Behringer Poly D review

BEHRINGER POLY D – Review, tutorial and patch ideas

Poly D from Behringer is based on their own Model D, which in turn is based on Moog’s MiniMoog Model D, but expanded in quite a few ways. It has four oscillators instead of three, and they can be played paraphonically or polyphonically depending on your definition of those terms; it has a sequencer and arpeggiator, and a velocity sensitive keyboard with aftertouch, as well as analog distortion and delay circuits.

Here’s my full review, workflow tutorial as well as a few patch ideas:

TIMELINE:
0:00 Intro
0:50 Modes
2:45 Unison
4:00 Poly
4:50 Auto damp
7:20 Overview
9:30 Chorus
10:05 Distortion
11:00 Oscillators
13:20 Mixer
14:40 Filter
16:00 Envelopes
17:05 Filter env
19:15 Controllers
22:50 Arpeggiator
24:45 Sequencer
27:20 Synthtool
27:40 Tips & ideas
31:00 Pros & cons

13 thoughts on “BEHRINGER POLY D – Review, tutorial and patch ideas

      1. Just purchased poly D , tutorials helpful, will be spending lot of time with them getting familiar with this synth

  1. hello
    I am leaving this comment here because the intro says ‘analog chorus and distortion’.
    What is this claim based on? I can only go by the Behringer blurb and quick
    set up guide until someone opens one of these up. In those sources it only
    ever refers to the whole synth as ‘analog’ not any of the individual components.
    For the chorus it says it is ‘amazing’ and based on authentic circuitry which sounds to me very like what would be said about TC Electronic sourced dsp emulation.
    For all i know it might be an emulation of rolands emulation of a juno chorus
    in their boutique series which has been noted for providing authentic noise
    that had to be turned off.
    The distortion bit only says it is distortion circuitry which sounds as if it is analog
    but is it. ?If the effects are digital as in the deep mind you will have a stage
    of a-d and d-a conversion when the effects switch is on even when you switch the effects themselves on. And indeed the presence of the global switch makes you half inclined to think that it is there because the effects are digital not analog
    and the designers wanted us to have the option to preserve a true analog signal
    path.
    I am not on a witch hunt here but I think every future review of a modern
    analog synth should first set out which components are in fact digital and ask
    the manufacturers to verify this given the big use of true analog as a selling
    factor.

  2. Very well done review and tutorial. Thank you for your work, it helped convince me to purchase the Poly D by answering questions not available elsewhere. There is one question though, that I haven’t seen addressed. Is the aftertouch capable of controlling the depth of an LFO to achieve a vibrato? (Instead of the Mod wheel) If it is, I haven’t stumbled upon the process yet.
    Again, thanks!
    Steve

    1. Thanks! Keep trying/reading the manual – sorry, haven’t really used this since the review so it’s all a haze…

  3. Bought one while ago not knowing synth basics. Sequencer is hard to get a handle on, there should be 64 possible notes, no? Probably need hands on instruction, am in coastal CT if anyone knows of such a person!

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