[dcrazy]

Since the article assumes familiarity with the DDX3216 (or the lack of need thereof), I had to look it up: the DDX3216 was released in 2002, assuming this Sound on Sound review is contemporary: https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/behringer-ddx3216

More background information: the Behringer brand has always very intentionally targeted the budget-conscious customer. One way they have achieved their low price targets has been to straight-up clone competitors’ products, building them with cheaper components and cheaper labor.

But they also do their own R&D, both within, erm, “familiar” physical form factors and in totally novel designs. I have no idea if this product is specifically inspired by any other studio-in-a-box, but my gut reaction is that no other competitor in this space would have sourced a damn 386-compatible CPU for such a product line in 2002.

My guess is Behringer got a great deal on some second-source manufacturer’s last stock of 386s (maybe in bankruptcy?), and only that kind of deal would have enabled Behringer to enter this market.

If anyone has a more informed take, I would love to waste time reading about the history of this thing!

[rasz]

There is a precedence for embedding x86 in music hardware. Roger Linn's original LM-1, LinnDrum and Linn 9000 (http://studiorepair.com/gallery/Linn/9000/index.html https://www.elektronauts.com/t/the-seminal-groovebox-linn-90...) were full 8088 PCs with custom cards. Successor MPC60 designed by Roger Linn for Akai was powered by Intel 80186. Final Linn's sampler, the legendary Akai MPC3000 is based on SOC form (NEC V53) of NEC V33, a 80186 compatible with microcode replaced by hardwired logic giving it clock for clock performance of 286 and immunity from Intel Microcode lawsuits.

[bzzzt]

It's coming to an end due to the proliferation of cheap ARM boards. I think the Korg Kronos is the last holdout using a standard x86 PC mainboard now.

[ajxs]

The Sequential Prophet X is another modern synth with a full-blown x86 PC running inside it. You can see the mainboard in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8QDCocnt0M

[bzzzt]

I know, but it's been discontinued 2 years ago. As far as I know only the Kronos is still available new.

[dcrazy]

Fascinating, thank you!

[userbinator]

but my gut reaction is that no other competitor in this space would have sourced a damn 386-compatible CPU for such a product line in 2002.

These days ARM and Linux seems to be the go-to, but DOS and embedded x86 has a long history stemming from the glory days of the IBM PC architecture and the openness of its software ecosystem. You could easily write and test your application on a PC (perhaps with additional peripheral card(s) that would be integrated into the target) and then directly run the binary on the target device.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMD_%C3%89lan

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_9110_Communicator