The Analog Lab NYC-Leo Delibes | Flower Duet from Lakmé on Moog Sonic V

Published on Jan 23, 2013

"Moog muSonics Sonic V that was recently repaired by The Analog Lab in NYC.

From Matrixsynth:
It has 2 osc's (saw, tri, square/pulse) 2 lfo's (saw,ramp,tri square) a ring modulator, a noise generator (white or pink), an external input, 2 outputs and 2 built in speakers. The speakers can be bypassed by using the second output. It is monophonic (plays one note at a time) and/or duophonic (plays two notes at a time). It even has a 'scale' knob on the front panel so it can play microtones.

The Sonic V has a 24db diode filter which is very expressive. It has that Moog sound when you want it, but you can also have it sound quite different. It can sound more gritty or aggressive then other synths containing the traditional Moog 24db transistor ladder filter thanks to the diode filter design and also to the addition of the ring modulator.

www.theanaloglab.com

(special thanks to http://m.matrixsynth.com/2009/10/moog-musonics-sonic-v-analog.html)"

Musonics Moog Sonic V

flickr By The Analog Lab
(click for more)

"A rare, vintage Musonics/Moog Sonic V synthesizer in for repair at The Analog Lab. 1 of only 100 made!"

Professor William Hoskins and His Mystery Moog

Pictured to the left is Professor William Hoskins (via). What you see there is not the mystery Moog, but his Moog modular system. This post is about another Moog synth, one most likely based on the Sonic VI. If you have any information on what this synth might be after reading this, please feel free to leave a comment or contact me directly. My contact info is on the bottom right of the site. I have already contacted Michelle Moog-Koussa and Brian Kehew author of Kaleidoscope Eyes A Day in the Life of Sgt. Pepper, as well as Trevor Pinch, author of Analog Days [Amazon hardcover & paperback, preview on Google books], and featured in this exclusive post. I also contacted James Husted of Synthwerks, George Mattson of Mattson Mini Modular, Steven Jones of Synthwood, and Carbon111, all of whom know their synth history. None were familiar with what the synth might be.

The story: I was recently contacted by a Paul Rego with the following:

"I've been searching the Internet for over a year now and have not been able find a specific synth. Since you seem to know and work with every type of synth known, I thought I'd ask you...

Around 1973 - 1974, I took private synthesizer lessons at Jacksonville University (Florida). The instructor was Professor William Hoskins and the synth was a custom Studio Moog assembled by Professor Hoskins.

One day, Professor Hoskins showed me his personal, portable synthesizer. He brought out what looked like a brown suitcase. When he opened it, I saw a Moog Sonic VI.

This is nothing new. I've seen lots of images of this synth on the Internet. The one aspect of this particular synth, that I cannot find anywhere, is that it had a touch-sensitive keyboard. The keyboard was made of plastic and had a gray / brown color. Outlining the keys (showing the location of the 'white' and 'black' keys) was an almost medium blue color (about an eighth-inch thick). (He and I tinkered with this synth for about a half-hour to an hour.)

Professor Hoskins passed away several years ago, so I can't ask him about it. I did contact his family but they don't remember anything about this synth.

I do remember Professor Hoskins telling me that he and Bob Moog had 'gone to school together'. I think he was referring to electronics school but I never asked him more about it. I thought I had read somewhere that Professor Hoskins and Bob Moog had briefly worked together on a Sonic VI prototype but I don't know if that's true. (Even if what I saw was a prototype, someone has to own it now and should be proud enough of it to post some photos somewhere.)

I thought the background story might help in your own research on this.

Basically, I'd just like to know if this synth ever existed or am I just not remembering it correctly.

Thank you for your time and attention."

My first obvious guess considering the blue was the Buchla Music Easel or separate Buchla touchplate keyboard modded into the case of a Sonic VI. I sent Paul a couple of links to various images.

Paul replied: "the synth I saw didn't look like the Buchla Easel. Good call though.

The 'blue', which outlined the keys on the Sonic VI I saw was a bit lighter in color than the blue in your photos and maybe had a bit of green in it (closer to turquoise). There was no red or other color on the keyboard (that I can remember) and the entire keyboard seemed to be one piece of plastic with only the blue / green outlines separating the 'keys'.

