JP-4000 micro (now JT-4000 micro) is a Roland JP-8000 inspired hybrid Synthesizer from Behringer in small with analog filter and for an unbeatable price of $49
Recently, Behringer released the JT-4000 micro, a mini Synthesizer that uses a Roland JP-8000-inspired hybrid core consisting of digital oscillators and an analog filter. All this for €49. There was great interest in how good a €49 synth could sound. Now after the first two months, I can say surprisingly good.
And just before the end of the year, Behringer gives the JT 4000 micro a big firmware update.
JT-4000 micro New Firmware
The new firmware update for the JT-4000 micro adds many new features.
It starts with a new hold mode, allowing you to sustain your sounds endlessly. Great for creating drones or soundscapes.
Then, it comes with sustain pedal support. You cannot connect a pedal directly to the synth; there is only a USB-C and a phones out, but you do this via a MIDI keyboard on the computer. There is also a new ARP/KEY mode selector accessible via the ARP button, making it a more convenient navigation.
Behringer also expanded the MIDI CC options of the JT-4000 micro in the new firmware. You now get four new destinations:
- CC47: Filter Env Amount
- CC54: LFO1 Waveform
- CC55: LFO2 Waveform
- CC56: LFO1 Destination
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Article From October 6, 2023
The wait is over. Okay, for people in the UK. Andertons has delivered the first batch of the Behringer JT-4000 Hybrid Synthesizer. And it’s still in stock for £45.
And, of course, early adopters release their first sound demos on YouTube. For the price of $49, the JT-4000 sounds very good and impressive.
Features
- two digital oscillators (1- supersaw, saw, square, triangle with FM option) (2- noise, saw, PWM, triangle)
- analog filter with cutoff and resonance
- ring mod
- two LFOs (rate, amount)
- two ADSR envelopes
- glide
- patch memory with 32 built-in presets
- full MIDI implementation
People who have pre-ordered from Thomann, Musicstore, Sweetwater… will have to be patient. According to T, it will arrive in 7-9 weeks, and Musicstore in December 2023.
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Update From August 12, 2023
In early 2022, Behringer announced the JT-4000, a super affordable Roland JP-8000-inspired mini Synthesizer.
According to the latest Behringer post, it is now in production and ready for shipping. You can already pre-order at Thomann, not for the initially estimated $49 but for $79 or 85€. However, Behringer dropped the price this morning to $49, so Thomann will probably also lower the price of your pre-order to this price. Let’s see.
Features
The features are now official. The JT-4000 micro uses an authentic 12-bit DAC with two oscillators with 6 waveforms (triangle, square, PWM, saw, supersaw, noise) and a two-operator FM engine. Besides PWM, you can also work with ring modulation. The oscillators go then in an analog filter with cutoff and resonance control.
There are also dual LFOs, two envelopes (filter, amp), and a built-in arpeggiator. You can save up to 32 presets in the hardware, and more using the software. Power and MIDI work over the USB-C port. Connectivity, you get a stereo phones jack that also acts as a stereo output. The JT-4000 micro also has full MIDI CC support.
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Article March 18th, 2022
There are some updates to Behringer’s JP-8000 inspired Synthesizer. First, there is a name change. It is no longer called JP-4000 but JT-4000 micro. Behringer also changed the design. The JT-4000 now has black touch keys and USB-C. Very positive, micro-USB no longer has to be in 2022.
A short sound demo of the JT-4000 is now also available and sounds very solid. The synth also has the Supersaw in it so it suits very well for trance/dance music what you can also hear in the demo.
Article February 25th, 2022
Yesterday Behringer showed the Pro-VS, a hybrid synth that is heavily inspired on the Sequential Prophet VS. Different than usual, in a mini, compact format for an estimated price of $99 USD. If you read through the comments, you realize that the design polarizes opinions, which is not bad.
Behringer noted yesterday that there are more. And today they show another mini Synthesizer and it will be the most affordable that Behringer has built to date.
Behringer JP-4000
Uli Behringer’s goal has always been to build synthesizers for everyone. Regardless of whether you have a large or a very small budget. That’s what the company says on their Facebook post:
When Uli was 16, he built his first synthesizer because he couldn’t afford to buy one. This experience defined his later career to build musical equipment and make it affordable for everyone. It was his dream to one day deliver a synthesizer everyone could afford so kids could be introduced to music at an early stage. This day has come.
