Copying the Classics: How Behringer Shook the Synth World

The rise of affordable clones and the debates over innovation versus imitation.

EXPLORESYNTHESIZERS

For decades, the synthesizer world has been a mix of innovation, nostalgia, and competition. In recent years, few companies have sparked as much debate as Behringer, a brand that has built a thriving business cloning legendary synths from the past—often at a fraction of the original price. From the Model D (a near-copy of Moog’s Minimoog) to the TD-3 (Roland TB-303 clone) and Pro-800 (Sequential Prophet-600 inspired), Behringer’s catalog reads like a museum of analog classics—reborn for the masses.

But their approach raises complex questions about intellectual property (IP), ethics, and the future of music technology.

1. The Rise of Behringer’s Clone Empire

Behringer, founded in 1989 by Uli Behringer, initially built a reputation for affordable audio equipment. Around the mid-2010s, the company began aggressively entering the synthesizer market—not by innovating from scratch, but by recreating iconic analog designs that had either become prohibitively expensive or were no longer in production.

Some of their most notable clones include:

Model D – A $299 take on the legendary Minimoog Model D
TD-3 – A $149 recreation of the Roland TB-303 bassline synth
K-2 – Inspired by the Korg MS-20
Pro-800 – Based on the Sequential Prophet-600

By offering these synths at ultra-affordable prices, Behringer opened the door for hobbyists and indie musicians who could never justify the multi-thousand-dollar originals.

2. The Intellectual Property Debate

At the heart of the controversy is the question: Is cloning a classic synth illegal or just unpopular?

Patents Expire: Most of the circuits Behringer copies are from the 1970s and 1980s. Patents last around 20 years, so in many cases, the original protections have lapsed.
Trademarks Still Matter: Behringer typically avoids using original brand names or logos to sidestep trademark infringement.
Copyright in Circuits? In most jurisdictions, functional circuits are not protected by copyright—making legal action difficult for original manufacturers.

In other words, most of Behringer’s clones are legal, but legality doesn’t automatically settle the ethical debate.

3. Ethics and the Synth Community’s Split

While some musicians cheer Behringer for democratizing classic sounds, others see it as corporate parasitism that devalues innovation.

Arguments in Favor of Behringer:

Accessibility: A young producer can now own a “303” sound for $149 instead of paying $4,000 for a vintage Roland.
Preservation of History: Many classic synths are fragile or out of production; clones keep their legacy alive.
Market Pressure: Behringer’s pricing forces larger companies to rethink their pricing strategies.

Arguments Against Behringer:

Discouraging Innovation: Why create new instruments if clones are profitable?
Exploiting Legacy Brands: Companies like Moog and Sequential invested decades building reputations and designs.
Community Backlash: Some enthusiasts view buying clones as undermining the industry’s creative ecosystem.

This debate often plays out in online forums like Gearspace and Reddit’s r/synthesizers, where threads on Behringer can quickly spiral into flame wars.

4. A Catalyst for Change?

Ironically, Behringer’s controversial strategy has pushed other companies to respond:

Roland Boutique Series offers miniaturized reissues of its classics.
Korg and Moog have both reissued vintage-inspired analog synths.
DIY and modular synth makers have grown, catering to enthusiasts who value originality.

Some argue that without Behringer’s aggressive cloning, the modern analog revival might have been slower.

5. Where Does the Line Get Drawn?

Behringer has also faced criticism for trolling competitors online and even attempting to trademark names of classic synths. This behavior has fueled the ethical conversation beyond just cloning into corporate conduct.

The larger question remains:

Should a company profit from another’s legacy once the law allows it, or is there an unwritten moral code in the music tech industry?

There’s no simple answer. For now, Behringer’s sales suggest that affordable nostalgia wins over controversy, at least in the marketplace.

🎹 Final Thoughts

The story of Behringer and its clones isn’t just about circuits and synthesizers—it’s about how art, business, and ethics intersect.

For some, a Behringer synth is a gateway to creativity; for others, it’s a symbol of creative compromise. As technology and IP laws evolve, the tension between innovation and imitation will continue to shape the sound of music.