I also read a story recently about the time when Musonics bought Moog and had a synth ('Sonic V'?) of their own, at that time, but I haven't research this too much yet. One thought I had was the synth I saw was something from Musonics but was never officially released (until it had the 'Moog' name placed on it). I'm pretty sure the synth I saw had the 'Moog' logo and the word 'Sonic VI'. (Not 100% sure but it seems clear in my memory.)"

I also sent Paul images of the EMS Synthi AKS. Paul replied it was the closest, but definitely not it.

I contacted Michelle Moog-Koussa and Brian Kehew to see if they knew of anything. Michelle replied: "...I can tell you that we have several of William Hoskins reel-to-reel tapes in the archives, so there was obviously a significant professional relationship between he and Bob.

I don't ever remember reading anything about the Sonic VI, but maybe Brian does. One thing I can tell you for sure is that Dad began working with John Eaton in 1970 on the Multi-Touch Sensitive keyboard [left via]. The main component of the MTS was the touch-sensitive keyboard, of course. It's not out of the realm of possibility that Dad would have used his work with John to push boundaries on another project."

Brian replied: "Bob didn't design or build the original Sonic V (from Musonics before they bought Moog) that was Gene Zumchak: The Sonic V did have a brown wood style. It's even unlikely Bob did much on the Sonic Six as it was the same thing with a new outer case.

The Sonic VI was the version Moog made in 1972 and later, in a plastic suitcase version. Many of these were made vs the very few Sonic V's. So one might think they saw a Sonic VI when it was the V (same front panel and features). But the brown suitcase and colored keys and touch sensitive thing are ALL unusual. I know a little about Prof Hoskins from the paperwork of the past, but no mention of this synth. Definitely unusual to have keys like that anywhere, anytime!" Followed by: "And there IS touch (velocity) sensitivity on Wendy Carlos' synth by 1971 for Clockwork Orange, but it's used under the normal keyboard. THIS velocity was very possible, but would not make the keys look different. Again - maybe a Sonic V was retrofitted with a cooler keyboard later in the 80s, but why not do so on a BETTER synth!?" :)

On a separate thread, Trevor Pinch got back to me with the following: "Bill Hoskins was important in that he was one of the first people David VanKouvering approached about minimoog reiail sales etc. I have a good album of his somewhere! I think he may have been Bob's favorite composer for a while.

I have no idea about the touch key board but I'm in touch with Gene Zumchak the guy who designed the Sonic Six, so I'll ask him. (I guess you know the joke that the Sonic Six was known by Moog engineers as the Chronic Sick!)

Actually its story might be kinda interesting - Zummy (as he is known) told me that it was made with 741 op amps and in many ways was more advanced than the minimoog.
Maybe it has had an unfair press. I never heard one or saw one for real."

James Husted sent me the image of Professor Hoskins at the top of this post. I sent it to Paul to see if maybe it brought back any memories that might help.

He replied: "The custom Moog modular in that photo is the same one I took lessons on. However, this is an early photo and when I saw that Moog modular, Professor Hoskins had already added a top layer to that cabinet — which included a Moog sequencer. (I have a photo of it, that I took around 1990, but the top part of the photo, showing the upper section, is cut off.)

The reason you didn't see Professor Hoskins' 'Sonic VI' is... I'm guessing that he didn't bring it to the university very often. When I saw it, I was at his home. He had invited me over one Saturday afternoon to see HIS custom Moog modular. It was in his garage, which he had made-over into a nice studio. It also had a two-manual organ, at least two reel-to-reel tape decks and LOTS of recording tape. Later, during that same session, he said 'There's something else I want to show you. Come inside.' We went into the living room and I sat on the couch. He said 'I'll be right back.' After about a minute, he came back carrying a brown 'suitcase'. He set it on the coffee table in front of me and sat down on the couch. He opened it up and... Whoa! I had never seen one of these and it was the first time I had seen a Ring Modulator!

---

I remember seeing Professor Hoskins play his Sonic VI during a live performance of his album 'Galactic Fantasy / Eastern Reflections'. The Jacksonville University orchestra played most of his composition but at one point his Sonic VI was brought out and he played it while at center stage. I could see it clearly from my seat but, of course, I could only see the back of it, which simply looked like the back of a brown suitcase.

