The MS101 is clipped in this recording.

That picture doesn't show any clipping tho...

Yeah it's nothing scientific or anything, just a recording to show the difference.
The MS is recorded a lot louder as well, saw that, but couldnt be bothered to record it again

Well I can hear crackling and the peaks are all suspiciously level!

Yeah, heared them too. After inspection they look like analog clipping.
I thought i edited my above post with this info, but apparently i forgot.,

Folks, I compared my SH101 with the MS101 quickly yesterday night and would like to share some observations.

Compared with my SH101 the MS101 sounds a bit breezier (is this the word for "a small bit more treble") if I use the same slider settings. When adjusting sliders a bit it sounds very - very close to the SH101. On the bass side the MS sounds exceptionally good (using the additional waveform and the Freq slider down it can create a massive bass). I actually like the MS101 sound *better* (it appears a bit punchier, and really big on the bass side). When playing both in parallel (or 2x MS101 in parallel ) and detune one slightly you can get a very rich sound. Now, both (SH and MS) are all analog and I should not try to compare brand new electronic components with a 30years old device. Therefore I'll stop trying to match them sound wise.

With regard to my workflow:

I tried the Ext trigger input (fed by the TR707 rimshot trigger output), using with uniform and non-uniform rimshots (like in the 80s song "The Safety Dance"). The MS101 follows the trigger - if keys are pressed early enough (that is, in sync with the trigger impulse). When using very fast trigger shots then it occurred sometimes that a note was not picked up. Apparently I did not hit the key fast enough. This occurs only if you play (change) notes while using the trigger input, if you hold a key down there is no issue and the note is repeated as long as you hold the key. I've seen this behaviour (dropped notes if you miss the trigger point) on the SH101 as well, but the SH101 is a bit more forgiving here.

So I think how Behringer implemented the ext trigger input is they sense what key is pressed at the trigger edge and if the player is too slow then they miss the tone. Insofar the MS101 behaves like the SH101 but you have to be very fast and exact on the MS101.

But what I'm really missing is two things:

A. The SH101 holds the actual note if the "Hold" button is pushed. The MS101 has a "Hold" button as well, but this thing is used differently (only when creating sequences).

B. I did not find a way to transpose the sequence with the keyboard at the time it is playing. I'm only starting to discover the sequencer and perhaps failed to determine how to "play" the sequence. So I think the following workflow:
- create a short sequence
- let it step through using ext trigger input
- hit "Transpose" on the SH101 and any key which modifies the pitch of the sequence
... is - with the current software level - not possible with the MS101


So a brief summary:

The Behringer MS101 is gorgeous sound-wise and I prefer it over my SH101.

The sequencer would be a big improvement over the original one IF Behringer enables us to transpose the sequence (like the "Transpose" feature on the SH101).

Further I'm missing a "Hold" note option.

And last but not least: I wish they add a small guard time to the ext trigger input program logic such that a key change is picked up even if pushed slightly after the trigger edge.

Nice to read another review. I agree on the hold and transpose function, but i guess they will add it to the firmware asap.


A few questions:
1. Can you check if you can add ties notes in the sequencer? (Record the same note twice or more and edit (hold shift + step number) the gate length by rotating tempo/gate length fully clockwise (led 1 to 8 light up)

2. Does your midi in work? Mine doesnt, while midi out does work.

3. Does your velocity out work? (Patch it to VCF in) Mine outputs a constant +3,5volt

Thanks for sharing! These observations are very helpful, especially since it will probably be months before the MS enters my continent (North America), and then another month or two for my blue one!

Just to confirm - you’re talking about using the external trigger to clock the arpeggiator, not the sequencer. I’m not completely sure it matters, but while everyone tries to capture the clock problem it’s good to have as much info as possible. I gathered this because you talk about holding notes down while synced, which I assume is only for the arp.

If there is an issue with the hardware input being particularly fussy about pulses, there are numerous products (both commercial and DIY) that can clean up and modify clock signals. The problem is generally: voltage too high or low, pulses too short, signal too noisy, or “lazy” clock that doesn’t have a nice square pulse. Oh, and of course some devices respond to the leading edge of a pulse while others respond on the trailing edge.

The Eurorack world is full of comparators, inverters, attenuators, and all kinds of stuff to massage signals like this.

It’s rather annoying that Behringer hasn’t published specifications for this Jack - polarity, voltage and pulse duration would be really helpful. Do we even know if there’s a more complete manual in the works?

I didn't try Midi or the other signals yet. Will do some more tests over the weekend.


Sorry if my statements were not crisp and clear.

I was not even using a sequence or an arpeggio.

I'm the lazy one and let the drum machine generate the rhythm of a baseline e.g. through rimshot. So I only have to keep holding down the keys for the melodic part.

In my test I held down a single note and let it trigger from the TR707. When you do that on the original SH101 then the node repeats (triggers) at each trigger impulse (in my case: rimshot) as long as you hold down the key. The same on the MS101 (all good, as expected). Now if you change notes and the trigger sequence is very fast then the observed behaviour occurred.

