Behringer Mini Pops 7: the clone of the Korg analog rhythm box of the same name is a reality, is in the RD-78 format, and is around the corner.
Good news: the Behringer Mini Pops 7 is now ready for pre-order for $229 in the US at Sweetwater. This is before an official release on the Behringer website or YouTube channel. It seems this will become the norm: retailers will simply release devices like this.
Sweetwater also published new photos and the official features.
Behringer Mini Pops 7 – Official Feature Set
As we already knew more than two years ago, the Behringer Mini Pops 7 is an analog clone of the classic Korg drum machine of the same name from the late 1960s.
It comes in the same shape as the RD-78 or RD-6 and uses modern circuitry based on the original hardware’s analog designs.
The new Mini Pops 7 includes all 13 original drum sounds, plus variants and a mix parameter. Two sounds are tweakable in pitch and level: the Quijada and Quiro. The hardware has 13 controls and 24 switches that provide direct, real-time access to key parameters.
New in the clone is a distortion circuitry modeled after the famous Rodent-style stompbox with distortion, tone, and level controls.
You can trigger the sounds with an internal 16-step sequencer with real-time switching between 32 separate patterns. The sequencer is also new; the original Korg drum machine didn’t have a programmable one, but patterns and variations.
The sequencer, which has 16 LED-equipped step buttons, also allows you to chain patterns into full songs with up to 250 bars.
On the connection side, you get nine independent analog mini-jack voice outputs, perfect for multitrack recording or independent processing. It also includes a mix out and a pedal input.
It also includes 5-pin MIDI out/thru and input for syncing, a USB-C port for MIDI and firmware duties, and a power supply input.
On the front panel, you have a sync input, outputs for the Quijada, Quiro, and tambourine, and a phone socket.
It’s nice to see that another product after the BCR-32 andAKS-Mini, is available for pre-order just before the end of summer
Availability
The Behringer Mini Pops 7 is now available for pre-order for $229 in the US. This price includes tariffs, etc. For example, the BCR32 costs $269 in the US and 169€ in the EU.
I estimate the Mini Pops 7 will cost somewhere between 129€ and 159€ in Europe when it becomes available for pre-order. How quickly the first batches will be available depends on how the retailer gets the goods (freight over sea, air freight, etc.).
More info will follow here: Behringer
Available for pre-order from my partner
Update From July 31, 2026
Behringer has so far recreated two vintage drum machines in a smaller format: the Roland TR-78 and the TR-606. In 2024, they showcased initial work on a clone of the Korg Mini Pops 7, the rhythm generator used by Jean-Michel Jarre in Oxygène, on social media.
In addition to the CS Mini, the Behringer Mini Pops 7 has now also appeared in the new Syntribe software (3.2.2). It comes in the same small format as the RD-6 or RD-78. This means the app already supports it, and so it’s around the corner.
There was also a long period of silence regarding whether or not the Mini Pops 7 would be released. Its appearance in Syntribe now means it’s finished and a reality.
The Behringer Mini Pops 7 will be an authentic clone of the original Korg analog rhythmic box. It will probably feature 15 drum sounds and 20 patterns.
Official feature details aren’t out yet, but you can see some details on the interface. The Behringer version is fully programmable like a Roland drum machine. You can select the various instruments and use a step sequencer to create your own patterns.
With the original, you could only combine patterns to create new ones. It also features a distortion unit, and a tone control, probably a filter.
The official release date for the Mini Pops 5 is unknown, but it’s closer than ever.
Article from June 12, 2024
Behringer shared a social media photo previewing a possible upcoming clone/replica of the Korg Mini-Pops 7 analog rhythm box.
Behringer is known for announcing new products on social media at regular intervals. Most of the time, these are pure development announcements and rarely finished products. And now there is another one.
In a new photo, they tease a clone/replica of a well-known analog rhythm box from the past.
The Challenge of Reverse Engineering a 40-Year-Old Product
Reverse engineering a 40-year-old product is incredibly challenging. Many original components are obsolete, requiring recreation or substitution with modern equivalents, which must match the original specs closely to maintain performance and sound quality.
Testing is rigorous, involving both electronic and listening tests that can take years to perfect. Dismantling and studying the original product in detail is essential to understand its design and function.
Recreating vintage products is often harder than designing new ones because it involves preserving the original’s essence while integrating modern manufacturing techniques. This balance makes the task challenging yet rewarding, showcasing the dedication and skill required to bring these classic designs back to life.
Our purpose is to bring those historical instruments back to life and preserve their musical contribution, while making them affordable for everyone.
Behringer Korg Mini Pops 7
In the shared image, Behringer shows two things: an old, disassembled Korg Mini Pop 7 from 1966 on the left, and an unknown modern circuit next to it.
It has not been officially announced yet, but I firmly believe that it is a clone/replica of the Korg Mini Pop 7. Otherwise, the photo of two devices side by side makes no sense.
As a reminder, the Korg Mini Pops 7, released in 1966, has an all-analog design and features 15 drum sounds and 20 patterns. Many famous musicians have used the analog rhythm box in compositions.
Jean-Michel Jarre, for example, used it throughout his album Oxygène. Aphex Twin also used it on his album Syro and in homage, named a single “minipops 67 [120.2].”
It will be interesting to see whether Behringer keeps the Korg Mini-Pops 7 in its original concept or builds a more modern drum machine based on it, on which you can flexibly generate your own rhythm, etc.
I will write more about this when more is known, so stay tuned. To pass the time a little, there is a free Mini-Pops 7 emulation of this from Full Bucket Music for macOS and Windows.
More information will follow here: Behringer
