The Sounds of Distant Futures Past // Behringer Solina Strings

Calling all droogs from a 70's dystopian future ... oh and for all your Lo-Fi French House Trip Hop Disco & 70s Rock God Needs! Also marketed as the ARP String Ensemble in the US this is an absolute classic. It's very simple, does one thing, but does it so well it's been used for decades.
... AND YES I KNOW IT WASN'T FEATURED IN A CLOCKWORK ORANGE!! ... IT'S FUN :)
/ starskycarr
www.starskycarr.com
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► Clubbing TV From the Studio:
• From The Studio
0:00 What's a Solina String Ensemble
1:36 What do we have here
4:36 ALL notes Polyphony
5:44 Retro Future Classical
6:53 Phaser
7:38 It's a Lo-Fi Trip Hop French House Master
8:14 As an FX Unit
9:31 Wrapping Up
#solina #behringer #solinastringensemble

[@DestroyER82]

Vintage string synths.. they cannot do much. But what they do.. is magical.

[@PutItAway101]

Yep, minimal use as a lead instrument, but pure magic for putting atmosphere behind a mix

[@mvsr990]

This is why I've resisted picking up a vintage one (especially at the prices they go for now + huge) - a little cheap Behringer box is exactly what a string machine is worth for my uses. The other Behringer stringer is very good but a bit too '80s.

[@DestroyER82]

@@mvsr990 I got couple years ago (before string synths hype started happening) a very nice Logan String Melody II and since then im using it all the time (for all possible genres). Its more similar to original Eminent since it has per key envolopes (not global like on Solina string ensemble). Whenever I start it, I instanly get into mood, such lovely charming sound.

[@josephwright5921]

This thing sounds so much sweeter and smoother than the Waldorf Streichfett, which seems to sound nasty in the upper ranges to me.

[@DestroyER82]

@@josephwright5921 Streichfett is kinda nice (but really sounds more like VST plugin in box), I was tempted by it while ago, but then real deal (as mentioned above) happened and there was no going back at that point. :-)

[@bassfingers]

As a kid growing up in the 70’s I can’t help but have a deep and abiding love of the sound of the Solina. Thanks Starsky.

[@TheSynthnut]

As an owner of an original, this is actually quite appealing and sounds like they've really nailed the sound. The addition of MIDI and the phaser are welcome and the compact size a boon as the Eminent Solina String Ensemble weighs an absolute tonne and isn't the sturdiest traveler. It's crazt to think that a top-octave divider string machine is being mass produced in 2023, but nothing else quite captures that effect.

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

The original Solina String Ensemble had a single high-frequency master oscillator. This went through a divide-down circuit to generate the top 12 semitones, which then went through more divide down circuits to generate a tone for each individual key. Each of those was transformed into a sawtooth wave so you literally have full polyphony - every key can play at once, there is literally one hardware voice per key. One of the best parts about this design is that as long as the master oscillator is in tune, the entire instrument is always in tune - every key/voice. The various "instruments" were done with fixed filters that were switched in and out. I don't know if the Behringer version works the same way, but I would be surprised if it didn't.

[@StarskyCarr]

I was almost right!! Nice info cheers.

[@rnfr]

It does!

[@erlannderrantem6972]

How would that work? Afaik divide down gives you only octaves, so how can you derive the 12 different semitones from that?

[@micindir4213]

Saw is "stair-saw" - multiple octaves mixed in in descending proportions. This is the reason top-most notes sound so... punchy. Square-like punchy. I never used Solina, but I've used Elektronika EM04 which is VERY CLOSE. A clone probably. I instantly recognized THAT ensemble sound. Very unique, though cannot be layer too much, as each new track with this effect creates dirt and more modulation, whereas chord with this effect gets glued together. Though it has sliders for each voice and some sort of Moog filter on brass. It weights about 25 kg. I sampled it once, then it went into storage. Can't think of any bad thing about the synth in review. Its a string machine with midi, what else would you want from life?

[@ilovecatsandsynths9702]

@@erlannderrantem6972 The master oscillator is a high frequency (well above the highest note) and a chip was used that divides it down using counters to get the 12 semitones. I don’t know if these chips are still made or maybe Behringer cloned it, or recreated it using a DSP, microcontroller, or maybe a FPGA but once you have that top octave, the lower octaves are simply divide-by-2 circuits cascaded on each note of the top octave.

