Behringer Neutron Desktop Semi-Modular - SonicLAB Review
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- Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
- We're looking at Behringer's latest analog synth - the Neutron Analog Semi Modular Desktop synth.
How good can a $300 synth sound?
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![7 Patches with the Behringer Neutron [4K]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ercyLzaGITg/mqdefault.jpg)
Three years later, this little synth is still with me and is a permanent resident in my modular setup.
It just sounds phenomenal and can keep up with synths, which are twice to three times as expensive!
And this demo made me preorder it back then! :D
11:50 "I'm getting a bit lost there"...oh yes.
I had mine delivered to my work, and then took it home at lunch (I live close by). I decided to "just play a couple of notes" and was 45 minutes late coming back to work.
That evening I started playing and ..later...my feet and calf muscles had fallen asleep from me not moving from one position for so long.
- should you choose to purchase one, heed my warning lest you succumb to my fate-
I ordered a second one the next morning.
It will arrive tomorrow.
I will put it next to my first one.
which is
Right beside the two Model D's that I.....needed
🤣
I'm definitely buying this. Almost bought a Bastl Kastle and a Meeblip Anode, then caught myself forgetting how badly I wanted the Neutron.
......I can smell the GAS from here.... 🤣🤣🤣
Got mine recently too! Opened it and felt like a kid on christmas!
When i came back to my senses.... i had been playing around with it for 7 hours.... i absolutely love it!
The fundamental is strong with this one
wow, that bass sound at 8:33 is already amazing with no additional patching! really impressive stuff.
What a GREAT time to be alive and a musician... Love this!
Mark Gardner Makes me fuk:)
Drool factor
I agree, Mark, it just blows my mind what one can do with a little budget and get big sounds.
What a wonderful time to be alive
RIGHTTT
The catch-cry of the 21st Century Synth renaissance!
Except for the ads interrupting the demo ....
@@KarlGeorges you gotta love the wonderful time to be alive for its adblockers.
In a way, I'm quite envious of young people; my first synth (a Roland SH1000) cost me nearly a year's wages. Seriously.
The patchbay is brilliantly laid out. I buy this for $300 and and a Model D. I can play for weeks and never get bored. If I hate it, it's just $300. If I love it, I can still use the individual pieces through the patch bay. As my setup grows and I need a spare slew rate limiter, oscillator, filter, etc... it's all there. The bang for the buck factor is seriously there. Behringer is really storming into the analog synth market. Glad to see them shaking things up.
I know this comment is old, but you just helped me decide to pull the trigger on this thing.
fakshen1973 So did you get both? Which do you prefer?
I have both. The Model is .... a Model D! The Neutron is a whole other beast. It's easier to prefer the Neutron because it seems to do more, but the Model D has a lot of hidden features that are begging to be discovered too.
Haze Anderson I only have the Neutron but love it so far. I’d like to add the D one day though.
Haze Anderson I'm thinking of getting a Neutron first but in the future a model D. Is it easy to hook both up to one set of studio monitors?
Semi-modular are extremely exciting synths with mind bending possibilities. As a hardware guy, I was never interested in the massive cabling of modular covering up the controls....BUT.....this right side semi-mod of the Neutron/MiniBrut2/Mothers/ is on my list for next synth with Arturia's eurorack option. Just call me too obsessive with clean cabling, but this will be my highway into modular and all the modulation it can provide.
Wilderness Music I'm in the same boat! Recently got the MB2S and Dreadbox Nyx. Considering Neutron, Behringer Model-D, or Roland SE-02.
Wilderness Music it’s a different voltage but I highly recommend the ms20 as well. A converter will fix all of that.
Finally picked one of these up and it's a beast. The amount of sounds you can create with that patchbay are basically limitless.
This thing is actually insane what the hell. It's an analog synth for 300 dollars and it does almost everything
Will look great beside my Behringer Model D
Gotta say, Behringer is doing wonders in the low cost space, and offering WAY more value than the leading brands. You can tell they are taking it seriously, and looking to unseat some of the big guys. I hope they keep at it and people buy this gear.
THATS what the BIG PLAYERS should do. But they using well known circuits - and pack them in OVERPRICED pieces of plastic.
Uli Behringer brings US that sounds back - and u can pay for it - and dont pay the name ^^
Ill buy every product from Behringer, thats intrested for me - because they sound very nice
@@fellpower Yep, the big guys are in trouble. The new Nord, upwards toward 6K, they are crazy. Roland, Korg, Yamaha better get tier act together. They'll still make great controllers but people are going to be having a second look at paying North of 1K for their "analog" synths or hybrids. I got my Roland FA06 10 years ago, 128 voices and great to program and sounds excellent. Now they guys want double that for 8 -16 voices and then subscribe to a cloud. Nope. Oh, Modal another good alternative.
