muSonics Moog Sonic V

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
Moog muSonics Sonic V Demo video upload by MOS-LAB

"The sonic V is a synth developed around 1969/1970 by ex Moog employee Gene Zumcheck (the idea of a portable synthesizer had been refused at the time by Robert Moog).
This synthesizer was built by the company muSonics when Gene Zumchek join them, and was released "officially" when the company bought R.A Moog in 1971 under the Moog muSonics badge.
There were less than a hundred units built (mine has serial number 18).
Unfortunately, very few models are still in existence today, making it a very rare instrument. Not having been exported at the time, it was mainly
intended for universities in USA.
Its successor, the Sonic 6 is an improved and portable
version, but with a different filter (Moog ladder filter)
So it doesn't sound quite the same."

Spotted the above video in the listing below. I'm not finding it previously posted so up it goes. You can find additional demos in previous posts.

via this auction

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Rare ARP 2600 Blue Marvin Jam (w/ Cameron Graves)

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

"It's always fun to perform with my good friend Cameron Graves aka "The Planetary Prince". I was introduced to Cameron and his brother Taylor Graves in 2008 by Jada Pinkett Smith when we co-scored her film, The Human Contract. We've remained friends and musical brothers ever since. We hope you enjoy this music that we created right before the cameras started rolling . We intend to make more of these synth jam videos in the near future.
We're playing the solos on an extremely rare ARP 2600 "Blue Marvin" which was a prototype for the Tonus ARP 2600 that actually went into production. The rest of the synths include a later model gray faced ARP 2600, an orange faced ARP 2600, the Korg ARP 2600 M, Moog Minimoog, Korg MS-20 and ARP Omni String Synthesizer. The drums are performed by my engineer Ben Rachlis on a vintage LinnDrum the he is processing through The OTO Biscut, Bim, Bam and Boom.
Please remember to like and subscribe to these videos. It would mean a lot to me and my dedicated and enthusiastic crew. Thank you to all for your support and inspiring comments!

00:00 Intro
00:53 Blue Marvin Jam
01:17 Melody
02:01 Blue Marvin Solos
03:18 Breakdown
03:35 Melody
04:21 Special Thanks
04:26 Logo (music)"

Bob Moog Foundation Archives Receives Historic Donation of Herb Deutsch Collection

via The Bob Moog Foundation

"We are honored to share that the Bob Moog Foundation Archives has received a major donation of nearly 300 items from the estate of electronic music pioneer Herbert A. Deutsch, who passed away nearly a year ago, on December 9, 2022, just shy of his 91st birthday.

Highlights of this extraordinary collection include:

1961 R.A. Moog Melodia theremin (the instrument that originally connected Herb and Bob Moog in 1963) Vintage R.A. Moog Minimoog, serial number 1094 (one of the first one hundred ever produced) that was given to Herb by Bob Original correspondence between Herb and Bob during the seminal period of their work together between 1963 and 1964 84-minute reel-to-reel tape of Moog explaining how the prototype Moog synthesizer works Reel-to-reel tape of the landmark “Jazz In the Garden” concert held at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City on August 28, 1969

And much, much more...

Read more about it here: https://bit.ly/BMFAHerbDeutschCollection

Sending our deep gratitude to Herb's widow, Nancy Deutsch, for entrusting us with the stewardship of this collection. We look forward to sharing this material with the world for generations to come.

Do you have material that you would like to donate to the Bob Moog Foundation Archives? Please email us at info@moogfoundation.org."

The first recording with Minimoog synthesizer - Sun Ra – ‘My Brother The Wind’ (1970)

video upload by George Greene

"The first recording with Minimoog synthesizer (Model B prototype) - Sun Ra And His Astro Infinity Arkestra – ‘My Brother The Wind’ (1970)

In 1969, Sun Ra had recorded on Moog Modular synthesizer at the New York midtown studio of Gershon Kingsley. Those recordings were issued on My Brother the Wind, Vol. 1 (although it was not titled 'Vol. 1'— it only achieved that reference after 'Vol. 2' appeared). The following year, drummer Tommy Hunter arranged a meeting between Sun Ra and synth pioneer Robert Moog in upstate Trumansburg, New York. Bob and his crew were testing prototypes of the Minimoog at that time, inviting Sun Ra to explore its sounds. A recording of this test session was made and, although not originally intended for commercial release, partly released many years later in 1992 (My Brother the Wind, Vol. 2, CD tracks 7-11: The Wind Speaks, Sun Thoughts, Journey to the Stars, World of the Myth 'I', The Design - Cosmos II). But more significantly, it was during this visit that Moog loaned Sun Ra a prototype Minimoog (Model B), several months before the commercial instrument (Model D) was introduced in March 1970. Ra immediately added the instrument to his repertoire of keyboards, later acquired a second, and featured the Minimoog prominently on many of his recordings of the early 1970s. Sun Ra sometimes played two Minimoogs at the same time to achieve a duophonic synthesizer sound.

