[ixfo]

Behringer's goal has always been to make stuff cheap enough that people can afford. Which is noble, except they do this entirely by ripping off other people's R&D and undercutting lots of people including smaller players.

Also Uli Behringer himself is completely mad and appears to be pretty chill with antisemitism. https://www.gearnews.com/uli-behringer-responds-to-the-corks...

tl;dr don't support Behringer, please.

[liotier]

The Neutron is an exception - it is one of the few Behringer products that is an original creation and not a cheap clone of a reputed instrument. Also, there is nothing like it anywhere near that price range. I bought a Neutron, but I would feel dirty buying a clone of something that is still in production.

Some background, for those who don't yet know the controversy surrounding Behringer clones: https://www.factmag.com/2017/04/08/behringer-minimoog-synth-...

[smoldesu]

Yep. I don't feel bad about them ripping off the Moog Model D when your only other option is to buy an authentic recreation at 10-15x the price.

[comboy]

Or downloading official Model D app made by Moog for $14.99

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/minimoog-model-d-synthesizer/i...

It sounds amazing.

[smoldesu]

That's not an analogue device though, so it's not a like comparison. Anyone can build a digital Model D these days, but mass-producing a piece of discontinued hardware at less than a tenth of the price is a different ball game altogether.

[ratww]

> Which is noble, except they do this entirely by ripping off other people's R&D and undercutting lots of people including smaller players.

Most smaller player are also ripping off "other people's R&D". The only difference is that they charge 5x, 10x what Behringer charges. An extremely small number of people are doing new stuff.

It's even worse with guitar stuff. There are several Tube Screamer clones that sell for 250, 300, while the original is still under production for 120. The constant complaining about Behringer's one that costs $20 is petty and privileged.

No to mention Behringer has some pretty cool original designs. The Deepmind comes to mind.

Poor people also deserve to make music. You can bet I'll keep supporting them.

[posterboy]

> Poor people also deserve to make music. You can bet I'll keep supporting them.

Get a free software solution.

[ratww]

I'd rather that poor people have an option. There's nothing wrong with Behringer.

Also, free software is nowhere near as good as dedicated hardware or as paid software, IMO.

[posterboy]

quack, softsynths work very well.

[joecool1029]

The ripping off of designs stuff is lame and enough to avoid but the 'antisemitism' smear comes from a poorly thought out gag video[1] that's honestly more offensive to the French if anything.

[1] https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7mgsIjQXZ7c

[smoldesu]

I don't really care about the politics of it, I'm just shopping for cheap gear and they're the only ones pushing out quality synths at affordable prices. If Moog or Korg were actually competing in the low-end business there might be a different story, but I couldn't care less when Behringer's stuff sounds so good.

[deeblering4]

It sounds good because they are ripping designs off and mass producing clones for cheap.

In terms of build quality and feel there is a huge difference between a Moog or Korg and a Behringer.

Behringer gear is made with the absolute cheapest components available and that becomes obvious as soon as you touch it.

[genewitch]

So they're the MFJ of the audio world?

I'm fine with that.

[uxp100]

This is not really a competitor to the behringer semi modular analog synths that upset some people, but an inexpensive synth I'd highly recommend is the Arturia Microfreak.

[multjoy]

Back in the 00's, I toured as a sound engineer. Behringer turned up in all manner of touring racks.

[DennisP]

To the extent they're doing vintage clones with circuits that are long past any patents, that's how the system is supposed to work. I don't see how anyone can complain about their Model D, for example. The original was released half a century ago.

[nr2x]

They also routinely go after journalists and critics, in at least one case by using antisemitic tropes (as you noted).