GEOSynths - Synth Show Reviews - Behringer VC340 Vocoder and String Machine

Here's my Review of the Behringer VC340 Vocoder - Choir - String Synth.
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I grew up hearing the Sound of String Synths and have always loved the "rough" texture of them, the chorusing etc Now that Behringer have released the VC340, I had to get one, so off I went to pick one up.

[@RodLevitonMusic]

Many years later. This video FINALLY made me pull the trigger on this synth😊 Behringer should be paying you a commission on the sales for this particular synth. Wonderful review and demonstration. Thank you!🙏

[@splodge9]

Great vid, great sounds, and you’re a very chill and affable host. Thanks! I can’t wait to get my hands on a VC340. Top of my GAS list!

[@N-trepid1]

THAT was sooo much fun! Brings back so many childhood memories. A nod to all of those that mentioned Battlestar & Jarre. Wonderful review as always Jamie. Sounds glorius! Behringer strikes again :)

[@toolman8269]

Glorious sounds, Jamie! I too remember the sounds of '70s and early '80s film and TV that had THAT sound! I've always loved those strings, along with the Arp Solina, of course. Then there's the vocoder!! Oh yes! I've always wanted a VP-330, so I'm so excited about the Behringer VC-340! I already am enjoying my Deep Mind 12 and look forward to buying a VC-340 and a Behringer Odyssey as well!! Love your channel! Nice nod to Battlestar Galactica! Keep up the good work, mate!

[@maxfunky7397]

Thanks a lot for this nice emotional demonstration. I could really feel how much you love this machine. After watching 3 times I went to the store and bought one. It is really amazing, thx again man.

[@davidosolo]

You made a very nice demo of this synth. Love those string sounds and you vocodered voice, announcing the END ZONE, as well.

[@AlainHubert]

Fantastic demo. Can't wait to receive mine this Thursday...several weeks earlier than previously expected (by changing store), thanks to you Jamie, from England this time instead of USA.

[@PureAmbientDrone]

You got it right, its all about the sound. Some synths have their own character that you can only get from them and them alone. Great review!

[@maximusheronimus23980]

Sweet Lord... my goosebumps are the whole video when hearing sounds ! thanks for the great Video !

[@TheNimasan]

absolutely amazing.... neutron was such a great synth and now this. I def gonna get this!!!!

[@newmusicmachine]

I mean wow, what a glorious throwback and you know exactly what to do with this thing. You should be making albums! Inspiring stuff...

[@ianpreece6391]

Great that it inspires your creativity so much. I remember feeling the same when I got a Roland JD-800 back in 94'.

[@Gainn]

And now they've announced the Boutique JD-08.

[@mik300z]

Can I please thankyou again for this best demo on YT, I could listen to it all day! Like you, sound of my childhood👍

[@JamesCorbettMusic5000]

Just got mine, love it. Live all the little nuances that make you play it differently

[@aptudo]

“BY YOUR COMMAND. YAAAHH.” Gives me chills!

[@TheTerracide]

that was EXACTLY what i was thinking. I was hoping for : " IS THERE ANYBODY OUTHERE!?"

[@sergiosensation6]

My favorite part 😂

[@christopherrusch]

i’ve started quoting it to my friends after it showed it to them lol!

[@BARxMusic]

Awesome overview, thank you for this!

[@maval4537]

Breathtaking intro...this sounds really huge! I'll definitely get myself a V340 too, after that!

[@UllieSwan]

omg now I really want this synth!! the sounds are crazy!!! So organic!

[@AaronFerenc]

Great review! Thank you. I'm so glad you used the external "IN" at the end, I kind of forgot about that idea with this synth....Also, you made that thing sing! I guess the reverb does really help, I'm experimenting with that myself lately.

[@jasonmartin8467]

Perfect first line " by your command !!! " :) bringing back memories of 80's Battle star galactica !

[@EchoKraft]

This was awesome! I need this ! Thank you !

[@ConwayBob]

I didn't think I needed one of these before I heard this review. Now I think I need one of these. Thanks for the demo.