---

Sorry it took so long to get back to you. Since I think this is important, I thought I'd try to recreate the 'Sonic VI' I think I saw. I 'Photoshopped' a production Sonic VI and attached it to this message. It's the best image of what I think I saw.

Modifying the image forced my memory to go into more detail. Here's what I'm fairly certain of:

• The outer color of the "suitcase" was almost dark brown.

• The outer shape was more square than the production Sonic VI.

• The thickness of the top and bottom sections was thicker than the production Sonic VI model.

• The keyboard was made of slightly textured plastic, otherwise completely flat, was brown / gray in color and had a vibrant blue outline between the keys. (I'm not 100% sure if the "black" keys were outlined or solid blue.)

• The background color of the back panel and the area surrounding the keyboard was almost dark brown. It looked like it was made out of either pressed cardboard or thin wood. It really reminded me more of the thin 'wood' used in old, tube televisions and radios (during the 1960s).

What I'm not 'fairly sure' of:

• I can't remember if it had a Mod Wheel.

• I think there was more space between the modules.

• I think it had two speakers (placed on the left and right side of the back panel). Each might have been the size of the center speaker-grill in my photo.

• I can't remember if there were any connectors, switches or knobs on the keyboard section."

Update: via Aaron aka theglyph in the comments: "Holy shit! That's the guy from JU. There was an electronics repair/pawn shop here in Jacksonville called Active Electronics that had a bunch of synths back in 90's. The owner had a sign in the store explicitly stating that the synths were not for sale and that customers were not allowed to walk up and look at them or touch them. I walked in day and walked close enough to notice that the MiniMoogs had very low serial #'s. It wasn't until I read Analog Days that I found out that the earliest Mini were sold here in Jacksonville. There so much more to this story that I don't know where to begin but I can say that I did an obscure Moog at the store that I've never seen photographed since and I simply thought I was loosing my mind recollecting it. WOW!

Cheers,
theglyph"

Update: Above, Brian originally mentioned Bill Hemsath as the person that designed the Sonic V. He meant to say Gene Zumchak. This has been updated.

Updates: via Dorothy in the comments:
"HI, as a Hoskins kid, I watched Dad perform on the synthesizer and I know we had the Sonic but I thought it was a "V". Dad had several custom modules built for him by Bob Moog. They were friends but didn't go to school together -- Dad went to Trumansburg NY to work with Bob on the synthesizer that they got for Jacksonville University (in 1969, I think). I will have to go digging in the Will Hoskins letters that I have. Those of you who knew Dad know that he was very meticulous about writing up the components that he bought and what they were for.
Late in Dad's life, when he was basically letting go of most composing effort except for revising existing scores, Bob helped Dad find a collector (in Germany, as I recall), who bought all of Dad's big home synthesizer. I think some of the smaller units were in the hands of Steve Smith, who was Dad's right-hand man at the JU studio for some years. Whatever happened to them, I don't think Dad would have cared as long as someone was using them to create music. He wouldn't have collected synthesizers as museum pieces, he actively used everything he got from Moog until he was ready to let it go."

Followed by: "BTW, that last time I spoke to Bob Moog was after Dad died, when Bob came to Rochester NY http://www.esm.rochester.edu/news/?id=132 which is near where I live now. Bob spoke very fondly of working with Dad, because Dad cared as much about the science of music synthesis as any composer Bob knew. Dad did some work with him on modulators and other components for JU and the Hoskins home studio."

Followed by: "Hoskins synth photo --not a Sonic -- in news article 1970 [link]"

Update 6/6/2010:

Some more interesting bits of Moog history:

Trevor Pinch checked with Gene Zumchak who had the following to say:

"I am not aware of a touch sensitive keyboard on the Sonic V or 6. It did have a two-note keyboard and the highest key pressed and lowest pressed could be routed to Osc 1 and Osc 2.

