Behringer today shared a sneak preview of their UB-Xa Desktop synthesizer, the module version of their upcoming Oberheim OB-Xa knockoff.
Here’s what they had to say about the upcoming Behringer UB-Xa Desktop synth:
“While we’re all waiting for chips to finally produce and ship the UB-Xa, our engineers haven’t been sitting still and in the meantime finished the prototype of the desktop version. Like with all our other desktop modules, this one will be rack-mountable, too.
We’re super excited and hope you love it, too:-)”
The Behringer UB-Xa was originally announced in 2018. The company completed beta testing for the UB-Xa keyboard in 2021, saying at the time that “We promise that this synth will blow you away and exceed all your expectations.”
The company has not announced details on when they expect to release either of the UB-Xa synths. Based on today’s message, Behringer has not been able to move to production, because of the unavailability of needed parts.
The global chip shortage is now entering its third year, triggered by a variety of causes, including growing demand for integrated circuits; the impact of the global pandemic; and the Trump administration’s trade war with China, which added tariffs to semiconductors imported from China and imposed sanctions on Chinese semiconductor manufacturers. Several synth makers have attributed product shortages and increased prices to the trade war and the global chip shortage.
Check out the UB-Xa photos and audio demos and share your thoughts on it in the comments!