Behringer UB-Xa Desktop - Thoughts

  • Thread starter Thread starter DM60
  • Start date Start date
DM60

DM60

Well-known member
Looking to expand my equipment, I think I have settled on purchasing a new Synth, the Behringer UB-Xa Desktop is on the short list? Looks like it has a lot of good features and sound. Price doesn't seem crazy.

If you have any experience with this synth, your input would be greatly appreciated.
 
It’s modeled after the Oberheim OB-Xa - first thing the Mod Pots don’t have any points of reference - you can vaguely associated your postion to the lines - but it bugs me you can’t be accurate - that said there is an enormous amount of controls to access the snyth - and you have the SnythDrive app to fine tune your settings - you can also Split the inputs to have two devices to control the unit - so if you have a master keyboard your set - you have 4 analog outputs - Left, Right, Mono and Headphones - the sounds are better than the Oberheim OB-Xa to me - mostly because the unit is more controllable to repeat sounds - but one thing - the sounds are great but you only have minimal presetting capabilities - IMO it would be very difficult to use live or in a fast paced recording studio.
 
It’s modeled after the Oberheim OB-Xa - first thing the Mod Pots don’t have any points of reference - you can vaguely associated your postion to the lines - but it bugs me you can’t be accurate - that said there is an enormous amount of controls to access the snyth - and you have the SnythDrive app to fine tune your settings - you can also Split the inputs to have two devices to control the unit - so if you have a master keyboard your set - you have 4 analog outputs - Left, Right, Mono and Headphones - the sounds are better than the Oberheim OB-Xa to me - mostly because the unit is more controllable to repeat sounds - but one thing - the sounds are great but you only have minimal presetting capabilities - IMO it would be very difficult to use live or in a fast paced recording studio.
Thanks for the info. In my case, I will mainly control it from Ableton and run the sound back into a channel. I know there are lots of plugins, but I am trying to get some unique sounds and if there is good MIDI mapping, hopefully I can record the MIDI and get it the way I want and then run the output back into the interface.

Based on what you know of the device, does this sound doable? Assuming settings can be reached by MIDI event signals.
 
Thanks for the info. In my case, I will mainly control it from Ableton and run the sound back into a channel. I know there are lots of plugins, but I am trying to get some unique sounds and if there is good MIDI mapping, hopefully I can record the MIDI and get it the way I want and then run the output back into the interface.

Based on what you know of the device, does this sound doable? Assuming settings can be reached by MIDI event signals.
What are you controlling it with? You can Map all you want - I would do it in the App through - I assume you mean you will trigger the midi events and run sound into a channel on your interface?
 
Yes, sequence and record the MIDI events in Ableton, the run the analog signal back through the interface to capture the sound output.
 
With what controller?
Ableton can be the controller. I d o have a keyboard I will be using, but Ableton is the main controller. I figure there is somewhat to map to the machine if any of the controls is MIDI controllable.
 
Ableton can be the controller. I d o have a keyboard I will be using, but Ableton is the main controller. I figure there is somewhat to map to the machine if any of the controls is MIDI controllable.
How is Ableton a Controller? Do you type the notes in? I would use the Keyboard first - so much easier.
 
The keys on their Odyssey, Poly D, and MS 5 are all the same. They're all lightweight and not so good quality.
I don't know about the Ub-Xa, but getting the desktop version allows you to choose the keys.
 
The keys on their Odyssey, Poly D, and MS 5 are all the same. They're all lightweight and not so good quality.
I don't know about the Ub-Xa, but getting the desktop version allows you to choose the keys.
OK, I know I am like a school girl, but I am now in between the Behringer System 55Eurorack and the UB-XA Desktop. The System 55 is twice the price, but looks pretty fun.

You know anything about those?
 
You know anything about those?
I have the three I mentioned. I don't think I'll get more Behringer keyboards unless they improve their keys.
I did recently buy a Moog Matriarch semi-modular, which are highly valued by people that have one. Already love it.
The System 55 does look fun, although I've never met one.
 
Pulled the trigger on the UBX-D, should be coming Friday. Based on some of the reports, mapping to MIDI should be straight forward, only issue I saw was how Behringer implemented MPE protocol. Hopefully that has been updated.

I will let you know (if interested), how it turns out.

Depending on how well this works, I am going to pull out my old LAPC-1 card (just need to feed it power) and test that out. Not expecting great things, but it is an old "synth" I started out with for some memories.
 
Well, still early, but I have to say, nice to start using a synth that isn't in the box. SO far it has breathed new life into my tired mind. I have most everything working. I did switch from DIN to USB as it really is much easier with these new machines, plus my DAW (Ableton) recognizes it by name. I am still working out the program voice/patch change, but LFOs, wave types, etc. Are all reachable via MIDI signal. Pretty cool.

