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| The Behringer PRO VS mini |
There are people who love puzzles and there are people who love to compose music. Which one are you?
WHAT IT IS
The Behringer Pro VS mini is a tiny “Paraphonic” synthesizer which is styled like a full size keyboard instrument. It can speak with a HUGE voice, or in this case, up to five notes simultaneously with the V-2 firmware installed. There is only a single VCF and VCA so there are some limitations to how multiple notes can be sounded.
This is one from a series of tiny, low priced, synthesizers by Behringer, but don’t be fooled by the tiny price, this little machine has serious lungs and can make some world class “Vector” based sounds. Integrated to the front of the unit is a very functional touch-sensitive keyboard with no moving parts. If you’re careful you can program sequences, or play single note leads or play chords on the keyboard, it all works surprisingly well. The front panel is also home to the “JOYSTICK” control which blends between the oscillator voices.
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| Click to enlarge |
There is only one audio output and it is the tiny 1/8” stereo headphone jack, if you have headphones plugged into it then you have no available output jack. It has a USB-C female outlet right next to the power switch in the upper left front of the control panel. A full size, 5-pin MIDI IN jack is located in the upper right corner of the control panel (there is no MIDI output jack).
All the knobs and variable potentiometers on this little synth are what we (in electronics repair business) used to call “trim pots” or “tweekers”. On this instrument they have slightly beefier shafts and that’s the knob, it’s small, it’s sensitive and it’s fragile. I’ve used pots similar to these for years without problems but I take very good care of my gear, if you’re the rough-treatment type this is not going to be a long lasting product. The master volume control is conveniently located right next to the headphone jack on the top front panel.
HOW IT SOUNDS
I used a Hosa molded cable (1/8” male TRS to two 1/4” male TS), to connect the synth headphone jack to a stereo line-level input on my mixer. I was immediately impressed with the tone and rich sound coming out of this synth — connected to a full-range, flat-response sound system, the juicy synthesizer sounds are impressive. This tiny music maker is capable of BIG, full sounds, with bell like high frequency clarity and lows that are tight and wet. The controls let you manipulate the sonics in very powerful ways.
THE KEYBOARD
I was almost pushed away from buying the Pro VS mini because of the perceived “printed circuit” nature of the keyboard. I’ve had similar sorts of alternative controls in the past and did not care for them. After spending a few hours playing with the VS mini, I have to say the keyboard works pretty darn well, there have been no reliability issues so far. If you have very fat fingers you might have difficulty playing single notes cleanly. It's more like touching a phone screen than a circuit board etching.
THE DISPLAY
The VS mini has a tiny but very viewable display. It's capable of showing two lines of text and waveforms.
THE JOYSTICK
This little synth's claim to fame is "vectoring" around between different waveforms to create unique sonics, a joystick control is provided to accomplish this. Lots of fun and exploration is available and no doubt, this feature is partially responsible for the HUGE sound this little synth is capable of.
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| Joystick control on waveform mix |
MIDI CONTROL
I did not get into controlling the VS mini from the MIDI input but it has impressive capabilities available.
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| Click to enlarge |
RECOMMENDATION(S) - Should You Buy the Pro VS mini
It is difficult for me to reach for this synthesizer and utilize its impressive sonic power in a piece of music because the hurdle of the interface completely interrupts and interferes with my creative process. Maybe it’s just me but I feel like I need to relearn the puzzle every time I get out the VS mini, very little seems intuitive. By the time I get the VS mini doing something interesting I’ve lost the original creative idea.
Manuals and Updates
If you’re thinking about buying a VS mini or have one already, you’re going to want to get the newest Quick Start guide, it has seriously useful information for users. You’ll find it at https://www.provsmini.com/index.html (checked on Aug 16, 2025) QS guide is under “Downloads” . You’ll also find additional free presets which can be loaded with the SynthTribe app.
Noobs
First thing for any new owner, get the SynthTribe app, connect the Pro VS mini to your computer and upgrade the firmware. This free upgrade takes the stock VS mini from producing 4 notes to sounding 5 notes at a time and endows the little synth with reverb capability (the controls are under the modulation features).
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| Click to enlarge |
Travellers
If I was still making long five to 13 hour flights and traveling a lot for work, I’m certain a VS mini and a set of headphones would be traveling with me. It’s a very useable music maker, it sounds amazing and it’s definitely inexpensive.
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| VS mini travel-rig |
The VS mini has a USB-C connection on the front which you use to tether it to a smart phone, charger, tablet or computer. This is the jack where the synth gets DC power to operate.
Here’s a problem for travelers, the VS mini is not made for internal battery power so you’ll need to sort that out. I tried a power pack from our travel stash (photo above).
Power Test
I connected the VS mini to a USB-C, DC power jack (pocket size battery, 10,000 mAh capacity) which can be used to charge a phone — the power pack let the VSmini power ON so I picked a sequence and pushed play. I connected headphones and cranked the volume wide open to use the most power possible. I let the sequence play continuously to simulate a traveling jam exploration, the test ran the power pack down to 77% remaining after 5.5 hours of use. An advantage of using the power pack is no audio ground loops if you connect the unbalanced outputs from the VSmini to an AC powered sound system.
Studio Use
I own a lot of synthesizers (hardware and software) so I have many options when it comes to experimenting and composing music. All of my other synths are easier to operate than the VSmini (I usually choose things that are easy to use). The lack of a 1/4” output jack on the VSmini tells me Behringer never really intended for me to record anything serious with this hardware mini-synth. With all that said, you CAN make some BIG professional sounds with the VS mini if you’re patient and figure out the puzzle.
Big Dreams, Little Budget
If you’re very light on cash but need a tiny synthesizer with massive tone and output potential, the Behringer Pro VS mini is a good device that will reward you with hours of engagement (there are sequencer and arpeggiator features I have barely touched on here).
Typical Synth User
If you have some cash and want a powerful synth with classic controls that are easy to use, then the Behringer Pro-1 or even better, the Pro-800, are far more friendly and useable for composing and recording music. Each of these pricier options also requires you to provide a MIDI keyboard controller but products like the Arturia 32-note mini are small additional costs which reward you with real, big boy, music making capability. The Pro VS mini has compact size as an advantage, it’s a complete system, synth, sequencer, and keyboard all in a package about the size of a VHS tape ;-}
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS AND DETAILS
Here’s a summary of the more important specifications for the Behringer Pro VS Mini synthesizer.
Audio Output: 3.5 mm TRS stereo headphone jack, which serves as the main audio output. It supports a maximum output of 5 mW into 32 Ω impedance.
Power Supply Characteristics: Powered via USB-C at 5V, with a current draw of approximately 240 mA.
Sync Input Characteristics: 3.5 mm TRS jack supporting external clock sync (input/output) and start/stop signals. It can synchronize with other hardware like sequencers or grooveboxes.
Latest Firmware Update Available: Version 2.0.0, released in December 2024. This update adds a fifth voice of polyphony (increasing from 4 to 5 voices), portamento, new effects (ensemble and reverb), an arpeggiator hold mode, chord mode, and other enhancements like improved DCA modeling for better dynamics and sound quality. It can be installed via the Behringer SynthTribe app.
Dimensions: 7.6” (width) × 1.54” (height) × 4.88” (depth);
Weight: 0.88 pounds
Type of Visual Display Screen: High-resolution OLED display, used for showing waveforms, parameters, and menu options.
SYNCING DETAILS
The Behringer Pro VS Mini's 3.5 mm TRS sync jack allows synchronization with external devices like sequencers, drum machines, or other synthesizers to ensure they play in time. Here’s how it can be used:
Sync Signal Compatibility: The jack uses analog clock pulses (typically 1 pulse per step for sequencers or 1 pulse per quarter note). It’s compatible with devices using standard sync protocols like those found in Korg Volca, Teenage Engineering Pocket Operators, or Roland Boutique series.
Sync Input/Output Functionality: The sync jack supports both clock input and output, as well as start/stop signals. This allows the Pro VS Mini to act as either a master or slave in a setup.
Sync Jack Signals: The Pro VS Mini’s sync jack outputs two types of signals:
Clock Pulses: Sent on the tip of the TRS connector, these are short voltage triggers (typically ~5V) that define the tempo.