[@synth4ever]

Great overview and sounds Jamie! I've got a few stringers myself but something about the combo of strings + vocoder + choir sounds in a single instrument really blends well together... it allows you to create moods that would otherwise be difficult without additional/separate equipment. Every synth nut needs a good stringer IMO... as simple as they are, they really excel at those sounds bar none. Glad you got your hands on a VC340!

[@GEOSynths]

Thanks, it's one of those instruments i've always wanted, but was a little too narrow in terms of types of sounds, unlike a Poly Synth, so I never bought one (vintage)...This time though with the VC340, I've got no complaints. Thanks for watching :)

[@ManCalledMif]

fantastic demo. bought one on the strength of your video 🙌🏼

[@LinkFMMik]

Thanks to watching this video numerous times over some time I have finally convinced myself that I can no longer be without a VC340, so have ordered one today. Thank you for the inspiration!

[@rosepetal-ov7vl]

You’ll love it and it’ll be a forever accessory for you!

[@DestroyER82]

Lovely sounding machine, love every bit of it. I was kinda going to buy it, but few months ago I found deal I couldnt refuse and got Logan String Melody II. Anyways big thumbs up for Behringer to leave this kind of comfort zone where really all other devolepers are and brought up for reasonable price propper technology from 70's with its unique amazing sound.

[@lars-fenin]

huge soundscapes/strings from this...impressed

[@Synthie77]

Got mine on pre-order, expecting exactly what you confirmed on this excellent review. Thanks mate.

[@GEOSynths]

No problem, you'll love it.

[@Synthie77]

It hath arrived today! Wow dude, this is mental. Behringer has got the sound spot on. I've been at it the last 3 hours and must say, it was hard to let go for today. The VC340 is one Synth to stay! They did an amazing job on this!

[@BillHustonPodcast]

Great demo! Thanks. I've been trying to recreate that classic Solina/Elka ensemble effect using PD:Pure Data, and have thus far failed! That was such an amazing sound from so much music in the 1970s that I used to listen to growing up...

[@npartridge12]

This is by far the best review and demo of this beautiful machine on KZbin, thank you. And after considering this amazing machine for quite some time you have finally convinced me that no it’s not just GAS, I do need this beautiful instrument in my rig, so have just ordered from Andertons’s. Like you the sound of a string machine was very much part of my childhood, Vangelis, Jarre and of course Floyd and Genesis, plus some great sci-Fi scores. And finally I can play those wonderful swelling string sounds at the end of the Blake’s 7 theme, a sound that so thrilled me as a kid.

[@EdEditz]

So how are you liking the VC340. I had mine for over a year now and I still love it! Blake's 7 was an amazing show at the time. I never missed an episode. ZEN was always such a snob, LOL

[@npartridge12]

@@EdEditz Yes it's a fantastic piece of kit, very useful for those 70s Jean Michelle Jarre vibes and indeed anything that requires a decent vocoder or 70s synth strings/choir sounds. The thing is so well built too and just looks beautiful in my little home studio, loving it. And yes I agree ZEN was a bit of a snob, Avon was my favourite character and of course as a young teenager I had quite a thing for Jenna, oh those teenage fantasies, better not go into those here though LOL!

[@EdEditz]

@@npartridge12 Hahaha oh yes, Jenna was hot. :)

[@HyperdrivenPictures]

Best demo of this keyboard I've seen on KZbin!

[@percussionologist]

Fantastic video. Fantastic synth. Thanks for this Jamie.

[@GEOSynths]

Thanks for watching :)

[@fortheloveofnoise]

I am amazed at how great it sounds sequenced fast.

[@kainaumann]

Stunning Performance. You got me!

[@pthomas36]

Yup, this is the next one for me. This with the Hydrasynth ticks all the Vangelis/Jarre boxes.

[@aldendado8461]

Man simply You are the best! I sub to your channel. That is the way to correctly review the synth. Thank You so much. I'm your fan.

[@trizvanov]

That sounds very Solina- like. Love it!

[@JgHobley]

Sounds fantastic! I had an ARP Omni 2 and this seems s great replacement. Great video

[@TheArpomni2]

Agreed very similar in parts

[@paulrak]

That bit at about 20 minutes in is amazing!

[@winddealer1]

Another great review... thank you.

