Berlin School Arps on the Behringer K-2 (MS-20 clone)

Here's a little exercise in Berlin School arpeggiation on the Behringer K-2 which is a very inexpensive little MS-20 clone. I just had a need to make a little Berlin School. Enjoy!
00:00 - Start
03:50 - Filter Tweaking
05:40 - Note Reset using Ableton's Arp
12:45 - Outro
---
MUSIC FROM ME AND FRIENDS
⛺️ BandCamp: lukestark.bandcamp.com (releases)
🎸 Spotify: tinyurl.com/27xw7juh (releases)
🍎 Apple Music: tinyurl.com/spevewkp (releases)
☁️ Soundcloud: / lukestark (weird ideas and experiments)
🎹 / @synthseeker
DISCORD/PATREON
Want to hang out with us synth nerds on Discord? We talk Berlin School, Prog Rock and A LOT around synthesizers (hardware and software.) Check out the Patreon page for access...it explains what you get and why the heck our Discord server is private.
Visit us at: / synthseeker
BACKGROUND
Hi! I'm Luke Stark and I'm creating videos here as Synth Seeker because I like to share the things I find fun or useful as I make music! Here you will find techniques, discoveries and distractions. Have fun!
If you like what you find here, please subscribe to the channel!
Where else to find me:
🕷 Web: lukestark.com
If you want to speak to me directly about opportunities, feedback or questions:
📧 info1 (at) lukestark.com

[@StolTechInc]

Tangerine Dream!

[@synthseeker]

Or some cousin thereof. :)

[@MarkDammer]

Lovely music. I got my K-2 over three years ago and still love playing that synth. I think Behringer did a good job with this one: Nice sound and it stays in tune very well.

[@synthseeker]

Do I wish the knobs were a touch larger? Sure but does it still work for me? Yup. :) thanks for sharing!

[@stevenmartin1607]

Amazing sounds! I've been been looking for a synth specificly for plucks. Thanks for sharing this and I'll be taking a good look into this synth to fill the position.

[@synthseeker]

You could do worse for the money!

[@synkrotron]

lovely stuff Luke 👍 thank you very much for sharing 🙂

[@synthseeker]

Any time. :)

[@GerenM63]

Uli says "bear-ringer." All of his staff KZbinr's say "bear-rinJer." No idea why they do that. Not sure they're my favorite company, but dammit, Luke, now you've made me want a K2! That thing sounds great!

[@synthseeker]

I agree, for the money it’s exceptional.

[@mpingo91]

_"Uli says "bear-ringer."_ *** This is because of the German pronunciation simply. The English language is completely crazy in this regard and the writing is closer to picture writing. :P Why in the name "Gordon", the voice "g" is pronounced quite differently from "Gerard"? In Polish, the consistency is even greater than in German and practically one hundred percent - all letters are always pronounced the same.

[@synthseeker]

Names are particularly hard as anyone can modify the pronunciation of their name regardless of spelling. The absorption of other languages does make a lot of English very context-dependent I agree.

[@GerenM63]

@@mpingo91 I’m an English speaker, in a predominantly English speaking country. My name is ///NOT/// pronounced with a soft G. Proper nouns in English are not bound by the typical rules. They are one of the many, many exceptions. Mispronouncing a name is mispronouncing a name. If Uli pronounces his name with the hard G, then ///that/// is the way it should be pronounced. Period.

[@synthebo]

Fantastic!!😍😍😍😊

[@synthseeker]

Thanks 😄 have fun!

[@CrusaderGeneral]

Amazing value, thank you sir!

[@synthseeker]

I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@Wainster]

I like that a lot too!! Really hits a spot doesn't it. Gr8 job Luke, glad you recorded this. Good info and music tapestry too. It's a simple thing, but can sound so inviting and melodic with the delays etc attached. It certainly could be used for a bed of a track!! ;)

[@synthseeker]

Agreed. I’m still exploring…haven’t even patched anything yet.

[@Wainster]

@@synthseeker I've got some weird and unsettling health issues and this and the Music Dairy stuff is helping take my mind off them, cheers for that. There's plenty of time for patching down the road lol... have a good one.

[@synthseeker]

Well I’ll keep posting. :)

[@maltas22]

Nice one, thank you.

[@synthseeker]

Thank you too!

[@craigsurette3438]

Dayum that sounds gorgeous! I have played ona K2 in the store, and while i liked the tone, it didnt really sound like an MS20, especially when i tried to get all saturated and gnarly with it, which is why i would want an MS20.However if i treat the K2 on its own merits, it is still damn nice sounding When i was listening to your video, i immediately had to go over to my synths while listening to this, to try and emulate what you are doing here. These sorts of sequences are some of my favorite bits of electronic music, and you are stellar at creating them. I am using an Ultranova, and the arp doesnt behave like yours , even when i put it into similar settings, so i cannot quite get the effect you are ,but what im coming up with is still fun nonetheless

[@synthseeker]

I agree the K-2 sounds somewhat different than the MS-20, but it’s still a very good sound. I’m glad it inspired you to make some music!

