Behringer packs the concept of the Sequential Prophet VS into a compact, 4-voice $99 hybrid vector Synthesizer with analog filters named PRO-VS.
There are the first sounds! Behringer released the first sound demo of the Pro-VS Soul mini Synthesizer late in the evening. Sounds interesting at first glance.
Article February 24, 2022
Seems like today is Behringer Day. After seeing the UB-Xa D desktop synth for the first time, another new Synthesizer is making its debut. And it’s a surprise
Behringer introduced the Pro-VS via a Facebook post, a compact hybrid vector Synthesizer.
Behringer PRO-VS
According to Behringer, the Pro-VS is a 4-voice polyphonic hybrid vector Synthesizer. You can clearly see where they got their inspiration from. The colors and layout are reminiscent of the legendary Sequential VS from 1986.
How exactly Behringer recreated the engine is not known but we know that it has 4 voices and is hybrid. Thus, we can expect digital oscillators and Curtis-style digital-controlled analog filters like on the original. With the difference that he has 4 instead of 8 voices. As with the original, waveforms can also be mixed with a 4D (ABCD) joystick. A highlight of the Prophet VS Synthesizer.
Then, you have oscillator controls for each layer, analog filter with cutoff & resonance controls, three envelopes, two LFOs, and more. The form factor is interesting. No replica in original size but in small and compact. It reminds me a lot of the Modal Electronics CraftSynth 2, which has a similar design. The same applies to the built-in touch-driven keyboard. Here, too, you will find other functions such as scales, mod routings and a built-in sequencer in addition to the notes
On the connection side, you have an headphone output, sync, MIDI input, and a USB connection. A main output is missing here, which is a shame. I prefer if you have both.
Behringer’s Pro-VS is definitely a surprise. I’m curious how close the synth is to the original and how the developers have developed it further. Small, compact, portable synths are popular, so I think this one will be another big seller.
Behringer Pro-VS will be available soon for an estimated price of $99 USD.
More information will follow here: Behringer
That thing looks a bit like a synth cake 🙂
Letting a professional chef bake a cake looking like this will probably also cost you $99 or more which is crazy!
Still waiting for my 299.- VCS-3 ……
Me too 🙂
the BCS3 was listed for $999 on that leaked Behringer webpage some years ago. Would you still purchase for that price?
The VCS3 and the BCR32 and the only things im waiting from Uli
Wow that is unexpected but I love it. This will go nicely next to my Volca Keys in the Itty Bitty Synth Committee corner.
Yeah
If it sounds anywhere near the original, it’s exactly what I need. Why Sequential continues to refuse the VS idea, I’ll never understand.
While I’ll need to hear it to believe it, I’m predisposed to like it.
I find the form factor quite interesting as I enjoy the CRAFTsynth 2.0.
And I like vector synthesis. It can feel refreshing after hearing so much analog and pseudo-analog subtractive synths. In a way, that’s also connected to Modal’s small synth which uses a simplified approach to wavetable synthesis. By comparison, audio examples from Modal’s Skulpt SE have mostly left me underwhelmed.
The fact that this one’s polyphonic makes it quite attractive, especially at that price.
And speaking of price… People often focus on the price of the clones by this manufacturer as though it were “the best deal ever”. When you consider devices in the Volca series, the aforementioned CRAFTsynth 2.0, IK Multimedia’s original UNO Synth, and even the Artiphon Orba, there are other inexpensive synths out there which are as good of a deal as most of the Swiss guy’s offerings. That 100USD price point, though, is quite good for a polyphonic synth with an analog filter.
Audio input to the analog filter would have been it …..
this is awesome!
Arturia’s version of the vs for the ipad is probably the most beautiful sounding iOS synth. Instant film soundtrack. I got it for $7 on sale. This looks fun though!
AND they’re going to release it in eurorack too. 16HP. whee!
I know ppl are hating on behringer for all these mini synths they announced and the company in general but I’m all for it tbh lol
I want a mini synth army, ill have no shame having some fun with these lol
Looks really good for the price especially.
I like these mini synths so far – some interesting designs, not just copies of other synths.. mash ups maybe!
Am curious to hear what that joystick does to the sound, didn’t really see more of that in the demo