A little late to the party, but just ordered myself one of these to add to my setup. Looking forward to having a lot of fun with those LARGE sounds!
The Neutron will be welcome to eurorack and semi-modular for so many people. The real complaint from people regarding modular? The price of entry. Case, power, cables, VCAs, osc’s, filters, envelopes, utility modules, FX....I spent about $2000 just getting started.
This sounds great, as does the Boog. Snobs can keep buying 5U, Make Noise and whatnot. This will give a lot of people the opportunity to experience analog modular. Its all good. Great job on this.
The one I'll never sell. It just sounds so rich and "phat" and can do all the freaky stuff. It's very musical indeed. It puts my Model D to shame since I go to the Neutron for bass instead of that already great sounding minimoog clone... It just does bass better, I feel, which seems absurd.
Can't tell you how long I've been waiting for this video!!! 100% sold on this synth!
Cannot believe how good this sounds-really exceeds expectations!
16:00 Man I can never get enough of that talking filter bit. If you connect the second envelope through Attenuator 2 to the Attenuator 1 CV and let the LFO run through the Attenuator before going into the Freq Mod input you can automate the movement. It's very fiddly to get all the knobs just right, but it's an insane amount of fun.
Aaaand on to my shopping list it goes. I was fairly certain I was going to want one but it really does sound super. I thought it would be nice next to my Dark Energy... But it might actually replace it...
I thought EXACTLY the same :-)
Better than the Dark Energy? Was thinking to get one, a DE that is. Also graving for an Erebus.
This makes the sounds I want to hear.
I like the patch bay on the side because if you wish to daisy chain them the patch leads don't get in the way of the controls like they do on a pair of Craves mounted one above the other.
Now, that's a lot of sound for your pound. I sold my Mother 32 because it made me want to get two more, which I couldn't afford, but for the price of two of those you could get four of these, so that's more justifiable. I like the look and features of it better than what I've seen of the upcoming Crave, I prefer the sound of the Model D, but I just love that patch bay and the stability of the 3340 clone chip.
12:20 We all have our 'filter faces' -- the face you make while tweaking the filter cutoff and finding sweet spots!
It’s the “wah-wah face” for synth players
this should put some fire under moog for real... your "brand" can only take you so far, people want more than repackaged monophonic synths
I think part of the reason Moog charges so much is that their synths are all hand-made.
@@mikeexits question being: how does it being hand made benefit me, the user, in any way with this kind of instrument?
Like I fully get it with things like guitars, violins and pianos, but an electronic instrument? I'd probably *prefer* automated assembly considering how much more precise and reliable it is.
@@thijsschipper6406 you're paying extra for the craftsmanship. Like with anything hand made.
@@disarmsox well sure. My question stands, though. How does craftsmanship of an electronic instrument make it a better instrument? Does it make it more reliable? Sound better? Play better? Or is it just bling, the synth equivalent of chrome rims?
Given how good automated production is nowadays, I'm leaning towards the latter, for the same reason that nobody hand builds computers anymore.
@@thijsschipper6406 it's your preference
Almost bought the mother-32, this does more at 1/2 the price. Moog and Korg aren’t getting my money anytime soon.
im with you looks like this is what the m32 should have been!
Doesn't have a built in sequencer, yet has a sweet bucket brigade delay for those infinite noisescapes.
Price aside, when I hear a Neutron demo that sounds anywhere near as good as the original Mother-32 demo with Bana Haffar and company, I'll be convinced. Until then, I'm going to assume the Mother-32 is a better sounding, more reliable box.
Imo, I think this is a great companion for the m32. Yes I own 2 and at that price, I'll be adding a neutron as well haha.
Dude.... The shitty audio gear company of my childhood/pre modona years is this young adults HOLIDAY SWAGGGG!!! EAT SHIT GEAR SLUTZZZZ!
Surprise of the decade? Absolutely mindblowing synth from Behringer.
Slew is also traditionally used to make portamento by patching the slew between the sequencer and 1V/O input of the synth, then activate the slew via CV between the notes which you wish to portamento.
Amazing sound, sounds like it's going to fry itself any moment now. Those oscillators and filter are so hot, sounds like the oscs have a ton of drift going on as well. Even without the patch bay out would be an amazing synth for the money, add in the patch bay and it seems an absolute steal. Wasn't convinced by the deep mind as thought it relied on effects too much but this looks all synth.
