Derek -
I did compare them. For starters, I compared their physical differences in the post above - the physical attributes of a synthesiser are as important to me as the sound!
That's a big thing to say - but let me demonstrate it. I have it on very good authority (I was told it personally by someone who has worked closely with Vangelis) that Vangelis does not overly rate the basic "sound" of the CS80. In other words - take away all of the performance control and it sounds pretty ordinary. So what turns the CS80 into the best performance analogue synthesizer ever designed is its physical implementation - 5 octave weighted keyboard, polyphonic aftertouch, velocity control, pitch ribbon and so on.
So the comparison between a Minimoog and a Behringer is made and the differences are substantial; from a physical stand point. Surely you get that?
But let me roll back a bit where I thing we'll all probably agree. The Behringer D is a very good sounding synth - as is the SE02. And not only that, I squarely believe and accept that they can be used to great effect to produce world class music when used by good musicians, no matter what the genre.
But Derek - I've heard the Behringer D - I listened to the available demos over quite good play back mechanisms (top end Sennheiser headphones and K&H O300 speakers - to be sure to hear it well - I do that will all demos) and I can assure you it doesn't have the depth of sonic character of a Minimoog. That's not saying it's bad - I'm just responding to the original proposition put out that that they are both basically equal (can't remember what way it was expressed above you you know what I mean).
So Derek I'm not coming at this with an uninformed opinion.
I'll admit I hit these small boxes hard in posts -but I only do that to try to add at least one voice to the idea that, while these small synths are indeed great - they should not be the only thing a company does. The Yamaha CS01 was great (I own three
) - but as part of a range all the way up the CS80. So why can't Behringer release a keyboard version too, or Roland release a physically bigger SE02 with a proper keyboard. That's actually my only argument, and 'beef' with all this new tiny equipment. Give us a performance choice. A bigger Behringer D with the same performance capabilities as a Minimoog would be far better. Using a MIDI controller is never the same.
I own a Minimoog - a new one and boy is it just staggering - but I also own a JU06, JP08 and Reface CS - and love them all - and will likely buy a VP03 and SE02 - but - I wish they would also release bigger versions with full sized keyboard.
Hats off to Korg for having done that with the Odyssey, though it is substantially more expensive and I'd therefore question how well it's selling.
So Derek - I have made valid comparisons. I have physically turned the filter knob of a Minimoog recently and heard others do the same on the Behringer D - and as good as the Behringer D sounds, it does sound quite 'vanilla' by comparison. And I heard many other sound feature differences too.
But to finish off - apart from the size issue, I was not happy when Uli Behringer went onto a pile of forums on the same day as the Behringer D announcement to say they could make a minimoog for a fifth of the price - because they can't. They attacked Moog's price structure, by misleading. There are many young musicians who don't perhaps know how challenging it is for a synth company to survive, and it is highly unlikely that the smaller companies like Moog and DSI - who are doing huge R&D and truly bringing the analogue synth into the 21st century (check the spec of the Sub37 and Pro2 and you'll see what I mean) - are over charging; while they are also producing exquisite quality instruments - yet Behringer literally took Moog's design, applied questionable Chinese-based manufacturing practices to it, and for those reasons is able to sell it for next to nothing. All well and good - but - don't mislead the music user base by lying about Moog's business model while doing it. He's wrong; and if you want top quality you have to pay more. We all know that. But he's making out that the Behringer D is the same as a Minimoog and it's not correct. It's knowing lying and misleading a generation of musicians who deserver better treatment. THAT's the bit about the Behringer D that sticks in my gullet. I really admire how Behringer went about developing the DM12 - take the best of the past, add new innovative features, make it cost effective (but realistically priced) and don't attack the company (Roland) who originated the Juno technology it's based on.
Anyway, I've said more than enough- but Derek - I have compared legitimately - and to re-emphasise - I'm not saying this, or similar small synths are bad - I own them and will buy more - but the Minimoog is surely to be considered separately to the Behringer D, however similar their panel layout is?