I'd imagine the external trigger input on the MS-101 is controlled / implemented via software and the original is just an analog circuit, thus the speed limitation on the new version

It's so typical GS. Here we have a machine, that soundwise seems to give the original a match and even top it. Then you guys spend pages to discuss a trig input .
When I had the 101 I sometimes used the sequenser trigged by my 808 or 909 and that was fun. But 99% of the time I used other sequensers by CV/Gate.

I wonder if the battery compartment is an easter egg, possibly testify with a jigsaw ..
cool that the synth sounds good is, probably a nobrainer

While I used it 99% for triggering the arp or seq. via the ext. clock in

different people - different needs!

re 2.: Midi Input doesn't work. I different synths, and did the Midi in/out configuration steps according to the manual, no luck so far.

Midi output works, but I had to set the "Transpose" switch to the "H"-setting to get the full keyboard range put out via Midi. In "L" and "M"-settings parts of the lower keyboard output the same note. Further, the VCO Range knob setting has no impact on Midi out.

re 3.: I get a constant +5.2 volts reading on the meter no matter what I do.

Cheers for testing. So thats the same as with mine.
I'm really curious if your note tie does work in the sequencer.


I've tried my 707 trigger out to check if that works better. It seems to do a better job but still far from perfect.
Also it seems the trigger is steadier when used on an arpegiator.

I've recorded another (quick and crappy) test. First i try an arp, with 707 through the filter in, so you can hear when the rimshot is played. The Ms can almost keep up when the tempo increases.

Secondly i recorded a simple sequence and do the same thing. Here, the latency seems higher than with the ARP and increasing the tempo makes the lag worser.

maybe we can ask Uli what's going on?

Is it possible that the MS101 is listening to a specific midi channel that is not being fed by any of the controllers? I find it surprising that they would ship it with such a basic bug.

So what's the verdict? Yay or Nay?

Considering I saw a SH101 going for 1000 euros last month, this could be a real winner.

I would bet the differences in tone are due to nothing else but slider ranges. This is the case in the Behringer Model D compared to the minimoog and it’s almost always the case in pedal reissues. The circuits are right and everything is fine but slider ranges of modern reissues are far wider. Dial them back and you nail the original.

seems to me like a whole lot of teething problems, and behringer hasn't tested the MS-101 properly in conjunction with other gear (ie trigger in, midi, clock etc), all the vids we have seen so far of the MS-101 is just mainly testers playing around with the sliders, pressing some notes here and there, the sequencer etc, but no vids of the MS-101 being slaved to other gear.

is it going to be get the synth out quickly and fix all the problems later, or fix all the problems before the next batch leaves the factory!

since all sh 101 sounds exactly the same, series deviation can be excluded.
is not so bad as the 303, but a certain stray is also present in this cheap synth.
that with the not 100% firmware has long been a common disease ... no idea why.
is there a synth that runs perfectly with V1.00 today

@ decoder303 ask him bee free

Sooo how do the sequencer slides sound? Can someone please post an audio clip or a video, I don't think there is one showing them.

I'm concerned about this 'midi in' not working thing - can anyone else confirm this, be it user error, an individual fault or worse.

Mines on pre-order!

staff response or a manual (not the quick start guide) to the rescue!

korg volca series does a pretty good job, iirc
can't wait for the volca snare to do a "Ricola" appreciation song

yes volca rulez .. but I mainly speak of polys ... there you are so far that the errors are easily accepted, are you modall everything prophet-x who needs CC or out of tune..
I hope now that the MS is no neverending story
a rack variant would still be nice ..!

ricola is a heavy stuff.. swiss herb..

@ Uli Behringer

So far so good. The Midi-In needs to be fixed.

Hold current node should be easy to add in software, and transpose arpeggio/sequence as well (this is a must).

The trigger in works for me roughly the same as on the old SH101, but should be improved with a software update. I didn't test trigger in with a sequence or arpeggio yet. Thanks @ MonoTron for your demo -> I see no reason why it can't be improved with a software update.

Folks, just to be clear: as far as I'm concerned I'll keep my shiny new MS101. My little son loves playing (with) it, too. I have a shabby gray old SH101 and always wanted a coloured one. I'll preorder the other colors, as a triple (in fact, quadruple) they will produce a gorgeous sound.

And no: no interest in the Volcas, this thread is about MS101. I like the design of the original one, and MS101's design is an eye catcher as well.

Sound wise - for me - it's a winner.

The BS2 is a lovely, deep synth for the money. I'm constantly surprised by what I can get it to do using the filter FM, ring mod, all the extra functions (like slew) that I find it difficult to do without now, ability to set different mod depth levels for each oscillator, and the different filters of course. The 101 will be really basic in comparison, although at this price I will get one (evantually) just for that Roland filter sound.

So.....I wonder if the Space Bee will be competitively priced? It has the portamento like I would like it.

Would be nice but I doubt it.