[@markthomas6794]

Great video! The first analog instrument I owned was an Elka Rhapsody 610 that I discovered at a junk sale for like $30. Plugging that thing in and playing for a first time was pure magic. That Elka had a dead note, but I played that thing for countless hours none-the-less. It was so simple and so inspiring. Later I bought a Crumar Orchestrator (which actually has a resonant Moog filter). I also owned a Yamaha YC45, which had a string section of sorts. I'll tell you this, there is literally nothing like the sound of a true analog divide-down string synth awash in reverb. String synths just crackle with life in a way that few other analog instruments do, it's hard to describe. I sold both my string synths when I picked up a PolySix. The PolySix is kind of a step-child in the string synth family, so it was an easy decision. Even still, I missed those synths. I never thought I'd see another divide down synth in production. When was the last analog string synth in production? It must have been, what, like, 1978? (The Waldorf Streichfett doesn't count since it's VA.) Kudos to Behringer for taking this step!

[@dan_remaincalm]

Roland were making RS09s through until 1980ish, and there are a couple of home organ type things with great divide-down string sections that were produced through 1982-1983 ish. But yeah. Stunning sounds.

[@LUGER97]

I'm sold. Great review.

[@Stadtkind32]

Love these sounds.

[@SynthgodXXX]

Sounds like a dream!! I love it! Great reviw / demo of the Behringer VC-340! A+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

[@Musical.Maze.1]

Nothing beats the BOSS VE-500 pedal. Watch this vocoder madness!!! BOSS VE-500 THE KING OF VOCODERS! kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4XJpqCnfceVi7M

[@fjfrancois]

@@Musical.Maze.1 LOLOLOLOLOLOL

[@keyjamman8376]

'Buy' button pushed! Been waiting a while for this...

[@distortimus7631]

I am going to pick this unit tomorrow. Can't wait.

[@neilloughran4437]

Got one of these coming next week... I can see from the way you play you'd love that extra octave... still... it's a steal at the price.

[@robertreid8241]

I'd happily purchase an album of this, and your Deepmind pad sounds, I'd be in the bath for hours!

[@GEOSynths]

Haha...Bath Music, not heard of that genre...It must be causing a Splash :)

[@synthpest6731]

Yeah, the strings instantly made me think of Fishing Junks At Sunset by Jarre🤓

[@raysparkindustries]

Expansive, cinematic, great sounds and a great demo :)

[@GEOSynths]

Thanks Paul, much appreciated.

[@Deeplycloseted435]

This is going to start appearing in various pop and hip-hop tunes before we know it. THAT is cool. Its just such a.....nothing else sounds like this, and at the same time so pleasing to the ear.

[@g-muni5855]

Beautiful sounds👌

[@raffitchakmakjian]

I knew you'd have the best review of this. Didn't watch at work because I didn't want to lessen the experience. Now my wife's calling me to bed, haha. Good stuff, sounds golden!

[@SurferDudeJimmy]

The perfect example of the VP-330 string "swirly chorus and phasing" is the very begining of Mr. Roboto by Styx. Awesome sound!

[@wernervannuffel2608]

Yes, I agree with that nice evolving string-sounds combining with that special sonic human choir of this amazing little 'string-choir'-synthesizer. And I'm also a kind of 'string-choir'-man, so I understand very well your point you made. For the vocoder section I make use of my 'old' Korg VC-10 vocoder. But a second vocoder would be very nice piece in my collection of synths. Okay : a behringer VC340 Vocoder would be a good investment and with the many digitalised human choirs I use in my Feniks Studio it can gives me a special sonic landscape in search of that typical sound-colorisation I'm looking for. Thanks a lot for this video.

[@daniyalahmed97]

Woohoo waited for this after you posted the ms101 fault video!

[@78fenderPbass]

Really great demo! Yeaaaaahhhhh

[@josebmar5776]

Fantastic. Vangelis, encourage yourself to use this sound again with Behringer.

[@vlzmusik]

Best demo so far. Mine's ordered. Funnily enough the only mic I have around is a C1000 too, it's good to see it works well with it.

[@AlainHubert]

I use an old AKG D1200E with it with great results.

[@m-linerecords5146]

This was an amazing review! A real pleasure. Thank you so much!

