Behringer releases 2-XM Synthesizer
by The Press Desk   3 weeks ago

Sounds very good. Ever since the JT-4000 mini, Behringer synths sound better to me in the high frequency harmonics. And I like the duophonic mode because you could overdub lines with long releases and it would sound like a polysynth. If only it was velocity sensitive...

Not a fan on the tiny knobs, but the idea of having 4 voices of this, for this price...

There does seem to be space to fit larger knobs - i’m thinking of the same ones as they use on the D.

This is one of the few releases where they have got the color and graphics very close to the original. But the trade off of that they have scaled the hardware down to fit eurorack.

The plus side is you can get a FVS and it will fit into their 2x140p Euroack case. This will leave space for stuff like 4x poly env generators module.

Although many will like the addition of velocity they should have still provided EXT Input for Osc1/2 Mod on the patch panel.

But at £239 UK it’s a no brainier. Andertons emailed me yesterday to say it should arrive at the end of the month.

Considering the amount of controls and I/O in place I'd say the made wise choice about what to put in the patchbay.

Not sure about the real estate of the mixer section, that holds this surprise of being stereo

Do you have any first hand experience on the PolyChain on B synths?

I have used PolyChain - the main issue is that MIDI Note allocation are not sequential or "round robin". But I haven't used PolyChain for several years so Behringer might have improved it.

The magic of the FVS was the programmer and polyphonic keyboard modes. But I'm sure most people will be happy with a 2 voice SEM. I would like to recreate the FVS even if it was designed nearly 50 years ago.

Most people will be happy to actually afford this unit

FVS is really older tech not needed nowadays, would introduce complexity and costs without any sonic improvement. Chips & MIDI are the way of today.

Ok let's be honest those huge buttons making clicks can be satisfying but still

I find a lot more interesting to program each voice independently as done on the Perfourmer; there I much preferred having the PolyChain handled by DAW via MIDI, it is just more competent and flexible in configuration.

But those are finesses. From the video it sounds huge

Damn, it sounds good, price is great. Not fan of the small knobs as well, but if they’re smooth and not wobbly, i guess it’s fine.

More on recreating the FVS .. I have just finished coding up the Arduino to do all these modes. The design has the VCF offset control and octave shift too. It also includes a basic LFO like the one on the programmer. Works well with my existing mono synths so may end up buying a 2nd 2-XM if the sound is close to a SEM.

The Four voice is my favorite synth of all time.
Thaty being said - some of what Behringer done has been interesting...lots of controversy - lovers and haters.

Not to beat a dead horse but essentially - I think it comes down to this - what Behringer do is very simple.
They "reinterpret" the original schematic and signal flow, leveraging economies of scale and offshore labor to use the absolute cheapest modern components available. Then, they design a UI that resembles the original as closely as possible with regard to the form factor. If anything, I would argue where the bulk of the "cloning" effort takes place, in terms of UI.

Its essentially a modern, surface mount chip -based architecture, set up to have a similar signal flow and UI to the original unit.

This isnt a judgement or a critical take - its just the reality. Obviously, many modern components can be "superior" to the originals on paper. The originals used discrete transistor VCAs - and thats just the VCAs. Kind of like "cloning" a Bentley, and using a Honda engine (albeit, a new one).

Theres obviously the subsequent can of worms: "well, this democratizes the music making process, allowing those who could otherwise not afford an original to experience the..." yes yes....I have no desire to really go there, but its outside of the point im making. Im not saying its right, nor am I saying its wrong - it just is what it is

Anything new and relevant bring controversy.

I am really happy I got rid of all my vintage analogue synths. (minus one, will leave after the first service it will need.) Software helped a lot.

I am really happy I can mach a sub 300 semi modular with a 2K oscillator produced by a boutique company.

I can't care less about discrete transistor or having bullet proof boxes; those are things supposed to be in a studio or a bedroom, not to go live 200 night a year.

Also, the majority of QC problems I had in synths during the last decades came from pricey big named brands.

I have criticized B for year. They convinced me with products.

Do you have any experience with 4 voices? Never touched one but I am liking what I hear.

I would like a keybed attached. So it's a great little keyboard.

I was pretty much into Joe Zawinul‘s sound design and used a Four Voice on 2 albums back in the day.
What I hear in the video comes close enough to make me want one, right now

I got Fatar 3 octave, 2 CV/IN out, Sequencer, FX chain (mono to stereo) with a synth engine attached with the UNO Synth Pro that will sit at the base of the B Tower. Cheap now on Thomann or used

Well that's a testimonial

I'd like to configure the 2 in a PerFourmer round robin fashion (well or TimbreWorlf), I see you can choose only one MIDI ch IN so no idea how to address it

I'm building a controller for the 2-XM designed to replicate the behaviour of the original FVS keyboard Modes.

Features:

1 Continuous/Reset (Round Robin or Reset on lowest voice)
2 Split On/Off
3 Split Mode 1-3 or 3-1 (The original had 2-2 as well)
4 Unison
5 Freeze
6 VCF Master control
7 Transpose +/- 1 Octave
8 Global LFO for vibrato - this was originally in the Programmer

Freeze was a neat feature on the FVS. it allowed you to freeze on any SEM and just play that SEM.

Prototype is working fine. Going to box it up in a nice cream box with wooden side panels - should match the 2-XM. Hoping my 2-XM arrives at the end of the month and then I'll build it. Exciting times - just hope it sounds like a SEM.

Congrats! How is it going to connect to the B modules? Form factor?

It uses MIDI so IN then THRU for each 2-XM. Each 2-XM in DUO mode can be set to it's own channels.

MIDI IN 1st 2-XM Channels 1-2 MIDI THRU to

MIDI IN 2nd 2-XM Channels 3-4

No need to use Polychain.

VCF Offset control - MULT out to each VCF CV In so you will be able to globally change the Cut Off.

So it will control 2 x 2-XM to give you a 4-Voice. I can create 1 EG with this design but I decided to just use the VCF offset as per the original FVS. So it is not possible to use it as a programmer. So to use its as a Poly you will need to match the voices. Even on the original FVS you still had to match each voice manually as the Programmer only did the ENVs, ENV2 Mod and Frequency. The programmer did not store Waveshape/Modulation/PW/SYNC etc.

It would be nice to use Eurorack but you need a very wide case. Same problem with Nifty keys if you want to recreate FVS - there is only room for 1 2-XM.

Thank, so every unit accepts 2 midi channels that's great

Hi, is this a personal project or commercial? Am interested in hearing more about this

No personal - but I will post info/video about the project when it's finished - probably mid May. Depends on delivery - Andertons tell me they are expecting units at the end of April.

Hopefully not long to wait now....in the meantime I have a working prototype of the controller on the bench. Only 1 ADSR implemented at the moment but when I add the 2nd ADSR this will provide control over 2 separate 2-XMs VCF and VCA and give me the basic FVS. This is true poiyphonic control. It works just like the FVS. Still thinking about the possibility of 16 memories too.

Here's some pics...

Tune is a +/- 12 semitone transpose. VCF is just an offset control.

In stock at Andertons - hopefully get mine this week....