Synth Journal: Behringer Consider Direct Sales, FM Synthesis Demystified and JUNO Jams!
Our weekly look at the synth news that falls through the cracks!
4,9 / 5,0 | 
Mopping up the cool synth stories you may have missed, this week’s Synth Journal considers Behringer’s proposed Direct-to-Customer Sales Channel, has FM synthesis demystified by an FM legend and looks at a new way of learning keyboards!
Synth Journal Table of Contents
Behringer Hints at Possible Future Direct-to-Customer Service
When it comes to news about Behringer these days, it’s either feast or famine. As we say here in the U.K., you wait ages for a one bus and then three turn up at once. Besides announcing new gear, such as the UB-Xa D and the new Proton, Behringer served up an interesting piece on their socials.
It seems Behringer is considering a Direct-to Customer (D2C) sales model. This isn’t anything particularly new within the industry. Yamaha are effectively doing this with the Montage M and certain other high-ticket products. KORG is doing something similar too. But what does it mean to the consumer?
Well, it cuts out the middleman for starters. No distributor and no store. This would effectively enable a degree of cost-saving which, one would hope, is passed on to the customer. It could also cut down on the time you have to wait for the item to arrive. But there are downsides too.
This could do a serious amount of damage to distributors and retailers, although Behringer are keen to stress that they would continue to service these channels. I don’t know about you, but I like to have someone to talk to if things go wrong. Would that still be the case with D2C?
Either way, this will be one to keep an eye on in another episode of Synth Journal!
Polaro – A Premium Way to Learn Keyboards
This one totally slipped under my radar! There’s a new keyboard tuition paradigm in town and it looks sexy! Polaro is a new, and according to the blurb, “revolutionary” way to learn piano. Comprising of an 88 key keyboard and a 4K monitor that spans the entire width of the aforementioned keyboard, Polaro is a striking device.
The specifications are very thin on the ground. For example, it doesn’t mention what kind of computer system it is running, just that it runs PianoOS. One would wager it being ARM-based, possibly running a custom Linux distro. The lack of detail is somewhat off-putting.
That said, it does look incredibly cool. The teaching methods shown include the vertical piano roll style with an illuminated keyboard, which isn’t particularly new but seems to tap into the gaming mentality. As an educator by day, I can attest to the value and benefit of teaching with gamification.
There’s a camera built-in for two-way Zoom-style lessons and that screen is fully touch enabled. The promotional video clearly shows the user interacting with discoDSP’s superb OB-Xd plugin and there might even be some kind of D-Beam-like proximity sensor too. MIDI comes as standard
So what price this “revolutionary” teaching aid? There’s no confirmed price as yet, but they envisage this to cost around $2,800 USD but that’s subject to change. A refundable $100 deposit will get you an early reservation and they hope to start shipping towards the end of 2024.
Personally, I’d like to see a detailed specification sheet and some proper demonstrations of its capabilities. But, good luck to them! Innovation isn’t a bad thing and I hope they manage to bring this to fruition.
FM Synthesis Simplified with Stephan Schmitt & Manny Fernandez
One of the great YouTube sensations of the past 18 months has been Anthony Marinelli Music. Launched originally to host his series of podcasts about the ‘Behind-The-Scenes’ story of the making of Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’, the channel has blown up into one the most popular and entertaining music technology shows today.
Anthony uses his extensive list of connections to interview and discuss all aspects of music technology and aided by his son, Dante, they’re producing hit after hit video. And their offering this week is a real treat. Featuring the Non Linear Labs founder, Stephan Schmitt and his C15, Anthony has recruited our mutual friend, Dr. Manny Fernandez, to demystify FM synthesis.
Manny has been programming synthesizers professionally since 1987 when he got his first gig, trying to make the new DX7-II to sound like the new kid on the block, the Roland D50. So successful were his patches that Yamaha recruited him to program FM and physical modelling sounds on almost every synth that featured them, right up to today’s Montage M.
That skill wasn’t lost on Herr Schmitt who got Manny to perform his wonders on the C15, his FM-based dream-synth! The C15, believe it or not, is essentially based on 2-Operator FM. That’s 4 operators less than the DX7 and yet it can make the most incredible sounds because of its ingenious blend of FM and filters.