#ElectronicMusic #SunRa #Minimoog #MyBrotherTheWind #BobMoog #Synthesizer

All rights belong to their respective owners."

You can find dditional posts mentioning Sun Ra and the Minimoog here.

You can find Sun Ra – ‘My Brother The Wind’ on Amazon here.

Found this one updating this old post, after posting AutomaticGainsay's The History of the Minimoog Prototypes. Down the rabbit hole I went...

The History of the Minimoog Prototypes

video upload by AutomaticGainsay

"If you've ever been curious about the genesis of the Minimoog, this series found on the Automatic Gainsay Patreon page, Automatic Gainsay: The Wavewrights, is for you. The series explores the history of the development of the Minimoog as well as the individual distinctive functionality found on the prototypes."

"Here is the URL that gives you access to this amazing content: patreon.com/automaticgainsaythewavewrights

The synthesizer music in this video was created with a multitracked 1974 Minimoog."

If you feel like going down the rabbit hole, click here for a search on Minimoog Prototype. You'll find some interesting bits from the archives. Then click here for results sorted by date, most recent to oldest. Unfortunately blogger doesn't support a sort by oldest to newest. Check out this DIY Minimoog from 1975, and Sun Ra's prototype Minimoog.

L.E.P. Electronic Laboratories Arpoloop Development Update & A Call for Input

Check out L.E.P. Electronic Laboratories' upcoming Arpoloop. They reached out to me to let me know they are looking for someone to help with the user manual. Also if you have any suggestions on additional cv/trig in/out connectors you might find useful, feel freel to reach out them at tonight222 at gmail.com or their social links at the bottom of their website. Or you can leave a comment at the bottom of this post and I will relay it to them.

via L.E.P. Electronic Laboratories

"The final step on Arpoloop development, we add an eight step capacitor sequencer and one octave keyboard. Arpoloop final shape will be inspired by Minimoog with foldable voice board, in the photos the last not definitive prototype.

ArpoLoop it’s the newest creation of L.E.P. electronic laboratories.

After five or more years of development, the volcanic mind of our analog engineer Peppo Lasagna, created this unique instrument, virtually inspired by the Raymond Scott pioneer work.

ArpoLoop it’s a generative analog composer, an analog computer for musician, full-featured for creating algorithmic live music, letting you combine melodies and rhythm, thanks to the help of his Analog Intelligent Algorithm.

ArpoLoop is a full Analog synthesizer in 60HP, 7U format, with a built-in full analog rhythm and melody composer. With full Analog terminology, we mean we don’t use any digital component, like microprocessor or even CMOS counter IC like CD4040 etc. this guarantees you a living organic sound, always drifting to a new direction.

Since there is no microprocessor nor memory, it can not be programmed in the usual way, instead it can be set and guided to play a line whose parameters are user definable and virtually infinite.

With these features, ArpoLoop offers you a unique musical experience, where instead of programming your sequencer you are forced to play with him.

Each time you switch on your ArpoLoop he will respond to your state of mind, letting you compose the music of that moment, this is particularly notable when in our time the music was the first product of human creativity to digitally disappear, thus making the recorded music lose importance.

Like a pianist practices with his piano, you will practice with your ArpoLoop offering an always better improvised musical live performance.

ArpoLoop consist of different part and modules :
The Voice Board.
The Ramp Generator.
The Capacitor Sequencer.
The Note Generator.
The Rhythm Generator.
The Octave Keyboard.
Here is a list of its features:
-4 voltage controlled oscillators (VCO)
-VCO1 sine wave with sync and FM
-VCO2 sine wave with FM
-VCO3 sine wave with sync and FM
-VCO4 sine-square-sawtooth with LFO option
-4 cascadable voltage controlled amplifiers (VCA) controlled by envelope or ring modulated by a VCO
-3 Attack-Release envelope generators (ENV) with 3 modes of operation (GATE, REPEAT, TRIG)
-Clock generator and 3 Ramp generators for general timing
-4 Rhythm generator to control notes and drums
-Note generator with 2 sample\hold CV outputs
-Bass drum (CASSA) with pitch, resonance and distortion
-Snare drum with tom pitch and decay
-6 channel Audio Mixer with level and individual out for cassa, snare, vca 1\2, vca 3\4"

Isla Instruments Teases new Caladan Synthesizer

via Isla Instruments

"From now on, I shall be known as...
Muad'Dib

Well, today is a milestone, everything is ready and has been sent off to fabrication to make the first hardware prototypes.