[@MacXpert74]

I love the sound of this String machine. To my ear it sounds spot on like a original Solina. Perfect for those 70s strings and Jarre covers!

[@CommunityGuidelines]

That is THE classic sound of the 70's... a musical instrument so ubiquitous, that it almost deserves its own category.

[@javiceres]

It has it: string machine.

[@josephwright5921]

String Machines were quite a thing, until polysynths with patch memory and samplers made them disappear

[@TimJacksonOriginal]

@@josephwright5921 they never disappeared, they just lurked...

[@mkdoddart]

2:45 sounds like Tangerine Dream

[@kevinsturges6957]

Were you playing “In Search of the Unknown Gods” at the beginning? I love that album from the 70’s!

[@jazzad]

I think I could be happy with nothing but ARP sounds. Each of their synths sounds alive and distinctive.

[@EvertVerbeek]

It's Eminent (Dutch) actually. Arp didn't design this one

[@PsychologyAcademia]

What i love about you Starsky is you bring a sense of childish fun to the whole thing. Your enthusiasm shines.

[@roland4507]

Great Video as always.👍 Now I want one. They nailed the sound it seems. Solina is one of my alltime favorite synth. Simply a classic.

[@Vim-Wolf]

On the cutting edge as usual Mr Starsky, thank you. Been waiting for this since they announced it, just need somewhere I can preorder it now.

[@AJ_Reynolds]

This sounds fantastic. Can’t wait to make space disco with it

[@essentialdang]

Gave you a sub in anticipation of the space disco

[@mournblade1066]

@@essentialdang Same here!

[@SPAZZOID100]

I produce Space Disco!

[@Sjobeck7]

Good Lordy, it's alive!!! I've always had a soft-spot in my heart for vintage string machines, so this I most certainly will purchase as soon as it becomes available. Enjoyed your presentation very much. Thank you!!!

[@Droog.28]

"Oh it was gorgeousness and gorgeosity made flesh. The trombones crunched redgold under my bed, and behind my gulliver the trumpets three-wise silverflamed, and there by the door the timps rolling through my guts and out again crunched like candy thunder. Oh, it was wonder of wonders. And then, a bird of like rarest spun heavenmetal, or like silvery wine flowing in a spaceship, gravity all nonsense now, came the violin solo above all the other strings, and those strings were like a cage of silk round my bed. Then flute and oboe bored, like worms of like platinum, into the thick thick toffee gold and silver. I was in such bliss, my brothers."

[@chuckpadgettmusic]

And I felt all the malenky little hairs on my plott standing endwise. And the shivers crawling up like slow, malenky lizards.

[@MilesAwayOfficial]

Easy purchase for me, what a sound! They nailed this.

[@librasky]

Where ? Been looking for a year !

[@josephwright5921]

@@librasky My rep says they should be here very soon. They left the factory in China a month or two ago.

[@TheExtremenarcissist]

@@josephwright5921 none available in Europe 3 weeks after you posted your comment. Maybe Behringer’s concept of ‘very soon’ is comparing their distribution to tectonic plate shifts?

[@chuckpadgettmusic]

@librasky Mine arrived on Friday. Ordered from Sweetwater in May, I think?

[@darrenringer9811]

I knew the sound from this thing is classic, and videos like this prepared me for the real deal, but it still just about knocked my socks off when I got one and switched it on through an amp.

[@cthulholmhastur5317]

Loving it! Man I soon as I heard it, "Dogs" popped into my head! Totally bang on! Thanks for the great content.

[@TyroneEpps]

This is fantastic❤❤❤❤

[@AdrianGeorges]

Thanks for the nice demo. Love these sounds. I already have it as Vst.

[@regplasma7906]

This droog will be playing this in the Moloko bar.Great review.Thanks.

[@NickHowesAstro]

Damn you... another great demo.. Loved this type of sound since playing on a Crumar Performer in the early 90s... one to add to the arsenal for sure

[@toddtrillo7445]

Just love the sound of a solina , cant wait to buy one

[@HeathcliffBlair]

Classic sound. Thanks. 🙂

[@fabiancortes6255]

Fantastic video Starsky Carr .

[@AndrewJohnClive]

Kerrist! What a beauty! I’m sold!😍😍😍 Thank you Mr. Carr!