Filmed in Berlin on the Sunday after Superbooth ’24, this video with three charming gentlemen and one amazing synth is a real treat to watch. Grab your beverage of choice, and some snacks, and settle down for some geeky fun. Enjoy!
Tom Rhea’s Electronic Perspectives YouTube Channel
The name Tom Rhea is probably best known in American synth circles as the author of the monthly column in Keyboard Magazine entitled Electronic Perspectives. This esteemed synth historian offered up a goldmine of information in every issue between 1977-1981 on the world of electronic music making.
A short while ago, Tom collected every column he wrote under that banner and collated them into a magnificent book of wondrous beauty entitled, “Electronic Perspectives: Vintage Electronic Musical Instruments”. 400 pages of amazing writing and equally amazing images.
The book also includes two CDs containing a myriad unearthed audio recordings that cover numerous eras of electronic music making. All of this is then housed in a beautiful, gold foil embossed hardback cover and placed in a deluxe slipcase.
To support this landmark release, Tom now has a YouTube Channel that contains an ever-increasing number of video interviews and recollections from Tom himself. Aside from the sheer wealth of information, Tom is delightfully engaging and retains the enthusiasm he had when he originally wrote these articles.
One of my favourite stories from Tom is the one where Peter Vogel and Kim Ryrie arrived at Bob Moog’s house whilst Tom was visiting there to show Bob their new invention, the Fairlight CMI! Can you imagine how that went down?? Oh to have been a fly on the wall in THAT room!
You can buy Tom’s book right now for a mere $99 USD/£78 GBP/€91.95. For anyone who has an interest in authentic, boots-on-the-ground electronic music history, during an era that defined the very concept of electronic music making, this is an absolute must-have. My copy has pride of place on my bookshelf. Maybe one day we can collate all Synth Journal columns and put them in a book?
Tom has his own website too which is a veritable mine of information, resources and history!
How Do U Juno?
Rounding off this week’s synth journal is a fantastic bit of fun from a wonderfully talented musician who goes by the name of Lady Apptitude. Babz, to give her her real name, is a frequent participant in the online synth community and has been involved in music making for many a year!
Unlike many of us, Babz actually possesses true musical talent and regularly displays this with her own superb compositions, all of which are performed and produced by herself alone. Babz and I have had numerous conversations about music tech and she regularly shares her musical explorations with me, which is a real treat.
This week, she released a new track that incorporates samples of some of SonicState’s best-loved participants, including host Nick Batt, Chic’s very own keyboard whizz Rich Hilton and the ebullient and effervescent Mark Tinley, which she has woven into her homage to the Roland JUNO range of synthesizers!
It’s cute, funky, fun and brilliant. And look out for Babz’s fantastic guitar solo! This woman is on FIRE!!
Well, that wraps it up for this week’s Synth Journal. I’ll be back next week as I cover for Lasse’s well-earned holibobs! Until then, synth heads!
Note: This week’s Synth Journal contains promotional links that help us fund our site. Don’t worry: the price for you always stays the same! If you buy something through these links, we will receive a small commission.
This might also interest you
3 responses to “Synth Journal: Behringer Consider Direct Sales, FM Synthesis Demystified and JUNO Jams!”
Don’t see a problem with D2C, they can have a support just like any store. But there is not going to be any savings I think, if they are smart they wont be competing agains their own retailers in terms of price. But they will have a good selection of products that retailers might not want to have. Also limited edition coloring drops perhaps. Anyway I will buy 😉
Can I have this weekly mop up as a newsletter please? Great selection of interesting news and stories!!
A lot of music shops I go in moan that they could sell loads of Behringer gear if they could get it. Uli may be thinking a Direct Sales will stop retailers charging too much, maybe that’s it. My understanding is that you can already buy direct from Behringer. What I would say to Uli is that I bought the Odyssey that I wasn’t gonna buy after trying it in a shop, and declined the Monopoly, maybe unfairly, after trying for 45 mins to get a sound I wanted from it, also in a shop. I like going to gear shops to try stuff out, it saves loads of hassle, returns, on stuff that isn’t up yer street. Direct Sales should be a fairly-priced alternative, in my view, not the only way. Still waiting for that EMS, Uli, in case you’ve forgotten….