They removed the keyswitch bus and superimposed a highpitch (100KHz?) tone on the voltage string. This might have been the source of a whine that some users complained about that wasn't present in the Sonic V."

via Josh Brandt: 'Okay, I did hear back from David Mash [VP of IT at Berklee and friend of Bob Moog], who says that the story he was telling me several years ago was about a keyboard Bob was building for John Eaton. I asked about the story he'd told me and if the pictures you posted could be of the instrument he'd been talking about, and he said:

"The story I was no doubt telling was definitely about the keyboard Bob built for John Eaton [middle pic above]. Bob was going to show us the completed instrument (which my friends Jeff Tripp and Paul Derocco helped complete), but we never got to see it due to the way the conversation turned over dinner. I did see the instrument several times during the design/build stages and again later after it was complete.

The keyboard was simply a controller and not a synth, so definitely not the portable synth the blog is referring to. I know Brian, and was involved briefly with him and a bit more with Michelle Moog on the NAMM Museum exhibit, and they used a couple of my photos for the exhibit. They're great people and working hard to preserve Bob's legacy.'"

Update via WmJHeart in the comments:

"Thanks Matrix, for hosting this page. I own a copy of Will's Galactic Fantasy & Eastern Reflections (my personal favorite) recording on vinyl. But I also discovered and listened to the entire album on YouTube recently! Here:"

Galactic Fantasy - Eastern Reflections (1979)[Full Album]

video upload by

Published on Jul 12, 2017 TheHomecoming

"Rare electronic/synth/moog private pressing LP

TITLE 'Galactic Fantasy - Eastern Reflections'

William Hoskins, "Galactic Fantasy, Eastern Reflections" [CP-158]
TRACK 01 AUDIO TITLE "Overture : Stars Are Suns" PERFORMER "William Hoskins" INDEX 01 00:00
TRACK 02 AUDIO TITLE "Intermezzo : Interplanetary Communique" PERFORMER "William Hoskins" INDEX 01 06:39
TRACK 03 AUDIO TITLE "Star Nocturne" PERFORMER "William Hoskins" INDEX 01 08:11
TRACK 04 AUDIO TITLE "Scherzo : Comets" PERFORMER "William Hoskins" INDEX 01 16:35
TRACK 05 AUDIO TITLE "Beyond Beyond" PERFORMER "William Hoskins" INDEX 01 18:54
TRACK 06 AUDIO TITLE "Prolog : Theme and Variation" PERFORMER "William Hoskins" INDEX 01 23:40
TRACK 07 AUDIO TITLE "Lower Heterophonie" PERFORMER "William Hoskins" INDEX 01 27:55
TRACK 08 AUDIO TITLE "Song : Open Skies" PERFORMER "William Hoskins" INDEX 01 31:22
TRACK 09 AUDIO TITLE "Drum Chime" PERFORMER "William Hoskins" INDEX 01 35:28
TRACK 10 AUDIO TITLE "Upper Heterophonie" PERFORMER "William Hoskins" INDEX 01 39:41
TRACK 11 AUDIO TITLE "Epilog : Processional" PERFORMER "William Hoskins" INDEX 01 41:30

A1
Overture: Stars Are Suns
A2
Intermezzo: Interplanetary Communique
A3
Star Nocturne
A4
Scherzo: Comets
A5
Beyond Beyond: An Entropy Study
A6
Eastern Reflections
Eastern Reflections
B1
Prolog: Theme and Variation
B2
Lower Heterophonie
B3
Song: Open Skies
B4
Drum Chime
B5
Upper Heterophonie
B6
Epilog: Processional

Criminally under-rated set of Early American Moog Modular Synthesizer Music - the sole release by composer William Hoskins, the 'Director of Electronic Music and Composer-in-Residence at Jacksonville University in Florida.' Issued in 1979 by the Harriman, NY-based Spectrum - a 'Division of UNI-PRO Recordings, Inc.' the LP consists of a pair of discrete pieces, with each taking up a side of its own."

Update via Kimberly S Beasley in the comments:

"Hello, everyone. I am the current chair of the Department of Music at Jacksonville University and I have the original Sonic VI manuals and one of Hoskin's Moogs....happy to share photos tomorrow."