[@navboi12]

Snap on the George t-shirt! Sweet review and demonstration :)

[@GEOSynths]

Haha...Yeah, cheap George clothes, more money for Synths.

[@darrenringer9811]

George is the Behringer of clothing, several of my favorite shirts are that brand... *shrug*

[@scottmitchell8754]

Just got mine through the post today, its great machine

[@TROGULAR10000]

Thanks that was the best demo and review I heard. The Vocoder drums are the fourth instrument! Watch your nose with that mic...

[@AtomkeySinclair]

Dang! You had me with the Cylon.

[@Stadtkind32]

I'll so buy this album if you ever release it :-)

[@lonesomelooch5661]

Great demo!

[@f.o.r.m7545]

Wow!! This is amazing!!

[@9odyssey]

For a synth review, I always look at Geosynth, Loopop and Sonicstate. You guys should do a review together one day. Your points of views are Geosynth more about the heart, Loopop more about all the specs and possibilities, and Sonicstate a good focus on the oscilators and filters and raws of a synth. Keep on making great videos for our synth community!

[@Goettel]

Check out Alex Ball too

[@skummelkatt]

I never thought that any company would have the balls to make a new string synth based on old technology. I mean most of them were one trick ponies although they did what they did very well and unique. The Streichfett was a nice homage but had no mojo in the sound. Dead cold. This on the other hand...wow! Hats off to Uli. This has that mojo that my old gear had. So freaking impressed.

[@Dolores5000]

Really perfect ❤

[@RobertMRyder]

You've inspired me to do two things today. First, see how much of this synth I can emulate with the king korg. Second, run a drumbrute through the KK vocoder.

[@debmurray2734]

@robert rider I would be interested to get your feedback re your king Korg test. Thanks!

[@polyman4]

Nice demo. I've got the hots for one of these. You're processing it how I'd like to process mine when I get one

[@yvastel8153]

Wow that thing is huge! I thought it was just slightly bigger than a jdxi that I could fit it in my archery bag, but... Woof.

[@AlainHubert]

Finally got mine today (one day early), thanks to Gear4Music's very fast shipping. It sounds great. On a footnote, since it came from England, the power cord supplied is for 230 VAC 50Hz. But since the VC340 has an internal switch mode PSU that accepts 110-240 VAC 50/60 Hz, and a standard IEC connector, I was able to use north American 120 VAC cord that I had lying around without any problem. As a bonus, it cost me even less than the advertised price here in Canada even with the exchange rates.

[@JonathanRCross]

Hey Ranzee! The dog came running through and barked around 1:45. excellent stuff! Sounds creamy

[@moresynths]

Oh, yeah. This is the instrument I was looking for.

[@issiewizzie]

great stuff mate

[@hightowerTB303]

It sounds so rich! I love mine

[@Iofflight78]

I've always wanted the original. This is pretty cool.

[@payt01]

Ok well you've done it. I've ordered one. I've kindof wanted one for as long as I can remember, and this seems to be the time to do it! Those strings.. there's nothing quite like it. Or the choir.. And it's got a really nice vocoder as well! Of course it's kindof a one or two trick pony..but what a trick it is! It'd like instant bladerunner! Oh well.. It's supposed to be here on thursday..:)

[@GEOSynths]

Good choice and yes it's not a first, second or even a third choice instrument, but what it does, it does it great!

[@XENONEZZ2]

What a great review...makes me want to buy one and I can't play keyboards....yet...!!

[@nickynocknoo]

Epic sounds

[@mikehydropneumatic2583]

Did it, got a VC340. It definately sounds better than the VP-03 I have, just need to noodle the levels a bit. BTW that pitch slider sets the window for the pitch set knob, slider on normal and the knob won't do anything, slider to the left than that is how low your pitch goes when turning anti clockwise.

[@AlainHubert]

The greatest demo of this superb machine on KZbin, bar none. Thanks for sharing. BTW, what are the effects used on this ? I suspect perhaps Strymon BigSky ?

[@seancraig5373]

I agree! Thanks for the highly useful review

[@raffitchakmakjian]

perhaps Valhalla?

[@nellsonogmore5938]

The strings sound so good.

[@damonsummers]

Love it!

[@jbaragon]

¡¡Espectacular!!

