Behringer UB-Xa | Out of the Box

My very first impressions of this highly anticipated and extremely impressive analogue poly synth from Behringer.

[@Bernd_Bruening]

Thank you very much for playing my Pink Floyd preset. Great video, as always!

[@anthonybrett]

Just got mine this week. I really don't care if it sounds identical to the Oby, this synth is absolutely beautiful in its own right. I love it.

[@paulmcmc4005]

The Atrophy parameters are a genius touch! Well done Behringer🫡

[@DinoSvanhvit]

Sounds great.👍

[@jessejohnson7591]

I love Tim's videos. Insightful, informative, and most of all, entertaining.

[@Waldemar_la_Tendresse]

I'm assuming you've simply forgotten "musical".

[@Wainster]

Always interesting seeing and hearing your new toys Tim. I know your review will be as stellar, in-depth, entertaining as the standards you've set and maintained over the years. Congrats, it sounds mega!!

[@hawk194]

Thanks Tim. Very informative video. Your insight is always very much appreciated . Definitely interested in this.

[@andycleall]

This is by far the best demo of it I’ve seen. Your choice of voicing makes it sound beautiful.

[@Waldemar_la_Tendresse]

Many thanks for this interesting initial video about the UB-Xa in the usual quality and wealth of detail in the presentation. I'm already looking forward to the following videos, especially when I think about the Atrophy settings. You are certainly the right person to shed some more light on this. Thank you also for highlighting the difference with the Poly-AT.

[@fallingmanuk]

Thank you for this - very helpful & informative. Also I loved the snippets you played - very atmospheric and melancholy.

[@leiferickson3183]

The zoom sounded fine. Thanks Tim, your videos are always a treat.

[@Mchannemann]

Love how you Zimmered it nicely, love the sounds and barbebone as it is the video is classy

[@cnlbydesign5373]

First, a grainy cell phone video with an equally grainy microphone will still make your content better than 99.999% out there and I hope you figure out the issue (it was rats eating my cables without me knowing they took up residence that did it to me once). You continue to explain things in both an approachable and highly useful way Tim. To me, your explanations remind me of catching those key words I know would mean I would like a particular wine back in my restaurant management days. I know, based on your explanation, I will like this synth. You bring so much knowledge to all of us, and I am very happy to see you are doing some "work" for company's like Cherry Audio. Unassuming intelligence in a strange and disjointed world, you actually calm those of us watching your videos down as we think of our next purchase (I agree about your point of there being way too much more to care about than Behringer keeping an esthetic for this synth). Keep up the great work Tim and thanks for all you do for us amateurs!

[@charlesbronson2806]

Not only do i love your reviews Tim but you're playing is also great.

[@kimmovehkalahti8624]

Top notch as always! Thank you so very much for sharing!

[@BritoWorx]

Had mine since 1/10…such a beautiful unit. Behringer really did a great job with this unit. At $1200 there’s 0 complaints. Best synth for the price.

[@DendriticFractals]

1200? Wow

[@dstrats]

Im so happy to read such a comment. So awesome it’s a great sounding synth with no complaints! And yes $1200 is a steal for such a synth reissue!

[@fortheloveofnoise9298]

even the keybed?

[@BritoWorx]

@@fortheloveofnoise9298 honestly I’m not a keybed snob. It’s just fine not having any issues at all.

[@markjeffery3237]

Brilliant précis as ever, Tim. This one is certainly on my later-base😊 thanks for your efforts👏🏻

[@scottmcauleysounds]

Great Overview Tim , UB-Xa sounds great! Loving the Atrophy parameter options! Game changer!

[@mick3950]

Well produced and this seems to be better than what most were expecting ,

[@ProfessorSynth]

Thanks Tim, great presentation

[@bitley]

Dearest Tim, it was an absolutely lovely video!

[@jonhamilton48]

Great video !! Thanks for making this one mines coming in today can’t wait.

