Why I think the Behringer Deepmind 12 is still worth it in 2024 and some things I like about it.

Going over the Behringer deepmind 12 and why it's still great after years of being out.
0:00 Opening and Behringer is evil
4:00 lets get into some sounds with an init patch
6:00 tone mod
9:40 the FX section
17:28 the filter and envelopes
20:15 unison modes
24:00 oscilator drift
27:30 known issues if you are buying used and closing thoughts

[@mark35mi]

Appreciated this video bro. Look forward to more!

[@BillVincent]

Thanks for this. I've had a DM12D for a while now. Some of the best videos I've seen that make me love it even more are the Starsky Carr videos where he creates incredible emulations of Juno 106 patches on it. Anyone who thinks this synth is "thin" or "not enough bass" needs to watch them. This synth can be an absolute beast, and is the perfect 21st century stand in for the Juno 106, and that isn't counting all of the other tricks it has up it's sleeve that the old Junos don't. Sometimes we get so bogged down by what we don't have that we forget what we do have. And lately I was wishing I had a Juno 106. Until I realized after watching those videos I already have the best of one sitting right over there in my studio. True analog. And if you actually take time to learn it and program it, it will give up its secrets and show you what it can do.

[@-l5905]

Great Vid. Again, I learned some new things about a synth I already own. Thank you for the detailed video. You mentioned doing a video on making a String Ensemble Patch with the Deepmind, Please do! Doing a comparison to the Solina might be cool... Keep up the good work brother.

[@michaelm1]

Thanks, Yuki. Very helpful!

[@michaos1]

Behringer DeepMind is one of the best designed synths! I miss the workflow and informative display and mod matrix of DM12, having DSI Rev2 now. Its kind of better all around synth but damn i really love the DM workflow.

[@heliotron8042]

I think it's great to see people who really study give this kind of testimony. I have a Roland JDXA, everyone complains about its menu, I also wanted a scroller instead of buttons, but it does more than DM and Korg Logs, with all kinds of modes between sync oscillators, with many types of wave to mix, etc. I'm thinking of investing in the DM to see how it relates to its sequencers, which the lazy ones would never dare to test. Many thanks for the video!

[@mactamhaismusic]

Great video cheers

[@Wazulon]

Best bang for the buck synth I've ever owned

[@FrankRideausonore]

The fact you can route any mod sources to the FX parameters is not common on many synth, I haven’t got to explore these possibilities yet and I’d be happy to see some videos about this.

[@Jason75913]

Pro-800 doesn't seem as versatile as the Deepmind in terms of sound design by far. Pro-800 also has a strong vintage sound to it that is hard to push away from, so almost every patch you could design on it is going to sound "old". Deepmind gets some modern sounds in its factory banks, and Luftrum1 has made a badass custom bank of modern-sounding presents for it as well. I haven't gotten around to picking up a Deepmind of my own, I hope that I'll be able to next year.

[@EcoCentrist]

the velocity works well for performance, have been able to use the DM12 for a few gigs and have been pleased with it

[@scottfauber]

Check out the user effects for the XD. It can definitely punch with the DM.

[@klstay]

It is great to hear the Peak/Summit reverb getting proper recognition; only MAYBE the Moog One is comparable. I continue to hope Novation will release a Summit "V2" with the Sequential SEM and 2140 in place of the current filter section and a better keybed. (Poly AT and the Sequential vintage algorithm would also be great) This synth was a great accomplishment for Behringer. For me the "problem" is for the same price used or $100 more new you can get a Hydrasynth desktop. As of firmware 2.0 it is serious competition to a lot of synths at the various model price points IMHO.

[@WildernessMusic_GentleSerene]

