Behringer's Model D—an exacting replication of the classic Minimoog monosynth that retailed for $400 USD upon its release—cut through 2016's synth landscape like a roaring sawtooth lead. Today, the company has revealed a polyphonic version, the Poly D, which is sure to add a chorus of praise and consternation.
According to the company, the Poly D is an "analog four-voice polyphonic synthesizer with 37 full-size keys, four VCOs, classic ladder filter, LFO, BBD stereo chorus, distortion, 32-step sequencer, and arpeggiator."
While Behringer calls the Poly D a "polyphonic" synthesizer, Moog would not do the same. Because the oscillators all run through the same signal path—as the multiple oscillators of the Moog Matriarch do—Moog would consider such a design paraphonic.
What this means for players, however, is functionally the same. Instead of being able to play just one note at a time, as on the Model D, you now have the choice of playing up to four.
Thanks to other additions, you'll also have access to a chorus effect and sequencer/arpeggiator that did not come on the original Moog or Behringer's first clone. But you're also not tied to poly, and can switch between mono, poly, and unison modes.
While Behringer has not set a release date or a price, the Poly D is expected to retail for well under $1,000. That price point and the multi-voice capabilities are going to make it incredibly popular. (For reference, the Behringer Model D was one of the top-selling synths on Reverb in 2018 and 2019, years after its release.)
This Poly D unveiling follows last week's news of the Behringer Wasp, a replica of the '70s EDP Wasp and Synth Anatomy's findings that Behringer submitted trademarks for a long list of synth names it presumably wants to build and market. The trouble is, the names—like Monopoly, Polivoks, and others—can already be found on the classic instruments Behringer wants to replicate.
That Behringer continues to release clone after clone of classic synths is, on one hand, a great thing for musicians who would struggle to afford an original. But on the other, Behringer's aggressive business practices continue to rile onlookers and the original companies.
In the Poly D's case, at least Behringer is going a few steps beyond what the original synth offered—allowing for the kind of sonic flexibility you have with soft synths like Arturia's Mini VST, which can be found in Arturia's V Collection.
Check back soon for availability of the Poly D on Reverb.