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Early Moog™ Modular Prototype, click to enlarge |
Bob Moog was one of my heroes, he was a little bit disheveled, definitely quirky and a man on his own mission. Not many inventors get to leave such a HUGE mark on music history but Dr. Moog’s creations changed everything. When I first saw those modular synthesizers on the cover of “Switched On Bach” I wanted them; I wanted to patch things in strange ways and make weird sounds. Alas, back then all I could afford was a cheap used synthesizer kit; I had to repair it before I could play it. In the late 70’s the music store I ran took on a lot of Moog™ products and I got to meet Dr. Moog at two different NAMM trade shows.
Fast forwarding to our modern era: Love them or hate them, Behringer has done the impossible, they created scaled down Eurorack copies of the classic Moog modular analog synthesizer systems. As part of my descent into Eurorack technology I bought the least complex Behringer System 15 replica to experiment with. Is it good?
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Behringer System 15 Modular Synthesizer, click to enlarge |
THE SYSTEM 15 QUICK START GUIDE
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The System 15 Quick Start User Guide is better than most that come with new Behringer gadgets. The guide includes a few sample patch suggestions to get you making sounds. The sample patches are not super inspiring but they do introduce you to the way you get your MIDI keyboard to begin controlling analog, voltage controlled components. After you familiarize yourself with the differences between V-Trigs, S-Trigs and Gates you’ll be off to the races with all kinds of bloops, bleeps and blasts.
THE LAYOUT
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My System 15 after some experimenting, click to enlarge |
I don’t know why Behringer installed the modules in the way they came from the factory, maybe it was a tribute to an original Moog configuration. After I confirmed that I had a working synthesizer system I took it apart and installed the modules in an order that made more sense to me. I arranged things with voices on the left, processing in the middle and outputs on the right. I’m still struggling to find the ultimate layout and that’s one of the charms of Eurorack, it is flexible and easy enough to work with that you can work towards perfecting your ideal instrument configuration.
WHAT YOU GET
I thought long and hard about which of the Behringer modular systems to buy. The System 55 is the largest model and it comes with a lot of oscillators and modules, including a 24-step sequencer. The System 35 is the mid-size model and it comes with quite a few modules as well. The System 15 is the smallest configuration of modules but it comes in the same size case as the System 55 so there are a lot of empty positions filled with blank cover plates. I ended up choosing the System 15 because it was a bargain and it had lots of room for me to populate the case with modules of my own choosing.
THE HOUSING - Eurorack Go Mobile Case
The three Behringer modular systems are all packaged in the same model of Eurorack case which is sold separately (Behringer Eurorack Go Mobile Case); this case can be attached to another identical case using optional brackets so you can build a truly bodacious boutique modular creation. The Go case is made from plastic and has two 140 hp tracks for installing modules. Each track utilizes sliding steel nuts in extruded aluminum rails for holding your modules in place. Personally I like these rails and the sliding nut system, I use wooden toothpicks to position the nuts with ease (wood toothpicks are non magnetic).
POWER SUPPLY
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GO MOBILE CASE, click to enlarge |
Industry standard 3-rail power (+12,-12,+5) for your installed Eurorack modules is delivered in three power zones across an internal PC board which runs the length of the Go Mobile case; this distribution board has 32 keyed sockets for your modules to securely and easily plug into and it is firmly mounted to the bottom of the enclosure. A large external line-lump power supply connects to the rear of the case via a hefty DC power plug. It all works well and seems reliable so far (you need to support the line-lump power supply box, it can’t hang on the rear of the case).
Each of the three power zones of +12 volt has 1,000mA (3,000 total) of current available. The -12 volt is 1,000 mA shared across all three power zones. The +5 volt is also 1,000 mA shared across all three power zones. I was initially concerned about whether there would be enough power available so I made spread sheets to track the usage of my installed modules; my fears turned out to be unfounded with the modules I’m using now and those I’m planning to add. The Go Mobile case has plenty of power for 99.44% of applications and you could install additional 4-hp Eurorack power supplies if even more power was required for some super jumbo project. (I will be doing an article about external Eurorack power supplies soon).
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Go Mobile Case, foldout tilt stand, click to enlarge |
The Go Mobile case can sit flat like a keyboard instrument or upright thanks to an inbuilt stand that folds out of the rear.
HOW DOES IT SOUND?
For reference, I’ve owned two original (1979 and 1980) Minimoog Model D keyboards and most recently a Moog Voyager. I was the store and product manager for Moog keyboards from 1978 to 1981 in St. Louis, this got me a lot of experience with the PolyMoog, the Memory Moog, the Source and the all important minimoog™.
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I don’t have any current Moog products to compare the System 15 sound to directly. With all that said I think the Behringer System 15 sounds great. The oscillators sound full and right. The mixer makes all the right additions when you crank the knobs up high.
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The filters sound bright with rich harmonics and lovely self oscillation modes complete with that wonderful 24dB/octave character that Dr. Moog patented so many years ago.
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The envelope generators go extremely fast or lusciously slow (and all points in-between). All this tone producing goodness is inside a portable Eurorack package which is compact, light weight and easy to move around. Currently the system is in my kitchen where I’m tinkering with the layout on an almost daily basis.
SYSTEM 15 AS-BUILT LIMITATIONS - OUT OF THE BOX
- No portamento (aka glide) included on the System 15
- Three oscillators, one is expanded/intended for LFO applications (so only two for audio)
Both of these limitations are easily and inexpensively fixed thanks to the flexible architecture of Eurorack and all the unused space in the System 15 case. I ordered another 921B oscillator (they’re surprisingly inexpensive) so I have three for creating big fat bass sounds. I installed a Behringer 297 Module which adds two voltage mixers and two portamento controllers.
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My upgraded oscillator section, three 921B for audio, click to enlarge |
COOL APPOINTMENTS
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Classic minimoog™ knobs, click to enlarge |
Bob Moog chose some very interesting knobs for his instruments, they gave the products a unique, almost test-equipment styled identity. Behringer created scaled down models of the Moog knobs that mimic the look and feel of the originals but at about 50% of the physical size of the originals. For an old Moog fan like me these miniaturized knobs add to the enjoyment and character of these modern mini modular miracles.
FILTERS
Besides the classic voltage controlled High and Low Pass filter modules the System 15 has additional High and Low Pass variable filters along with independent Pink and White Noise generators.
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The Fixed Filter Bank combined with noise generation gets you some very fun wind sound effects. The Fixed Filter Bank is wonderfully colorful and sounds very different than a graphic or parametric EQ. All the Boog filter modules sound great when pushed with higher signal levels.
EPILOGUE
Can you tell I like the System 15? I’m so glad I bought this version because of all the extra space available for adding modules. Strymon and Earthquaker Devices are a couple of brands that have moved into some of the vacant areas, they’ll all be revealed soon ;-)
The System 15 has not disappointed me at all, other brands of modules fit perfectly, the power supply has lots of headroom and plenty of outlets for adding modules. I’m having a blast putting modules in, rearranging them to optimize patching, trying out effects, interfacing stomp boxes from my guitar room and it goes on and on.
The Eurorack format is a lot of fun and the modular nature of it is the ultimate in flexibility and experimentation. The System 15 provides a great stepping stone into Eurorack with a versatile and expandable modular instrument for an incredible low price. Check it out wherever Behringer Eurorack is sold.
Thanks for reading High on Technology, Good Music To You!
©2025 by Mark King, it’s not OK to copy or quote without written permission.
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Original Moog™ Modular |