Excellent review as always Nick, woe betide the synth manufacturer who doesn't have a through zero on their pulse width modulation.
Great review! One of the most GAS-inducing in a long time. And what a cool sounding/looking synth.
Overall I'm actually fairly impressed with Behringers foray into synths, eventhough so far it's been 90% hot air. what they've brought out has a lot going for it. This, however, is the first that doesn't make me think "yes, but...". They're not standing on anyones shoulders, no menu-diving or fans, no "yawn seen before", nothing remotely morally questionable. Just a solid sounding, unique piece of equipment.
No matter how critical one might be, and I'm usually very critical, I struggle to see what's not to like. You may opt for something else, seeing as analogue monosynths is a very crowded and competitive market, even when looking at semi-modular specifically. But I see nothing that should make anyone dismiss this out of hand.
I wonder how well this would fit into an Arturia RackBrute? I think it would make an amazing pair with a MiniBrute2(S), and mounted in a RackBrute - seriously tasty! Sadly more money than I got, but I'd be all over it.
I have three of these beasts connected makes one hell of a modular synth
blow off sorry troll!
@@Bonn5656
I've just married mine with the Proton ...
8:09 sounds amazing! Thanks for the great demo, just got mine a couple days ago and it's great!
Seems to sound like a modern Roland System 100/101 (not 100M), certainly capable of Human League sounds including percussion. It is a definite buy for me! I hope Behringer continue to innovate (Analogue Drum machine please!) as well as replicate..
my thoughts exactly, this unit is an early Human League machine
That'd be cool,a behringer take on the 808/909 for £300 would be lovely.
Nicholas Bryant guess they listened haha. Just presented an 808
skeletonmodel yeah they're going kind of crazy at the moment behringer, on my gas list at the mo is there neutron, sh101 and 808 clones, closely followed by their model d clone. Of those most excited by the neutron, semi modular design and sounds dirty as hell. That and omnisphere's 2.5 hardware integration is making for a pretty interesting 2018.
MrClarkio Im in the same boat hahaha
Sounds great.I guess I will be adding this to my Behri collection ,next to Model D,and DM12 ,now this,later K2 ,Pro 1 and enough.Moving to another shopping sector.
I don't know much about analog synthesis, but I learn a lot when I watch your reviews. Well done mate keep them coming.
I can't play the piano, I haven't ever cared for electronic music, and I still want this thing. Badly. Since reading that some Pink Floyd album used an analogue synth for much of its effects, I've been playing the album back and forth all day, enjoying the prospect of widening my musical horizons with the Neutron. Oh, where's my $300 gone?
6 years later, I am watching your review Nick. Have to say, you're the best. Always top notch! 👍 Thank you so much for bringing this to us.
Very kind.
Had mine for about a year now. Amazing machine, incredible modular gateway drug. I actually have learnt stuff on VCV which I've applied to the neutron later. My advice: Pair it with a CV sequencer, so you can use the two oscillators at your will. I use the SQ-1, but for more control the Keystep would probably be better, I just like the analog modular feel of the SQ. It looks like just a synth whatever, but its overdrive and modulable delay give it some rich personality. Oh, and BASS. Lots of it. If you have to buy anything from Behringer, it must be the Neutro. Go back to hating them after you have one. Best value semimodular, period.
I’m (/standing firmly) on the my choice/contemplation of Minibrute 2S and Moog Dfam
Wow, thats a massive sound, BURG approves! :) good review as always !
Buuuuuuuurg :D
Love your music dude :)
I just bought me the BEST oscillators tor my modular system ! those 3340 clones are TOP ! they sound fantastic through all my other filters !
This is a KILLER synth and Eurorack module. It's got so many utilities and tricks, it's like a mini rack all by itself. So for the cost of a nice module, you can get a complete voice with loads of extras. My only complaint is that there isn't a dedicated clock out, I have to use up an LFO output. But maybe that can be added as an assignable output in a future firmware. It could be the S&H clock out.
I hope they come out with a black faceplate. Great oscilloscope footage, very helpful! Especially since the oscillators do more than the usual switch between the typical 4 waveforms.
www.gearslutz.com/board/electronic-music-instruments-and-electronic-music-production/1222734-behringer-neutron-custom-overlay-showcase.html
The sheer multitude of patch routing options and, hardwired options just makes this synth a mist have . eurorack compatibilty and intergration option ?, .....a true bonus in my opinion !!!!
PWM never goes "thru" zero, as it doesn't invert the polarity at the zero point. It simply goes from 50% to 0% duty cycle (also known as mark space ratio). Thru zero is used for frequency modulation (FM) extending past zero frequency into the negative-frequency. The negative-frequency version of a waveform is simply a time-reversed replica of the original waveform. When a VCO is modulated through zero frequency, the waveform slows down to a stop and then speeds back up in the reverse direction.
