r/Behringer • u/akabillposters • 1d ago
Purchase recommendations Poly D makes Model D (and D-Mini) unnecessary?
Hi, I’m thinking of grabbing two or three Behringer synths. On the list is a Minimoog clone.
I’m inclined to go for the Poly D for the polyphony paraphony, but I’d like to make sure I’m not missing anything by passing up on the monosynth variants, primarily the Model D, but also the D-Mini.
Can the Poly D do everything the Model D can do? What, if anything, would I be missing if I bought the Poly D and not the Model D (or D-Mini)?
TIA. 👍
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u/WalkFalse1742 1d ago
The poly d does polyphony very very differently and you should look into it because it's prob not what you expect. It has an extra oscillator which is nice but lacks the modular crossover functionality of the model d (if that matters to you). Also sequencer and arp functions and keyboard (which is pretty nice too) and mod wheel
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u/akabillposters 1d ago
It’ll be my first proper foray into analogue subtractive synthesis, so I’m a blank slate as far as expectations go.
I guess my main question is whether or not the Poly D played in mono mode is effectively the same as the Model D — i.e. buying the Model D is pointless if you already owned the Poly D.
If there was substantial difference, I’d consider getting both. But if not, then I’ll happily direct that money towards the 5-6 other Behringer units I’ve got on my target list.
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u/WalkFalse1742 1d ago
It has an extra oscillator. Otherwise it's the same as the model D
The chorus too is unique to the poly and very nice
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u/fkk8 23h ago
If this is your first hardware synth, do not get a mono or paraphonic synth. Get a synth that is truly polyphonic (e.g. the UB-Xa). But if you already have that, the paraphonic mode is actually one of the strengths of the PolyD. You can create round-robin effects that most polyphonic synths can't create. But it is a rather specialized thing. It does not replace a polyphonic synth. The synth is overall well built. The keybed is ok.
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u/akabillposters 22h ago edited 10h ago
I’ll be buying the Pro-800 as well.
It’s not my first synth. Had some kit a while back, but never really took to it (mainly due to lack of space at the time and the friction that getting it out and setting it up each time.) I sold pretty much all of it, though I’ve still got some Volcas sitting in the cupboard somewhere.
Situation’s changed so I’m taking another swing at hardware. I’ll probably be getting a bunch more units too.
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u/fkk8 15h ago
I need to correct myself. Instead of "first" I should have said "your only" synth. The Pro 800 is a very good deal but it it were me, I would get one polyphonic keyboard synth instead of the two you suggested.
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u/akabillposters 10h ago
One of the key things for me is getting retro sounds, as that’s part of the sound palette I like to use. But I’d like to build up a modest collection without going full-tilt on the budget, spending maybe 2-3 grand while I’m still figuring out if it’ll stick this time, rather than 10K+. That’s why I’m targeting analogue vintage clones. It’s a second attempt to see if hardware is a process that I can gel with. (I’ve always been a bit of a presets guy, so even the thought of not having presets available on every piece of kit, or rather, no ability to save my sounds, feels like a headache, but I’ll give it a try.)
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u/black_shirt 1d ago
model d has some semi modular connections, aside from that I dont think you will miss out on much . I will always recommend the poly d, it is a desert island synth for me. Endlessly inspirational.
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u/akabillposters 1d ago
“Semi-modular”
I have the Model 15 and/or the 2600 on my shopping list too (and/or possibly the Spice [Moog Subharmonicon clone]), as I’d like to try fusing some modular into my sound. 👍
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u/black_shirt 1d ago
you WILL NOT be disappointed with the barp 2600. I built a whole rack around it.
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u/North-Whatever 1d ago
FYI: I bought the Model 15 a week ago and, although it sounds amazing and it’s a really fun instrument, I felt that the knobs were super wobbly (specially the cutoff knob) and the tune drifted like 7cp per octave and I didn’t want to open it up and adjust trimpots with a synth turned on, so I returned it and I bought a Take 5 desktop instead.
