Behringer really is the brand that never stops, as it’s squeezed in another late 2024 release with the Egyptian-inspired Phara-o Mini synthesiser.

In stock and available for immediate shipping, this new launch offers a “gateway to the mystical sounds of ancient Egypt, embodying the spirit of the pharaohs and the mysteries of the pyramids,” according to Behringer.

• READ MORE: Behringer channels the classic LinnDrum drum machine with the new LM drum

Given its mini title, this synth is of course portable, and is aptly decorated with hieroglyphs. It is an analogue polyphonic and programmable synth, with a pure analogue signal path based on authentic VCO, VCF, and VCA designs.

At its core, the Phara-o Mini is said to offer a unique filter architecture, inspired by the “complexity and intrigue of Egyptian mythology”, which is capable of crafting “unpredictable and otherworldly” tones. It hosts a trinity of VCOs, each offering saw or square waveforms to shape your sound, and users can also use the multi-mode ring modulator on square waves to unlock metallic effects.

It also has a 16-step motion sequencer to record knob movements and weave melodies, and you can experiment with a range of play modes, including poly, unison, octaves, fifths, ring unison, and ring poly.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Behringer (@behringer)

As Behringer often releases emulations of other classic gear items, some have questioned if it’s inspired by Korg’s Volca Keys, though Behringer does not state that this item is an emulation of any kind, and responding to a user on Facebook who suggested the Phara-o Mini is a clone, the brand simply replied “na”.

Certainly a release that nobody had on their bingo cards for 2024, reactions so far to the news have been mixed. One user on YouTube has referred to it as a “meme synth”, while others have pointed out that the launch video (which is the only video from the brand on the Phara-O Mini at the time of writing) doesn’t exactly give much detail, and is seemingly AI generated.

Take a look below:

The Phara-o Mini is available now for $99. Head over to Behringer  for more information. 

The post Behringer launches the Phara-o Mini, a synth inspired by “the mystical sounds of ancient Egypt” appeared first on MusicTech.