Kimberly sent in the images with the following:

"This has been in the possession of our Professor Emeritus Dr. William Schirmer as it was given to him by Hoskins. Hoskins' granddaughter Dorothy is also aware of the instrument. We also have a large collection of manuscripts of Hoskins.

There is also a mini-Moog we just refurbished in our recording studio."

You can see WM. Hoskins written on the top right of the manual. Note "Home Copy" on the blue cover. It's kind of neat to think of him perusing through the manual in the comfort of his home.

Moog muSonics Sonic V Analog Synthesizer serial#74

via this auction

[videos below]

"This auction is for a Moog muSonics Sonic V. It has 2 osc's (saw, tri, square/pulse) 2 lfo's (saw,ramp,tri square) a ring modulator, a noise generator (white or pink), an external input, 2 outputs and 2 built in speakers. The speakers can be bypassed by using the second output. It is monophonic (plays one note at a time) and/or duophonic (plays two notes at a time). It even has a 'scale' knob on the front panel so it can play microtones I suggest having a tech range/scale this synth as it is, at all ranges, a little out of tune (listen to the audio). It wasn't an issue for me but it might be for you.

The Sonic V has a 24db diode filter which is very expressive. It has that Moog sound when you want it, but you can also have it sound quite different. It can sound more gritty or aggressive then other synths containing the traditional Moog 24db transistor ladder filter thanks to the diode filter design and also to the addition of the ring modulator. It has a 4 octave keybed that is a pleasure to play on. The keys play like new and the synth is quite stable. This synth is in perfect shape inside, and fair/decent shape outside. Please check out the pictures and videos to see the condition of the wood/metal and notice that it is missing a few plastic slider caps/knobs. The most noticeable marks are a slight dent in the metal faceplate top center and the wood at the right front corner is damaged/chipped in two places... I've done some research over the the past few months and I believe this synth was built in 1971 and that less then a few dozen were ever made. I would give the exterior a 7 out of 10. and the inside a 10 out of 10. (These are my opinions!) The instruments functions all work 100% however there is a low level high pitched whine in the output. Whenever I use this synth I just use a noise gate. I've had lots of fun owning this synth and wish that its next owner enjoys it as much as I have. Please see the pictures and enjoy the videos." [below]

Sold For: US $2,036.11

CLICK FOR MORE »

MOOG Sonic Six

Click here for shots via this auction.

"The Moog Sonic 6 (also Sonic VI and Sonic Six) is a duophonic analog synthesizer that was manufactured by Moog Music from 1974 to 1979. The Sonic 6 is the result of Moog Music's acquisition of the company Musonics, which had previously made a synthesizer called the Sonic V.

The Sonic 6 is mounted in its own briefcase; the upper control panel folds and latches over the keyboard to ease transportation and storage. This feature was used by a number of synthesizer manufacturers of the time, however the Sonic 6 was Moog Music's only product that incorporated this into its design. The Sonic 6 is also the only Moog synthesizer that featured built-in speakers rather than requiring the user to use an external amplifier.

The Sonic 6 features two VCOs with changeable waveform (sawtooth, triangle, square, pulse), one low-pass VCF, a VCA, two multimode LFOs for modulation and a 49-note keyboard.

The Sonic Six is an uncommon Moog of wonderful sound and amazing versatility. It very definitely has a “discrete” analog sound, despite the fact that it is most likely an IC synth like most of the synths of the seventies. It's very warm and buzzy and reminiscent of early seventies monosynths.

The Sonic Six was based on Waytena's Musonics Sonic V. When Musonics bought Moog, they sold the Sonic V as a Moog for awhile, and then redesigned it with some castoff Minimoog case designs, and called it the Sonic Six in 1972. It was intended to be the “educational Moog” which is why everything is labeled so bizarrely. Bob Moog himself used to tote one of these around for demonstrations. It is the first non-modular duophonic synth.

The Sonic Six is a two-oscillator duophonic synth. You can set it up so that it is duophonic, (two notes at a time... one oscillator takes high-note priority and one oscillator takes low note priority), monophonic (both oscs), or monophonic with a drone (one osc changes pitch, one does not). Available waveshapes are pulse (variable), saw, and triangle. The pitch of each oscillator can be controlled by dual LFO, one by contour, and the other by the other oscillator. You can adjust the temperament of the Sonic Six, to play scales that have less than 12 notes per octave! The Sonic Six has pink or white noise available with level adjustment.

