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Tag: Moog Music

  • The Moog One blows out the Current Synth Market

    The Moog One blows out the Current Synth Market

    Sell those stock options, as this week Moog released its benchmark polyphonic analog synth, blessed with the moniker of Moog One. Its price point places the synth squarely in the realm of the boutique. The 8-voice model runs $5,999; while the 16-voice edition rocks a street price of $7,999.

    Needless to say, short of winning the lottery, most synth-nards and electronic musicians are out of the budgetary range for this behemoth. That’s sad, as its features and sound quality rank at the top of the current synthesizer market. Let’s take a closer look.

    Moog One Specifications

    Unfortunately, Moog didn’t send me a model to review. My absconding with the unit is a risk they didn’t want to take. Nonetheless, we forge ahead with a review of the Moog One specifications, as well as an imperfect sonic analysis based on the videos of the synthesizer.

    Moog_One_Synth
    Unfortunately, this is not my Moog One Synth. Photo copyright Moog Music, Inc.

    As expected, the Moog One sports a robust analog synthesizer architecture, in both the 8 and 16 voice versions. The synth also includes a digital effects engine; simply bypass it to maintain a fully analog signal path. Those talented folks at Eventide licensed some of their excellent digital reverbs to give the Moog One a proper measure of space.

    The keybed hosts 61 keys capable of sending both velocity and aftertouch messages. Onboard controllers include the standard pitch and modulation wheels, as well as an X-Y pad. Kaoss abounds! You know, the Moog One bears a resemblance to their classic Polymoog.

    73 knobs and 144 buttons combine with an LCD screen; providing a state of the art synthesizer interface. Modular synth connectivity is accomplished with the two CV inputs and four CV outputs. There are also a host of audio outputs – stereo mains, sub outputs, dual headphone jacks, and audio inserts.

    It’s all about the Tri-Timbral Synth Architecture

    The tri-timbral nature of the Moog One’s design means each timbre acts as an independent polysynth, which its own sequencer, arpeggiator, and effects engine. Now, the high price of the unit makes more sense. This is a stunning piece of gear.

    Considering these independent features of the tri-timbral design, I think anyone who went for the 8-voice model will be killing themselves for not spending the $2,000 more for the 16-voice. In short, the Moog One’s architecture appears to make running out of voices easy.

    The Moog One’s three oscillator design includes practically every required analog waveform. FM, ring modulation, and hard sync are all available for your patch manipulation needs. A dual source noise generator with a host of colorful options rounds out this section of the synth.

    Of course, the Moog One boasts Bob’s classic resonant ladder filter, with a host of slopes. The additional two state variable filters enhance the filtering options. Four LFOs, three envelopes, and a glide circuit make up the synth’s modulation section. There is also a full featured modulation matrix.

    Moog’s Arty Video for the Moog One

    Moog’s introductory video, while a bit too arty for someone just looking to dive into the details, nonetheless offers an interesting overview of the Moog One. Suzanne Ciani’s insights are especially worthy of note. Chick Corea does his thing with what sounds like Moog’s take on a DX7 polyphonic synth patch.

    Check it out. It’s 20 minutes that won’t waste your time nor mind. As an aside (at the 10 minute mark), what’s the point of placing your book collection in large vertical stacks instead of a bookcase? It’s almost like designing a website where the information flows horizontally instead of vertically, like the rest of the Web.

    This video as well the others I perused, reveals a stunningly powerful analog polysynth. The Moog One sounds great and works well as the centerpiece of an electronic music studio. Synth musicians who already own a ton of hardware and software gear might find they really don’t need Moog’s new behemoth.

    Ultimately, the Moog One ranks at the top of the synthesizer world. Is it the Yamaha CS-80 for the 21st Century? Time plays the ultimate arbiter in that determination. While I likely won’t be able to afford one anytime soon, gifts are always accepted here at TabMuse. Anyway, the Moog Sub 37 maintains its status as the favorite synth in my studio!


