Behringer K-2

An amazing product yet again by the Behringer Team! They nailed the sound of the MS-20 with this version. I already have the Korg MS-20 Mini and I must admit that the sound is ever so slightly warmer sounding, while the K-2 is more "New and Crunchy" sounding. Difficult to explain but they really are "familiar sounding" and you will not notice the difference in the "Final Mix/Song".

If you want a portable desktop version of the MS-20, then definitely grab the K-2. It's built like a tank, the same as the Model-D and Neutron.

The ONLY con is that the K-2 ONLY came with 2 x Patch Cables. So when you buy this item, make sure that you pickup a few extra patch cables to have fun with. Luckily, I still have a few from my Neutron and MS-20.

Amazing sound for such a small footprint.

I HIGHLY recommend the K-2 as a GREAT PURCHASE! You know you want one!

Haven't play the original but based on online comparisons there are some minor differences. The filter on K2 seems more tamed when pushed, plus K2 has an extra filter (more smooth) which makes it a bit more diverse. Oscillators, envelopes, LFO seem identical.
K2 comes with no keys, which for me is a good thing since I can use any controller i want and integrates better with more complex systems and euroracks (yes, you still need to convert hz/Oct to V/Oct like the original). Plus you get midi and usb support and an extra 1/4" output on the back.

Build quality is excellent, heavy and sturdy. I would gig it with no concerns at all. Jacks and Pots also feel great with a good amount of resistance.

comparisons aside this is a great sounding synth on its own (cold and gritty). What you get for this price is insane. I consider it an improved version of the original.

Behringer's K-2 has tones of synthesis possibilities and can be used to compose all kinds of music.
A very trusted replica of Korg's MS 20 can produce big fat and aggressive sounds also the dual filters makes the difference on that compact synthesizer and of course you have the patch bay with opens the window for many possibilities.
At the cons side now I would prefer a most simple writing on the patchbay , and I thing I will be wright if I say that they are just to many knobs which is a bit confusing.
At the pros side I would say that if you are looking to make big fat sounds with an addition of a patch bay in this price area this is a no brainer.

I had the K-2 for quite a long time, and I wanted to make sure I understood how it works, before writing a review, because it has some quirks, in contrast to other more popular Behringer clones. I'd say, although it sounds fantastic maybe you should go with a Pro-1 or a Model-D if this is your first analog synth.

The good parts first: It is well built! The oscillators sound fantastic, and the low pass filters (two switchable types) sound really rich, with the first one, being able to produce some really squeaky sounds once you crank up the resonance. I was blown away by the sound I god right away. Need extra bass? Turn up the resonance of the HP filter and dial in the appropriate cutoff! Awesomeness!

On the other hand, due to cloning the old design, there are some important features missing, like PWM. EG2 behaves strange, and EG1 -although it could be used for many things,its only patched to OSC pitch. On the right side of the device, the patch diagram can get confusing and takes some time to learn. When you do learn it however, you'll be able to do crazy stuff.

It is an elementary addition to your gear, IMHO!

MS20 in module form. Solves space issues in the studio and provides both filter types. Type 1 moves into distortion easily, sounds raw, at the cost of some noise in the audio path. Type 2 is more tame, but still squeals, and has no noise. Having both is great, use as needed.

You do lose the modulation wheel from the original design. This may or may not bother you. Build quality is pretty good, knobs feel great in use. I do have one jack that works but clicks loudly when a patch cable is inserted. Also noticed that the octave switch on VCO2 will throw the vco slightly out of tune (difference between perfect and slightly beating), I don't think its calibrated perfectly. But it's an analog synth, I'm willing to forgive this stuff.

If you are looking for MS20 sound, I'd pick this up. Recommended, does the job, nasty.

I never had the chance to play a real MS-20 so my opinion is clearly with the K-2 in mind. This is by no means a comparison.

Sound & Synthesis:
- The oscillators and filters sound great.
- The envelopes have a very weird behavior and sustain is not behaving like the sustain we all know and love. This is the case with the original MS20 it's not a Behringer issue.
- There no gate input as it should be considering that this is Eurorack compatible. To trigger an envelope an inverse signal is required so keep in mind that you 'll need a trig converter if you plan to use it with Eurorack.
- The relationship between the max and min behavior of the modulation knobs seems so unstable and unpredictable. It's really hard to find those sweet spots.

Overall design and structure:
This is by far the cheapest of Behringer's synth creations.
- The chassis itself is pretty good. Same as ModelD and Neutron.
- Kobs feel really stiff. I mean really stiff. Some times it's so hard to turn them around that my fingers often slide around the knob.
- The MIDI input doesn't look very stable. I have the feeling that if I'm not too careful while patching a cable in and out I could end up damaging the connector.

Yes, I love my Neutron, ModelD and Deepmind 12 but this looks nothing like them. I think I should have bought the Pro1 instead. Not happy at all.