@jazzjeffjazzjeff]

Oh man, yes! I remember those filters from the 90's!!!

[@MrBasic]

Nice video. Powerful instrument.

[@Mark_Ocain]

I have to say....this sounds fucking great !!

[@spazkong]

Oh no! Another synth I need to buy! Nice with the Minor 9's.

[@Ingenieur_Robotique]

Great demo. Mine's due mid January. Cant wait.

[@Bernd_Bruening]

It’s worth the wait. Enjoy the music!

[@jmcbeady8210]

Excellent presentation.

[@georgegeez8708]

Thank you for this video. I feel like others here, can't wait to have one to join my Poly D. To all you Behringer haters, keep hating. I have extra cash in my pockets to buy more because of them.

[@mikeexits]

I can't deny the shitty things they've done (like copyrighting Andrew Huang's friend's name so he can't use it... very shitty thing to do) but their gear will always have a special place in my heart. Thanks to their U-Phoria UMC22, I was able to start making music on my laptop with an audio interface for $30; thanks to their Xenyx 1202FX mixer, I was able to start my hardware synth setup and have them all go to my monitors and DAW for less than $100; thanks to their Neutron, I was able to get my first warm-sounding, pure analog semi-modular synth to contrast my other, much more cold and metallic-sounding synths, for the price of 2 Volcas. I'd love to see them not do shitty things for a long stretch of time so I can support them without weighing too much on my conscience. Until then, I compromise by always buying their stuff used.

[@georgegeez8708]

@@mikeexits I understand. I didn't like their products before because they did shady stuff. But because of them I'll be able to not only make great music with actual synths, but I'll be able to open up an actual studio where people will be able to make music with actual instruments which is starting to make a comeback. I'll be getting a UMC1820 soon to start recording. I already have an ada8200 so I'll have 16 tracks to record. Behringer is making it happen for the budget conscious musicians.

[@JJSMUSICAL]

Its nice to be noble, regarding the shady business practices of these mega corporations. But do you hold your other purchases to the same standard? Maybe a phone that uses either google or apple products? Any idea of their shady practices? Some are absolutely awful. What about your bank, have you seen their business practices?... Unfortunately, big business will always use unscrupulous practices, and it should not be excused for sure. But I can't help but feel behringer are held to a different standard than many others, and their practices. Personally, if a synth sounds good, thats the main thing. 🤣🤷‍♂️

[@georgegeez8708]

@@JJSMUSICAL Can't argue any of your points. Wether it's business or even government, we all still have to live and deal with their BS.

[@skinfadegascoigne9819]

"To all you Behringer haters, keep hating." Exactly George. I have/ have had a lot of Behringer gear and no complaints. GEAR FOR THE COMMON MAN! There was the BCR2000 which I could not get to work, no doubt due to my own lack of midi skills. LOL! I was hoping THAT would be THIS synth! Oh, and that volume pedal 20 years ago actually was a piece of crap! Uli Behringer has enabled me to do so many things I could only dream about in the 80's, and I shall certainly buy him a beer if our paths should cross.

[@herrjingjing]

Beautiful!

[@timgrogan974]

Sounds really sweet!

[@vintagesynths]

Great job for this little beast!

[@Bernd_Bruening]

Thanks a lot, Rüdiger!

[@mattjbyron2010]

just here to see if someone tries to argue that softsynths sound the same

[@brianlespoir6287]

LOL

[@unclemick-synths]

They'll be along soon.

[@oddcircuit]

Let's not forget that punk who likes Synths, I'm sure he's going to whine and cry about this,I used to have an original and still have a poly six, it's actually pretty close to the original, but hope to see a direct comparison soon

[@biggrime]

The vst sound more analog 😆

[@SourDiesel69]

I mainly need it for paraphonic stuff but begrudgingly I’m gonna wait for the pro 800

[@Synthshop]

Nice demo! How are you getting the background wash, just a reverb? What is it? It's very ambient.

[@Bernd_Bruening]

I used a bit of delay and reverb for the MonoPoly. The additional sounds from the MoXF use the built in reverb.

[@ukiemexican]

Really thinking about getting one of these or the Poly D. I’m so torn on which to get. Both similar yet also different.

[@ogasi1798]

and did you choose?

[@toddsmithmusic3172]

Amazing video and sounds !

[@Bernd_Bruening]

Thanks a lot, Todd.