[@wrenchposting9097]

I have a K-2 and a couple hardware arpeggiators, will check this out.

[@synthseeker]

Have fun!

[@JoeJohnston-taskboy]

Sweetwater has the K-2 back in stock (according to my email). Just saying.

[@synthseeker]

Goes good with that Pro-800! ;)

[@RubberPlant1966]

Very nice

[@synthseeker]

I'm quite happy with the K-2. :) Have fun!

[@haslo_]

I always said "if I ever get hardware synths, I'll get an MS-20 for sure". Now I have a few hardware synths, and still no MS-20. I'll have to get that one day! Very nice sounds you're getting out of the K-2, too!

[@synthseeker]

I think it would be good for you.

[@kimdiez2681]

Get you one, they are only $199 brand new now. 😊

[@dankeplace]

Sounds really good, nice ratcheting machine, I am not a great fan of ARPs as I prefer the older school rigid sequencing from the 70s. Something about that Berlin school stuff that is simplistic yet mesmerizing. Pattern repeating but with tweaks on the synth in real time. I have before used my NDLR to change arps so I can attend to the synths, I prefer tweaking rather playing keys, I do both but something about having a static pattern that you force to evolve, arps seem to be to easy and change too dramatically if this makes sense? I think The Sorcerer has some of the best music when it comes to this genre, not TGD's peak but very very close.

[@synthseeker]

Different approaches are always fun. Far be it for me to say which is best. Carry on!

[@hrubingh]

Great video! I tried to replicate this using Bitwig arpeggiator but experienced different behavior. no note retrigger it seems.

[@synthseeker]

Perhaps you can build one in the grid or use a third party arp? Have fun!

[@BenMartinBox]

Very nice "stuff"! I still prefer the VSTi synth versions. It allows (in most of the situations) to automate any parameter (like the filters). I'm not sure if it is possible to do that via MIDI CC (control the high-pass-filter) for the synth hardware version, I guess not... but then, that is the magic of putting the "hands on the dirt" and make things (music) happen in real-time.

[@synthseeker]

No CC control on the K-2!

[@gonzinigonz]

Been meaning to try this with the Pro1, but might sound a bit more raw :)

[@synthseeker]

I didn’t even get into the more raw timbres, it has plenty!

[@gonzinigonz]

@@synthseeker I remember the original MS20 could rip you face off 🤣

[@rayderrich]

The K-2 does not matter to me, the arpeggio trick however is great. Thank you for sharing.

[@synthseeker]

Reset on note. :)

[@mpingo91]

11:40 What are the specific features of the K-2 that make it a hard to beat synth for the purpose in question? There is no hidden pretension here, I'm simply asking as a beginner. Have you had a Roland System 1m? I got a good deal on it. I may have been inattentive listening, but it's unlikely you used the modular features of the K-2 here, i.e. patch cables for what you played? I also wonder why, for example, you wouldn't describe the Behringer Pro-800 as equally good.

[@synthseeker]

I’m not sure I understand the question. If you are asking me if I think the K-2 is better than a System 1m (~$500 used) or a Pro-800 ($400) my answer would be…”it depends on your priorities.” I compared the K-2 to the MS-20 mini, but nothing else. Which purpose are you questioning? If I had to treat this video as a review, which it isn’t, I’d say that the K-2 is an excellent synth for the cost, it’s fun to use and sounds great in the context of Berlin School. I don’t generally say anything is better than, because we seek all synths here. ;)

[@mpingo91]

@@synthseeker Basically, I'm going to buy myself some hardware synth. :) And I really like Berlin School. The price generally doesn't concern me, although I'm unlikely to spend more than $600-650. What's important is the size. Desktop without a keyboard would be optimal. Just wondering if really K-2 is the only choice.

[@synthseeker]

Oh goodness no, you have lots of options! Dozens of desktop modules in that range and below. You should consider other requirements. Mono vs poly, analog digital or hybrid, so many choices! :)

[@CrusaderGeneral]

Do you think Ableton is exclusive in this type of arp ore are there viable subs?

[@synthseeker]

I haven't tried very many software Arps, because I use Ableton and it's works well enough for me, but I expect there are some out there that do "reset on note" as well. You'll have to explore.

[@CrusaderGeneral]

@@synthseeker thank you sir

[@synthseeker]

"tweeking" -> "tweaking" (sigh...proofreading fail)

[@gonzinigonz]

Or was that twerking? 😆

[@synthseeker]

Oh dear god no!

[@gonzinigonz]

@@synthseeker 🤣

[@r0bophonic]

2:43 You could at least give us some dramatic knob pull-offs 😜

[@synthseeker]

My inner DJ was doing them. :)

[@SpeccyMan]

If you're going to keep moving your hand in and out of shot, please turn off auto focus and use a fixed focus! It is bloody annoying.

[@synthseeker]

Yeah that video WAS annoying! Sorry about that.