Behringer Poly D - Final Thoughts 

The click thing is fairly normal on a lot of synthesizers. Any time you have a super fast release that chops a waveform mid cycle, you'll hear that as a click, especially on a low frequency sound with not a lot of overtones. Essentially you're briefly changing a smooth sine-like curve into a square, if that helps you visualize why you'd hear that as a transient higher frequency. Another common cause of release clicks is if you do the opposite -- have a fast release on filter and slow one on the amp. You'll hear the sudden change in timbre as a click.

Hi Tim. I just wanted to say that your videos are incredible and completely inspiring. Because of your content, I decided to go and buy The Behringer Poly D. I’m so happy with it and I’m sure it’s going to be a good start to my version of a synth collection. I value your opinion and content greatly, and really just wanted to say thank you. 🙏🏽🎹✌🏽

Feedback just received from Behringer: They are aware of the midi issue and will have a fix available very soon. UPDATE: New firmware v1.08 now available but you need Synth Tool v2.3.5 to install it. Thanks a lot to Mike G for providing this info.

Thanks for the thorough report, the quirks of this instrument seem very manageable, the important thing is that it's a source of inspiration, which is evident in this exquisite track you've produced with it. Looking forward to mine, whenever it finally arrives, and it'll save me some time learning how to work around its quirks, so thank you for this!

You sir are doing us all a great service by creating these meticulous and inspirational videos. Thank you 🙏

Sounds great, Tim! Yes, there is an audible click on that release.

About the midi issue: Seems to me you need local off. That's an issue with all midi keyboards actually, because you're creating a loop. So most keyboards have a switch for that somewhere, maybe it is in the synthtool somewhere? If not then that needs an update. However you can always get away from that problem if you simply turn off Midi Thru on your cubase track. In other keyboards you may not notice the issue because they are poly, but with a mono getting a "midi feedback" there is no more voice left.

Thanks for clearing up things for potential buyers like myself and love the music!

Very impressive. I watch all your videos. Everyone needs a Poly D. You have one of the best synth channels that exist. Your videography/presentation is excellent. I'm certain you're right about a simple firmware update will clear up those issues. Makes sense. Thank you Mr. Shoebridge.

My second time watching this. Enjoyed it as much as the first. Thanks.

Nice work Tim... Although the Poly D is not for me (purely because I have model D's) I am not in any way snubbing this synth, as I actually think it sounds really nice. I have a few friends that have them now and bizarrely, they all seem to have a few different "hang-ups" which I'm sure when fixed will make this a popular addition to many setups. My personal head scratcher is the chorus and why they are having so many issues with this? Like I say, I'm sure (like you'll find with your Moog one) as soon as the software gets developed in time, you grow to love it ! Unlike Moog, Behringers quality control needs to be addressed and the two other units I have played on had noticeable issues which were clearly defective parts or production issues. That aside, I am told Behringer are very good at offering replacements an taking user feedback on all their products. Great work and interesting summary.. Thanks S.

Bill Hemsath & Bob Moog got the layout right and musicians have come back time and time again. With modern additions & tweaks keeping everything current, we will see resurrections of the instruments for decades to come. 12:43 that click or release pop reminds me of playing a Clavinet and I don't mind, gives it a rather funky pluck, or vice versa.

A brill series Tim, congrats. There's little point sitting in front of the camera, spending all of the time that you have done - and not speaking honestly about hardware ;)

Really enjoy your channel

As soon as I heard that click I thought "Turn the release time up, damn it!". I'm surprised that you think that it's a bug - I am very familiar with this sound, even though I don't have a Poly D or even a Model D. An immediate transient will almost always cause a click, but on release it is more obvious because it is followed by silence. Just turn up the release slightly. It isn't a bug, just the result of having tight envelopes!

Your thoughtful and articulate videos are winners in my book.

Hi sir! Those issues are solved now? It's more than 3 years....Thanks! 🙏🏻

What is possible over midi? Can an external controller controll the knobs? Can the Poly D connected to two Model D's be a multi timbral instrument? Polyphony?

I really liked the poly d features I'm thinking of getting one but I've read reviews where tuning is a problem, how well it works after a year or two of usage? Is there any big problem to have in mind before spending money on it?

About the click issue, I tried it with the Model-D and it's there as well. Starrsky Carr also adressed this problem about the attack, when you make the envelope really fast, a loud click will appear. This can be especially annoying as effects will apply on that noise and echoing all over your moog sound. It's a bit like a key klick on a hammond (where good recreations try to emulate that as accurately as possible). That click has even higher frequencies as the decay click. However I don't konw whether this is correct but someone said it was because of the envelopes being even faster than on the original. Now as I'm trying it it seems to me it's actually about the loudness contour bringing both noises. When I have both attack and decay on 0 for both contours and raise the filter attack I need to turn it to 5 until the click is gone. But I can leave that on zero when move the loudness attack only by a little. As for the Decay, I can't dissolve the click with the filter decay at all, no matter how far I turni it up. Same for the filter sustain. But for the loudness just a little more decay gets it away. And even the loudness sustain reduces the second click. So I think these clicks are induced by the loudness contours on shortest setting.

