Kraftwerk on Meeting Bob Moog

This one in via Brian Kehew.

I thought the following was pretty great. It's at the end of a rare interview with Kraftwerk's Ralf Hütter on the Miami New Times.

"Before you leave, may I ask you what influence Moog has had on your music?

We met him when we were recording a TV show in Los Angeles back in '75 and Mr. Moog was there. We used a monophonic Minimoog -- we didn't have the budget for the larger one -- but he, of course, knew that already. What he didn't know was that meeting the machine's inventor was one of the true highlights of our lives."

Update: below is an image of Kraftwerk from 1976 via Wikipedia's page for Trans Europe Express.  You can see the Minimoog as well as a couple of ARP Odysseys.  Curios what that is in the background left.

Update2 via Steven in the comments: "It's a Synthanorma sequencer (by Matten & Wiechers).
http://a-u-t-o-b-a-h-n.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/elektromusik-u-t-o-b-h-n-der-besten-das.html

I guess it's an earlier model than this one.
http://www.matrixsynth.com/2007/02/synthanorma-sequenzer.html"

And via Brian: "Under the Minimoog is an Orchestron, Model A or B..."

Trans Computer Maschine Modelled After Synthanorma Sequenzer

via wallyaudio in the comments of this post. See the post for details.

"The first software emulation ever:"

"Trans Computer Maschine is a semi-modular Vintage Lead Synthesizer + Pattern Sequencer. Modeled after two legendary mono synths and a custom analog sequencer from Germany.

3 Multi-Oscillators with Sawtooth, Triangle, Sawtooth-Triangle and variable Pulse shapes.
Color adjustable Noise Generator.
3 mode Ring Modulator.
Advanced Sample/Hold.
Selectable 2/4-pole resonant LP Filter with auto-oscillation.
HP Filter with bus selection.
2 exponential Envelope Generators offering 3 operation modes.
Unique Sequencer features like 'skip' and 'set' can be played live from MIDI keyboard.
Inter-patch Sequencer pattern 'Copy/Paste' feature.
Fully MIDI controllable.
Fully VST automatable."

Update via wallyaudio in the comments:

"Hello everybody, I've got very good news:

All known bugs were fixed so 'Trans Computer Maschine' just ended its beta stage and v1.05 is ready for download.

Please spend a little time and check it out, I renamed the presets so it's indicated when it is for synth or sequencer playing (I know people thinking the plug-in was not working because they couldn't make a sound quickly).

Check the included documentation if want to, but I'm sure will be very easy for anyone to make new sounds just having a look to the presets.

freeware for the world, KVRDC12 still going on...

Cheers,

WC"

Kraftwerk - Die Roboter

YouTube via technik. Note this is the live German version.
"Kraftwerk - Die Roboter
(Rockpop, German TV ZDF, 1978)"

You can find the English video here. Embedding disabled unfortunately.
Note the white ARP Odyssey in the English version and what appears to be a black and gold ARP Axxe in the German. Correction [via ralf in the comments]: it's not an Axxe as there are switches under the slider, so it must be an Odyssey - it just looks narrower in the video. The other synth in the embedded video appears to be a Moog. Anyone know which one? The drums are custom. You can find a good image of them and a list of the instruments used by Kraftwerk over the years here. Note the site does not list the Axxe and the only Moog listed during the 70s is the Minimoog, yet the performance above from 1978, the other synth is clearly not a Mini.

Update via micke in the comments: "It's a Micromoog. Afaik they used it on The Man Machine album. And yes, that's indeed the Synthanorma sequencer." click on the Synthanorma label below for prior posts featuring the sequencer.

VEMIA - Moog Projekt Elektronik mod-ed 960s

via this VEMIA auction
"No documentary evidence, but these are believed to have been owned by Tangerine Dream, and modified for them by Projekt Elektronik or Wolfgang Palm. The photo of Edgar Froese is believed to show these two sequencers - one above the Four-Voice, and one under the MS-10. Some features of the modifications seem to have been disabled or altered, so some servicing or re-modding may be needed. All early (R.A. Moog) items: 2x 960, 1x 961, 2x 962s. Re-cased at some time in their history into what looks like a IIIP-style case with two knobs on top. Another item needing to be sold to finance a large modular synth restoration."

Update via Micke in the comments:
"The big sequencer above the Oberheim Four voice in the photo with Edgar Froese is a Synthanorma (built by Matten & Wiechers), not Moog.

Other artists/bands using this type of sequencer were Klaus Schulze and Kraftwerk (who used a special version of it)."

"The Synthanorma sequencer was part of Peter Schmoelling's stage rig during TD's concert in East-Berlin way back in Jan 1980."

Synthanorma Sequenzer

This one via Dirk Matten:

"I am missing some pictures and details of the Synthanorma Sequenzer, which my partner and me have built for KRAFTWERK.
Please use this link and have fun - details in german language.

Best regards
Dirk Matten
http://www.elektropolis.de
http://elektrogemeinschaft.com
http://blogigo.de/elektrogemeinschaft