Using the Behringer Pro-800 as a hardware MIDI controller

[@jaypkock]

Ok this was insane - i just happened to buy the pro-800 as my first hardware synthesizer and have Arturia V Collection X on computer... I wont go outside for some days xD

[@gbkny1]

I was wondering this exact question since i plan on getting the Pro-800. Although it's not quite a Prophet 600, for the money it is definitely worth it especially since the update really makes it sing.

[@bennieandthegesserit5463]

Great info! Thanks!

[@patsonmusic]

Thanks for this valuable informative video! Great idea to use the Pro-800 as a controller!

[@Dubsteppah]

Awesome video, I love the ingenuity. Got yourself a sub, friend, I look forward to more of what you've done with your music. Cheers

[@MirkoMancini]

Nice video indeed. 02:54 it reminds me Yazoo - Only You. Anyway, liked && subscribed, keep going.

[@synthfluencer]

Thank you ♥ And yes, there is some "Yazooism" in that melody. Didn't notice that 😁

[@artificium_]

also this is great thanks! didn't know i had some knobs i could use ha

[@konradschmucker4023]

thanks, danke! sehr interessant

[@Synthfidel]

Great info! Subbed.

[@infn8loopmusic]

Pretty awesome! The arturia microfreak works similarly in terms of knob midi sends. But... Of course its not a pro-800 though... so theres that little drawback. 😂

[@synthfluencer]

Thanks for pointing out. 👍 I was not sure if the Microfreak does send CC for all the controls.

[@infn8loopmusic]

​@@synthfluencer Most, but not all. There's an option in the menu

[@DX5]

Great. Behringer, check this out :)

[@artephank]

Actually they could start doing cheap dedicated vsti controll surfaces…. One can dream

[@na-dj6ob]

⁠@@artephankthey are working on the BCR32, which will be amazing when it comes out, but the pro 800 is still perfect to control soft synths with its layout.

[@arbous65]

Thanks for the video. I'm really happy to know this about Pro-800. I'm thinking of buying it because of presets and analog signal path. Did you find the tone quality of VCOs and VCF are good? I was originally thinking of Behringer 2600 but not having presets for me means that I can find something precious and later not be able to quite replicate it. I'm coming from virtual instrument world and I don't think I'm quite ready to lose the presets. Also if the parameters can be recorded in the DAW tracks, I can go back and tweak things around (non-destructive) rather than just record the audio and have another full run for all the variable tweaking. I'm wondering who Pro-800 is aimed for. I like to use it to make variety of melodic (smooth leads) , rich chords, warm bass tones, rhythmic textures, percussive sounds, etc. Does Pro-800 offer a wide range of possibilities? Do you know if DeepMind 12D can do the MIDI CC as well? It also has presets like Pro-800 so I thought if the recall of the variables is figured out digitally, they probably added those manipulations through MIDI CC as well. Although I'm not sure if DeepMind 12D tonal richness is as good as Pro-800 or not. I appreciate your feedback. Thanks again.

[@synthfluencer]

Hi @arbous65 concerning the tone quality, that really is a matter of taste. Personally I really like how the Pro-800 sounds, both VCOs and the filter. I kind of prefer the square wave VCO over the Deepmind12 square DCOs. In addition, the Pro-800 has a triangle waveform that is useful for percussive sounds and additional low end for bass sounds. Speaking of sound design, the Pro-800 is a little more "hands-on" meaning accessing parameters directly from the interface, however some of the features are hidden behind odd shortcuts and the "display" is kind of limited. On the other hand, the Deepmind not only is equipped with more voices (12 vs 8), but there is a fantastic built in effects section and a really extensive modulation matrix, a parameter "sequencer", very capable arpeggiator, chord mode, high pass filter and different low pass filter modes and some more. The CC implementation is quite comprehensive as well, you may check this link squarp.community/t/behringer-deepmind-12/1149 but as far as I know this works in MIDI-In direction only. As an entry point in the world of hardware synths and if you're looking for New Wave style sounds, the Pro-800 might be the better choice. But in terms of sound variation - especially if you want to be independent from external/virtual effects & DAW-based parameter modulation - the Deepmind is clearly ahead, though more complex to operate. I hope this helps.

[@artificium_]

what i really want to do is mod it and put audio through its filters/envelopes 🤔 waiting to see someone do this if i don't get to it first. is it even possible tho?

[@synthfluencer]

Someone did a mod like that for the Deepmind 12, so I guess it's just a matter of finding the correct soldering spots on the PCB for VCF-input. The mods shown on maffez.com appear promising, maybe you can ask that guy for a hint.

[@artificium_]

@@synthfluencer ah sweet thanks for the link. im heavily questioning if i've been on this site before 🤔 but idr any of this pro800 stuff

[@synthfluencer]

​@@artificium_ that page collects all the pro800 mods maffez.com/?page_id=3673

[@artificium_]

@@synthfluencer ah yea i found it. was the deepmind12 stuff there too?

