Behringer RD-8 £230
Does the low price of this ‘analogue 808’ bring long-term value? Si Truss put one to the test
CONTACT WHO: Behringer WEB: www.behringer.com
KEY FEATURES CATEGORY: 11-voice analogue drum machine modelled on the Roland TR-808. Includes analogue filter, wave designer, individual track outputs, effect return, MIDI in, out and through, analogue triggers and clock sync, USB.
Behringer releases tend to elicit a divisive response among the music technology industry. Many of their analogue instruments are inspired by the lineage of classic gear from other brands, usually produced at eye-catchingly low prices and without any involvement from the creators of the original inspiration. As a result, any new Behringer release tends to launch alongside multi-pageforum threads debating both the authenticity of the sound, and whether or not the release is treading on another brand’s toes.