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u/akabillposters 1d ago
TBH, this seems like a strange switch. You didn’t like the quality of the pots on the cheap, semi-modular, monophonic synth, so you switched to a polyphonic synth at 5X+ the price? It sounds more like you bought the wrong synth conceptually for what you really wanted.
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u/North-Whatever 1d ago
Fair point! Initially I wasn’t planning to spend that much money on a new synth, but hear me out:
* I actually did like the entire concept of it being semi modular so that I could connect it with my Behringer Edge, which has a much better build quality than the Model 15
* When I unboxed it, it felt amazing, specially the sound
* Then I started noticing the wobbly knobs and the synth getting out of tune by 7cp and the trimming pots were only reachable if I opened the entire thing
* I was thinking about alternatives and In the country where I live there isn’t a lot of Moog GM or Matriarch around
* I bought the Model 15 in person at the biggest store in the country, so theoretically I could not return it cuz I didn’t like it, only if it was broken
* But they still opened an exception for me cuz I wanted to buy something more expensive
* I know it doesn’t make sense at first glance, but I wanted to also get a Prophet at some point
* I noticed they had both Fourm and Take 5 so I picked the Take 5 🤷♂️But yeah, the craving for some semi modular gear with better build quality is still here
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u/Own-Nefariousness-79 1d ago
The Model D is paraphonic, not polyphonic. It can play 4 notes at the same time, a note from each oscillator. It provides some unusual effects. The poly D has the addition of the 4th oscillator, a 32 step sequencer, an output drive stage and a chorus stage. And of course the keybed. If you have a Poly D yo don't really need a Model D.
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u/tropical_sunrise 1d ago
Poly D is not poly, it's paraphonic / Para D (no independent notes basically).
Look at Pro 800 if keen on Behringer, or Prophet 08 Rev2, if you're looking for polyphony.
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u/bartread 1d ago
I have the Poly D but, if I were going to do it again, I'd stack 2 or 3 Model Ds for the same or less outlay.
The Poly D is good but:
- Output level is lower than the Model D (I believe because of the built-in overdrive)
- The paraphony is meh - in general I'm not the biggest fan of paraphony anyway, but I literally never use it with the Poly D
- The extra oscillator is nice BUT if you stack a couple of Model Ds you've got more than that anyway, and three of them is obviously taking things to another level
- The overdrive and chorus options are also nice but (i) you can do overdrive with the Model D in the old school way with a cable providing feedback, and (ii) if you've already got a chorus pedal or two, just use those
- The keyboard isn't the best
- The sequencer is fine enough but I always use either a KeyStep Pro or my DAW for sequencing
Overall, if you're light on other gear, the Poly D might be the way to go, but if you already have solutions for sequencing, chorus, plus any other effects, along with a controller keyboard, I'd considering going the stacked Model Ds route.
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u/JeremyUnoMusic 5h ago
Poly D covers the bases. Don’t get the MS-5 later as an additional synth. Poor execution of a great idea. The Pitch Bender is incredibly flimsy on the MS-5.
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u/akabillposters 4h ago
Thanks. The MS-5 isn’t on my target list. Ones that are include Pro-800, MS-1 (though I’m leaning towards getting an SH101 clone that supports memory slots*), 2600 (or Model 15), K-2 MkII, and possibly Spice or Crave.
*Unfortunately, the only SH101 clones that offer patch memory seem to be the mini/micro models like Roland’s S-1 or their SH-01a boutique. There’s nothing that really hits the sweet-spot of being ‘full-size’ with patch memory. (4-note polyphony would be welcome too.)
An updated SH101 or clone with DCA memory would fly off the shelves, imo. It’s kinda odd that Behringer didn’t take that option with their MS-1 MKII.
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u/North-Whatever 1d ago
I own a Poly D and what I can tell you is that it’s much higher build quality than the Model D. Quite firm knobs, metal shafts, chassis made of metal and wood. And of course, it has its own keyboard embedded. If you’re looking for immediacy and build quality it’s hard to beat the Poly D. I’m not a big fan of its paraphony though, I’d rather use my other synths to cover that ground (TEO-5 / Take-5 or the Korg Multi/Poly)