[@Gainn]

I think I can safely say that Behringer nailed this one.

[@AndreasStratmann]

Nice Video. Thanks for sharing, Bernd. I received mine yesterday. Could you make a video of the chord feature. I have a hard time making chords work as I expect. If I save a 4-notes chord in poly mode with the 4th note one or two octaves lower I don't hear that 4th note. And the arpeggiator cycle doesn't cycle through the chord like with Korg Mono/Poly. But this might be a "feature". The documentation is doesn't state how chords are handled by the arpegiator. But overall his device have quite nice sounds from very lush to some very screamy FM sound.

[@Bernd_Bruening]

I’ve tested the chord feature and it works great. I’m going to show this in the next video.

[@davebellamy4867]

Pleasing sounding synth. It's got tons of resonance.

[@GEOSynths]

Sounds great, mine has just been shipped :)

[@validcore]

What country are you in?

[@GEOSynths]

@@validcore UK

[@garethgroove]

Where did you order from?

[@GEOSynths]

@@garethgroove Thomann

[@mops58]

Klasse sound, bestimmt geil der synthesizer und du hast ihn schon 😉😃

[@user-sx2iw2hq3l]

Are those effects from Behringer original or external? Thank you

[@Bernd_Bruening]

I’ve used plugins in Cubase. The MonoPoly has no effects.

[@user-sx2iw2hq3l]

@@Bernd_Bruening Ouuu! Dame it!

[@RalphBaumgartl]

Sounds nice!

[@Bernd_Bruening]

Your 2600 demo is great as well !!

[@RalphBaumgartl]

@@Bernd_Bruening thank you 🙏 I like the Mono/Poly but to be honest I was hoping for a Poly Six from Behringer 😉

[@Bernd_Bruening]

@@RalphBaumgartl they can’t do everything at the same time.

[@RalphBaumgartl]

@@Bernd_Bruening Yes, and there are still so many nice Synths waiting to be rediscovered ;-)

[@davidirusta223]

Hello great video! please make monopoly vs poly d! thanks!!

[@WeibchenOfDeath]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oWilc6anpK6ihK8

[@74goldenjet]

It sounds nice. Great video. I have the original Monopoly which to my ears sounds more gritty, less clean. Feels like it has a different "buzz"

[@bastiaanw3519]

74goldenjet Perhaps the Behringer will sound more gritty when it's as old as your original?

[@74goldenjet]

@@bastiaanw3519 perhaps. I don't expect it, but I wish they make good quality gear that lasts 50+ years and better with age, like wine and gear from the 70s and early 80s. :)

[@validcore]

My B-MonoPoly when arpegiator is set to Full has a low out of tune extra loud note. My Polysix dosen't do that. Is it like that on the original or even on other B-Monopolys?

[@Bernd_Bruening]

Never had a similar problem as you described, neither with the Behringer nor with the Korg. The Korg MonoPoly arp has got a strange swing feeling, which luckily hasn’t been copied by Behringer. When in doubt you should contact the customer support.

[@validcore]

@@Bernd_Bruening thanks for getting back. I'm setting down with it & a tuner now. It's on the highest end of the scales. Only dosen't do it if I'm on the lowest notes with transpose set to down. Even on that(down transpose position) the higher notes trigger a low end out of key wall when going to the high scales.

[@igorveceric6438]

@6:00 oh man, nailed it!

[@torbenanschau6641]

Bernd, when you'll do the comparison please also do some with the Poly-D. Because many say the behringer stuff would sound the same. And here I'm also like it's pretty similar eccept for things kust ine of them can do.

[@Bernd_Bruening]

My impression is, that the Poly D and the MonoPoly are two completely differently sounding synths. However the concept of 4 oscillators either playing unisono or used for paraphonic playing is the same.

[@unclemick-synths]

There's always a certain similarity between analogue synths (just like there are strong similarities between different alto saxophones) but this is definitely different character here from the Poly D.

[@arlonrando]

I really like this formfactor of new synths with 3 octaves, even poly-D .. and maybe some prophet with more voices may come.. But .. but .. BUT! I find myself all the time just loading plugins in Logic Pro, at the moment mostly Reason 11 Rack with Grain-Synth or some NI Reaktor with Razor. Simply cause they sound so great, so defined, so clear, fit very good to the mix .. Reason Sounds may sound a little "thin", but in the mix we NEED thin tracks so that the rest has place, as "fat" sounds take all the space and nothing else can be heared,, so we anyway have to (highpass- or lowpass)-filter the tracks. So not sure if i will buy any more harrdware synth, as this digital stuff has so many advantages, its "total recall" inthe song, no ADDA conversion necessary nor big mixer consoles...

