Behringer Kobol Expander

With its Kobol Expander, Behringer has revived the analogue synthesizer circuitry of the same name from French manufacturer RSF. The fact that only a small quantity of around 800 units of the original RSF Kobol Expander in 19" rack format was produced in the 1970s resulted in the mono synth leading a mere niche existence and becoming an extremely rare collectible that fetches horrendously high prices on today's second-hand market. Thanks to its unique features, the RSF Kobol Expander offered users far greater versatility than most other analogue synths of the time and soon became renowned for combining excellent sound with an incredibly high level of flexibility. Its semi-modular design, which comprises control inputs for virtually every function and allows the main unit to be easily removed from the chassis and fitted into a Eurorack frame, makes the Expander eminently suitable for combination with other analogue synths, sequencers, or modular systems.

The Behringer Kobol Expander may resemble a conventional dual-VCO synth on the outside, but it is packed with unique features inside: Its specially designed oscillators allow particularly smooth morphing between seven different waveforms, which can be swept through without octave switching over the entire frequency range (10Hz to 10kHz) using just a single controller to create particularly impressive effect sounds. The Behringer Kobol Expander also includes an oscillator sync function, independent pulse width modulation for each VCO using a designated VCA, a voltage-controlled low-pass filter with a steep 24dB slope that allows parameters from several different sources to be modulated simultaneously, and a voltage processor that provides enhanced shaping options for both audio and control signals. Alongside CV inputs for parameter controlling, Behringer's Kobol Expander also features numerous audio inputs and outputs that allow effects units to be integrated into the signal chain, e.g. between a VCO and the VCF, or external audio sources to be included into the setup to expand the sonic palette even further.

A semi-modular synthesizer like the Behringer Kobol Expander offers way more than just bass and lead sounds. Its true creative potential can be harnessed by exploring the incredibly versatile patching options, which allow users not only to expand the scope of functions by integrating further modulation sources but also to include additional audio signals in various positions in the signal chain for even more creative sonic textures. Thanks to its extensive range of features and excellent sound quality, the Behringer Kobol Expander is the ideal solution for all those who are looking for a mono synth that can reliably take on an extremely wide variety of tasks, particularly when combined with suitable periphery.