The Dual LFO is AMAZING. You have control over the balance between the two LFOs. Each LFO has saw, reverse saw, triangle, and square waves available, driven by Envelope or the master LFO slider. Having two LFOs makes a lot of modulation and triggering possibilities available.

The Sonic Six has a genuine ring modulator which allows you to choose between OSC1 and the LFO for source. The ring modulator has a mix knob, and a direct out. The ring modulator and can create more than just the standard sound. It can generate surprisingly guitar-like distortion. Audio signals can be routed through the Moog filter and ring modulator via an external input.

Ah, the contour generator. If there was one weaker spot in the Moog Sonic Six design, this is it. It is simply a modified AR envelope generator. Decay is provided by a switch, offering long or short decay. Where the contour generator becomes cool again (and perhaps cooler than most) is when it allows you to choose what triggers the envelope. You can choose between the keyboard, LFO 1, or LFO 2... or any combination. This function allows you to do many cool things... especially when you've set the LFOs to trigger the synth, and have them on different waveforms at different frequencies. If you turn down the oscillators, turn up the noise generator, and get creative with the filter settings, you can create your own analog drum machine/loop generator.

The filter is a delightfully rich Moog filter with filter cutoff, resonance, KYBD switch, Env amount, and dual-LFO amount. Having the dual LFOs control the filter is a great sound.....you can easily generate unique sample and hold type effects.

The Sonic Six has direct oscillator/ring mod out control knobs. Basically, you can add a direct line from the oscillator to the final output, which REALLY fattens up the sound. Sadly, these outputs don't go through the ENV generator, so they are always on if you have them on, but still... it is a very useful tool for effects and fattening.

The Sonic Six has “glissando” which is actually portamento. This can be assigned to both oscillators or just one, depending on the setting. The Sonic Six has a built in speaker, as well as normal output. The speaker sounds great, and has its own distinctive sound. Many mic the built in speakers! It features control voltage inputs for VCO, VCF, and VCA. Of course, it has a pitch wheel, as well."

MOOG Sonic Six

Title link takes you to shots pulled via this auction.

Details:
"This is a very rare Moog Sonic Six synthesizer. It's the only one I've ever seen thats completely functional (even the speaker) and also has all it's knobs, slider caps and switch covers. I also have a copy of the service manual incase you would ever need it. This is one of the later models that have the Moog filter. Also has an audio input so that you can run things through that great filter. Duophonic synth. Two LFO's (which can be combined), Two Oscillators, Ring Modulator, White and Pink noise, Contour generator (with bypass) and a mixer section. I accept paypal and shipping will be $40. Feel free to ask any questions! Pretty good cosmetic shape too considering it's 33 years old!

Two LFO's (Syncable or individual), Two Oscillators, Ring Modulator (with the ability to use external audio as one of the carriers), White and Pink Noise, Envelope Bypass for drones, built in speaker, portamento, Duo-phonic, The ability to do other keyboard scaling... Can sound very Minimoog like as well.

From the web [if anyone knows where this is from let me know and I'll update the post]:

The Sonic Six is an old, simple, and rather interesting machine. It's an outgrowth of Moog's expansion in the early seventies, when it took over a smaller company called Musonics, which made a synth called the Sonic V. Moog took the Sonic V design, updated it with more Moog-like features and released it as the attache-case-mounted Sonic VI.

It is an early duophonic portable synthesizer. It has some modulation capabilities not found in other small Moog models, and the sound...due to the odd filter design...actually has more in common with something like the Oberheim SEM modules* (That is true of the early Sonic Six's, before Moog put in the classic Moog filter into the sonic 6. This one has the classic Moog filter). However, rather simple VCA envelope and VCF filter sections make this an easy synth for any user.

Not commonly seen, they were actually rather durable devices and used ones generally (if proper care was taken of them) are found in good working order. It was designed for home use so it is light and portable and has a built in amplifier and speaker. It's a budget Moog synth that is probably more obscure than useful these days. But it has been used by Freddy Fresh, Stereolab and Spectrum/EAR."