I trust your opinion on the effects since you have so many high quality pedals to compare it to. This is the first time I have heard that the reverb of the DM12 is not that good. I assumed from all the other reviews from other YT content providers that it was good. Good to know. Once we get out of the Casio toy market effects, I wonder why a manufacturer would build in reverb/delay/chorus that we can't use on our recordings? From your video the reverb sounds okay adding long multiple delay taps to reverb extends it depth, it certainly is not a Casio effect. Maybe equal to the ZoomCDR effects, most people make the mistake of not including the graphic equalizer on the Zoom's effects chain to control the brightness or muddiness of adding effects to the entire frequency spectrum of a signal. When this synth came out many years ago it received the highest praise in reviews, now no one is making videos on it anymore or showing off its sound design possibilities. Everyone gets excited about new gear and then it becomes boring in a short time. I wait a few years before buying any new synth to get all the reviews and updates out of the way, and know better what I am buying. I am only interested in designing sounds that have not been done before, vintage gear is useless to me unless I am looking for basic sounds. Today I am studying the Kurzweil VAST/FM/VA modular synth (bought in 2023), it is an old OS but the design is so deep, new sounds are easy to come up with. The only analog gear I have purchased is only for inputting to my sampler. Digital is where I get my most creative sound designs. I wanted to try this synth, but Behringer has a horrible track record with me, none of the gear I bought from them lasted more than 1,5 years. So, I refuse to buy from them.

[@liviou2004]

I've got a Deepmind 12 for several years now, among others keyboards as Korg Kronos, Yamaha Montage and others. *It still works perfectly* without issue. It is absolutely reliable. About the effects : the effects section is a real creative tool of a good quality, sometimes better than some far more expensive synths. Of course we can find better reverb but the DM12 reverbs, based on Lexicon, are very good. Finally, don't forget the price of this synth and consider all it is able to do!

[@TheDavidPoole]

If you switch the fans off or down to below about 34 you might notice the noise issue goes away. I've found that helps. I usually turn the fans off when recording, otherwise I keep them on. I've had a DM12 keyboard for several years and it's a wonderful synth. The FX section is excellent - I just wish that there was an external input so I could use them with other equipment. Maybe theres a mod somewhere?

[@YukiTheSynthDragon]

Someone has modded it iirc.

[@TheDavidPoole]

@@YukiTheSynthDragon cool. I'll have to look it up. Thanks Yuki.

[@Gainn]

The one omission (for obvious reasons) is no audio input to the FX module. Imagine how redundant most people's FX pedals would be if you could use the DM. I kinda wish they'd do a DEEPFX box with 4 ins and outs.

[@YukiTheSynthDragon]

Yah that kind of sucks but it would take away from air mixer sales maybe ? I known you can mod audio inputs into it but it’s all on surface mount points.

[@Gainn]

It would definitely cannibalise their other sales. A shame it's not easier to do. @@YukiTheSynthDragon

[@audiolego]

Subbed❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@JoeJohnston-taskboy]

For around $800, you can get a Hydrasynth Desktop and that is a beast. I love Behringer gear and I like the Deepmind a lot. However, the Hydra is a digital synth (it sounds very analogy.). The deepmind is a little quiet at times.

[@YukiTheSynthDragon]

You can get the explorer for $599 and often for $499 and it’s very worth it. I have the desktop and it’s one of the best synths I have.

[@michaos1]

One doesn’t cancel each other:)

[@MG53v8]

Wish I got the desktop instead

[@squoblat]

If you think the deepmind reverb is nice, get your hands on a Novation Summit. I have both and running the deepmind through the summit effects is an amazing combination.

[@YukiTheSynthDragon]

the summit is out of my size range if I want to get a Behringer obx clone. it’s a nice synth but so big. I might consider it.

[@G.GordonMidi]

Is it different than the reverb on the Peak? I always assumed those two had the same effects section

[@squoblat]

@@G.GordonMidi no, but you can't use the Peak as an effects unit for other gear. Only the Summit has that capability.

[@G.GordonMidi]

@@squoblat Gotcha. That’s a cool feature but sounds like something I personally would never actually use it for

[@jettero1]

I use a Strymon BigSky with the Deepmind 12D, the Cloud reverb in the BigSky is Universely Beautiful.

[@ekummel]

Dozens of years ago I cut my synth teeth on a Yamaha DX7II-FD. That thing is a beast and super solid and well made. I didn't care for the key bed but it is what it is...I wanted to see what the world outside FM was like so I picked up a DM12 keyboard. Compared to my DX7, the DX7 keyboard is luxury! The DM12 keyboard is too light and clicky...meaning that you can clearly hear when your fingers hit those plastic keys...Not impressed with the keyboard at all! Kinda wish I had gotten the desktop unit instead and use one of my Midi keyboards which are much nicer!

[@Jamic9]

"I don't give a dam". Unfortunately that's the attitude of so many people today.