[@sub-jec-tiv]

Loved the 70s disco and prog rock covers of Sci-fi movie themes using this synth. (Meco and Neil Norman)

[@BobsBand]

Was Meco's Star Wars one done with a Solina? I love that one.

[@ivanskunov9166]

Thank you so much for your feedback and good news! Bright, joyful and sad timbre... Perhaps this is a turning point in the creation of modern music, when technology has eaten techno, and ambient is like noodles hanging from our ears. The space opera is back!

[@KattKirsch]

What a magical little box. Might have me listening to ELP today because of this

[@DurararaX2]

The one and only Behringer synth that interests me. I look forward to demoing one, thanks for posting!

[@lundsweden]

I remember having a conversation with a music shop employee in the early 90s about string machines- the dude was convinced they were "obsolete" as string machines don't have envelopes and filters for every key. I said to him that he just didn't get it- string machines have their own sound, their own vibe. The French Duo Air proved me right a few years later on Moon Safari.

[@StarskyCarr]

Gotta love Moon Safari.

[@ToreHansen]

Cool video and love the editing!

[@UniQueWerkx]

WOW!! That sounds really good!! I think Behringer got it right!! Thank you for making the video demo!!

[@jrodohio]

Behringer copied it right. Please get it straight.

[@chuckpadgettmusic]

Behringer resurrected it right. Get it straight. (These things haven’t been produced for decades.)

[@tshou520]

Thanks for the memories. I had a Solina and this sounds like it. The Solina was built like a tank and weighed about as much as one. You wouldn't want to gig with it (although, I occasionally did).

[@digitaldiezel5870]

I think I need this one…great hip hop and classic dance music machine.

[@TheAstroKid]

Awesome sounds, I looked for this strings for years, the Behringer Vocoder has also the strings but this one is spot on 🔥🔥🔥

[@bobbycastaneda9091]

Sounds great! I still have my Arp Omni 2 since l bought it new in the 70’s!

[@BobsBand]

Wow! Could you demo it for us?

[@dankeplace]

As soon as I saw the thumbnail, I knew exact what the sound you were referring to. This is a nice sounding machine but I think I miss my Waldorf Streichfett, what I paid new for it and sold it for the same will be the same as the Solina. Just feel that you get more from a Streichfett even though it's VA. I sold mine due to having been a little heavy handed in my tracks with it, meaning that suddenly I was using it too much, but now I miss it too much. Can never win lol. Thx for the upload, still sounds great.

[@richarddufresne2683]

Gosh, I may buy a Behringer product for the first time ! Love it ! 🙂 This is the fifth time I am listening to this video.

[@kadiummusic]

It's bringing back memories of my Yamaha SK20 which had a similar lush string sound. Wonderful. 😎

[@MrKersey]

Thanks for the video, I'm definitelly getting one!

[@OCSynthesis]

Great video - you nailed it!

[@DaraM73]

Great video, as ever. 👍

[@digitalduch1111]

Nice one! If Behringer could also clone the Korg Trident, Lamdba ES-50 and Sigma KP-30 it would be amazing! String-Synthesizers are extremely underrated IMHO

[@arkasonus7678]

I'll buy it, for sure 😍. This sound is in my memory since the 70s. You should have mentioned Jean Michel Jarre in the introduction, because, with the phaser, it's his signature (even if he uses an Eminent which is the elder brother of the Solina).

[@StarskyCarr]

He was on my list but I forgot.

[@StudioBonn]

@@StarskyCarrUps…😢

[@firesailstudios1003]

I love disintegration! Great album… cheers!

[@returnofthenative]

Thank you, & yes long awaited but now its here, I placed my purchase order on the Solina, Pro800, & a FourLFO module last Thursday.

[@markgatland977]

I'm soooo getting one of these. Solina soft synth emulations get used in loads of my tunes, but this sounds bang on 😊

[@essentialdang]

Been waiting for this for ages, feel like my hands will on one soon

[@ashfaq1999]

Great video. I have the original solina string synth. This is really good and sounds great. The waldorf striechfett also sounds good too.

[@christianthompson1473]

Great review as always 👍

[@PodOfHeat]

Sounds fantastic!!

[@vertigev]

Man, it sounds really good!

[@Demoulous]

This has been on my list for ages. It's getting ordered the moment its live on Andertons.

