After its unexpected disappearance earlier last month, Behringer has now re-released its first-ever software instrument, The Vintage synth. This surprise move has left many of us, musicians and audio enthusiasts, intrigued and eager to explore this versatile synth, which is modeled after legendary analog vintage synthesizers.
In the first weeks of April, everyone was surprised when Behringer released a software instrument. There was a free download button on Behringer’s website, which disappeared shortly after its release. Many people, including me, were quite confused about what was going on. It was later revealed that this was an accidental leak, and the software was not ready for public release at that time. After completing the necessary preparations, Behringer re-released the software, making it available for free download.
Finally, Behringer completed the process, and now we have the whole instrument free and ready.
The company says the synth is based on the meticulous modeling of legendary analog vintage synthesizers. To achieve this, Behringer collaborated with Stefano D’Angelo, a renowned expert in music DSP and the founder of Orastron, a leading music DSP company. His expertise and guidance were instrumental in the development of this VST.
What struck me most about the synth was its versatility. It features two oscillators with hard sync, three selectable waveforms (analog-modeled sine, saw, square), double 12-24 dB filters (with switchable highpass, lowpass, bandpass, and formant modes), two amp modules, a sub-oscillator, dual LFOs, and a noise generator with a color parameter that controls the lowpass cutoff. Another thing I liked was the addition of saturation emulation curve choices to create different kinds of tones.
While the user interface may appear complex at first glance, with its multitude of controls, it’s reassuring to know that familiarity with synths can lead to quick adaptation. The deck is packed with features, including an ASDR envelope, two amplitude modules, vibrato and unison modes, and more, all designed to enhance your user experience.
What helped me and I liked was that there were more than 100 built-in presets. All presets, from modern to vintage, sound really good. I think these presets give quite a bit of flexibility to use the synth for almost any genre.
When I tested the plugin, I was impressed by the sound quality and the range of controls it offered. The synth delivered a rich, warm analog sound, particularly suited for vintage synth sounds reminiscent of the 70s and 80s. However, it also proved versatile enough to produce modern tones, making it a valuable tool for musicians across genres.
Many musicians, including myself, do not have good memories of Behringer hardware units. However, this software really surprised me and other musicians in a good way. As the company says, this is the first VST of a new series that Behringer is initiating. So, I think the first step was pretty promising, and there can be new and good stuff coming from the company.
Initially, Behringer intended to charge $99 for the VST, but they decided to make it free for everyone. However, they kindly request that users consider making a donation to the Playing For Change Foundation, a charity that supports music education for underprivileged children. You can make your donation on their website.
Behringer Vintage Synth is available in AU, VST3, and AAX formats for Windows and Mac.
Download the Behringer Vintage here.
Check out the manual of Behringer Vintage here.
Berk is a multi-instrumentalist musician from Istanbul, Turkey. He has been playing guitar, handpan, and percussion for over ten years, developing a sound that blends melodic sensitivity with rhythmic depth.
He began his musical journey as a teenager, learning guitar and performing in several bands. In 2016, he discovered the handpan, an instrument that immediately resonated with him on a deeper level and gradually became central to his artistic identity.
Since then, he has performed in streets, festivals, bars, and concert venues across different countries, connecting with diverse audiences through both intimate and large-scale performances.
Alongside his live work, Berk is deeply involved in studio production. He works from his home studio, where he composes, records, and produces his own music. His studio serves as a creative space for layering handpan, guitar, and percussion with modern production techniques, allowing him to shape fully realized, atmospheric compositions from start to finish.
His music explores a wide range of genres and textures, combining organic acoustic instruments with detailed studio production to create immersive and expressive soundscapes.