[@mikaeljohansson83]

As always a great video Tim👍

[@Lfunk1983]

Tim - great vid as usual! Love th UBXA

[@andreievkalupniek5717]

I really enjoyed this video. Thanks for the overview!😊

[@berzerkrobot]

Just when I had myself convinced I dont need this, you made me need this. You got lovely sounds out of it.

[@dachiklangmusik]

Thx 🙏 for review and first impression of a synth which I will love to buy.. one day ❤

[@dankeplace]

It's an excellent sounding synth, I am acquiring a ASN Explorer for the PAT keybed for the teased and hopefully released UBXa module. Great vid once again Tim as usual!

[@DrSynth]

Nice overview. Totally agree the display placement, should have been centered. And overall the knobs are good feel, but the data select encoder is a but more wobbly than I'd like when pressed. I have issues that it sometimes will shift 1 value when clicked less than purely vertical. BTW- The aftertouch configuration is under accessed via the VEL/AFT button (Shift 2 in the "Available Preset Recall" section on the far right and you can select Hard, Medium or Soft for the AT curve, as well as the slew rate with the "AfterTouch Fltr" setting. Not the full configuration as the Hydra, but you have some choices for one's AT style.

[@CreativeSpiral]

Great demo and impressions Tim!

[@derekjurovich]

Fantastic video TY !! ❤️

[@DestroyER82]

Thank you for lovely introduction! Im really happy to see PolyAT working like this. Really perfect design choice. Also I think it is a good thing to not include performace controls and performace LFO into presets, but fully understand the point and it might be a good thing to allow that through FW update and leave that on users.

[@coconutlust470]

Have been patiently waiting on our man in London's word on this one and am happy to see it passed muster.

[@BFBeast666]

Great video. Some beautiful sounds and great insights, brevity be damned. Looking forward to a more expansive tour of this synth.

[@michaelpierce3264]

Tim always a pleasure!

[@krutas3035]

Been hoping for an looking forward to videos on this one. 🎉

[@LeCheFTube]

Was waiting for this 😊 Thanks

[@jla362]

What an extraordinary piece of hardware. Looking forward to own one this year. Tank you very much Tim.

[@mrdavies7894]

Love the production credits! 😂❤ Also love the Interstellar quotes. Beautiful. I used to quip, back 30-some-odd years ago when this thing was first announced and teased to the public, that, “I can’t wait to _not_ buy this!” Although this offering doesn’t change my opinion of Behringer as a company, I definitely award them a lot of points here. They obviously really did do their homework on this one and appears not to be the slap-dash also-ran that the vast majority of their offerings are. I won’t be getting one, but I think anybody that does is probably getting a pretty good piece of kit.

[@Tonepusher]

Sounds huge! thanks for the video 🤘

[@mrd5024]

Added it to my wish list thanks to this.

[@samuelpenn2973]

Thanks for the review!

[@adamshatwell]

sounds gorgeous Tim, great price too, thanks !

[@strykermoonfall2220]

Its beautiful

[@bernios3446]

I see those machines - I feel happy. Arpeggiated lines like in the end just make me happy, as simple as they may be.

[@jd808]

I love my UB-Xa so much

[@keekeefries6298]

“Heavily inspired by certain classic vintage synthesizers from the very early 1980s??” nearly fell off my chair lol…Love the humor you sneak into these videos Tim! Keep up the great work!

[@christianthompson1473]

Thanks for a great pre review review. I got mine yesterday and I'm also enjoying the fantastic sound and the wonderfully simple and direct UI. What reverb did you use in this demo? Sounds great.

[@freddiesamples]

Like I need another synth! I'm into sound and control and this one has unique control and sounds great. Your in depth description on aftertouch was excellent, thanks for that.

[@pascalschwaller7573]

Thank you for the video! The pressure on polyphonic aftertouch was quite interesting and also the part about the non-saveable performance section! I totally agree about the screen, they placed it on an awkward place. I would have preferred if it would be bigger and in a blue colour. Looking forward to the next video!

