Behringer Jam and Jam Play: 32-Key MIDI/CV Sequencer Keyboards

The essentials

01Jam is a 32-key MIDI/CV controller and sequencer with no built-in sounds; Jam Play adds 128 instrument voices, 10 drum kits, a small display and a quarter-inch audio output

02Both run a 64-step, 4-channel sequencer with 8-note polyphony, rest, tie and legato entry, ratcheting, swing and gate randomization, an 8-style arpeggiator and a Chord Play mode that remembers chords up to 16 notes

03CV/gate goes out over three 3.5mm jacks so either keyboard can sequence modular synths and analogue gear directly, alongside 5-pin MIDI I/O, analogue sync in/out, a sustain pedal input and dual USB-C ports

04Pricing is not yet official from Behringer: Thomann lists pre-orders at 99 euros for Jam and 179 euros for Jam Play, and UK retailer Andertons already has Jam in stock at 89 pounds

05The layout echoes Behringer's own Swing, which itself mirrors Arturia's Keystep, continuing the company's run of cloning boutique sequencer designs at a fraction of the price

What do you actually get for the money?

Behringer put product pages for Jam and Jam Play live on its site this week, and per Synth Anatomy and MusicRadar, the split is simple. Jam is a bare controller and sequencer: 32 velocity and aftertouch sensitive keys, no onboard sound engine, built purely to drive other gear. Jam Play is the same chassis with 128 instrument voices and 10 drum kits wired in, plus a small screen for flipping presets and a quarter-inch audio output, so it works as a standalone groovebox with nothing else plugged in. Both get dual touch strips for pitch and modulation, four assignable rotaries and transport controls across the front panel.

Why does the CV output actually matter here?

The spec that sets Jam and Jam Play apart from a plain MIDI controller is CV/gate out on three 3.5mm jacks, next to analogue sync in and out, full 5-pin MIDI in and out, a sustain pedal input and two USB-C ports. That is a direct line from a laptop-and-plugins setup into a modular rack or an analogue drum machine, no interface box required. The 64-step, 4-channel sequencer behind it supports 8-note polyphony with rests, ties, legato and ratcheting, an 8-style arpeggiator, and a Chord Play mode that holds voicings up to 16 notes. For anyone building a hybrid studio around house or techno, that is the exact bridge that usually costs real money.

"The best ideas hit when you're not expecting them. Jam is built so you're always ready," reads Behringer's own line on the product pages.

How does this fit Behringer's usual playbook?

The shape is near-identical to Behringer's existing Swing, which already read as a close match for Arturia's Keystep. Jam and Jam Play push the same formula further by splitting it into a bare-bones version and a sounds-included version, and by leaning harder on the CV side than Swing did. Behringer has not confirmed official pricing or ship dates itself. Thomann has both up for pre-order at 99 euros for Jam and 179 euros for Jam Play, and Andertons in the UK already has Jam in stock at 89 pounds, so retail listings are ahead of the manufacturer on this one.

Frequently asked

Can Jam Play replace a drum machine on its own?+

For a basic setup, yes: it carries 128 instrument voices and 10 drum kits plus the 64-step sequencer, so it can run standalone through its quarter-inch output with nothing else plugged in. It won't match a dedicated analogue drum machine's sound design depth, but it covers sketching and live use without a laptop.

Do you need Jam's sequencer to use the CV output, or can you sequence it from a DAW instead?+

Both work. The CV/gate jacks are fed by Jam's own onboard sequencer, but since Jam is also a class-compliant USB MIDI controller, you can sequence modular or analogue gear from a DAW or another sequencer over MIDI and let Jam's circuitry just convert that to CV/gate.

Is Behringer's Swing still worth buying instead of Jam?+

Swing remains the cheaper, simpler option if you just want a Keystep-style MIDI controller and sequencer. Jam adds a stronger CV/gate implementation and extras like Chord Play and gate randomization, and Jam Play adds a full sound engine on top, so the choice comes down to whether you need those features or just basic MIDI sequencing.

Behringer's New Keyboard Skips the Computer Entirely. The Pricier One Throws In a Synth Too.

The essentials

What do you actually get for the money?

Why does the CV output actually matter here?

How does this fit Behringer's usual playbook?

Why it matters

What we think

Sources

Frequently asked

The essentials

What do you actually get for the money?

Why does the CV output actually matter here?

How does this fit Behringer's usual playbook?

Why it matters

What we think

Sources

Frequently asked

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