According to information, he has achieved this goal with the new JP-4000. The JP-4000 is a super affordable ($49) hybrid Synthesizer that is inspired by the Roland JP-8000 supersaw engine. It consists of a 4-voice hybrid engine that combines analog-modelling oscillators with analog filtering.
You get two virtual analog oscillators per voice with different waveforms including the iconic Supersaw waveform from the Roland JP-8000. Then, it has a 2-operator FM engine giving you options to add clear digital sounds to the warm VA sounds. The JP-4000 also hosts an analog filter for warm and natural sound says Behringer.
On the modulation side, you get two ADSR envelopes (filter and amp) as well as two LFOs for controlling the filter and oscillator tuning. There are no effects on board at first glance, but you can’t have everything for this asking price. An arpeggiator with 3 patterns and hold function is also onboard.
You can save up to 32 presets in the memory and uses the SynthTribe app to expand it. The synth is controlled with four knobs, 6 buttons and a mini OLED display for easy and immediate parameter editing. Like the Pro-VS, it comes with a touch-sensitive keyboard, this time with 16 notes. According to B, they uses a 12-bit DAC to achieve the classic sounds.
Connection side, there is a USB micro port for powering it via your phone, power bank… or to play it via a USB/MIDI keyboard. A classic MIDI interface is missing at first glance but you get a comprehensive USB/MIDI implementation including NRPN/CC controls for all parameters. That’s great. Audio goes out on a classic 3.5mmm stereo jack.
First Impression
At first sight an interesting little hybrid Synthesizer for an unbeatable price. That was the goal and I think they succeeded. You can discuss the design, I can live with it. For me it’s not a feast for the eyes but for the price, it’s hard to criticize. $49 USD is a statement and certainly challenges the well-known Korg Monotrons. With the difference here you get a complete Synthesizer.
Behringer JP-4000 will cost $49 USD and will start shipping in June from the factory.
More information here: Behringer
If they just would have made an input for the analog filter……
Cute! idk if i’ll get one for me, but maybe for a family member. peace
I’m down for all of the others. have enough VA for now. it nails that saw-techno sound!
these little guys will be awesome euroracked too!
Ok, now it’s going after the Stylophone market… Or Monotron?
So unexpected. It’s impressive what they’ve fit into this thing. I mean that for ALL the tiny desktop synths people create including the Volcas, Modal, Bastl, meeblip, etc. Though none of them will satisfy everyone. I’m always a little bit bummed when USB midi is used instead of center pin power and regular midi but that’s a minor personal issue.
p.s. Uli, please make a touchplate eurorack controller! They don’t need to be $700 like a certain overpriced company offers.
Awesome – put this in the hands of every 3-year old and get them started early with synthesizers, sound creation, and music
Still waiting for this little synth to go on sale in the UK can someone let me know
Release date 2025. Hahahahaaaaaaa 🙂
that aged well. not.
As a huge fan of classic late 90s and early 2000s trance, the original Roland JP-8000/8080 Supersaw is a love of mine. If this new Behringer synth really comes out for $49, I will be buying it instantly the second it is released. I’m also equally likely to buy that new Prophet VS vector synthesis hardware when it comes out for $99, because at these prices even I can justify buying them! I’ve been putting off buying new gear for sooooooo long and still have virtually no music hardware except for an Electribe due to lack of money, but $99 is totally insane for a piece of sophisticated hardware. Even Korg Volcas aren’t that damn cheap!
I’m getting them just to have something to play with on vacations away from home :0)
Love it! Can’t wait to interface with some of my 80’s and 90’s Roland and Korg synths. Synthesis really sounds like a labor of love for you guys.
So they could make a proper 6-voice poly for $300? Now that would be incredible.
Behringer JP-4000 will cost $49 USD and will start shipping in June from the factory.
In what year in June?? I mean c’mon its 2023 now!!! LOl
I thought for this price about 80€ it would be a no brainer for me but then I recognised it has no Midi-In. I only can play it with the foil keyboard or a PC or special Midi-USB-Host-Hardware. This doesn’t work for me, sorry.
They use USB midi in the demos with their keystep clone. Any modern midi controller should work with it
it’s a classic USB-C port not USB host. You can’t connect the other end of the USB-C cable of your MIDI keyboard on it. So you need to plug the USB cable in the computer and play it thru your DAW with MIDI with your controller. Or you use a MIDI interface with USB host functionality like the Kenton Midi USB Host, ESI MIDI interfaces…
Plus, the USB-C port is made for powering the unit, so you need a computer or interface with which you can power and send MIDI through the same port.
preorder means nothing.
Grievous and lamentable