Behringer Synths & Drum Machines: The Complete Guide

Inspired by the legendary Roland SH-101, the MS-1 MkII is all about immediate, punchy analogue sounds. Expect fat basses, squelchy leads and wonderfully simple sequenced patterns that make it difficult not to start behaving like you're in an '80s electro video. It's a brilliant choice for classic analogue basslines and hands-on synth programming.

If you want ACID, the TD-3 is where you start. Inspired by the Roland TB-303, its squelchy resonant filter and distinctive love-hate sequencer are perfect for those bubbling basslines that somehow turn a perfectly sensible track into a late-night rave. Turn the resonance up, add some slides switch on the distortion and prepare for the inevitable.

The TD-3-MO takes the classic 303 formula and gives it considerably more attitude. Inspired by heavily modified Roland TB-303 machines, it adds extra controls and modulation possibilities for deeper, nastier and more aggressive acid sounds. If the standard TD-3 is wearing trainers, the TD-3-MO has turned up in a leather jacket.

Based on the legendary ARP 2600, the 2600 is a semi-modular analogue powerhouse capable of everything from thick basses and screaming leads to experimental effects and complex patches. Its patch points invite you to get creative, while its extensive architecture gives you plenty to explore. There’s also the Blue Marvin and Gray Meanie variations which are different colour ways to match your setup.

The DeepMind range is Behringer's own synth family, but its analogue architecture is heavily influenced by the Roland Juno-106. That means lush pads, warm chords, punchy basses and those wonderfully nostalgic analogue sounds associated with classic '80s synthesis. The range is particularly well suited to musicians looking for a versatile analogue polyphonic synth, whether you're considering a DeepMind 6, Desktop or a larger DeepMind model.

The JN-80 draws inspiration from the Roland Juno-60, delivering classic analogue polyphonic sounds with plenty of warmth and character. Expect rich pads, plucky basses, bright leads and that unmistakable vintage polysynth feel. In other words: excellent for pretending you've just been hired to score a 1983 sci-fi film.

Inspired by the ARP Odyssey, this is a duophonic analogue synth with a distinctive character all of its own. It's capable of aggressive basses, sharp leads, powerful effects and plenty of experimental sounds. The Odyssey's flexible architecture makes it particularly good for players who like their synthesis with a little bite.

Inspired by the Korg Mono/Poly, this synth combines a powerful analogue architecture with a wonderfully flexible approach to voices and sequencing. You can create huge basses, evolving pads and stacked sounds, while its oscillator configuration makes it particularly good for big, slightly unruly analogue textures.

Imagine a Minimoog Model D, then give it four oscillators, polyphonic capabilities and built-in effects. That's essentially the appeal of the Poly D. Expect enormous analogue basses, powerful leads and thick chords, with enough flexibility to cover everything from classic synth lines to much more modern sounds. If you're looking to buy a Behringer Poly D, you're getting a seriously capable analogue instrument with a lot of character.

Inspired by the Oberheim OB-Xa, the UB-Xa is all about big analogue polyphonic sounds. Think enormous pads, rich brass, shimmering chords and powerful synth leads. If you've ever heard an '80s synth line and thought, "Yes, more of that please," you're probably going to get along rather well with this one.

Inspired by the Roland VP-330 Vocoder Plus, the VC340 combines vintage vocoder character with classic string and ensemble-style sounds. Expect robotic vocals, lush synthetic strings and wonderfully retro textures that wouldn't sound out of place on a vintage electronic record.

Inspired by the legendary PPG Wave, the Wave combines wavetable synthesis with analogue-style filtering to produce a huge variety of digital and hybrid sounds. Enjoy evolving pads, glassy textures, unusual basses and atmospheric tones that can move far beyond traditional analogue synthesis.

Inspired by the Roland SH-5, the MS-5 is a versatile analogue monosynth with plenty of character. Its semi-modular-style flexibility makes it particularly useful for creating punchy basses, aggressive leads, strange effects and experimental patches.

Inspired by the unusual architecture of the Moog Subharmonicon, the Spice is designed for creating complex rhythms, harmonically related sequences and unusual tonal patterns. It's the sort of synth that can start with a simple idea and quickly develop a mind of its own.

The Grind is built around the open source Mutable Instruments Plaits design, meaning it uses the freely licensed Plaits synthesis engine created by Émilie Gillet, giving you access to a wide range of digital sound models that have become a modern modular classic.

