Behringer Composer 2100 vs. Composer Pro 2200

[Rossi]

I did a little research on the web, and it seems the Composer looks more similar to another Drawmer model, the DL 241 http://www.drawmer.com/products/sdl241.jpg
The knobs and swiches are in the same positions, but let's not forget that a lot of compressors look that way and have similar features. I'm sure Behringer got, well, "inspired" by other brand's designs, in this case Drawmer, but I doubt that goes beyond cosmetics in most cases. Note also, that the Composer 2000 had a stereo link that did not work correctly and a power supply that emitted mechanical hum. Both flaws were corrected in the 2100 model, which is to say: there wouldn't have been those design flaws if the Composer had been a rip-off of the Drawmer design.
I couldn't find anything on a Drawmer vs. Behringer Lawsuit, which doesn't mean there has never been one, but it *may* be an urban legend. I think the model changes between the 2100 model and the 2200 Composer pro had more to do with Behringer's introduction of surface mount design in their Pro-series. I only own one "Pro" unit, a parametric EQ, and I was shocked when I held it in my hand for the first time: it is not half as heavy as any of the non-pro Behringers (Composer, Denoiser, Ultrafex) I own. Reportedly the Pro devices look pretty empty when you open them, the electronics filling no more than the space behind the front pannel. The same is true for the Samson S-series, which, to my eye, looks like a Behringer rip-off. Especially the headphone amp. Bizarre! The second coming of Behringer - the end is at hand.

Still liking my composers, though

 

[chessrock]

I couldn't find anything on a Drawmer vs. Behringer Lawsuit, which doesn't mean there has never been one, but it *may* be an urban legend.

You may be right about that, actually. I just did a search on RAP and found this:

">The Behringer Composer is clearly a knockoff of the Drawmer DL241.

Not quite my friend. It's a knockoff of the dbx 166, not the DL241. The fact of the matter is some years back, dbx switched their manufacturing of the 166 to China. Their, and I believe at the same factory, Behringer purchases the VCAs for the Composer from dbx/Harmon. a couple of years ago, dbx suffered from poor quality/craftsmanship of the product coming from China of their 166(s). dbx/Harmon then made a decision that they could not get reliable quality (up to their standards) out of that factory in China, and made the decision to bring the manufacturing of the 166 back to the United States, where it (166a, and I believe the 1066 units) are manufactured today.

However Berhinger, in Germany, still contracts to have their Composer made in China, using VCAs (_the_ critical component in the quality of the box), purchased from dbx/Harmon."

From rec.audio.pro

 

[Rossi]

I still think the composer looks more like the Drawmer model; the only difference in the front pannel layout is that the composer has an additional side chain listen switch. But he DBX166 has a few additional features that the newer Composer Pro has. The specs, however, are different. The Composer has faster attack, for instance. And why would DBX sell VCAs to Behringer if they're ripping them off? As I said before, there's a lot of compressors out there that look almost identical and have similar features. Actually, you might as well say that the Drawmer is a DBX ripp-off, at least design-wise. The Alesis (yeah, I know) looks similar, too (and uses DBX VCAs). So does the Samson S-com and quite a few others. Ultimately, they're probably all "inspired" by DBX designs.

 

[Neve]

Neve, (or can I call you Telefunken for short?):

I don't own any composers, so i have no axe to grind one way or the other.

But a few years back (pre-RNC), a number of engineers whom I greatly respect recommended the composer as a nice inexpensive option if you needed a couple of extra channels of compression.

Does that mean they were putting them in the class of an LA2A or a Distressor? No, of course not. Does it mean they are garbage (as in the 3630) like you claim? It seems maybe not.

So this leaves the following possibilities:

•The recommended units were older models that may have been superior to the ones you tried. (Not out of the realm of possibility - a good example of that is the original Aphex Expressor vs. the "tubessence" version).

•The engineers who recommended them to me were clowns and morons with severe hearing disabilities. (I doubt it - I've heard their work.)

•You never quite learned the way to make them work for you. Hey, it happens to all of us from time to time!

•You are consciously or sub-consciously swayed by both the low price tag and the Behringer "reputation". Which is certainly understandable.

Anyway, it all comes down to personal opinion in the end. I probably just have a personal aversion to sweeping dogmatic statements (e.g.see CJ's comments on the TLM103 thread). Although I do consider the source. If a Neve named Rupert said it I might give it more credence than a Neve named Amund... or at least until Amund showed me some indication that he was a close blood relative.

You have a way with words, littledog!
Let`s announce this thread dead.
Now that the RNC has entered the market, there is no need to spend your cash on Composers!
I DO use a couple of Behringer products........


Amund

 

[Rossi]

Still, there's a couple things that the RNC can't do--dual mono operation, for instance. Also, the RNC has no noise gate/expander section, which oftentimes is a cool thing to have, especially if you're using analog tape.

 

[Middleman]

My issue with these devices is the noise level. Every Behringer vocal chain device I have lugged home has an unacceptable level of noise for home recording. Live, well that’s another issues but the buzzing, 60 cycle hum is not usable IMHO. Inevitably I end up returning their equipment due to this.

I wonder, because their products are developed overseas, if the product managers are aware of the noise levels problems their products have running on 110V.

 

[Rossi]

No noise problems here. In Europe we have 230 V @ 50 Hz. I'd be surprised if they didn't take care of the 60 Hz overseas, but you never know. There was a very comprehensive review of the Behringer tube series in the German "Keyboards" magazine, and they also made very thorough measurements. As far as noise is concerned the Behringers were quieter than the TLA and SPL gear that they were being tested against. That's not to say the Behringers were better, but they were quieter. The noise floor of a Tube Composer is about -87 dB, which is pretty good for a compressor. The normal Composer should be about the same, maybe even better, as there is no additional tube in the signal path. You're sure it's not your cables?

 

[Chris Tondreau]

MDX 2200 Composer Pro vs. older models....

When I bought my ComposerPro MDX2200, I did some research. Part of my research did involve consulting with the guy at the music store. Though this might sound foolish, I have come to trust him, as he often leads me to more affordable measures to better suit my needs than I might have originally went to him for.

A good example is that I was looking into the 4-channel compressor by Behringer, which is more money. After a few questions to assess my needs (Why do you need 4 channels? Uhhh.... more channels is more flexibility later? Have you ever wished for more than two channels of compression at once? Uhh...no....") , he recommended the Composer Pro, though cheaper, has more features and does suit my needs better.

Anyway.... I asked him about the 2200 vs. the 2000 models (not being aware yet that there was a 2100 model). According to him, the 2200 uses WAY better and up-dated components (though I can't remember which ones specifically) that give it a superior sound to the 2000. Sure, it could have been a means to get me to buy the product in HIS store, but he has a track record for ensuring that I am a repeat customer - not a one-time rip-off.

Chris