  • Moog’s Subsequent 37 refines the Original Sub 37 Design – Synth News 7

    Moog’s Subsequent 37 refines the Original Sub 37 Design – Synth News 7

    Moog recently announced another upgrade to its already venerable Sub 37 synthesizer. We previously covered the Subsequent 37 CV, and now the Subsequent 37 (with no “CV”) has hit the market. I actually missed the CV tag the last time around. Sorry, it’s now fixed! By the way, I still think Sub 37 CV – Silver Machine Edition sounds cooler!

    The CV-less Subsequent 37 improves upon the original Sub 37 in a myriad of ways. Most notable is arguably the boosted headroom in the mixer section. The ladder filter and its multidrive circuit have also been redesigned, with a richer low-end and grittier sound as a result. Moog also upgraded the keybed. So there.

    Essentially, these are the same improvements found in the Subsequent 37 CV, minus the extra CV I/O. The street price for the Subsequent 37 is the same as the Sub 37 – around $1499.  Git ya one! I’m sticking with my still-loved Sub 37.

    Roland goes Boutique with the D-50

    Roland has been going gangbusters introducing new models in its Boutique series. We’ve talked about the TR-08 and SE-02 in previous posts. This time out Roland trains its eyes towards the late 80s and digital synthesizers with the D-05, a Boutique version of its classic late 80s synth, the D-50.

    roland_d-05
    The Roland D-05 emulation of their classic D-50 synth. Photo copyright Roland.

    Instead of the Analog Circuit Behavior design concepts used in other Boutique Series editions, for the D-05 Roland introduced something called Digital Circuit Behavior. Needless to say, they shouldn’t have any problem digitally emulating late 80s digital “linear arithmetic synthesis” technology. The street price for the D-05 is $349.

    Though I have taken a shining to the SE-02, the D-05 doesn’t inspire much gear lust.  I never had much interest in the original D-50, opting instead for the warm sounds of the Kawai K4, which still gets used now and again on my current musical projects. If your ears are more attuned to Roland’s classic late 80s digital synth sounds, the D-05 is likely right up your alley.

    Brainworx bx_console E adds Vintage British E Series Console Plugin

    Recently celebrating its 10th anniversary, Brainworx recently introduced a plugin sure to interest anyone looking to emulate those classic mixing consoles from the days of yore. The bx_console E is available through those kind and ubiquitous folks at the Plugin Alliance. It offers a full 72 channel emulation of the British SSL E Series mixing console, but goes beyond that with features from the G series as well.

    Each channel strip contains a compressor/limiter, expander/gate, 4-band parametric EQ, as well as high pass and low pass filters. Flexible routing within each channel is also possible, including sidechain processing. If you have any interest in creating dynamic, classic mixes, the bx_console E belongs in your plugin collection. Expect a street price around $299.

    Unfiltered Audio release Dent 2 and Indent 2 Effects Emulations

    The Plugin Alliance’s colleagues remain busy, including the folks at Unfiltered Audio. If you need to add some grit and grunge to your audio processing arsenal, check out the Dent 2 and Indent 2 plugins.

    Dent 2 allows you to distort waveforms at a “molecular” level; bitcrushers, clippers, and wavefolders abound, along with other useful and interesting features. Indent 2 offers a streamlined level of functionality compared to its big brother. Dent 2 is available for $99 and Indent 2 for $49, but if you buy Dent 2 you get a free license for Indent 2. Whoa!

    fielder audio join the Plugin Alliance with “stage”

    A newcomer to the Plugin Alliance family, fielder audio’s first release is “stage.” A plugin focused on psychoacoustic reverb algorithms for both tracking and mixing, stage looks to be an essential tool for musicians and audio engineers. Additional functionality includes unique panning algorithms, as well as an LFO for outer rim spatial modulation effects.

    The intuitive user interface offers real-time visual feedback on parameter settings. You can pick up stage from the Plugin Alliance for $179.


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  • The Moog Minifooger MF Delay paired with a Sub 37

    The Moog Minifooger MF Delay paired with a Sub 37

    Within a day after working with the Moog Sub 37 analog synthesizer in my studio I needed some delay. I had purchased an Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Boy a few months ago to pair with the Sub 37, but it ended up being used in another part of the studio. I wanted a dedicated delay pedal for the synth.