Was there a firmware fix for the MIDI input output monitoring?

Thank you for your videos on the Poly D! I'd definitely like to get one at some point, I love an instrument that drives inspiration!

fo rthe mike dean sound that he gets from mini moog voyager, would you suggest i get a moog grandmother or subsequent 37 or behringer poly d?

Great video report Tim. Did they have anything to say about the strange envelope problem...and did the midi get fixed. Nice piece of Music as usual , good work.

if you cut a waveform quickly, it always clicks. This happens with every fast envelopes

So there’s no “local control off” switch? Wow. Weird.

I was just watching the walkthrough video Behringer themselves released on this synth, and noticed that it had some pretty serious crackling as well. This crackling however came when he started to layer the oscillators, not specifically with the chorus. Was your Chorus crackling resolved on the return unit? I own the DM12, and it has a serious 6k notch frequency hum you can notch out, but i had returned 2 units due to it. On my third version, the DM12 came back with it still so ive just learned to live with it. Hope this isn't a "feature" haha because i wouldn't be able to live with that crackling or internal clipping, whatever you want to label it as. Apologies if you clarify this in one of your videos, but i haven't had time to watch them all! Great work though. Subscribed!

My complaint to Behringer: Why you've didn't added separate VCAs (plus AR envelopes) for every oscillator? Then it could have much cooler sound options! Matrix Brute has this feature. I'm sure that it costs just about +10-20$ to the price of the synth. And it will be still a paraphonic synth (in the same "market's level").

Nice track at the end Tim. ;-)

Thank you for doing this. You have pointed out most of the ins and outs. Now I will know what to listen out for when I get one. Love the song! ❤ Very Beautiful Sounds from the Poly D. 😁 Thanks for your help.

Savage sequence, OMD would be jealous!

Yes. It doesn't have 'Local off' function

Great vid, thanks for your work!

Wonderful tune!

Hello.. I remember that you had a great demo of the ensoniq esq1.. I cannot find it anymore in your channel. Have you deleted it?

Thanks for sharing your videos did Behringer ever fix that issue with no sound while recording. The first time I got interested in Synthesizer’s was when I was like 14 or 15 when I first got into Rick Wakeman probably around 1971 to 1973.

Dear Tim, I really enjoy your videos, especially as you give an opinion, and not just descriptions of what synthesizers are able to do. You commented on 2 synths which I consider for my setup: Behringer Poly D and Moog Matriarch. I haven't got any Eurorack stuff, but some other synths (Korg Prologue, Yamaha reface CS, Studiologic Sledge black). What I am missing is the Moog-sound... If you had the choice, which one would you go for? Both paraphonic 4 voices, both 24db ladder filter, both with some extras like arpeggiator and sequencer. A difficult choice. Unfortunately I do not have enough space for all. Can you give me some ideas/your opinion? Thank you in advance, Thomas

Hello Tim. Great review. I purchased a Poly D and it worked great until I wanted to make a firmware update. Removed all cables, no USB hub. There is only progress until 73% and then it stops with an error. The Poly D is now in DFU mode and is like dead. Only the power lamp flashes red, yellow and green. Any ideas? Thank you.

The MIDI problem... They seem to have solved it apart from pitchbenbd. Pitchbend still doesn't work when generated at the Poly D and received back by the Poly D (at least over USB, which is how I have it connected).

Having received my Poly D this week I can confirm I have the same 'click' issues as you have demonstrated. It's going back to Andertons. I have used many synths in the last 30 years from JP4 to Polymoog to Prodigy amongst others and I have never experienced a click which drives me nuts like this does. Shame, it looks and sounds great. Hopefully the issue will be addressed soon. However this is July and it is still there. Thanks for confirming I wasn't going crazy!

Tim, I've really enjoyed your series on this synth. Would be VERY fun to see your thoughts on the Sonicware ELZ_1, have you had any experience with it yet?

hi!did they fix the midi problem?

I am still waiting for my yellow TD-3 from Sweetwater. We have to wait ages for the Behringer synths in the U.S.

Well ok there is a minor issue with clicking, its probably interference from the wires inside not being insulated enough.

