Behringer VC340 Vocoder

B
ack in the late
1970s vocoders
were all the rage,
with many
prominent artists
using them to give
a futuristic sound
to their records. Some used vocoders
as an effect to process instruments
and enhance voices; some so that
they could sing in tune and front
their own records and live shows
(like Herbie Hancock). At the time,
the Sennheiser VSM201 Vocoder
along with the Roland VP-330
analogue vocoder gap in the market
with their latest keyboard vocoder,
the VC340. This new board faithfully
recreates the circuitry and
functionality of the rare, expensive
VP-330 vocoder keyboard.
Behringer have been on fi re
recently, with a slew of impressive
synth releases and their modern,
more compact (yet still analogue)
renditions of legendary classics
continue to cause a serious nostalgic
stir for vintage synth addicts. Not
only that, Behringer proved with the
DeepMind 12 (and esteemed MIDAS
engineering team behind it) that they
could make their own unique, great
sounding and solidly-built synths, as
well as recreations of classics based
on classic/vintage tech but with
many modern improvements. The
VC340 transports you right back to
1979 via the reddish brown side
panels, orange livery and pastel-
shaded LED buttons.
The unit itself feels surprisingly
heavy and is sturdily built into a
solid metal case with sloped front
panel, laid out in a similar fashion to
the VP-330, with the most obvious
(1979) reigned supreme in
Vocoder-land and while the
Sennheiser has long since
disappeared (and now fetches crazy
prices, mainly as it was regarded as
the holy grail vocoder), Roland have
continued to make solid vocoders
through the years with their VP and
VT ranges, (though admittedly these
days their vocoders are all digital).
However, most vocode-heads
attribute the highest quality and
smoothest vocoder sound to
analogue vocoders. Enter then,
Behringer, who are now fi lling the
THE PROS & CONS
+
N ails the classic
vocoder, string
ensemble and choir
tones of the ’70s
with clear
intelligibility and a
warm stereo sound
Each section is
layered together or
split and run through
the shimmering
analogue BBD
ensemble effect
C ompact, sturdily
built
-
N o reverb or delay
(like the original!)
Some may fi nd three
octaves too few
No preset storage,
and the pitchshift
controls can be
initially confusing
(but certainly
authentic)
Behringer Vocoder VC340 | Reviews
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FMU348.rev_behringer.indd 79 8/7/19 3:28 PM