Behringer NEUTRON

Pelo preço é um ótimo synth, incrivelmente versátil. A quantidade de módulos e patch bay proporcionam muita variedade, e foram escolhidos controlos pertinentes para a patch bay. Perfeito para quem gosta de maluquices mas não quer comprar um sistema modular. A propósito de maluquices, recomendo adquirir pelo menos um stackcable e mais um punhado de patch cables, porque abre muito livro.

O software do Neutron também é impressionante e oferece controlo adicional, pode-se fazer muita coisa que não está nestas fotos.

Há detalhes que impedem o Neutron de ser perfeito. Nomeio os mais relevantes:
- Os ataques das envolventes, quando curtos, têm click notório. Felizmente, é possível atenuá-lo ao passar a envolvente pelo Slew, mas é uma função que fica inutilizada.
- O módulo de delay introduz uma quantidade ridícula de hiss no sinal e atenua os agudos.
- Os knobs de Tune são demasiado grandes e não há fine tune, muitas vezes desafino os osciladores sem querer ao mexer num knob próximo. Acabei por tirar e substituir por uns mais pequenos.
- A instalação do firmware foi uma odisseia. No entanto, conhecendo o Windows 10, suspeito que a culpa não seja necessariamente da Behringer. Encontrei a eventual solução numa thread na gearslutz intitulada "Behringer Neutron - how to update firmware?".
- O software do Neutron não reconhecia o dispositivo - novamente, suspeito o W10 antes da Behringer. Para utilizadores Windows, recomendo desinstalar os drivers do Neutron no Gestor de Dispositivos (desinstalar o software também se perguntar) e voltar a conectar. Reiniciar e trocar de porta USB se for preciso.

Acho o synth uma grande pechincha. Assemelha-se mais a um brinquedo do que um sintetizador de estúdio (digo isto com conotação positiva).

EDIT: Já lá vão vários anos desde que este synth foi lançado e penso que nesta altura é seguro dizer que é um clássico moderno dos "low end" synths. É o synth da Behringer com mais personalidade.

I was looking for a budget semi modular and after a lot of search, I ended up with Behringer Neutron, one of the best budget choices to experiment with modular synthesis.

Neutron is equipped with 3340 VCO, the clone of the legendary CEM3340 found in analogue classics of the late ’70s and early ’80s. Lot's of other stuff you'd expect from a semi-modular synth are included. Sine, triangle, sawtooth and square with independent width control, an additional tone mod setting allows further tweaking. Furthermore, oscillator sync, white noise generator plus the ability to freely mix between the two sound sources and an external audio source to the oscillator mix, located in the rear panel; Neutron delivers, with sound-wise, amazing results and functionality! On top of that, the quite big patch bay, perfectly located. Connectivity with other modular synths is of course available, that renders Neutron an absolute component in bigger modular setups (connecting cable provided). Also, it can be mounted on a Behringer modular synth rack. Having said that, Neutron can be used as a standalone unit or connected with a keyboard/sequencer controller. But even without a controller, it can do amazing things.

Neutron has a con however, an annoying problem that I sincerely hope will/can be fixed in future firmware updates. It has to do with the onboard delay unit that kills some frequencies, making the sound duller when applied! In my case that is not an actual problem as I'm using an external delay, but nevertheless, it is a problem.

I'm a harsh noise artist, so I wanted something... harsh and believe me, Neutron can be quite harsh in a very positive way! That vitriolic little beast loves industrial music, loves noise, loves harsh stuff. Neutron can give you some scorching sonic annihilation, even without external pedals/effects but in the same, a full arsenal of quiter/softer sounds with endless tweaking possibilities. Of course, no save preset function is available, something expected from a modular synth. But fear not, huge databases with settings can be found online, making your experimentation horizon endless.

The overall sound of Neutron is spectacular, it delivers in any way possible and remember, it is a budget synth. There isn't something more you'd want in that money.

Last but not least, the design/color, which I personally love but has gotten some harsh criticism. But that is not a problem after all as you can buy an aftermarket faceplate of your choice.

Final words: a highly recommended piece of gear for the beginning of your modular synth experiments, if you are after a synth with a more modern sound.

Good synth with tones of features for the price.

My thoughts on the synth:
- Sound & synthesis. I love it! The oscillators sound great! It worths its money just for the sound! There are so many possibilities!
- The filter sounds great also a bit "blurry" or "muddy" maybe making the synth hard to stand out in a mix. Also, the resonance sounds different from what you 'd expect I think. It has it's own character and personally I love and hate it at the same time.
- The existence of the overdrive unit is really great.
- I love the S&H unit.
- The envelopes are very snappy which is awesome for a certain range of sounds but at the same time, the release and decay times are veeeeery short. They go about 3 seconds max which is unacceptably short if you ask me. It'd be great if there was a switch to make decay/release less snappy but longer if required.
- There's an assignable patch output that can improve your workflow a lot!
- The lack of a fine-tune knob is puzzling.
- The knobs are in general very tight. It takes too much effort to turn them around.
- I wish there was a physical switch to choose the octave range. These digi-buttons don't allow real-time octave switching.
- Not a fan of the analog delay. Not much of use to it if it's mono. That space could have been used for something better I think.
- I feel like there's a need for at least one more attenuator module and at least one more multiplier module. The possibilities would be so much higher with those additions.

Certainly worths its money but I wouldn't use it as my main mono synth. I'd say it's a great companion for model D.