I like the sound as well. But I think that probably because "I want to like it". :) Once I get some time with it under my belt, I have several song ideas I will use it for.
 
Well, still early, but I have to say, nice to start using a synth that isn't in the box. SO far it has breathed new life into my tired mind. I have most everything working. I did switch from DIN to USB as it really is much easier with these new machines, plus my DAW (Ableton) recognizes it by name. I am still working out the program voice/patch change, but LFOs, wave types, etc. Are all reachable via MIDI signal. Pretty cool.

I like the sound as well. But I think that probably because "I want to like it". :) Once I get some time with it under my belt, I have several song ideas I will use it for.
See how muc OBX you can get out of it.
 
It has a legacy mode selection that shows OBX, I think there are like 8 different functions. I am still "getting" to know the equipment. I do like I am moving a little out of the box. That part is fun.
 
Welllllll, I have been working with the UB Xa D (so I ma clear ;) for a couple of weeks. I really think it is pretty cool, tons of sounds and 100to XX potential output.

I am using it more or less like a VSTi. But, it is pretty cool. Example, it is 16 voices, I can split the voices into two. This is used for keyboard splitting. In the DAW, I send notes for the upper region through MIDI channel 3, for the lower region I send to MIDI channel 1. Since the synth splits the sound, I can then take two different patches and manipulate.

Also, if I have this chained, I can then "route" the MIDI notes from each region on to other instruments. Example on the upper, I routed it to MIDI channel 7 so that another instrument in the chain can be set to 7 and get the notes passed through. For the lower, I had it on MIDI channel 3 and that was routed. Now, I am in a DAW and don't need that, but I think if you were playing live, and had a full kit setup, it would be very helpful.

Sounds are enormous and I am still exploring. Based on some of the videos, I think there will be many great sounds. On my next album, I will probably overuse, but it is diverse enough where it won't be a drone. I setup my Tascam 1800 where channels 13 and 14 are the inputs, create an audio track (Ableton treats MIDI and analog sound differently), to capture the UB's output.

Pretty cool unit, I must admit I am screwing around with it more than recording, but it keeps me out of the bars and brothels. (I've been watching a lot of old westerns :) )

It is doing what I hoped and giving new life to my old head.
 
I just saw Rob's post. My update.

I have to say, unless you want to really go deeeeeeeep, hardware synths are not a slam dunk. I am just finally after a couple of weeks starting to figure out how the hell it works. I mean, LFOs, modulators, patch panning (16), turning off voices, etc. I mean, it is a sound design machine.

OK, arpeggiator, when it is in the box, pretty straight forward. But I am using an external hardware with my DAW (Ableton), I want the BMP to sync with the hardware. I just learned, the DAW doesn't send clock information until it is playing. I spent about three weeks trying to figure out why it wasn't syncing. (I know, DA, but there it is). I had to go get some MIDI tools and look at port signals and blah, blah, blah. I was trying not to go too deep into the weeds, well, I am in the middle of a field of tall grass! When I started MIDI way back when, I added the card (LAPC1) into the computer, so it was still "in the box".

Still think it is a good tool/instrument for composing (and motivates me), but it is not for the faint of heart. I also learned, you can buy presets to upload to the synth, pretty good ones, but I think for now I am going to "learn" how to create. It will be awhile before I can post anything that might sound half ass decent. But that what I have so far.

To Rob, sorry that didn't work out for you.
 
OK, an update. The world of dealing with hardware changes the game a lot. As I stated, I needed the DAW MIDI sync to be sent to the synth. (You analog guys know what I am talking about). Well, it turns out, in Windows (not sure about Apple OS), a MIDI port (In/Out) can only be opened once. The plugin I was using (it maps the knobs so I am not doing like Rob and remembering channel 127 or whatever does). The plugin I am using doesn't pass the MIDI clock through its port.

After determining that the DAW was sending the signal and the synth was receiving, I determined that the plugin was the offender of the problem. The guy who built the plugin gave me two ways to fix it. Send the clock data via USB and map the plugin to the DIN (or vice versa) or use through this convoluted software that creates a MIDI port, route the clock through that and blah, blah, blah (I stopped reading to be honest).

My workaround, dial in the BPM in the synth to match the DAW (not going to be 100%, but it will be pretty damn close) and fix any misalignment in post.

Conclusion:
UB-Xa D is still going to be fun.
I know now it isn't operator error, it is system limitations
As one does in the real wold, I will work around the issues and make it work. After all, isn't that really a part of the journey? :)
P.S. - If you decide to leave the box, be ready to deal with the world ;)
 
Back
Top