Love this synth from the very first moment, such deep analogue sound and almost endless possibilities! it's a steal for its price, fantastic piece of gear, one of my favourites
Yeah, those synched square waves do sound pretty large. Got a D on order so will be playing with that one first!
Love it! Behringer have done an outstanding job. Hoping they bring out something similar in a polyphonic vein.
I really wanna hear more of neutron in duophonic mode
My 1st Sonic LAB that isn't a rerun. 🤗
I want One. And I hope UDG Creator would be fast to make some fine hard(foam)case so I may take it anywhere when travelling...good spot to me
the jam at the end is the best sonic demonstration for me.... more of that!
I have to say I prefer the low end of the neutron than the one of the D.
This synth just dropped to $220 on Sweetwater. Guitar Center WILL match that price. The Behringer Model D also had the same price drop.
Yep. My model d gets delivered tomorrow
lordspam Sweet! I just got my Model D a few days ago. First hardware synth, and it’s a total blast. You’re gonna love it.
Nick, one of the best reviews on Neutron! Not biased, no fanboy stuff... It's what I like :)
One thing is really cool: you're showing the oscilloscope view. It would be much better to have it for the whole review. The moments when something was changed and it's playing obviously.
I've got mine hooked up to the Model D. Next up will be a K2 to replace the MS20 I lent to someone and never got back. The future looks good. The future is Behringer.
The one company that both makes the synths people want, and sells them for a price people can pay.
Wow nice, love the brash red design as well and 300 bucks its a no brainer.
15:05 "Being boiled" first riff
Want want want want want. Elektron can keep their analog 4 and I’ll keep the $900 price difference. Yeah yeah I know that’s not apples to apples comparison. But for someone looking for their first proper analog synth that’s not trivial
Mad Mac 66 This + a Minilogue seems like a much better deal.
Just got a notifications from Sweetwater earlier today that mine finally shipped out! :D Had to rewatch this in anticipation lol
This synth Is fanstastic ! Can we talk about that price / value ratio tho ?
Real nice, I love seeing all those cvs on the right
Has anyone read or heard why this synth isn't listed yet? Even to pre-order? Everyone knows it's coming, but no one can point to a listing and say "Here's where you can get it...eventually." Beyond that: Great review, as always. Like with most of your Sonic Labs, this one is really making me want to pick one up as soon as it releases.
SEPTEMBER
Good review! And results far better than I expected. Really nice sounding modular with cool options. With the dual oscillators, LFO and filter you have 4 audio sound sources. What I like very much is the sound and character, as well as the very nice filter which is not your everyday 4-pole transistor ladder. And at an amazing price as well! Serious stuff here.
I am getting one of these ASAP! I too was looking at the Moog Mother-32 and the Minitaur but this is not only cheaper but does more and sounds freakin great! Great review. Keep up the great work Nick! Though it does not have a sequencer, I could buy the Arturia Keystep Nick is using and still is cheaper than the Mother-32.
At around 3:05 you can see the spectrum of an analog synth and why you can hear it's an analog circuit. The peak frequencies in a mathematical model of basic soundwaves like tri, saw, sqr are are nearly delta pulses with next to no horizontal width. Analog osc are so unstable and have such a low quality (in the physical sense of the word) you have a wide frequency range around the peak. Hence you have much more energy in the output signal esp. in the bass low frequency region. Obviously modern VAs with ACB can simulate that quite good now.
Great review! Those oscillators from behringer finally sound good. Still prefer my ms20 desktop over this but I'm just really hoping that behringer gets the continously variable filter going for the Obxa clone. Please please please....
WOW. What a comprehensive demo - thank you Nick Batt. There is almost nothing to not like about this amazing, flexible machine. Are you imagining the almost endless possibilities just like I am right now? Also, unlike some folks, I actually think it looks really cool and distinctive - not just another black or grey synth. Very impressed by this unit.
Great review .. the neutron sounds excellent and musical ,, the bottom end is unreal .
This, the Novation Circuits Groove and Mono, and the Arturia KeyStep are on my shopping list, ~$1300.
Been waiting for Nick to do this review and it's been worth the wait! when you see the price of some single modules this Neutron is STELLA!! ;-)
Am I the only one that loves the aesthetics? And the sound...
I'm surprised my Sweetwater engineer hasn't cut me off at this point.
Great review Nick! This thing is an absolute monster, especially for $300 - Cant go wrong!!!