Inspired by the Moog Mother-32, the Crave is a compact semi-modular analogue synth built around a powerful oscillator and sequencer. Expect warm basses, sharp leads, rhythmic sequences and plenty of opportunities to experiment with patch cables. Small footprint, big sound.

Inspired by the Oberheim TVS-1, the 2-XM delivers thick analogue tones with plenty of classic American synth character. Explore powerful basses, expressive leads and rich, slightly unruly analogue textures. If you're looking for a Behringer 2-XM review, the short version is that it's a compact instrument with a surprisingly large sound.

Inspired by the Simmons SDS-3, the BDS-3 is designed for electronic percussion with plenty of character. Think synthetic toms, punchy percussion and those unmistakably electronic drum sounds that helped define the sound of the '80s.

Inspired by the Korg MS-20, the K-2 MKII is a semi-modular analogue synth with an aggressive personality. It's excellent for snarling basses, resonant leads, strange effects and heavily filtered sounds. Subtlety isn't really its strong suit.

Inspired by the French built RSF Kobol Expander, this compact analogue synth reflects the more adventurous side of late 1970s European synth design, pairing a raw analogue voice with aggressive filter sweeps, flexible modulation and plenty of character.

Inspired by the Roland Jupiter-8, the JT-2 is designed for those classic, lush resonant sounds. Expect resonant filter sweeps, bright brass, rich synth tones and powerful leads with the sort of presence that makes a mix feel considerably more expensive.

Based on the legendary Moog Minimoog Model D, this is one of the easiest routes into classic analogue monosynth territory. Huge basses, powerful leads and thick, harmonically rich sounds are its speciality. It's difficult to make a bad noise with three oscillators and a good filter.

Inspired by Moog's modular synth designs, the Model-15 offers a flexible semi-modular environment for creating everything from traditional analogue tones to strange experimental patches. It's particularly suited to anyone who enjoys synthesis as much as the finished sound.

The Neutron is a Behringer original and one of the company's most flexible semi-modular synths. Its architecture makes it particularly good for experimental patches, aggressive basses, evolving sequences and unusual sound effects. Patch cables are encouraged; sensible decisions are optional.

Inspired by the Sequential Circuits Pro-One, the Pro-1 is a compact analogue monosynth with plenty of punch. Expect deep bass, sharp leads and snappy sequences, with a character that works brilliantly for electronic, synth-pop and modern analogue music.

Inspired by the Sequential Circuits Prophet-600, the Pro-800 brings classic analogue polyphonic synthesis into a compact format. Its sounds range from warm pads and rich chords to punchy basses and expressive leads.

The Proton is a Behringer original, designed as a flexible semi-modular analogue synth for experimentation. With its extensive modulation possibilities, it's particularly good for evolving sounds, complex patches and discovering what happens when you connect things together and hope for the best.

Inspired by the classic Solina String Ensemble, this is all about lush, vintage ensemble sounds. Expect warm synthetic strings, shimmering pads and wonderfully nostalgic textures that are perfect for everything from electronic music to cinematic arrangements. If you're searching for an affordable analogue string ensemble sound, this is the one to investigate.

Inspired by the Pearl Syncussion SY-1, this electronic percussion synth is capable of producing everything from punchy toms to strange pitched percussion and experimental effects. It's an excellent choice when ordinary drums simply aren't being weird enough. You may also see it referred to as the Behringer SY-1 or Behringer Syncussion.

Inspired by the legendary Moog Taurus Revision 1, the Toro specialises in enormous low-end. Originally associated with bass pedals, its sound is deep, powerful and capable of making your speakers question their life choices.

Inspired by the EDP Wasp Deluxe, this compact analogue synth has a distinctive and slightly quirky sound. Expect buzzy leads, punchy basses, sharp sequences and unusual textures that stand apart from more traditional analogue synths.

Inspired by the Octave Electronics Cat, the CAT is a versatile analogue monosynth with plenty of vintage character. It excels at fat basses, expressive leads and quirky sequences, with a sound that sits comfortably in everything from electronic music to experimental compositions.

Inspired by the classic Oberheim DMX, the BMX delivers punchy, sampled-style electronic drum sounds associated with early hip-hop, electro and '80s production. Expect hard-hitting kicks, crisp percussion and plenty of vintage rhythm machine attitude. If you're searching for a DMX style drum machine, this is the model to investigate.

