Behringer Abacus is a ripoff of the all-time favorite Make Noise Maths Buchla-inspired function generator for Eurorack.
Do you remember the Behringer Summer Leaks from 2019? The PR department called me Fake Media back then because I found possible product developments in a promotional video. Among other things, a Make Noise Maths clone/replica could be seen. Everything wrong, everything far-fetched.
Well… 4 years have passed, and the story is getting explosive again because one of these leaks became a reality. Today, Behringer introduced the Abacus module, a ripoff of the Eurorack community’s all-time favorite Make Noise Maths. Mmh who is fake now?
Behringer Abacus
Abacus is, according to Behringer, an Algebraic sound processor modeled after Buchla’s models 257 and 281 from the ’60s. Well, not. If Behringer is so precise in their descriptions, then they should also be honest with their beloved synth community.
It is a faithful clone/ripoff of the still available Make Noise Maths, which in turn is inspired by these Buchla modules.
Behringer didn’t develop the concept for this module but took over the concept of the Maths module from Tony Rolando of Make Noise. Although the original Math is heavily inspired by classic Buchla modules (257, 281) from the ’60s, it is an original design.
Like the XAOC Devices Batumi or Intellijel VCA, I do not support this module stealing of still available modules from smaller companies in any way. Sorry Behringer, but you have the manpower to develop your own, original modules. Why do you always have to open such a deep, ugly copy drawer, why?
And that’s how it started in 2019. That’s how Behringer advertised with his team. The final product become Abacus.
The clone/replica feature set is identical to Make Noise Maths. It includes flexible envelopes, LFOs, signal mixing, gate generation, and logical functions. A clever and playful modular function generator.
Features
- Algebraic sound processor modeled after Buchla’s* models 257 and 281 from the ’60s
- Perform wide range of linear, logarithmic and exponential triggered or continuous functions
- Generate musical envelopes or LFO signals up to 25 minutes and as fast as 1 kHz
- Change the depth of modulation or even modulate backwards
- Create musical events such as ramping up or down in tempo
- Amplify, attenuate, integrate or invert incoming signals for unlimited creativity
- Apply lag, slew or portamento to control voltages for unique warped effects
- Initiate musical events upon sensing motion in the system
- Create note division and flam for amazing effects
- Generate complex modulations by combining up to 4 CVs
- LEDs indicate activity on all outputs for visual monitoring
- Eurorack specs: 20 HP, 60 mA +12 V, 50 mA -12 V
Availability
According to Behringer, the Abacus is shipping now and will be available soon worldwide for $99. If you don’t have a problem with the copied concept, you’ll get a module with a monster feature set. But if originality and small company support are important to you, take the original Maths from Make Noise.
I write about the module because it is news. Personally, I don’t support this release because I want to see new modules from the team and not strictly 1-to-1 copies of modules that are still sold on the market. And Maths, what features it offers, is not expensive. And it’s not vintage, either.
More information here: Behringer
Available at my partner
Fully agree, Tom.
Thats cheap. At least they could have made it smaller!
hey look, another salty hit piece on Behringer to prop up a boutique hipster market.
Hey look, another hypocrite that wants all the benefits of said hipster market without supporting the developers and complains about those that do. Is all the software on your computer cracked? Do you torrent all your entertainment?
I personally don’t mind clones that much in theory. My issue with Behringer is that they always make it uglier than the original. Poor panel designs and plastering their logo as if it was important, iconic, or shows quality. All they had to make a smaller, prettier, and easier to read/understand version of Maths. Address the few complaints people have and make it better. I guess that takes too much work.
Synthanatomy says, “Hey, we think copying products made by small companies is wrong and Behringer should focus on making their own original gear instead.”
You: “Derp! Hit piece. Poor abused multi-million dollar manufacturer. Need cheap. “
Is this boutique hipster market in the room with us right now?
