R.A. Moog 701 Drum Synthesizer Module

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via this auction - re-listed here.

"This is an R.A.Moog "701 Drum Synthesizer" module hand made by Bob Moog himself back in the late 60's...!

It was built for Eric Siday, one of Moog's first customers, but was also used in the historic "Jazz In The Garden" concert in 1969. You can read more about it here...

The 701 module was a 'prototype' and didn't ever get to the production stage. It seems only eight were ever made with six of them currently in the "Museum of Music" in Paris.

Here is a link to more info and photo's of the Paris system...

At the bottom of that page you can see Bob setting up the system with the eight modules in place.

I cannot call this *rare*... because that isn't an accurate description. It is basically a completely unobtainable one-off and a true piece of Moog history, and obviously analogue musical instrument history, which the price here reflects (...as a starting point)

This unit was designed as a part of a system, but I have managed to get it to make sounds..! So I have also included links to a couple of short videos I made..."

R.A. Moog 701 Drum Synthesizer - Part 1

Published on Jun 24, 2013 noddyspuncture·44 videos

"Here is my first video of the "R.A. Moog 701 Drum Synthesizer". I managed to get some sounds out of it - even though it was meant to *work* with the full "one-off" system as built by Bob in 1970. I think in the system it might behave a little more "drum-like"...!?! Ha!"

R.A. Moog 701 Drum Synthesizer - Part 2

Published on Jun 24, 2013

R.A. Moog 701 Drum Synthesizer - Part 3 (now working...!)

Published on Oct 10, 2015 noddyspuncture

"Now I've had chance to look at these '701 Drum Synthesizers' - and finding not only faulty components but also a 'design fault' ...sorry Bob...:( - I've finally got them working. The problem was a VCA which wouldn't close. It was always 'open' so the unit was just singing away uncontrollably. Neither the filter or either of the two EG's were doing anything. I started by following the hand wired circuit and drawing out a component layout. Then following that, I drew out a schematic and using the schematic I could then fault find. This video is only using the three internal oscillators - one which can be assigned to 'modulate'. There is provision on the rear connector to patch in white, pink and red noise and use those as 'modulators'. That will be the next step... but for now, please enjoy the worlds first ever *working* Moog 701 drum synth video... ;)"

R.A. Moog 701 Drum Synthesizer - Part 4 (now working...!)

Published on Oct 11, 2015 noddyspuncture

"Here's another 701 video... this thing does seem to have many and varies possibilities. Two things I've noticed... the filter's Attack and Decay controls don't behave like you'd expect and also the main output EG... Attack, Decay 1, Decay 2, and Decay Proportion take some getting used to. Clever guy that Mr. Moog though, it has to be said...;)"

R.A. Moog 701 Drum Synthesizer - Part 5 - Drum Sounds...!

Published on Oct 13, 2015 noddyspuncture

"OK, so here it is - the first one. Is this the kind of thing that Bob had in mind when he sat down and designed these modules? To do this I first needed to hook up some "noise" - which I did via the Minimoog. White & Pink are what I'm using here... but really, instead of 'White' I actually need 'Red' - or so it tells me on the front panel. 'Red' will have to wait as I need to now build some dedicated noise modules. But anyway, here is my very first attempt at getting percussive sounds out of it... and it does take a bit of getting used to setting it up to get these 'tight' type of sounds...!"

R.A. Moog 701 Drum Synthesizer - Part 6 - Drum Sounds...!

Published on Oct 13, 2015

"And here it is - the second one. Again I am using 'White' & 'Pink' noise via the Minimoog. Sure does give you a sore finger... next I shall have to try hooking it up the the 1130 drum controller or even triggering it via the Q960 analog sequencer...! What I've noticed about this, and I quite like, is that there seems to be a 'pedalled hi-hat' sound following each hit on certain envelope settings and also sometimes it 'multiple triggers' giving a slight ratcheting effect...;)"

R.A.Moog 701 Drum Synthesizer - Part 7 - Twangy...

Published on Oct 19, 2015 noddyspuncture

"Twangy boing and blip sounds - no noise modulation used, just the internal oscillator. Thanks to Kev for the videoing."

R.A.Moog 701 Drum Synthesizer - Part 8

Published on Oct 19, 2015

"Just general messing - again no "noise" modulation used, just the internal oscillator. Thanks to Kev for the videoing...!"