Behringer Poly D article
Behringer Poly D for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Analogue synthesis can feel unfamiliar at first. This guide takes you from unboxing to first sound — clearly and without rushing.
If you've just brought home a Behringer Poly D and aren't sure where to start, this guide is for you. Analogue synthesis can feel unfamiliar at first, but the Minimoog-style layout is logical once you understand what each section does.
Setting Up for the First Time
- Connect the power adaptor and plug the audio outputs (left/mono or stereo) into your audio interface, mixer or monitor input.
- Connect MIDI via USB to your computer or use the 5-pin MIDI In from a keyboard controller if you're not playing from the built-in keys.
- Power on and set the master volume to around half. Play a few notes — you should hear sound immediately on the default patch.
Understanding the Three Sections
The Behringer Poly D's front panel divides into three main areas:
- Oscillator section (left) — three oscillators per voice, with octave, waveform and tune controls for each. Oscillator 3 can also modulate pitch and filter cutoff.
- Filter and amplifier (centre) — the ladder lowpass filter with cutoff and resonance, and the amplifier with attack, decay, sustain and release controls.
- Modulation (right) — the LFO and modulation wheel routing, which control vibrato and filter modulation depth.
Making Your First Sound
Start with a simple patch: set all three oscillators to the same octave and waveform (sawtooth is a good starting point). Open the filter cutoff to around 3 o'clock. Set filter resonance low. Set the amplifier envelope to a slow attack and moderate sustain. Play a chord — you'll hear the classic warm, thick analogue pad sound the instrument is designed to produce.
From here, adjusting the filter cutoff and resonance is the most immediate way to shape the tone. Slowly close the cutoff to hear the sound darken; raise the resonance to hear the characteristic filter peak. This filter interaction is central to Minimoog-style synthesis.
Voice Modes
The Poly D offers polyphonic, unison and paraphonic modes. For a beginner, polyphonic mode is the place to start — it behaves like a standard polyphonic synth. Unison mode stacks all four voices on a single note for a thicker, louder sound. Paraphonic mode is more unusual: voices share the filter and envelope, creating a slightly organic, imprecise response worth exploring once you're comfortable with the basics.
First Steps With Modulation
The modulation wheel controls the depth of whatever modulation source is routed through it. With Oscillator 3 set as a low-frequency modulator targeting the pitch of Oscillators 1 and 2, moving the wheel introduces vibrato. This is the standard Minimoog-style vibrato approach and one of the simplest expressive tools on the instrument.
For a full technical overview, see the features guide. Ready to buy? The buyer's guide covers the key decisions.
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