Nothing is stopping Behringer from selling their own designs and gear for cheap. I’d applaud it. There are plenty of companies selling cheap synths and eurorack modules. But Behringer only sells stuff by association with the originals and/or flat out theft of their designs. For that, I want nothing to do with them.
Bang on the money, rich old hipsters on forums are losing their shit that young skint musicians have access to modular gear that will expose the hipsters utter incompetence and inability to make anything other than fart noises and ‘drones’
modular synths have been a boutique hipster market since day one, it’s part of the essence of the whole thing lmao
Even the name is a big middle finger to Make Noise. I have been a big supporter of Behringer’s synth ambitions, but going after these small builders staple modules is just messed up. I own a Batumi, Maths and Quad VCA, and they are superb modules.
Yes you are correct! I take back my sentiment on the other copies. I will not behave for behringer as a consumer I will starve myself of these product’s and future development! I own a behringer system 55, crave, neutron, td-3, DeepMind12, mixer and a few of the old pedals I will probably sell so I don’t participate! I feel honestly belittled! I hate the company now! My make noise shared system taught me so much that it is revered in my studio space!
Are you okay? People have a right not to like Behringer’s “copy everything” strategy, just as you have the right to buy their gear.
Didn’t Maike noise ripped Maths big part of circuitry from Buchla? Why is that nowhere mentioned?
Ripping an entire, still available module is a different story than getting inspired by different vintage modules from Buchla and Serge Modular (Voltage Controlled Slope)
Behringer modules eat up so much HP. All of them except their eurorack power supply.
Disagree. I think its great and good value for money. I will definetely buy it.
Do you say the same when you buy stolen watches and phones?
HaHa…Behringer is like the fake Rolex of the synth world.
Yes. Yes I do
Somehow they managed to make a Make Noise module even uglier.
How does the price of this compare to the Make Noise unit?
I do not think Behringers shenanigans necessarily hurt small companies. I am on the fence about getting a modular system having had my appetite whetted by vcvrack. Having vcvrack I am able to test out what would be useful in a hardware setup, vcvrack is full of copies of hardware (Maths=Spikes for VCV Rack 2.0). The cost is not the only inhibitor but a major one. At present my budget would allow for a Behringer crave ($199) but if my wallet could support it I would start off with the original Moog Mother-32($599). I can get three craves for the price of one mother 32.
That makes it three times more unlikely that I will jump into the market without Behringer. If I do and get serious boutique vendors have a chance, you could argue that Behringers shenanigans increases the market for boutique modules.
Thank you Andy Smith. This is exactly what people are missing.
My modular journey started with a Behringer Crave and I haven’t looked back. I have since bought about 6 Mutable Instruments modules, a couple of Erica Synths ones, DIY ones and ones from local makers. This wouldn’t have been possible with the cheaper Behringer.
On the other side. I also bought a Behringer RD-6 as it’s so cheap for an analogue drum machine (especially as it has individual and trigger out). Because of it’s cheap price I was happy to open it up and modify / hack it, which gave me enough confidence to build my on modules.
But yeah, Behringer bad.
Not when those said boutique companies are bankrupt because of what Behringer did to them
Seems like you really don’t know much about much
soooo tired of your Behringer rants
find another way to garner fanbois why don’tcha
I love reading the comments coming from the same people that are currently wearing clothes made by children in China, shop at Walmart, and order from Amazon. Take off your Teenage Engineering sunglasses and look within yourselves and sooner or later you’ll become self aware.
Anyone hear own a strat that wasn’t made by fender? Step down.
Maths is legion, the Behringer copy brings us nothing new and is also huge and ugly.this to me is totally sacrosanct. I wish they’d focus on hard to find older equipment rather than steal from small guys like MN, Arturia and Xaoc. Just leaves a really unpleasant taste in the mouth. Poor form Behringer, why not hire some creative people and make your own shit? The deepmind12 is killer, let’s see more of that please and leave the small fry alone.