Affordable music gear company Behringer is planning to release a budget version of the Minimoog Eurorack module, founder Uli Behringer has revealed.

With plans to role out a series of affordable synths, Behringer also defended plans to mimic the iconic Moog synth.

“The general rule and the law clearly describe that technology is free for everyone to use, provided it is not protected,” he said in a Gearslutz forum. “You may have a different personal view, but that’s how our society and every industry works – again why the law has been designed the way it is.

“In case of the MiniMoog there is no IP (Intellectual Property) involved as the technology is more than 40 years old and all patents have long expired. As a result, the property is now in the public domain, free for everyone to use. Without this principle there would only be one car or synthesizer manufacturer in the world. “For this exact reason you will find many companies who are manufacturing replicas of all sorts, including the MiniMoog – simply google it.”

Genuine Minimoog’s, which can sell for well over £3000, remain unaffordable to most musicians and, according to Behringer, their new range is aimed at solving that problem.

“It is well known marketing knowledge, that lower cost and competing products do contribute to more awareness and hence stimulate both ends of the market,” he said.

“Our primary customer is not the well-off doctor or lawyer, but the people with much less income. I was a struggling musician myself when I started my business 30 years ago and I made it my mission in life to enable musicians to pursue their musical dreams without financial obstacles.”

Listen to Far Out Magazine’s podcast on Robert Moog: