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Writer's pictureJonathan Dean

Desktop and rack mount synths return, new trend staring?

Updated: Jul 21

Behringer Desktop Announcement

About a year back Behringer posted on social media that they were considering releaseing the desktop version of the re-imagined Behringer UB-Xa.

Behringer UB-Xa D Shipping
Behringer UB-Xa D Shipping

Then about a week back Behringer released this photo of Behringer UB-Xa D boxes sitting on a pallet. This is very similar to the picture they released about 3 months prior to the release of the Behringer UB-Xa keyboard.


Anyhow the point was that Behringer had recognised that there was a market for a non-keyboard version of this synth. Took the keyboard away from the engine and now the thinking looks like it is becoming reality. There will be a Behringer UB-Xa module version known as the UB-Xa Desktop.

Korg Rack Mount Announcement

Move on and Korg have now made an announcement.

Korg Desktop Modules
Korg Desktop Modules

The announcement was that it was releaseing three of its popular synths as rack mount modules. The Korg Wavestate, Korg OPSIX and Korg Modwave.


Acoording to the press release these units contain all of the functionality of the keyboard version, but in a 19" rack mounted version.


Sequential have also been selling desktop versions of their synths for a number of years.


But the more mainstream manufactureres withdrew from the rack mount or desktop market many years ago. So we haven't seen rack mounts of the Korg Kronos / Nautilus, Rank mounts of the Yamaha Montage / MODX or rack mounts of the Roland Fantom.


But does this mean that we might see a return of the desktop or rack mount synthesiser. Personally I would be all for this route.


If you follow me on this channel and the YouTube channel you know my fetish is for hardware over software. And I have run out of room for the next killer workstation! But I think the workstation module version would have to be a desktop, a kin to the Korg M3 desktop, otherwise the buttons and faders and screen would just be two small.


Or maybe this would be something close to the Muse receptor, requireing a monitor and keyboard to operate!


Until next time...



About the Author

Jon describes himself as a frustrated musician with a passion for the electronic instruments that help him and other musicians be creative. He started playing keyboards in his late teens and re-ignited his passion and built a new studio following his seperation.

About the Blog

The Music Tech Guy UK's Blog, Website and YouTube channel were started to share Jon's experiences and views on the industry at large and how these effect the small musician. Plus technical tips how to configure and maintain the equipment he owns.


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