[@thelanavishnuorchestra]

I've heard lots of good things about the UB-Xa and so glad to hear they've done good work with the poly aftertouch. Aftertouch is such a key thing in expressive playing. When I'm building a software synth in VCV Rack or PureData, I always put a slew limiter on aftertouch, as so many keyboards fail to make the aftertouch something you can bring in gradually. At least with a slew limiter, you can force slower onset and release.

[@TheMikeypilk]

Hi Tim great video. For tweaking the AfterTouch response, Vel/Aft menu and then "AT Curve" - just soft medium and hard. The performance LFO settings are manual and you are right to assume the same as in the original. The performance panel settings can be saved within split/double programs - if that's any help to you at all.

[@DavidJKellett]

Great video. Mine arrives Wednesday. Good to know about the Performance LFO quirks before mine arrives.

[@silvertongues2]

Sounds nice, mine arrives tomorrow!

[@stevehofer3482]

You had me at that first sound. I am a sucker for auto panning. Thanks for the video.

[@payt01]

Such an awesome synth :) I ordered one last Friday and hope to receive in about a month.. that's what Thomann is indicating anyway. Can't wait to give it a good spin.. it sounds delicious in this video anyway!

[@iconoclast1970]

Subscribed! An honest review without the nonsense.

[@japoltube]

Thank you Tim, great video as always! why do I think about Tangerine Dream while listening to these arpeggios? I mean general feeling not chords of course

[@Dr.TeaseMedia]

Thank you Tim, Placed a back order for this two months ago. Still not yet arrived, but maybe you can make suggestions in advance when it arrives how to connect this to my System 55 setup.

[@kettenlaiho3983]

Really nice to have time to watch your videos! Just a quick question: what type of lamp/light do you have on the lower side of the synth that´s above the UB-Xa?

[@ryanbmd7988]

Can’t wait for more future videos on this, outstanding as ever Tim 🫡

[@progwaver]

Hehe, congrats... I have mine since end second week Dezember, I was under the first get the delivery from Thomann... Was my Christmas Gift to myself, right time for the Fiesta... Very happy with it, cant get my fingers off it.

[@Gabriel.A.L.]

Great video

[@gianfry1980]

Great man and great video

[@swanofnutella4734]

I noticed on their upcoming "JT-16" (Jupiter8 clone using the ubxa form factor) ...the display screen is at the center octave, just a pinch to the right of the center of the entire instrument. I own a Hydra49key, and space is scarse, so I had planned on getting the Desktop UBXa... but I might be tempted to get the keyboard version of the JT-16 one day.

[@ianwilson7637]

Every time I watch another video of the UB-Xa, I get the uncontrollable urge to shell out cash. I have yearned for this sound ever since Thompson Twins in the early 80s, but space, people, space! Nice video though, and just another reason to want it. Trying my best to hold back the GAS.

[@Ojref1]

I'm looking at the Ub-Xa as a possible midi keyboard controller as well as its musical instrument function. Thanks for going over the keyboard functionality, its very helpful. At its price point it seems to be the best bang for buck solution.

[@SynthgodXXX]

Great video, exciting synth for sure. Looking forward to the Behringer JT-16 Jupiter-8 recreation. 😉

[@detlef3844]

Hello Tim, thanks from germany…..

[@JazzOrganBites]

You make a good point about all the issues in the world and choosing to be very angry about a synth.

[@martattacks]

While I did comment on how I liked the way Tim presented his opinion, I do not 100% agree with the gist of the statement, because: Behringer's attitude towards people and companies in the business actually IS a part of what's wrong with this world.

[@gregmakesmusic8805]

@@martattacks Same here! He surely meant nothing bad with it but I also thought it was a little bold to say so.

[@martattacks]

​@@gregmakesmusic8805I think, Tim wanted to avoid the odd B-bashing in the comments and therefore tried to get that matter out of the way right from the start. I guess, therefore he also chose this rather forward approach. Fine by me.

[@theboofin]

Well, he's just addressing the often petty concerns of social media idiots that frequent comment sections user groups...

