Behringer JT-4000M Micro

I originally purchased the JT 4000 as a travel synth. But I was frustrated that despite studying various YouTube videos I entirely failed to be able to control the device from an external keyboard. I liked some of the presets and those I didn't like I modified with my own creations. However, being limited to just the onboard keyboard was a pain for anything outside a hotel room.

So, when the version came out with a MIDI port (not the 5 pin DIN version, but with a handy adapter to connect to a 5 Pin DIN included) I thought it worth purchasing that. Indeed it was. I can now use the device on its own while away or hook it up to a controller when back in my home studio.

I gave the old JT4000 to my daughter so she could learn the basics of ADSL etc and kept the JT4000M for myself.

The JT4000 should have included the MIDI facility from version one, but the "M" version ensures that newer purchasers interested in this compact little beauty need not have to buy another one to use it in a studio set up without resorting to complicated methods to access it externally.

PS It would have been nice if Behringer had offered a discount for those of us who'd bought the JT4000, if we then upgraded to the JT4000M.

Despite the hype, JT sounds more like early JUPITER offspring rather than JP-8000 but has nice retro colour with its 12-bit DAC + analog filter and surprisingly big & clean sound from such a tiny body.

CONS:

-Slow attack of the filter makes notes "wah" (at every 1st note opening the filter) and this limits usage.

-Filter is paraphonic, not per voice.

-Needs 1 voice extra for compensation reasons.

-Modwheel is hardwired to LFO2 controlling only the pitch with no other selectable destination.

It's great for what it is especially via external keyboard / sequencer, FX and third party editor app unfolding it realtime. I got this just for fun but it can actually find usage in productions if Behringer addresses at least the filter attack via firmware update!

I'm a guitar player, not a Keyboard player, but I bought this at the same time as my Model 15 to see what difference polyphony would make to what I wanted to get from synths. Itch scratched, so I ordered a P-800. Back in the 70s, someone created the 'Stylophone' who i understand are still around. Half a century later we have cigarette packet sized polyphony? Yes please. My only reasons for marking this synth down are the fiddly controls, tiny screen, and lack of reverb. The first two points are unavoidable in a package this size, but there must be room in a microchip for some reverb, surely? But for the price of three packs of cigarettes, endless fun. Make sure all of your kids get one for Christmas.