[@olivierrenoir9282]

You lose the point of touching the instrument with your hands and fingers!

[@EnervatedSociety]

It all depends on the context of the music imo. You can use "fat" sounds with "thin" sounds, they're often complementary, depending on the context, again imo. Of course these terms are subjective and I could have a totally different understanding of what "thin" or "fat" sounds like than you. What I do know is that via my subjective perception when a band that's been around for 30+ years goes from using hardware analog synths to modern digital emulations something is lost. Things sound more clinical, thin, more all in the same box or space so to speak. That's not a bad thing in itself, just different and I prefer the former sound. It could also be just a matter of modern mixing vs mixing in the decade X, for example.

[@9odyssey]

sounds beautiful and the price is very reasonable but, just like the poly D, no patch memory is a huge downer, honestly.

[@Screaming-Trees]

I hear ya but you can't have patch memory since the original didn't have it. IN order to implement something like patch memory every knob and button etc would need to be coupled to a DAC. This changes the sound significantly supposedly. So you can either have an accurate clone or a synth that looks like the Monopoly but doesn't sound like it always. Those seem to be the tradeoffs anyway. If you look at the recent Sequential Prophet 5 reissue basically those guys put in a serious effort of sticking to the original specs. The synth only has a single mono out like the original which, in this day and age is kind of crazy but to nail the sound of the original Prophet 5 they stuck to the specs strictly and it more or less worked out sound wise.

[@9odyssey]

@@Screaming-Trees I agree, but since they decided to add extra things like the sequencer and upgrade it a bit, why not make it an absolute must buy and add a nice small few digits screen with patch memory? I just find it hard to buy the deepmind 12 as it looks very uninspiring. Arturia made the must buy keystep 37 now, adding a small digit screen and everything you want from a controller in an inspiring look. If Behringer wants to sell well and not just copy but add innovation, this is definitely what is missing: patch memory. I am happy to pay more since it requires more research to keep the sound as close to the original when including a patch memory (eventhough I am not sure it affects, as you said, the sound quality and reliability to do so).

[@Screaming-Trees]

@@9odyssey I hear you mate but the initial point stands. There are features and there are features. A sequencer is not invasive. Putting DACs on every knob on the other hand, is. The two aren't even remotely similar actually. The latter is far more detrimental to the sound. For some reason putting DACs on knobs changes the sound a lot. There is maybe a way to compensate and that might also come at a cost I don't know. Maybe an apt analogy is that a sequencer is akin to laser eye surgery and patch memories on the other hand would require brain surgery. The reasoning of "hey they added some new things like the sequencer etc etc..." doesn't perhaps take into account the vast difference in these two features. But I get you wanting it. It would be a useful feature on what is a relatively complex synth really.

[@mrdali67]

@@Screaming-Trees Thats just not true. There is absolutely nothing thast prevents you from implementing a digital controlled analog circuit with patch memory. Its just a question how much it cost and if its within the scope of what your trying to acomplish. The problem is to make it feasable you have to use a digital version of a potmeter wich will sound different. But you could also put a stepmotor on every potmeter ...

[@Screaming-Trees]

@@mrdali67 What's "just not true" mate? "...problem is to make it feasable you have to use a digital version of a potmeter wich will sound different..." - aahhmmm yep. What did I say? Exactly that in fact. Did you even read my comments? The issue of having patch memories in general in a circuit wasn't even a topic of conversation. The topic was far more specific than that. I.e. related to the original Monopoly. It didn't have patch memory. If you want patch memory you need a dac on every knob. And those would change the sound. That's a fact which you yourself acknowledged above. Hence you have to pick. Do you want to get close to the original Monopoly in sound or do you want patch memory was the point ultimately. So what's not true then? You can't use a stepper motor. Those things convert electrical power into mechanical motion. What you need here is the opposite of that. Moreover, name one synth that's ever had a stepper motor would you?

[@RayyMusik]

Klingt wirklich klasse, wenn von einem Könner wie dir gespielt. Aber ich habe einen MatrixBrute, Subsequent 37 und Poly D, von VST wie Repro-1 ganz zu schweigen. Was spricht aus deiner Sicht trotzdem für einen zusätzlichen MonoPoly?