[@xntricity6446]

Lovely demo, good man ❤

[@StarskyCarr]

Nice one, thanks.

[@fischek]

just what I needed - thanks!

[@kvmoore1]

This thing sounds spot on!!!!! I definitely want one.

[@harmlesscreationsofthegree1248]

He certainly got one in the yarbles. Nice piece, I’ll be getting one when they eventually get released, great vid 🙂

[@jmcbeady8210]

Great demo. Very nice backing track too...

[@dalejason]

Beautiful ❤

[@mrasker3744]

Starsky, I just just wanna say *THANK-YOU* for mentioning Parliament and Stevie Wonder among the users of the original ARP/Solina String Ensemble. You are the first and only I have seen do so. (Now if we can just get Ohio Players in there. 🤣 Check out their _HONEY_ album. ) Excellent review as always... 👋👋👋👋👋

[@andyjordanmusic3129]

This is a fantastic demo...! That sound is just unbelievable....! I'm going to have to get one...! Thank you...! You have another subscriber... 🙂 👍

[@StarskyCarr]

Thanks.. nice to hear. :)

[@TeddyLeppard]

Wow. That really sounds terrific.

[@StarskyCarr]

We’re so used to being able to get things to sound good, you forget that some things don’t require any effort. Plug it in and hey presto. This is what you get, no Fx, no EQ just niceness.

[@Unison_Detune]

Behringer will sell so many of these. Well done Mr B. Brilliant decision.

[@xa1a]

I need this now. Ugh! Thanks! haha

[@SynthgodXXX]

I can't wait to get my Behringer Solina!

[@neilloughran4437]

Back in the 80s and 90s I would dream about having a Solina on top of my Rhodes along with an ARP Odyssey or ProSoloist... I loved all those jazz funk disco tunes from bands like T Connection, Lonnie Liston Smith, Azymuth et al and the music I was making was in that realm. Finally found an original Solina in 2000s just wonderful... very heavy and I was alway worried something would happen to it so sold it on... This sounds like a very good recreation but I have no idea how I would use this today in the music I do...

[@enricopallazzoofficial]

I have to say, Behringer really makes great String Machines. There are a few "obscure" string machines that i would love to see on the market. Finger crossed for the Crumar Performer (it was used on the last Depeche Mode record).

[@jrodohio]

They copy great string machines. They don't innovate.

[@dinorocker8647]

@@jrodohio So what, I'd rather see great recreations of classic musical apparatuses than some stupid electronic sequencer passin' itself off as a keyboard based synth.

[@nobbystyles4807]

spot on it does have a clockwork orange vibe that sound.... i did write this synth off when i saw it but having watched this i reckon theres actually tonnes of practical stuff you could use it on unlike a lot of synths

[@BlackMytilus]

Expecting mine tomorrow... can't wait to try it.

[@digitaldiezel5870]

Perfect!

[@dracul74]

Loved it.

[@dooldriverr]

Finally Getting to Iowa shipping out this weekend from SW. I do have a Waldorf Streichfett it will be fun to layer them. Thanks for this nice vid.

[@bigskyrockies6034]

Three words come to mind: In Search Of. The first gen w/Leonard Nimoy narrating. Takes me back.

[@RJ_Eckie]

Looks like a very cool box!

[@patriciaoudart1508]

👍🧡💚You did it, I was standing about to enter Solina into Taiga. Just one second to listen, but we know, now.😎🤗🐶😺👍

[@strykermoonfall2220]

AMAZING!

[@AirArtStudiosOfficial]

Wow. Will buy this for sure

[@CommanderAnus]

Love that sound. Thinking about the Sparks. Song No. 1 in heaven for example.

[@joerocchio2373]

Really a great video of a great instrument. I'm hoping Behringer will do a Crumar Performer Reissue.

[@ncapone87]

I hope so, mine doesn't work right and I'm tired of getting it repaired, but I don't want to sell it so it's gathering dust in a case.

[@robman80808]

Really looking forward to getting one of these. Perhaps even more than any of B's other announced kit.

