Hope by Failed Muso
My latest ditty…
For better audio, see my SoundClick player on the right of this page.
Behringer
What’s the first thought that came into your head after saying that word ?
Cheap, mass produced crap ?
Ripped off intellectual property and blatant plagiarism ?
Excellent value for money ?
Budget but good ?
If it wasn’t for Behringer, I’d never had got a chance to start exploring my musical talents on my restricted budget ?
I’m pretty sure it would be one of those, and probably one (or both) of the first too, I bet.
Wherever I look on this big ol’ internet, I find “purists” slating Behringer for their (lack of) quality or their bare faced cheek in producing something that “is so obviously a rip off of product XYZ”. And at the same time, I find stuff about how affordable and how surprised people were with their gear.
Now, my experience with Behringer is fairly limited so far, but I have to say it’s been good. The only bit of Behringer gear I currently own is a set of HPS3000 headphones that have lasted me a good 4 or 5 years and still work and look like new. that’s more than can be said of the very expensive Senheissers they replaced !
What has prompted this post is the fact that I have just ordered Behringer’s latest toy, the UMA25S…
(more on this when it arrives !).
In my search for an affordable solution to my mobile music making conundrum, I stumbled across this and at £79.99, it seemed too good to miss ! Of course, people have been saying to me since that it will only last a few weeks, or it’s performance will be so poor that I will be chucking it across the room. All based on their pre-conceived idea of Behringer and it’s “quality”, as many of these people have enver even owned Behringer gear. They just believe the hype.
It is true that in their early days, they did indeed produce some questionable products of questionable quality, and it seems that label has stuck as it always tends to do.
I’ve worked in retail in the past and know all too well what boxshifters are. Create some crap, dress it up, pile it high, sell it cheap. Turnover is that good and profits are that healthy that they far outweight the number of returns.
But it seems that Behringer are definitely not box shifters. They seem to be a company who are progressive, forward thinking and above all, committed to producing quality products at the best possible prices, focusing on the largest segment of the music making market, the cash strapped home and amateur musician.
How do I know this ? Well, it’s clear from reading the many and various articles on the company and their ever increasing sales, innovation and manufacturing expansion. Whilst reading about them, I discovered the following two part video diary made by Australian Music Magazine, Audio Technology (think SOS but with a beer and a BBQ !), whilst on a tour of Behringer’s China facility.
It’s contents surprised me, as well as the guy who made the video diary itself, it would seem. Whilst Chinese factory production seems strange to us in the west, Behringer certainly seem to have taken a lead on utilising their skills and work ethic. I found it very compelling viewing.
See for yourselves…
Part 1
Part 2
I think it’s great to see a company with so much enthusiasm doing so well and challenging the existing hierarchy. And how many other manufacturers feature a product specific forward written by the company’s owner and founder (who also remains head of R&D) ?
Uli Behringer is making his mark. (yes, that is his own LinkedIn page !)
Jaded Sea by Lee Thomson feat. Failed Muso
The beginnings of an online musical collaboration between myself and Lee Thomson. Lee wrote the song and I created an arrangement and backing track in Propellerheads Reason. I am working on being able to track Lee’s vocals and guitar online so I can come up with a proper mix. Watch this space.
This is just my instrumental backing. Check out the two video’s after this one for Lee’s original video and her clip of her singing to this track. Remember, this is early days so quality is understandably basic.
Written by Lee Thomson
Arranged and performed by Rob Puricelli.
©2008 Lee Thomson & Rob Puricelli.
Is this the scariest synth video ever !!??!!??
A Yamaha GX-1 being delivered through the window…[via cnxww893]
I, for one, would be crapping my pants !!!
Top stuff !
Yamaha CS1x Demo – Part 4
And finally, the last part of my run through of some of my favourite sounds from the Yamaha CS1x…
Not sure what to do next. Maybe the Korg Prophecy. Let me know if you have any preferences.
Yamaha CS1x Demo – Part 3
As promised, Part 3 of my basic demo of my Yamaha CS1x…
One more to follow to wrap the CS1x up.
Mattel Synsonics Demo
Another in my series of basic (and I do mean basic !) demos of some of my favourite bits of gear. Here is the Mattel Synsonics, a piece of gear I lusted over as a young boy, thinking it would be my ticket to super mega stardom as the most supreme drummer of all time. Sadly, my pocket money couldn’t stretch to it, and my parents figured that I’d be far better served by a Subbuteo set, as a career in table football was much better :-s
I eventually found one of these in mint condition on eBay and promptly snapped it up. Sadly, after almost 30 years of waiting, I was slightly underwhelmed, but I’m sure it would’ve blown my mind back in the day.
Apparently, Kraftwerk used these at one point.
Enjoy.
Yamaha CS1x Demo – Part 2
Ok, here’s Part 2 of my CS1x demo….
I figure there’ll be two more parts to come 
)
Yamaha CS1x Demo – Part One
I thought I’d do a series of posts over the coming week, showcasing some of my favourite sounds from my keyboards and stuff in the studio here. So, we kick things off with the first part of my CS1x demonstration. Once again, I warn you about my complete lack of keyboard playing skills.
There will be a few more from the CS1x, and then expect to see similar stuff from the Yamaha DX27, SU-10, RM1x, Korg Prophecy, Alesis Fusion, Mattel Synsonics, Akai MPC’s 500 & 1000, S6000 & Z8 and Roland SC88-VL and PMA-5.
Slaves To The Rhythm
At long last, Trevor Horn‘s 2004 concert in celebration of his 25 years in the industry, and in aid of The Prince’s Trust, is finally available in the UK on DVD. Having been previously available only in Japan (I’m guessing for copyright issues), there is now a Region 0 release and mine is already on order.
Clips have been on YouTube for some while, teasing and goading me, but at last I will be able to savour this in all it’s live, 5.1 glory.
Here’s a couple of tasters…
