Behringer

Lore & Background

Uli Behringer was born on 14 April 1961 in Baden, Switzerland, into a musically and scientifically inclined family. His father was a church organist and nuclear physicist; his mother a pianist and interpreter; his uncle a professor of composition; and his aunt a classical singer and pianist. He began learning piano at age four, and at five helped his father integrate a church organ with over 1000 pipes into their home. At 16, he built his first synthesizer, the UB1. Initially, Behringer products were manufactured in Willich, Germany, with components imported from mainland China. In 1990, production shifted to mainland China to lower costs, and by 1997 Uli Behringer had relocated to Hong Kong to oversee manufacturing quality. In 2018, Music Tribe opened its own factory, Music Tribe City, in Zhongshan, Guangdong, China, handling production and distribution for 12 brands including Behringer.

Behringer has been involved in multiple legal disputes over copying products. In June 1997, Mackie sued for trademark and trade dress infringement, seeking $327M in damages; the claims were later rejected. The suit detailed an earlier case where Aphex Systems won DM690,000 against Behringer for copying the Aural Exciter Type F, and mentioned similar cases by BBE, dbx, and Drawmer. In 2005, Roland Corporation sued over guitar pedal designs, resulting in a confidential settlement in 2006 after Behringer changed their designs. In 2009, Peavey Electronics filed two lawsuits; Music Group countersued in 2011. In 2017, Music Group filed a defamation lawsuit against Dave Smith Instruments and others, which was dismissed as a SLAPP lawsuit. In February 2006, the FCC fined Behringer $1M for failing to test 50 products for emissions limits; Behringer argued the units had passed European CE standards but had overlooked differences in FCC procedures. It later implemented a UL certified testing laboratory.

Behringer has released numerous synthesizer and drum machine clones, including models based on the ARP 2500, Minimoog, Roland TB-303, TR-808, TR-909, and many others. Manufacturers such as Curtis Electromusic, Roger Linn, and Tom Oberheim have expressed unhappiness with their products being cloned without permission. Behringer has responded that cloning older hardware is legal where patents have expired. In March 2020, Behringer published a mock video for a fictional synthesizer, the 'KIRN CorkSniffer', which appeared to mock journalist Peter Kirn and received criticism for using antisemitic imagery. Uli Behringer issued a response on Facebook calling it 'pure satire by our marketing department', but the apology was deleted the following day.

Reader's Guide

Behringer's significance lies in its role as a major manufacturer of affordable audio equipment, particularly synthesizers and drum machines, and its controversial practice of cloning classic hardware. The company's acquisition of CoolAudio technology in 2000 expanded its intellectual property portfolio. Behringer's digital mixers are compatible with third-party remote mixing platforms, including cloud-based control systems. The company's legal history, including the Mackie suit, Roland settlement, Peavey litigation, and the FCC fine, has shaped its reputation. The 2017 defamation lawsuit against Dave Smith Instruments and forum users, dismissed as a SLAPP suit, highlights tensions with other industry figures. Behringer's approach to cloning—releasing visually similar recreations of vintage pedals and synthesizers—has drawn both criticism and a customer base seeking lower-cost alternatives. The company's shift of production to China and eventual establishment of Music Tribe City in 2018 reflects its focus on cost control. The 2020 'KIRN CorkSniffer' incident illustrates ongoing controversies around the company's marketing and public relations.

Did You Know?

• Uli Behringer built his first synthesizer, the UB1, at age 16.
• Behringer acquired the rights to CoolAudio technology from Intersil Corporation in May 2000.
• The FCC fined Behringer $1M in February 2006 for failing to test 50 products for emissions limits.
• In 2017, Music Group's defamation lawsuit against Dave Smith Instruments and others was dismissed as a SLAPP lawsuit.