    Enter the Moog Minifooger MF Delay.

    Moog’s Inexpensive Minifooger Effects

    Moog entered the effects pedal industry a few years ago with the excellent, but quite pricey, Moogerfooger line. Considering the money I just spent on the Sub 37, a more inexpensive solution was needed. Moog introduced the Minifooger line in the past couple of years for just this reason.

    Moog MF Delay
    Moog’s Minifooger MF Delay resting on top of my Korg Z1. The Sub 37 lies just outside view. Photo by Author.

    The Minifooger MF Delay sports a street price of just under $200, making it a perfect partner for the Sub 37. One arrived at my door two days later.

    The MF Delay is the Antidote for Anger

    Sitting on top of my Korg Z1, the MF Delay easily found a home with its partner in crime, the Sub 37. The controls and their functionality feel familiar to anyone who has ever used a delay pedal. The standard array of Time, Feedback, Drive, and Mix controls work as expected.

    I/O is also as expected, with 1/4-inch inputs and outputs as well as an input for an expression pedal. A switch in the battery compartment allows for pedal control of either the Time or Feedback parameters as needed. The pedal’s delay time varies from around 35 to 700 milliseconds, more than enough to give a synth a bit more color and motion.

    The MF Delay’s Drive knob adds up to 22 dBs of signal boost, which is really useful for grunging the sound up, especially when the Sub 37’s filter Multidrive setting is also boosted. Cranking the Feedback knob to 11 causes the pedal to self-oscillate, perfect for a bed of outer space inspired freak outs.

    Needless to say, Moog’s Minifooger MF Delay makes for a perfect companion to any of the recent spade of analog and virtual analog synths. Don’t let guitar players have all the fun — pick one up today!

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  • Five Great Improvements for the Moog Sub 37

    Five Great Improvements for the Moog Sub 37

    Don’t get me wrong, the Moog Sub 37 is a stunning piece of analog synthesizer gear. The thing sounds wonderful and expressive, with a panel full of knobs and switches sure to delight any synth head. It’s my best musical device purchase in years — maybe ever?!

    Having said all that, there are still some potential enhancements to make the Sub 37 even better. Feel free to mention any mistakes or incorrect assumptions I’ve made in the comments. After all, I’ve only had the thing for a week and a half.

    Show Existing Memory Location Name when saving a Patch

    When saving a patch on the Sub 37, you can either overwrite its current location or anywhere else among the 16 banks that each contains 16 locations. But the interface doesn’t display whether there’s a patch currently stored when browsing locations, making it easy to mistakenly overwrite a patch.

    Moog Sub 37
    I did finally turn on the Sub 37. Photo by Author.

    I’ve spent a lot of time auditioning the factory presets and making little tweaks that I want to save somewhere else. Not knowing if I am going to overwrite another patch is a constant issue.

    When perusing memory locations looking for a safe home for saving a new patch, simply show the current patch name or “Init Patch” somewhere on the LCD display. The new name for the patch doesn’t need to be displayed after it is confirmed in save mode, so use that “screen real estate” for the memory location’s current contents.

    Move the Oscillator Section to the Left

    Since this is a hardware issue, I don’t expect anything to change, but it surprises me that the oscillator section of the Sub 37 is located in the center-right of the synth’s panel. It doesn’t seem intuitive, especially considering the original design of the Minimoog. Currently, the Glide, Arpeggiator, and Modulators (LFOs) take up that space.

    At a minimum, the oscillators need to be left of the modulators. I guess I’ll have to get used to it!

    Need to be able to edit Sequences

    The Sub 37’s robust sequencer and arpeggiator functionality is the main reason I waited 10 months for this Moog synth instead of getting a Sub Phatty. It is really easy to create new sequences, but I can’t find any way to edit them other than starting over. The firmware needs to add a way to edit sequences.

    I wish there was an Easy Way to see Loaded Patch Settings on the Panel

    This is a common problem with any recent analog or VA synth that combines hardware knobs with digital patch storage. It is impossible to “see” a freshly loaded patch represented on the panel. Moog does a nice job with flashing indicators denoting LFO or arpeggiator speed, as well as the modulation destination settings.