[@hemibass]

I was hoping you would do a video on this. Great stuff Tim. Just saw them tease the Jupiter 8 clone, will that be of interest to you as well?

[@santanakcre8ivecontrol809]

If you had to choose between the Moog One and the Waldorf MK2 what would be your pick. I plan on getting a MPC X SE to connect the keyboard to then then do all my editing in Fruity Loops. The Waldorf for me reminds me of a vst called ElectraX2. I understand the mapping and how get the sound I want. My only concern is that this is one of the best sounding keyboards on the market with rich mind blowing sound I can use to increase my style of production. I usually have 3 synths going at the same time per lead synth with delay reverb and 2 filters in automation. Same usually for the pads and plucks as well. Would the MK2 make the most sense to get or are their other keyboard you would recommend? I am looking for something with alot of warmth to it and clarity that I can cut away at to make a perfect track rather than always adding more to make a VST synth sound bigger. Thank you for your time!!

[@doubtingtom37]

Wonderful timing; as recent days have narrowed choice down to UB-Xa. Will companion Deepmind 12 _ bringing OB-X8 tones aboard. THX Tim Shoebridge, looking forward to your follow-on impressions. 🙏🏻

[@cain5ynth]

Thanks Tim, very good overview of details which - to my knowledge - were not covered by others. If your studio is too crowded and that is the reason for the current disfunctionality, then please feel free to send over the excess gear, so that you can tidy up. All in your best interest, of course 😉

[@ronboots8525]

waiting for mine for a few months hope it is here soon

[@odmusicman]

Like you Tim, on other keyboards aftertouch "falsely" triggers with my playing. I like the idea you describe that with the UB-XA the aftertouch needs to be more intentional.

[@Donetur]

“There is so much shit going on in the world to be angry about, not something like this”. Great sentence.

[@christopherprice3226]

enjoyed the funny intro credits!

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

4:18 - actually you were correct the first time, it's an LCD. :) Although it's backlit with LEDs, so there is that.

[@timbeaton5045]

Just wondering if the SYNTH TRIBE software for the UB-Xa would have controls for the aftertouch settings?

[@tsmith7146]

Seriously impressive keyboard for the price. Sounds and looks stunning. My only problem is that i'd rather have the UBX than the UBXa - and then the JT16 is the one i'm really interested in, and unfortunately i can't have them all..... I wonder how long we'll have to wait for the JT16?

[@MadelnMachines]

Not saving the performance section is a bummer but the rest seems great. Can the screen colour be changed in settings?

[@thesrabbit]

Definitely some nice feature additions. I wish the OB-X8 would let you switch the vibrato LFO to per voice and allow it as a destination when sending poly AT via midi. As it is right now, the only thing you can effect with poly AT is the filter. Can sort of fake it by taking the same patch and splitting it on both the upper and lower layers, then enabling AT for only the upper layer. Not the same though and still limited.

[@zizgraphics]

Thank You!

[@zizgraphics]

[@Sonikbytes]

I wish they would give you the option to open up the upper frequencies on the open filter more like ob-8x have more presence and sound less muddy in general.

[@allkeyspro6606]

Wow, I'm impressed to see you reviewing Behringer. Turn the other cheek I guess, you have taken the high road. I guess I should too!

[@raisingwolvesofficial]

3:40, sooooooo true, spot on.

[@KiR_3d]

Behringer do a lot of cool things now! I wish they could add more flexibility to Pro-800 too. Modulation amount (from PolyMod) is very modest in the latest firmware. This makes some of my "very wanted effects" impossible to create. I could workaround this with LFO but it's only one for all 8 voices unfortunatelly. I've seen a website where several hardware mods for Pro-800 are described. And there is even a mod for doing this :)

[@chriswareham]

Received mine today. I owned a four voice OB-X for about ten years, and missed the immediacy of programming it as well as the great sound. Based on a few hours getting to know it, the Behringer has everything I liked about the OB-X but with the extra features of the later OB-Xa and OB-8. The "atrophy" feature gets it into the "wobbly" territory of the OB-X which was constantly drifting because it used almost entirely discrete components unlike its mostly IC based successors. But with the Behringer, I'm hoping it doesn't just break down all the time like my Oberheim did.