Hi Tim, I just got the second PolyD as the first one I thought was faulty. After many times emailing the customer support sent video snippets of PolyD in action and I was told that it would have been a good idea to return device and get a new one. I got my new PolyD sent over and boom 💥 same problems... midi implementation with LogicX is a mess, doesn’t matter how many time I tried different setting in the behringer app and in LogicX, even following the customer support guides, the PolyD get stuck when i record the cc via modewheel and I’m forced to restart the PolyD. Recording arpeggios or sequences more headaches. Notes get stuck, I have to switch between LogicX clock ( usb clock) and PolyD internal clock to playback ... something that I never encountered before with my Moog Grandmother and subsequent 37. Not sure if I have bad luck or behringer might need to look into this... thanks again for your informative videos. A v

Kudos for a beautiful track. And how beautiful it looks in Cubase. Hearing that odd on-release-envelope click makes me wonder if I could even make it harsher or even have the midi events trigger another analog noise, to get to an intentional tack piano like sound on release. And then using note length, create some weird swing or syncopation.

The pop on the key release I had with my Arp Omni originally too. However if I moved the "release" to any level above 0 even the slightest movement, it'd go away. Interesting to hear it on the poly D.

A good little tune, Tim...the obvious TD 'Cinnamon Road' comparisons. (I've redux'd half their albums up to Exit lol) This is the most bang-per-buck analog synth possibly ever. I don't use MIDI for anything beyond sync, so all fine on that front here....Shame about the gate-off click, and I'd much prefer a phaser or (and?) delay to the chorus, but that isn't essential.

Being able to have a click and disable the click may offer some musical options. Dunno. With Tim having both the Model D and the Poly D - and noting how inspirational the Poly D was for creating tunes, I am curious if he found the Model D as inspirational by itself. I wrestle with being a control freak and wanting total control via MIDI in my sequencer versus mousing around in a VST taking away immediacy and inspiration. If a Model D is also inspirational, it might be worth an addition to my cheap setup. Would be interesting if the Model D brought the inspiration, and then rely on a VST clone for recording. Hmm.

Wonderful clicky bass !

Sounds great to me Tim... you sound like you've listened a lot to Tangerine Dream :D. Has a Cinammon Rd vibe at the start.

can it save presets somehow, through editor maybe?

How would you compare the Poly D with the Moog Matriarch? I want an inspiring machine, that I will use for many years. Matriarch seems like great choice, but the price is a bit high. Behringer on the other band is really cheap, seems capable, and I enjoy my Behringer Model D very much. But I am afraid that it may lack build quality and that inspiring factor. Unfortunately I cant try both. What would you suggest?

Hi Tim, I bought the Poly D recently and I found another issue. I tried to link the knobs as a midi learn for editing another softsynth which is my Ipad (Sunrizer). I was not able to link the knobs of the softsynth to the knobs of the Poly D. I could be related to the first issue in your video....It should work?! With my other synths or midikeyboards it is possible.

Have you ever got yer hands on access music synths? If so thoughts!

Thank you

It’s crazy to me that you have the Moog matriarch right above it and you’re spending your time on the poly D 🤔

How did you guys get your Poly D so early? I ordered mine in December and have yet to receive it.

Its funny, i have found that click in some software emulations of certain synths. Always to do with the filter envelope.

We hear the click ...

Is this track available on Spotify?

thanks man love thisp

I think I will end up buying one.

Try turning the monitor button on the track in Cubase

Excellent video as always. I'm curious now that a few more months have passed, if you could only keep either the Poly D or the Moog Matriarch, which would it be? Obviously the Moog does more, but does it give you the same immediate satisfaction and creative joy you got from the Poly D? Thanks again, Mark

Your videos, not Behringer’s are making me want to go and try one of these after the lockdown

Given THE BUG, probably best to just focus on the NYMPHES and Minilogue XD...and just call it a day. 🙂

Gee, those two quirks are bizarre!

Lol. The decay is the release! (I hate that it's not an adsr but, just turn it up a millimeter?! Lol)

I have had a Voyager in my studio for the last few weeks and I must say I cant believe how huge and fat it sounds. So the real question here might be how does the Behringer actually sound compared to say the Matriarch for example with both of them doing the same type of deep bass sound for example. I just cant imagine the Behringer sounding the same in terms of bottom end. There is something very hard to describe with the Moog sound. Also the Behringer feels like a toy compared to the Voyager as well. You do get what you pay for. Another thing too, of course the Poly D is polyphonic which is great of course but I have found though that a single note played by a polyphonic synth often does not sound as fat and robust as a monophonic synth playing the same single note. So if you feel you are really after a monophonic synth, then get one. It will most often sound better

Returned my Poly D. Keybed was loud and cheap feeling. The unison was wonky and the sound didn't feel as good as the Model D. Unless this is your only synth and you need paraphonic, there's no reason on earth not to just have a Model D and a keystep or other simple midi controller for less money.

Ive been in the store today and tried it out. I really wanted to like it but that click drove me crazy. Im glad theres a way to work around it, but it just isnt right. It is sounding pretty fat though.. but seeing the issue with midi man.. behringer will just continue being behringer forever..