    I’d like to see something similar with the modulator sources and even the current waveform setting. Maybe potentiometers with an embedded LED to denote the original patch setting? Thanks to my ideas, the Sub 37 now retails for $6,000!

    Six Knobs for the DAHDSR Envelopes

    Hell, let’s increase the retail price of the Sub 37 a bit more. It’s a drag that you don’t have six discreet knobs to control the DAHDSR envelopes — you get four with a switch to bring in the Delay and Hold parameters. Two more potentiometers, Moog, just two more!

    I love my Sub 37; I really do! I realize that the hardware design of the synth won’t change, but hopefully a firmware update from Moog is in the works to improve the patch saving and sequencer editing use-cases.

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  • First Impressions of the Moog Sub 37

    First Impressions of the Moog Sub 37

    Well, after a long wait — a bit too long methinks — Moog’s hot new analog synth, the Sub 37, arrived at my door yesterday. Our cats were quite intrigued with the box, but unfortunately for them it wasn’t to become their plaything du jour. The box contents are all mine.

    The Sub 37’s packaging is quite nice, including a basic introduction to analog synthesis on the box itself. A printed manual and a nearly poster-sized one-sheet listing the synth’s panel controls and functions rounded out the paper documentation.

    Tiptoe through the Sub 37 Presets

    I spent the next hour or so running through the Sub 37’s nice variety of presets. As expected, this synth covers a wide range of sounds with everything easily tweakable from the array of panel controls.

    Moog Sub 37
    The Sub 37 says “turn me on, please.” Photo by Author

    I wish I knew about Pot Mode before diving in, as the default ABS setting causes parameters to immediately jump to a knob’s physical value when touched. This led to some unmusical filter pops when tweaking the cutoff frequency knob. Moog recommends using either THRU or RLTV for live performance and ABS mode during sound design sessions. This setting is accessible using the Global menu.

    As you may have heard, the Sub 37 sounds incredible. The classic 4-pole Moog filter gets a little extra bite with the Multidrive control. This thing is capable of a full range of classic sounds from basses to leads to outer space.

    The synth’s paraphony comes into play in Duo Mode, where the two oscillators are capable of playing two notes at once through the same filter. Holding down a drone note with one finger while doing a lead with another is a blast.

    The Sub 37’s two DAHDSR envelopes are hard-wired to the filter and amplifier respectively. Both are capable of looping, which lends itself nicely to creating patches with a sense of motion. I would have preferred having six discrete knobs to control the envelopes instead of using a switch to access the Delay and Hold settings, but this isn’t a big issue.

    Yes Virginia, the Sub 37 Sequencer can do Odd Time Signatures

    Whenever I get new piece of musical gear — hardware or software — if there’s a sequencer, the first thing I check is whether or not you can vary the time signature. It’s not like everything I do is Crimson-esque avant-prog, but I want the option (3/4 is my favorite timing anyway.) Thankfully, the Sub 37 sequencer is capable of any number of steps from 1 to 32. Boom!

    Latching the arpeggiator also led to much fun with my TrapKat easily accessible for some quick motorik beats — in 15/8! I just bought the world’s most expensive and coolest metronome! Modulation options abound with the two LFOs.

    Needless to say, Moog has a winner on its hands with the Sub 37. The fact that I had to wait nearly 10 months for delivery after my pre-order beautifully illustrates that point. Expect to read more about the Sub 37 here at TabMuse as new discoveries are made!

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  • Moog Releases Werkstatt-01 Synth Kit to the Public

    Moog Releases Werkstatt-01 Synth Kit to the Public

    One of the more intriguing happenings at this year’s Moogfest in Asheville, NC featured a workshop where all the attendees got to build their own Moog analog synthesizer. Nary two months later, and Moog has released the Werkstatt-01 synth kit — used in the workshop — to the public. Anyone interested in building their own analog synth need to check out the Werkstatt, which is available in extremely limited numbers from a selection of Moog’s normal vendor community.

    But I still wait for my pre-ordered Sub 37 to ship. It was recently delayed to the end of the summer for its original May ship date. Ultimately, who cares about my whining!