[@RJ1J]

Just my opinion but for some reason I cannot get into the sound of the Deepmind, always found it thin and known that for a few bucks more one can get a Peak which is a lot better, even if some of the FX are decent. Listenig to Starsky Carr's review of the UB-XA, and there seems to be a big jump in quality, which I thought I could hear in their Prophet 600 clone.

[@YukiTheSynthDragon]

A new peak is $900 more since they raised the price to $1599. It’s quite a steep price change. It’s not just a few dollars more. Even used pricing a peak is about $1000 and a used deepmind is $500

[@RJ1J]

Yikes. I had no idea the price went up that much. That's ludicrous. How do they justify it? @@YukiTheSynthDragon

[@YukiTheSynthDragon]

Not sure given the fpga isn’t all that expensive. But everything cost more now. The Blofeld is now $799 from the $549 it used to be.

[@RadekPilich]

The most annoying thing about DM is the patch navigation / changing. The key combo necessary to scroll through sounds within a single category is horribly unergonomic.

[@YukiTheSynthDragon]

The ux is bad for patch management.

[@michaos1]

Didn’t suffer from that, strange. I think its good and close to VSTs with categories, favs etc. never had an issue with that. Elektrons are maybe only better from my experience.

[@RadekPilich]

@@michaos1 it's the PROG + -/+ gesture I am complaining about. It would be much better if the order of PROG and WRITE buttons was switched the other way around.

[@therealb3yond]

Weird , i hate the effects on the DM12 , it is very steppy more like Zoom ms70cdr . I use it with Strymon bluesky and Timeline and it makes a world of difference. Also i think the DM sounds a bit muffled and not as clear in the highs and lows as i like but... i love it in the end especialy for ambient strings !

[@michael7018]

The Neutron is a great alternative from Berlinger.

[@ronnyspanneveld8110]

I dont like behringer. i got two 19 inc subs that weigh 50 kilo's each, two 15inc tops. and my mixer is .. Behringer. Trust make the worse products in the world. i am sitting on a Trust desk chair.. Dont like M-audio their service is horrid. my 8 inc monitors and my 49 midi keyboard is M-audio.. Kinda the same with my girlfriend........ but she can sing :P

[@DoctorRevers]

Disappointed you’re back on the behringer train. I’m still done with them. Just copying other companies hard work and slapping their name on it in a cheaper build. Other companies do not do that.

[@YukiTheSynthDragon]

They are awful but people aren’t going to stop buying them and given how shitty things are if it brings someone a little joy to have an affordable synth it’s kind of mean to rain on that. Also many companies copy. Things like the deep ind and the monopoly are all synths that won’t get made by anyone who originally owned them. Though as much as people feel the dm12 is a clone it’s pretty much its own thing given how that 2nd osc works. Don’t buy them if you don’t like them. I’m not going to make a video like every other channel hounding on them. I have limited energy and I like making music and exploring as many synths as I can.

[@DoctorRevers]

@@YukiTheSynthDragon I get it. It’s not so cut and dry. I don’t feel good supporting them still. Sure companies are influenced by others and some may copy ideas but behringer takes it to a new level blatantly copying designs and slapping the original companies name on them. I take your point that they may not be available to musicians today otherwise. I don’t like seeing them taking other original companies business away by copying and undercutting. So recreating old almost forgotten models is one thing but copying modern synths and selling at lower prices I’m not a fan of.

[@YukiTheSynthDragon]

@@DoctorRevers that’s why o have refused to buy a crave I’m not planning on covering those.

[@Skanking-Corpse]

Behringer synths are really well made and on par with much more expensive contemporaries. As regarding cloning, their clones haven’t hurt anyone and really don’t have much of a market impact because most people who are buying these wouldn’t be buying the much more expensive version of that clone anyways. And frankly cloning is rife in the music industry as is. We could go endlessly into the clones of effect pedals, amps, guitars and the even cheaper software versions of synths.

[@mrburns366]

​@Skanking-Corpse yeah, cloning of guitars, amps and pedals is par for the course in the music industry and probably just as much with synths if you dig a little. Many of the folks who invented these things are DEAD and the patents are owned by multi-billion dollar corporations. I'm definitely not losing sleep about it when I buy a cheap clone. 🤷

[@streettrash_sid]

Stupid question, which Novation controller are you using exactly & how is it with the DeepMind? I’ve always used a Keystep but I’d like to try something different like launchpad. Thanks

[@YukiTheSynthDragon]

Launchpad pro mk3. It just has normal midi out with the included adapters.