Caladan is (will be) an 8-part multi-timbral polyphonic analog / digital hybrid synthesizer.

We are carrying on the legacy of a fantastic, groundbreaking synthesizer called the 'Parva' by FutureSonus. Building on its DNA, we are putting our own twist on it to make it the perfect partner to the S2400.

Same form factor, same aesthetic (yes, same wood sides if you want)

It will bring polyphonic playback of multi-sampled instruments (SF2, SFZ, +) out of the box.
But the special sauce is the 8x expansion slots inside the case which will allow me to go completely fucking nuts with add-in voicecards.

OPL3, SID, SEM, SH-101, MiniMoog, Pro-1, etc etc... all these flavours can be realised on expansion cards and all accessed by a common UI.

Voicecards can of course be analog OR digital. The intention is to open this side of the synth up to allow 3rd party developers to create cards also.

I'm literally creating MY 'Dream Synth' and I want to take you along for the ride.

First hardware should be here in a few weeks!!

Here's a couple of renders of what the prototype will look like.

FUCKIN YES!!!!!"

MiniMod Keyz: 1 Synth, 1 Pattern, 10 Minutes - Berlin School-inspired one-synth improvisation

video upload by AJH Synth Official

"This was an early run with our MiniMod Keyz prototype test machine, using just the onboard arpeggiator, voiced by 3 VCOs, Ring SM, Transistor Ladder Filter and more. This system is superb at recreating the sounds and vibes of those early electronica records of the 1970's, providing the sound of the Minimoog and the flexibility of the Moog modular systems that dominated them. As the author of this video I could quite honestly sit for over an hour making sounds such as this on just one sequencer pattern or arpeggio, it just sounds that good. Of course, the system isn't trapped in the music of the past, it's a fully-modular Eurorack system after all, but when it comes to the vintage electronic sounds and tones that brought this musician to the world of analogue synths in the first place, the MiniMod sure does deliver the goods.

The MiniMod Keyz system is available to purchase now. Check out the website for pricing, dealers, and other products: https://ajhsynth.com/Products.html

The AJH SYNTH Eurorack range consists of high-end modules, all hand-made in the UK, most of which are based on classic, vintage designs, authentically recreating the circuitry of much sought-after analogue instruments and technologies of the past, whilst greatly expanding them, and bringing them to modern Eurorack levels of convenience, limitless flexibility, and reliability.

Check out the AJH Synth playlists for module 'User Guides', and 'Patch of The Week' videos, which will be either performances or 'how to' guides, detailing functions/methods, and a range of sounds, some familiar, some less so, containing a patch sheet at the end to show you how to construct it for yourself.

Video by @DreamsOfWires"

Vintage Prototype Crumar Spirit Moog-Made Italian Analog Synth

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"Rare, vintage Moog-Made Crumar Spirit in excellent working and cosmetic condition with original case. This is a prototype made for Crumar that never actually went into production. Depending on who you talk to, this is 1 of 100, or 1 of 200 units made. This is serial number 0078.

Designed by Bob Moog, Jim Scott & Tom Rhea and released back in 1983. The Spirit is similar to a 2 VCO MiniMoog, but is considerably more flexible. 37-note keyboard, and the 2 oscillators feature basic sawtooth, triangle and square waves and can be synced together.

The filter section features low, high, and band-pass filters and switchable 12dB or 24dB slopes. Other features of the filter include an independent envelope with inverted and normal ADSR, key tracking and single or multiple triggering of the filter. Some other features of the Spirit include a built-in ring-modulator, an Arpeggiator with 3 different patterns that can be linked to the LFO, and there's an external audio input for running external sounds through its filters, LFOs or Ring Mod.

24 knobs, 10 switches and 15 sliders. 3 performance wheels for controlling the Pitch, Mod-X and Shaper-Y modulation effects. The Arpeggiator features 3 modes: Ripple (Up/Down), Arpeggio (Up several octaves) and Leap (Goes up 1 and then 4 octaves)."

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Happy Birthday Herb Deutsch!