    Moog Werkstatt — No Soldering Gun Needed!

    The Werkstatt-01 kit, in a similar manner as the Korg MS-20 kit, doesn’t require the use of a soldering iron, so it should be relatively easy for the electronically challenged to construct. The Werkstatt is a basic analog synth, with one VCO capable of square and sawtooth waveforms with PWM possible using the square wave. The classic 4-pole Moog filter is in there as well, along with an EG and LFO to provide modulation, if desired.

    werkstatt-moog
    The Moog Werkstatt-01 Kit in all its glory. Photo copyright Moog Music.

    A mini patch bay adds to the functionality of the unit. The CV input means the Werkstatt can find a home as part of a modular synth setup — there is no MIDI functionality. A mini push-button keyboard provides a means to play the thing beyond using some form of a CV input, although an “always-on” drone setting is possible on the VCA.

    If you are interested in picking up a Werkstatt at its retail price of $329, strike quickly, as numbers are extremely limited, as mentioned earlier. Considering the popularity of Korg’s MS-20 kit, the littleBits Synth Kit, as well as the robust “maker” community, maybe these kinds of synthesizer construction kits will become commonplace? If so, how about MF-101 and MF-104 kits, Moog? Please!

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  • Moogfest 2014 Intrigues and Inspires

    Moogfest 2014 Intrigues and Inspires

    Observing the news from this year’s Moogfest, held once again in Asheville, NC, headquarters of Moog Music, it is obvious that the modular synthesizer revival is coming full circle. At the festival, Moog announced they are reintroducing Keith Emerson’s classic modular unit, used in pretty much every ELP tour since the early 70s. I Dream of Wires, indeed. (Speaking of which, the theatrical version of this excellent modular synthesizer documentary saw its debut at Moogfest.)

    Moog says “contact us” for New Modular System Price

    It appears Moog’s new Emerson modular system is a very limited edition. The company says to contact them for the price; one rumor I saw placed the behemoth’s cost at a stunning $90,000. Whoa!

    Emerson Moog Modular
    The new Emerson Moog Modular synthesizer in all its glory. Photo copyright Moog Music.

    Hopefully, Moog decides to offer the individual modules on a separate basis. While, Moog’s modular format isn’t necessarily as popular as Eurorack, enough synth freaks want that classic filter sound to make it worth their while – MoogerFoogers notwithstanding.

    The Moog Engineering Workshop a Success

    One of the events at Moogfest inspiring a lot of jealousy in me was an engineering workshop where participants built their own analog synthesizer — the Werkstatt. Bob Moog’s Theremin kits were his first product way back when, and the Werkstatt pays tribute — more or less — to that part of Bob’s legacy. Very cool!

    Check out the details behind the synth in this video from Sonic State which features an interview with Moog engineer, Steve Dunnington. (Note the Korg MS-20 on the rack behind Steve. Hmmm…)

    Moogfest is also an Electronic Music Festival

    Moogfest also plays host to one of the larger electronic music festivals in the US, which is many festival goers’ prime reason for attending. Kraftwerk, Chic, RJD2, Giorgio Moroder, Mix Master Mike, Bernie Worrell, and Keith Emerson were some of the musical highlights.

    Seminars, Workshops, and More

    Moogfest featured a number of seminars, panels, and workshops of interest to anyone enthralled by the art of analog synthesis. The workshops covered practical topics, including sampling analog instruments as well as a variety of modular synthesis advice and tutorials. Alternative musical interfaces were featured in a seminar, and the folks from the DIY bible, Make Magazine, even hosted their own five hour panel/workshop.

    Non-Moog industry legends like Don Buchla, Tom Oberheim, Roger Linn, and Dave Smith each were featured in panels, providing that Moogfest goes beyond the brand name to cover analog synthesis in general. Also: Moog Yoga, anyone?

    Needless to say, I need to find a way to actually attend next year’s Moogfest. This is a festival that showcases both the analog synthesizer industry and the beauty of Asheville, NC and its surrounding region. For the time being, I’ll just have to wait for my Moog Sub 37 to arrive in about three weeks.