Behringer Pro-800

Pros

- Our unit is well-built and feels sturdy.
- It is a excellent price for an 8-voice poly with VCO’s!
- It has mono, poly, chord, and unison modes.
- The sound is good.
but don’t expect it to sound like a real Prophet-600.
- It boasts even more features than those found in the GliGli mod.
But for how long? 😛
- An analog poly finally available for everyone.

Cons

- A tuning reference note would be extremely welcome.
- Recalibration option for the knobs would be handy.
F.E. Our master tune always has to be around 11 o’clock, for example. It would be nice to have this back at zero.
- At this price, some shortcuts had to be made.
So how durable will it be?
- A program volume parameter would be nice.
- Increase of hiss when connected with the USB connector.
- Combining different languages in one PDF manual, where you have to go back and forth to read one language, is truly inconvenient!

Complete review here: https://solidtrax.nl/behringer-pro-800-review/

Where do I start? Well, first thing to do is download the Synthtribe app and update the firmware as this thing sounds like complete **** out of the box. But after the update - wow! It sounds like a synth is supposed to sound! Snappy envelopes and squelchy filter! And other stuff, probably! Seriously, who signed Firmware v1.0 off?

Within the first hour I made the mistake of A/B'ing the chunky 'Unison Track' (i.e. monosynth) sound against a Behringer Model D - and the Model D blows this thing out of the water in terms of raw character, flexibility of tones, ability to get extremely odd sci-fi noises, warmth, did I already say character? The lot. Oh well, at least the Pro-800 can do more than one note at a time.

Second mistake was A/B'ing it against a Roland Alpha Juno 2, which again blows it out of the water for warm character, range of sounds and sheer versatility (albeit with an iPad as an editor). Oh well, at least the Pro-800 can... at least it has... oh, the filter can self-oscillate! Yay! Which no one outside of c.1988 Acid House has ever had any use for.

So, why am I about to buy a second unit? Eh, its kinda growing on me and I'm interested to see how two of them sound hard-panned left-to-right. As it is, it's super easy to get a (ok, decent) range of squelchy sounds very quickly, and the more time you put in to the on-the-face-of-it simple controls the more the unique sounds this thing can do reveal themselves.

The manual tells you how to plug it into the mains, how to switch it on, advises you to not get it wet, and then wishes you good luck because you're on your own trying to work out what the Polymod section does - which is unfortunate because this is where some of the more interesting stuff can happen. I still don't know exactly what's going on with 'source amount' and 'sync' and mucking about with the respective octave ranges of the two oscillators, but I'm getting some good results twiddling those knobs in particular.

To sum up - if you want an analogue synth full of character then get a Model D, a K2, hell even a Monotribe. They all sound better! If you already have one of those and want a decent polysynth to back them up, just get literally any old ROMpler off eBay, they'll sound better! If you're going to ignore all the advice and buy one of these anyway then for Bowie's sake update the firmware first! Oh, and somehow figure out how to reduce the 'velocity' settings (deep with the menu) for the Amp and Filter to 50% so you can get some dynamics from the keyboard. Otherwise the velocity sensitivity is at a flat 100% on every note.

Ok, I'm off to order another one.

Obviously, 8 voices analog polyphonic synth for this price is a bargain, no doubt here (that was the reason I bought it). However, feature-wise this synth didn't impress me and I had a hard time programming something more interesting sounding than basic vintage inspired synth sounds. This synth is just not capable of more experimental sounds because of its architecture, so keep that it mind.

Overall, this was my first Behringer synth and quality wise I expected this to be much worse. Yes, knobs are somewhat wobbly and far from, let's say, knobs on Vermona synths, but for the price it's absolutely acceptable.

Menu system is just horrible (fun fact - one of my friends bought this synth and returned it almost immediately just because of this).

But yes, it does sound good. If you're looking for a vintage fat sound on a budget - look no further, unless you're looking for something that can create a bit more experimental tones.

The Pro-800 is, without question, a very successful take on the Prophet-style architecture. The oscillators sound good, the filter has a pleasant character, and the modulation capabilities are strong enough to cover a wide range of classic polyphonic duties.

Pads, brass-like textures and vintage-inspired sequences come together easily, and once programmed, the instrument sits nicely in a mix. From a purely sonic perspective, it absolutely delivers and represents impressive value for money.

If I have to point out a limitation, it is mainly about usability in the desktop format. Navigating the menus takes time to learn, and there is no real documentation included in the box to guide you at the beginning. It is not impossible, but it slows down the immediacy compared to more knob-per-function instruments.

I have owned an original Prophet in the past, and of course this is not exactly the same feel or experience. Then again, it is also nowhere near the same price, and that needs to be said clearly.

Among the Behringer synths I currently own, this is probably the one I connect with a little less. Not because it sounds bad, quite the opposite, but because others in my studio fit my workflow faster.

Still, if someone is looking for affordable analog polyphony with a classic flavor, the Pro-800 is a very solid option.