[@Bernd_Bruening]

Danke! Ich kann dir leider keine Empfehlung aussprechen, da jeder letztendlich selbst entscheiden muss, ob er den Behringer MonoPoly oder den Korg Mono/Poly kaufen sollte. Der B oder K Mono/Poly spielt klanglich in einer eigenen Liga, die keiner der von dir genannten Synthesizer so ohne weiteres erreicht.

[@Pablo668]

Dammit Behringer, stop making things I want to buy.

[@acidjack]

besonders das sync gefällt mir ...

[@Psychlist1972]

13:16 RIP headphones users :D

[@Bernd_Bruening]

Haha, I thought of adding a note „mind your tweeters“! I haven’t thought of the headphone user, my bad.

[@RayyMusik]

Thanks for the warning.

[@bastiaanw3519]

Great demo. Will the next one have more bass?

[@skinfadegascoigne9819]

Great demo, thanks! Is it possible to assign the knobs to control virtual synths?

[@Bernd_Bruening]

No, the knobs are not sending any midi data

[@skinfadegascoigne9819]

Thanks Bernd.

[@1VperOctave]

Very nice sounds, but especially, very nice playing and demonstration - made me hit the subscribe button! Oh, and the segment starting at about 11min 12 sec was lovely - it gave me a melancholy chill Royksopp (sorry not sure how to do the accent on this keyboard) vibe

[@Pettemusic]

im I wrong or is the sound of the osc and Filters near by the Pro 1 (?)

[@Bernd_Bruening]

Honestly, I can’t tell you, since I haven’t got a Pro 1

[@cresshead]

I remember it being in the music shop n in Leicester back in the 80's ... went straight past it to look at the roland jupiter 8. I dunno just didn't get a vibe from it back then. Jupiter 8 looked amazing.

[@davebellamy4867]

Carlsbro Sound? Must have been early 80s. By late 80s, they had only digital stuff.

[@cresshead]

@@davebellamy4867 yeh or sound pad.. it changed it's name a few times over the years, was a good music shop back then.

[@SPAZZOID100]

Apples & oranges.

[@SacSynths_Jack_Z]

Noisy

[@Bernd_Bruening]

Waves H-Delay plugin. They tried to make it sound more vintage by simply adding some noise. Forgot to turn it off.

[@SR-ih1be]

BALLS

[@digitaldiezel5870]

Wow! sounds great on its own...don't A/B it ...that's just disappointing. I should have watched this post first...it certainly leaves me in a better place.

[@dalecutlemusic586]

I was going to order one of these, but ordered a Matriarch. Maybe in the future.

[@eventualinfinity3862]

Smart move.

[@digitaldiezel5870]

You did the right thing...

[@jamesmeeker6933]

Way smart move. I have the Grandmother and it is a top notch monosynth. Matriarch is more of the same times two.

[@tkweavertom27]

holy. fucking. shit. dude. everything around 12-14. jesus.

[@me-echo]

Needed more than vaccine

[@lucasc5622]

?

[@angeldc54]

Nice demo. I have the real thing and this Frankenstein doesn't even come close.

[@Bernd_Bruening]

I wouldn’t aggree. Watch my next video

[@klaasj7808]

all their software synths are the same but with other UI, boring.

[@Bernd_Bruening]

They haven’t got any software synths. This is a hardware synth.

[@SPAZZOID100]

?????

[@amonster8mymother]

Oh it's a behringer.

[@inspir.edmusic]

Oh

[@paolobragaglia5350]

The sound could be decent, but the uglyness, the lack of charme of all B instruments is beyond imagination...

[@Bernd_Bruening]

I think that is a matter of taste.

[@paolobragaglia5350]

@@Bernd_Bruening That panel? That ridicolus copied logo? That absolute absence of vision of design:?Sorry, It's not a matter taste...

[@unclemick-synths]

@@paolobragaglia5350 why are you wasting your time watching Behringer synth videos when Behringer products so clearly offend your delicate tastes?

[@bastiaanw3519]

@Paolo Bragaglia why would they make it look like a banana if it tastes like an apple? It's a copy of a MonoPoly, so the logo is a copy too.

[@olivierrenoir9282]

@@paolobragaglia5350 for sure, I will put a sticker on the B logo (but not on the MonoPoly one)!