[@synthfluencer]

@@artificium_ I think the DM12 imput mod was discovered by KingKorg kzbin.info/www/bejne/on7Jialshpmbqdk

[@kamael1125]

Hi I must be missing something. When trying to assign midi control to a knob on behringer, nothing happens. I tried in ableton and in arturia Pigments. Is there anything you had to do in menus in Pro-800 or how you connected it to PC?

[@synthfluencer]

Hi, in Ableton Live you have to activate the Pro-800 under MIDI Ports Input section (in Options > Preferences > Link/MIDI ), also you could check the TX Port (on the Pro-800 press "Settings" > Preset key "1" until it reads MIDI TX Channel, set to channel 1. It can be a bit frustrating to find the right way to connect. Try using MIDI-OX (or Snoize MIDI Monitor on Mac) as a starting point to see if any signal is being received from the Pro-800 and on which channel. Hope this helps.

[@kamael1125]

@synthfluencer hi thanks for such quick response! Didn't expect it so fast 😅 So I figured how what was the problem with Ableton. It was me being ultra dumb. I didn't realize that midi assignment wouldn't work unless I close "learn" function. So now the real problem. Why The F Pigments doesn't recognize pro 800 when opened as vst plugin in ableton, while at the same time ableton does?

[@synthfluencer]

@@kamael1125 I don't know about Pigments but some VSTs do have their own MIDI learn function. But the usual way is to first select the controls to be mapped and then do the mapping. Like shown here kzbin.info/www/bejne/ioGpp4iolsiDjM0 Hope this helps, cheers!

[@22pirate]

I have been curious about this for a while. Is the Behringer 800 different from any midi analog synth in this use case? I've always thought why cant i at least be able to control the filter ADSR etc on any VST from an analog hardware synth. It makes more intuitive sense than a midi controller that usually doesn't look like a synth so their is a layout difference visually and intuitively as well as no muscle memory. the real question is can i save the set ups in the VSTs once configured?

[@elissitdesign]

Most of these modules do NOT send midi. Make sure you check before buying if it’s something you want.

[@artephank]

The way the author did it, it is not „saved” into the vst but rather the project. However, many plugins (all Arturia plugs, many Korgs and others) do have midi learn - and then yeah, you can save it into plugin itself. It is even better that way, because you can then use in one session both pro800 on dedicated midi track and control vstis via pro800 on other tracks

[@synthfluencer]

@22pirate There are other synths that send parameter changes, eg. Arturia MiniBrute 2*, Novation Bass Station II, Moog Grandmother. Looking at Behringer synths as far as I know the Pro-800 is the first of their desktop synths series that has full MIDI implementation in send and receive direction. As @artephank mentioned, saving the project keeps the mapping so what you could do is creating a project with your most favorite VSTs, do the mapping for them once and use this as a starting template. EDIT: *) I do not own a MiniBrute or any of the other synths. There is inconsistent information what controller changes actually being sent. MiniBrute may only send Note On/Off, Pitch bend and few others.

[@paulmoadibe9321]

unfortunately, most of the retailers in my country hates Behringer so it's hard to find and it's expensive.... thanks

[@synthfluencer]

All these moral debates are nonsense. It should be about making music,

[@philxdev]

@@synthfluencer I don´t think that morale is an issue here... retailers only care about accessibility and margins... and there probably lies the issue in his country.

[@synthfluencer]

@@philxdev Understand. Anyhow I press my thumbs that you are able to get the gear you want.

[@GoodAfternoonDave]

This synth, like many Behinger products, is not actually available in most markets. This duplicitous and deceptive marketing reflects poorly on both Behinger and on you as a content creator. Thanks for nothing.

[@synthfluencer]

Hi pal, I'm always open to criticism. Please bear in mind this is an all non-commercial channel just to post out my synth foolery to the webs. This is not a sponsored vid nor am I connected to Behringer in any manner. I bought this synth on my own. Sorry to hear that Behringer gear is not available to you. If you're interested in controlling your plugins with hardware there are other synths (Arturia MiniBrute 2*, Novation Bass Station II, Moog Grandmother) that do a similar job. Cheers, SF.

[@na-dj6ob]

What an idiotic pointless comment.

[@jimharp8655]

Why is it supposed to be Synthfluencer's concern what is or isn't available in any given country? The Behringer UB-XA is not yet available in the USA, yet I still appreciate the opportunity to learn about it from all the people posting videos.

[@three69]

Hope “Behinger” keeps it up, makes sonic creation available to a wider spectrum of artists- allowing more art to be created.

[@anonymous_friend]

hal sounds like a wussy boy 😂