Well the commentary and issues are relevant and interesting it took you so long to get through the introduction that it was difficult to watch. I think that if you self edit your intro you would find that your review would be far more informative . Otherwise interesting information But you took a 10 minute video and made it 20 minutes long.

Click confirmed

You can have to many Synth??? WHAAAAT? ;)

Bullock

We all know that we can’t talk about B gear without the context of what utter shite this company is. Time to send them where they belong, not making videos about them

Spot on re: synth interfaces. When dealing with creative processes, to stop the train while you spin through menus is an inspiration killer!

So even with the click, you like this synth? Your demo with it sounds great...the click is not noticable. But when mine arrived a couple days ago, it's the first thing I noticed. Of course, studio head phones make it much more noticable I think. I actually have it packed up to ship back, but I keep hoping someone found a way to reduce it. Tweaking the attack helps, but you lose the nice fast attack for lead sounds. And to silence the lay-off click, the decay switch must be "on", with release time; not a good solution. I have been playing synths for 40 years, and this is, by far, the worst envelope clicking I've ever heard. My concern is for recording. It's not so bad for squelchy bass parts, or busy tracks...it would get buried. But what about soft, mellow, or fast lead lines?? Lol...it reminds me of a guitarist's noisy amplifier hum...and I am hearing all the same "denials"! "Hum? What hum?"

Thanks for being a straight forward video channel with no gimmicks to get people to come back.Nice joint at the end too.

I appreciate your spending several videos on one synth. Will be curious to see if you have any new tricks for the Matriarch.

As always when I hear your music I travel to a different place in my mind. Cool and tranquil place where everything is perfect:)

Hi Tim...Thanks for another great video about this synth. I wanted to share a thought with you about the "click". Is it not just a quick release? As you pointed out, when you raise the decay you lose the click, but the "decay" on this synth is also hard wired to the "release" so a longer decay gives a longer release. My old pro-one does something similar when the release is set very low. I had other synths which had an initial "click" with a fast attack and increasing the attack by a bit got rid of the click in the same way that lengthening the release gets rid of the "end-click" on the pro-one. Just a thought. I wonder if the original MiniMoog does something like it? I'd better watch Starsky's side by side vid again!

I'm absolutely hooked on this song and "Poly D Revisited". I find the melodies amazing. As a Spacemen 3, Spiritualized, Kraftwerk and The Early Years lover, I also find a bit of them all in these melodies. I've noticed a Presonus console (If I'm not wrong) so my question is how do you use the console: As a console and DAW controller, only as a console? Is there any video with your thoughts and experience with it? Thanks in advance. Following you on Soundcloud since now.

It's a lovely format, very desirable. I've hankered for a Sub 37 for years but a Poly D is better with four note chords available.

Sounds so good and great sounding song. Right up my alley. I might just pick one of these up because of that very song. It sounds like something I started writing years ago but couldn't get the sounds "analog" enough! I think you've convinced me!

This click is a well know real issue, PEAK actually has zero as "2" to stop this click, its not the envelope per say its a function of the electronics.

That click sounds like the filter dealing with the last of the residual voltage from the oscillators while still being open enough to apply the filter

i only use midi to sync time , all my stuff is live recorded into garageband as an audio file , this is a bug , but it will not affect the "live" musician at all , behringer you are the reason i can now afford awsome gear, keep on keeping on

Basically, buy one while you can because the analog distortion is heavenly and has sequencer 😍

Thank you! Just got mine 3 days ago and couldn’t agree more

Bloody hell... I seriously love Jean-Michel Jarre... so much I spell his name correctly... and I was seriously dancing around to your music... well fucking done. Marvellous! x

Do you prefer the polyD over the matriarch?

MIDI issue - prob can be avoided by turning off "local control" which you would have to do anyways. To avoid hearing doubled notes... The "local control" command can often be sent via MIDI if it can't be found in a menu.

The Poly D is hard to checkout since they are nowhere to be found in Swedish music stores. Could be some issue with other huge manufacturers since the are priced so low.

Setting the attack just a notch higher wil get rid of the click

Appreciate *every* video. ; ) ~ yeah, i agree, in fact i haven't done any menu-diving since the late 90s.

The midi issue is a bit odd I agree. The other issue - click/noise on key release with particular envelope settings is idiosyncratic but actually its something i would make deliberate use of. many acoustic instruments have a small amount of noise associated with lifting a finger off a string or key. To be able to mimic that easily is a feature rather than a problem as far as I am concerned. Its not that unusual for envelopes on many synths to do slightly unexpected things at extreme settings. Unless its horribly disruptive I would just treat it as character and work with it.

Love your options! And your accent! You're a talented monster. Thank you for your time. Xox

My opinion is, especially considering the price, is that the pros far out weigh any cons in regard to the Poly-D.