Inspired by the legendary LinnDrum which became one of the defining sounds of the 1980’s because of its use of real acoustic recordings, the LMDrum combines classic sampled drum machine character with modern functionality. Witness big kicks, crisp snares and the punchy percussion associated with countless '80s productions. It's an excellent choice if you're after a LinnDrum type sound without tracking down vintage hardware.

Inspired by the Roland TR-909, the RD-9 is a house and techno powerhouse. Its punchy kick, snappy snare and distinctive hi-hats are practically responsible for an unreasonable amount of dance music. If you're searching for a modern take on the classic TR-909, this is the one to look at. If you're making techno, house or anything that benefits from a four-to-the-floor beat, the RD-9 is very much in its element.

Inspired by the Roland TR-808, the RD-8 delivers the unmistakable sounds behind countless hip-hop, electro, R&B and electronic records such as Out Of Space by The Prodigy, Sexual Healing by Marvin Gaye and Planet Rock by Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force. Its booming kick, distinctive snare and iconic handclaps have become an integral part of the musical landscape. If you're looking for a Behringer 808 drum machine, or a modern alternative to the Roland TR-808 drum machine that keeps the heft, outputs and vibes of the original, this is the obvious place to start.

Inspired by the Roland TR-606, the RD-6 delivers classic analogue drum machine sounds in a compact format which originally acted as a budget TR-808. Its punchy kick, crisp hats and distinctive percussion are particularly well suited to acid, house and electronic music. It's also a great small drum machine for adding classic rhythm sounds without taking over your entire desk.

Inspired by the legendary Roland CR-78, the RD-78 recreates one of the world's first programmable rhythm machines, famous for its warm analogue percussion and unmistakable late '70s character. Expect vintage bossa nova, disco, pop and early electronic grooves, alongside those charming preset rhythms that somehow never seem to go out of style. If you're after a Behringer 78 drum machine with classic analogue charm, the RD-78 is a wonderfully nostalgic addition to the lineup.

Inspired by the EMS Synthi AKS, the AKS Mini offers a compact take on one of electronic music's most experimental instruments. Expect unusual sequences, quirky effects, unpredictable textures and plenty of opportunities to make sounds that are difficult to describe afterwards.

Inspired by the Roland Jupiter-8, the JT Mini delivers classic polyphonic synth flavours in a compact format. Expect lush pads, bright leads, rich chords and plenty of that unmistakable vintage Roland character.

Inspired by the Roland JP-8000, the JT-4000M brings virtual analogue synthesis and classic trance-style sounds into an impressively small package. Expect bright supersaws, powerful leads, shimmering pads and plenty of late-'90s electronic nostalgia. You may also see it referred to as the Behringer JT-4000 Micro, but whatever you call it, it's remarkably small for something capable of making such a large noise.

Inspired by the Korg Volca Keys, the Phara-o Mini offers a compact route into analogue-style synthesis. It's well suited to warm leads, simple chords, sequences and atmospheric textures, making it a particularly handy addition to a small desktop setup.

Inspired by the Roland Jupiter-8, the JT-2 is designed for those classic, lush resonant sounds. Expect resonant filter sweeps, bright brass, rich synth tones and powerful leads with the sort of presence that makes a mix feel considerably more expensive.

Inspired by the Sequential Circuits Prophet VS, the Pro-VS Mini uses vector-style synthesis to blend different digital waveforms together. This makes it particularly good for evolving pads, unusual textures, glassy sounds and complex timbres that move and change over time.

Inspired by the CEM3396/CEM3397 chip designs found in instruments such as the Oberheim Matrix-6 and Matrix-1000, the UB-1 Micro is aimed squarely at fans of classic analogue-style textures. Expect warm pads, expressive leads and rich synth sounds in a tiny footprint.

Inspired by the Oberheim OB-Xa, the UB-Xa Mini packs classic analogue polyphonic character into a compact format. Expect big pads, bright brass, rich chords and powerful leads without requiring an entire studio rack to house it.

Inspired by the Casio CZ-1, the CZ-1 Mini brings classic phase distortion synthesis into a compact instrument. Its sounds can range from bright digital tones and punchy basses to unusual metallic textures and distinctive pads. This is a particularly interesting choice for anyone wanting something a little different from traditional analogue synthesis.