Start/Stop Signals: Sent on the ring of the TRS connector, these indicate when playback should begin or stop.
A TRS cable ensures both signals are transmitted correctly to the slave device, maintaining full synchronization (tempo and playback control).
As a Slave: Connect a 3.5 mm TRS cable from the sync output of a master device (e.g., a Korg Volca, Roland TR-8, or another sequencer) to the Pro VS Mini’s sync jack. The Mini will follow the master device’s clock tempo and start/stop commands, aligning its sequencer or arpeggiator to the external clock.
As a Master: Connect the Pro VS Mini’s sync jack to the sync input of another device. The Mini’s internal clock (set via its tempo controls) will dictate the tempo for the connected device, sending clock pulses and start/stop signals.
The Pro VS mini supports USB MIDI sync, which can be used alongside or instead of the analog sync jack for more precise digital synchronization.
Practical Sync Setup:
Cable: Use a 3.5 mm TRS stereo cable.
Configuration: In the Pro VS Mini’s settings (accessible via the OLED display or SynthTribe app), select the sync source as “Sync In” for slave mode or “Sync Out” for master mode. Adjust the clock division if needed (e.g., 1/4, 1/8 notes) to match the external device’s tempo resolution.
Start/Stop: When synced, pressing play on the master device sends a start signal, and the Pro VS Mini’s sequencer or arpeggiator will begin in time. Stopping the master device halts the Mini.
Example Usage:
With a Drum Machine: Connect the sync out from a Roland TR-8 to the Pro VS Mini’s sync in. The Mini’s sequencer will lock to the TR-8’s tempo, ensuring basslines or melodies stay in rhythm with the drums.
With a Modular System: Use the sync jack to send or receive clock pulses from a Eurorack module with a compatible clock interface, aligning the Mini’s sequences with modular oscillators or sequencers.
Multi-Device Chain: Daisy-chain multiple devices (e.g., Pro VS Mini → Korg Volca → Pocket Operator) using sync in/out jacks to create a synchronized performance setup.
Additional Sync Jack Notes:
The sync jack does not transmit MIDI data; it’s for analog clock signals. For MIDI sync, use the USB-C port with a MIDI host device.
Ensure the clock rates (PPQN, pulses per quarter note) match between devices to avoid timing issues. The Pro VS Mini’s firmware (v2.0.0, December 2024) supports flexible clock settings.
Some devices may require specific TRS pin configurations (tip/ring for clock/start). Check compatibility for complex setups.
EPILOGUE
I like the Behringer Pro VS mini synthesizer, yet in spite of its power I can’t help but view it as a powerful toy. I find it difficult to control and how to control it is not made very clear. It’s fun to experiment with, the onboard sequencer is entertaining and it plays the synth while you twirl the filters or tweak the ADSR.
The VS mini has limited audio-connectivity for recording though experienced studio users will quickly adapt the headphone output to drive DAW or mixer line-inputs. It does have a real 5-pin MIDI input jack for performance input.
The VS mini is a puzzle which some users will find fun to figure out. You can spend a lot of time trying to make music with it and be rewarded with nothing (a lot of synths are this way lol). Just comparing value, I’d rather have a good software synth, because there are plenty of interesting models out there which are far more useable for actually creating music than the VS mini IMO.
If a very tiny, powerful and inexpensive synthesizer is what you’re craving I don’t know how you could beat the Behringer Pro VS mini.
Thanks for reading High on Technology, Good Music To You!
©August 2025 by Mark King, it’s not ok to copy or quote without written permission from the author.
Go forth and create something beautiful . . . . . .
ONE MORE THING...
DANGER WARNING - I was shooting some photos and noticed a potential problem waiting to cause damage, the headphone jack is right next to the SYNC jack - why is that important? Because they are both TRS jacks, so if you mistakenly plug your headphones into the SYNC jack, your headphones connect directly to 5-volt DC sync pulses (when the sequencer is running), not a signal you want to hear and it could even kill your headphones (DC is never good for speakers, also sometimes referred to as square waves).
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| Headphone and Sync TRS jacks right next to each other |
Be careful when you plug in your headphones, accidents happen.