[@PutItAway101]

Would be interesting to see a comparison against the Streichfett, which I use for this kind of stuff, sounds great but I'm open to switching

[@PutItAway101]

I ended up selling the Streichfett and getting a Solina, so I can kind of answer my own question here. In retrospect, the Streichfett is more flexible, with the way you can continuously blend the different sounds rather than just on/off buttons, and with the onboard reverb, you can get a variety of sounds bigger and broader than a basic string synth. However, if you have a nice reverb or delay you can get those bigger sounds anyway. The Solina is easier to dial in "that sound" that you're looking for from the 70s, and that's what I'm mainly interested in, so for me the Solina works better. The one thing I really miss from the Streichfett is stereo output from the modulation. Yes you can add stereo effects to widen up the sound, but there's nothing quite like having the different components of the modulation effect separated in stereo. I wonder if it's possible to mod the Solina for stereo modulation?

[@LarsBjerregaard]

Love the sound. Instant Richard Wright for me.

[@AlexBallMusic]

That's brilliant. It sounds just like the 70s stringers. Built in phaser and in/outs is well thought through, too. Nice contrasting thing to have in your arsenal and whilst I love originals, they are comically large and heavy.

[@Noise-Conductor]

I hope to see you do a demo with this. Peace

[@macronencer]

The Alex seal of approval! Good enough for me. I've ordered one :)

[@vdublu909]

Great video as always. Would love to see a Behringer Solina vs Arturia Solina V some day! 🤞

[@josephwright5921]

Sounds awesome! I hope to get one. I guess I have been mispronouncing it in my head for decades whenever I read gear credits on classic albums. I always thought it was a “So-Lean-ah.” Great job on the proper demo! Behringer should just hire you to do ALL THEIR DEMOS. Some of their product demos by third parties have been rushed and terrible.

[@eancurtis9333]

The disco strings are what im impressed by!!!

[@user-ob1du1ob4e]

Fantastic

[@brandonspivey8020]

Your reviews are spot on.Down to earth ,practical and independent.Good on you from a fellow northerner.

[@vsep13]

that's just beautiful …

[@AlvaroLugosi]

you got me at this was used in the disintegration album🤘

[@makipri]

Cool to see the Finnish disco dance moves of the lehendary, late Åke Blomqvist get some international recognition! But seriously, I had somehow missed Behringer has cloned Solina as well. Gotta check on it!

[@neiljvoice1603]

I think I may indulge in this beauty .

[@Jimbo386000]

Not sure if I'd ever have a use for something like this, but it does sound cool!

[@etiennedevignolles7538]

I have ordered mine. It should arrive in July! 😃

[@mannygrossman]

When this comes out in a few years I will buy it for sure!

[@AndyRubio1]

😎 OP never said where he got his from

[@bobfrog4836]

@@AndyRubio1 From the future probably.

[@javiceres]

😆

[@javiceres]

@@bobfrog4836 😂

[@nickhaldin8674]

I’ve wanted a Solina for YEARS and I’m a huge fan of early Air. This nails the sound and i need it in my life 😭 I am surprised it isnt stereo out, I thought the original was

[@Triplechorus2]

It wasn‘t. The organs had a stereo headphone output and a three channel amp output. Only the last version from 1983 had a stereo line output, but it did sound a little bit weaker than the mono versions. I can tell, because I own both and an Eminent 2000 GT😅 Greetings from Germany🇩🇪🤝

[@patriciaoudart1508]

Solina is made for background ensemble, not as a single instrument. So then it's up to you to place it in your stereo mixer field.

[@Triplechorus2]

@@patriciaoudart1508 Hmm, most musicians have used it in this way, but there are also different examples of use as melody instrument. Monsieur Jarre, Michael Garrison or Klaus Wunderlich (he used the Hohner String Melody on his great LP „Dream Concerto“ and later the strings on his Wersi Organs). Or Listen to „Avanti“ from „Cluster“👋

[@nickhaldin8674]

@@Triplechorus2 oh interesting! Well it won’t be hard to put it through some nice stereo effects 😁

[@nathankirklambo1986]

The moog opus was stereo, and sounded extremely similar.

[@jaimeross7507]

Bravo!! 🍺

[@MegaCraptacular]

German prog trio Triumvirat made excellent use of the Solina. These sounds remind me of their excellent music.

[@Zwopper]

One of the greatest prog bands EVER! ❤️

[@johnnydiamondsmusic1673]

I had one in 82. I will have this as soon as it’s available

[@vimfuego8827]

Another classic nailed by Behringer !

[@michaelpierce3264]

mr Carr I’m like kid jealous of your toys great video!