I'd love to see the neighbor bust in and tell him to turn it down! LOL
Neutron: have it, like it! But (when) will you review the new 2600? I look forward to that!!!
When we can get hold of one. Mr B wont send us one.
Yeah, thought this would be a must-have for that price. Great review Nick, thanks!
if its good enough for Nick, then i'm sold
That talking filter is awesome at 16 minutes. You just need an audio rate LFO to achieve it on any synth?
The neutron is my favorite synth I’ve ever bought. The patch bay has a lot of potential. I have about 50 videos on my channel about the neutron. 🤓
12:28 Lovely indeed. Aswome review for an awesome synth.
Wow. This sounds amazing. Super flexible oscillators.
Thanks Nick! Amazing what 300bux gets ya - even if just for additional filter/lfo for an existing set-up. Quite a no-brainer for me personally!
This thing sound amazing
Will become the new companion for my matrixbrute, they do have a lot to share :) and the bbd FX seems better sounding than the one from the matrixbrute!
I love it! Bass bass and more bass is my general music theory....cant wait! Thanks Nick!
This thing is the tits. Had one for about 2 weeks. I'm listening to a patch I just made with mine. Modulation madness with the s/h into both lfo shape and oscillator shape. It is bat shit crazy. Loving it.
Hey Uli, Give us some more original semi modular synths just like this one and you will be on to a winner for sure. Also don't be shy with the inexpensive tribute synths. I'm looking into one of the model Ds. That sounds very decent from what I've heard.
That delay really sounds like the TC Electronic Echobrain
Cuckoo TC Electronic is owned by the same company, so it’s entirely possible that it’s the same delay.
Very nicely done. I have one... and am always learning more of what it can do. Helpful info appreciated. ✨
Yeah... I had an impulse moment and bought one this evening ... merry Christmas to me.
This is officially on our list now.
Was looking into either the MS20 or the M-32, look like I won't be getting either. This does what I wanted plus more for almost half the price
Just ordered a Neutron finally! Right now, i have Behringer's D on the bottom row of my Arturia 6U case. It's cool their Model D can fit in a eurorack case but i'm ready to swap it out for the Neutron. It'll sit wonderfully with my other modules. Can't wait to hear it through the Pico DSP reverbs!
Get it yet ?
Oh yes! I was looking for a gnarly modular bass synth and that journey is over now. Nick is absolutely right... This thing produces monster bass! Plus the patch bay has all the right inputs & outputs and begs for modular integration. In other words, i love it. Highly recommended for people that want to start their modular journey or synth enthusiasts that want massive bass.
12:10 *At that Moment, all the Mice in the Studio died of Heart-Attacks ;)*
wow that sounds great
Thanks for sharing this. For the Neutron especially it is good to have videos that show how to bring out what it can do. It is a little more manual than other synths.
Sounds Amazing...
It's such a cool little synth!
this synth is really amazing..you gotta try it..the filters are also quite juicy...
Absolutely fantastic, its a gift for his ridiculously price !
sounds better than the Arturia MiniBrute 2/2S
Data Deluxe Far better. I really don’t care for the Brute sound.
As I'm mainly an electric guitar player, I've sat by on gear "discussions" when time and time again Behringer gear has been laughed at and declared shit, cheap & nasty Chinese junk.
The only Behringer guitar gear I've ever had are 2 of their larger form factor pedals, called something like Vacuum Tube Overdrive, and Vintage Tube Monster. Both cost me between £40-£50 each when new.
They're both great pedals and are clones of 'boutiique' pedals costing up to 10 times that I paid.
I've looked at their Bugera brand of amps, and also their UMC something or other HD audio interfaces, with Midas pre amps....The 2 in, 2 out interfaces cost less than £100 I think, and the recordings I've heard through them have been great quality.
Now I'm taking an interest in buying my first synth and Behringer are all over this market too, selling revived classic synths for a fraction of the original's price. They've revived the 808 & 909 drum machines for a fraction of the originals price.
Behringer must be doing something right....but just because they're not robbing their customers, it doesn't mean that their products are shit.
It's ridiculous when people believe that the more money something costs, the better quality it is, and the saying "You get what you pay for" is absolute bollocks. Many blokes are like that, it doesn't matter if the hobby is music, golf, fishing, cars, motorbikes, or whatever, there's always those who think that having more money makes them better, and there's always those with 'all the gear and no idea'
Don't listen to their bullshit, just because Behringer aren't overcharging us doesn't mean that their gear is crap 👍
Thanks for sharing! This one might become my first Behringer synth. Although red is really not my color ☺️
I've had my neutron for about a month or Two. VERY FUN. no problems with it so far!