[@inconsolablegraphite2126]

Lovely demo, a pleasure to listen to. I’ve had an unhealthy fixation with string synths since the mid 70s for similar reasons to yourself. Developments in the 80s such as the DX7 and samplers seemed to make them deeply uncool for a while. I own the VP 330’s cousin, the RS 505, and a Yamaha SK 20. Nothing else sounds quite like them IMHO and they tend to be greater than the sum of their parts. I bought the Behringer on the basis of yours and Firechild’s demos. I had my fingers crossed in the hope they’d actually produce it, and they’ve nailed the sound as far as I can tell. The RS505 strings aren’t and never were exactly the same as the 330's, but they are similar. Played side by side the Behringer just sounds like a slight variation, there is no suggestion of it being insubstantial or inferior by comparison. Using them in combination, with the 505 providing bass (which is huge) and occasional brass, and the Behringer for the choir, is pretty impressive. The truncated keyboard is a bit unfortunate, but I can understand the desire to keep costs down and make the instrument smaller to suit those using them on desktops. Whatever you think of Behringer, they deserve credit for doing what Roland should have done, even if was only on a ‘custom shop’ basis a bit like high end Gibson guitars. Unlike a lot of Roland’s current output, which strikes me as toylike or ‘almost but not quite’, (it could be I'm just getting old 🤔) the VC 340 gives the impression of being a proper musical instrument (no wall wart, wahay!) and It’s a fraction of the price of an original… Now Uli, (or Korg) how about an ARP Quadra :)

[@wayfaerer320]

The RS-505 is what first drew me to string synths - I've never played one, but the demos on KZbin ive watched always blew me away. Was hoping to either buy a used RS-505 or hope that somebody would make a reissue. Looks like this new Behringer VC340 is the ticket?

[@inconsolablegraphite2126]

@@wayfaerer320 Indeed. The Behringer is an excellent clone of the 330 (they’ve not been tempted to ‘improve’ too much on the original design whilst modernising it) and a fantastic synth in its own right, but worth bearing in mind that the 505 was intended to provide full orchestral textures at the time, so designed for a slightly different job. Its dedicated bass section goes down a lot further than the 330, you have mixable 8’ and 4’ strings in each keyboard half AND a rudimentary polysynth. It can sound very powerful indeed despite being apparently simple and not truly polyphonic. No longer cheap unfortunately, and the old girl is a bit cantankerous these days, but when new they were still well over £1000, a huge amount of money in the late 70s. Perhaps if we all smile nicely at Uli...

[@BrettBarnes]

I think I may add this to my rig just for Pink Floyd and Ozzy tunes. They both used the heck out of Solinas and Omnis. I hate giving Behringer my money but this is really good.

[@pianistshowtoplaycompimpro8093]

amazing vocoder!

[@andy-ford]

Wow...instant Blade Runner strings, therefore a must have! Also used on a lot of 80s Italian horror sound tracks.

[@GEOSynths]

Yep, that's why I bought it.

[@vinkerdoodles]

Nooice Review! Go Behringer!

[@EdEditz]

I have 8 synths now and this is still the one I play on the most. Just to get ideas for songs and it's great for that. If you really want that Battlestar Galactica Cylon sound then you need to get a MicroFreak because that has a 16 channel vocoder and the VC340 only has 10 channels. They used an EMS1000 vocoder on that series which is also a 16 channel vocoder.

[@janne-seta]

Sounds pretty good! Thanks for the review. I just wish they hadn't skimped on the keyboard. The upper/lower split makes less sense with only three octaves and four would be nice for the strings in general...

[@cfibb]

I hear ya. Here's hoping they make a desktop.

[@josephwright5921]

Me, too. I am going to hold off for a little bit to see if a desktop comes out.

[@Zenkman]

Great ! Thanks

[@triplebacon1]

Brilliant!!

[@MrPipmeister]

With you on sooo many levels

[@JoseAngelMorente]

OMG! Love those strings! I need a VC340. Now.

[@neilloughran4437]

Reminds me of Tangram Pt 2... amazing..

[@onefm1]

Finally, I Finally, I found a good overview. Thank you.. I wonder if you can have the fully modulated mic vocoder, without the strings/pads in the background.