[@KosmoDeuz]

That intro…❤

[@gin-sonic]

Very nice thank you! If I may ask, what kind of effects did you use?

[@TimShoebridge]

Just little reverb (lexicon)

[@AndrewLeSynt]

awesome! subbed! greetz from switzerland 🇨🇭🇨🇭🇨🇭🔥🔥🔥🎹🎹🎹

[@patriciaoudart1508]

Thanks. As always You are very precise and by the Musician point of view. The few sounds you played shows the better I listened for this time why this instrument is on my list, because It's certainly close to what I myself stand for, which is expression and harmonics creation, enrichment of synthetic sounds to reach a living music landscape. Behringer have lot more dilemmas to solve, as they announce more instuments, particularly the Jupiter 8, I imagine with a memory polyphonic aftertouch keybed?. Suddenly, I realize I've not veryfied if the matrix of the Deepmind 12d I have, is able to save external keyboard parameters, perhaps in the application. My SL88 studio have It's proper aftertouch preset's app, so this need to be studied for me but it is technical, and not my pleasure, I play, my settings and push two times the button Write, then the :) like conbination, in the middles of hundred presents with no interest for me. Can't stand to do the same with the OB Xa. The legacy mode presets are amazingly precise, add lot to the instrument, you are the own to have hold this to our Knowledge, thanks to You.

[@EnervatedSociety]

Cool vid. It would also be nice to be able to save atrophy settings with a preset, if possible. For now, naming the preset so it refers to your chosen atrophy setting seems to be the best way to go.

[@brianlespoir6287]

I hope the Module will be finished soon, like many, I have way to many key's, but would love to have a affordable Oberheim synth.

[@jameslast3192]

Great work Tim and yes there’s plenty of shit going on without arguing over synths! Sounds wonderful btw!

[@TheSynthnut]

Im not sure its the left/right location of the screen as much as the fact its flat and slightly recessed tgat is more problematic?

[@WoodyPianoShack]

maybe i missed the info, plastic or metal chassis?, thnaks tim.

[@TimShoebridge]

Metal. And some nice polished wooden end cheeks 👍

[@patriciaoudart1508]

​@@TimShoebridgeI'm hard to know if it's Iron or Aluminium. On my deepmind it's Iron, and for me sad because I have a old Dx 7, and just a lack of paint and with time all the button panel gone rusted. On the Deepmind, rack holes have no paint, so sometimes I would prefer plastic front panel, or why not, Wood. My Jupiter 50 is aluminium, so hope the next Behringer keyboard will jump the step over, that can be wood and just plate front for buttons. Also vertical racks are coming to a new birth, that yould be good for seeing the display, this lets me thinking about separate Keybeds, double keybeds, and a vertical wood rack that could support three expanders, one meter long, that would not need to change the internal architecture, can imagine in my dreams, UB Xa, and Behringer Jupiter 16 expanders , over a double poly aftertouch full 88 keybed. And place for integrated analog effects modules! So the question about plastic, Aluminium, metal should be part of future Behringer, and others like Korg, dilemnas 😊.

[@samborn7120]

I’d love to get my hands on one of these, but Behringer just released a teaser photo of their JP-16 and now I want to hear that prior to commiting purchase to the UBX

[@jermstorm5008]

I would just go ahead and grab it. It’ll probably be another 6 years before the JP comes to market judging by the ubxa’s development cycle.

[@Rhythmattica]

Poly Aftertouch, It seems they've taken notes from ensoniq's key-bed approach. Had many a Ensoniq, (EPS,16+) and the ASR10 does exactly the same...Probably why I have Two.... Best keybed for synth playing.... for me.... Cant wait to try this out...

[@Synthvoice1]

Thank for this first impression. Ich know your Situation. I always rebuildt my Studio 😂