In case you missed it, Herb Deutsch turned 90 today! See Moog Music's GIANTS | Herb Deutsch and The Bog Moog Foundation post featuring a video of Herb and a raffle for a Minimoog Model D signed by him.

You can find numerous posts mentioning Herb Deutsch in previous posts here.

Rather than go with a classic shot of Herb with a Moog synthesizer, I thought I'd go with what is currently featured on Wikipedia. Why? Why not? It's a reflection of popular culture outside of our inner synth community, and it's interesting in that this is the image they selected for him. It's also a great shot! 

Here's a blurb from Wikipedia:

"Herbert A. Deutsch (born February, 1932) is an American composer, inventor, and educator. Currently professor emeritus of electronic music and composition at Hofstra University, he is best known for co-inventing the Moog Synthesizer with Bob Moog in 1964.

Deutsch had assembled a theremin based on Moog's design in 1962 and in November, 1963 he introduced himself to Moog at a music-education conference in Rochester, NY.[1] In 1964 Moog and Deutsch started investigating the possibilities of a new instrument to aid composers.[2] Deutsch has been credited with the keyboard interface of the Moog.[2] He composed the first piece ever for the Moog ("Jazz Images - A Worksong and Blues"[1]) and performed early Moog concerts at The Town Hall and The Museum of Modern Art in New York (1969's Jazz in the Garden [3]).[4] The prototype Moog synthesizer, developed by Bob Moog and Herbert Deutsch in 1964, is part of the collections of The Henry Ford museum.[5]

Deutsch is a dedicated educator. In the early 1970s he taught at St. Agnes High School in Rockville Centre, New York. He has taught at Hofstra University for over 50 years and was twice the chair of the music department. Deutsch co-founded the Long Island Composers Alliance in 1972, and works with music foundation NYSSMA. In 1994 he proposed its Electronic Music Composition Showcase.[6]"

Happy birthday Herb! :)

Cosmic Tape Music Club Podcast hosted by The Galaxy Electric - E2 Sun Ra

video by The Galaxy Electric

New podcast from supporting members, The Galaxy Electric. Gear talk at 9:40, and 01:04:14 on Sun Ra's visit to the Moog factory back in the day. Sun Ra famously had the Minimoog Model B prototype. See this post for an interview with Sun Ra from 1971.

"Thanks for joining us for Episode 2 of the Cosmic Tape Music Club monthly Podcast! Join your hosts Jacqueline and Augustus of the experimental pop band The Galaxy Electric as they get cosmic on the topic of Sun Ra and his Arkestra band. In short he was a being that claimed he was from the planet Saturn. He was an avid reader and enthusiast of music instrument technology, as well as a virtuosic band leader, composer and pianist/keyboardist. We share all sorts of facts starting with his early life, his alien abduction, the various locations he lived and conducted the band from, his journey through being an early adopter of many different keyboards and synthesizers like the Moog Minimoog and Yamaha DX-7 (to name a few), his mystic ethos, and much much more!

Chapters
Intro 0:00​
Uncertain Origin 1:30​
Forbes Piano 8:30​
1st Gear Head 9:40​
Organ is the "Tastes Like Chicken" of electronic instruments 12:30​
Future Minded 14:50​
College 16:50​
Alien Abduction 18:18​
War Story 22:40​
Chicago 25:10​
Ghosting 32:00​
The band were on call 34:30​
Arkestra is Born 37:00​
Tape Delay 41:50​
A Joyful Noise bit 46:03​
Would LCD get an alien high? 49:10​
Rolling Stone Cover 51:50​
California 54:30​
Space is the Place 55:40​
One Take 58:42​
The Outer Space Visual Communicator 1:01:19​
Cosmic Keys 01:04:14​
Closing Notes 01:14:50​"

The Beast Synthesizer from Yorick Tech

Steve Hunt

"I own Yorick Tech Ltd, maker of the Low Frequency Expander (LFE) for OB-6 and Prophet 6. [see here] This is a prototype / test bed for a mono synth project which will be a cut-down version of this, using the best bits. Possible poly version too....

Mostly my own design, including clones or designs inspired by various vintage synths, including 3 Oakley filters.

2 x CEM 3340 VCOs, one with supersaw and one with double-wavefolder. Each has its own PWM LFO and pitch ADSR and sub oscillator.

LFO3 is from the LFE and contains a hidden LFO, sampling the main LFO but with clever synchronisation so that patterns repeat in a musical way.

Ring modulator.

6 ADSRs (2 miniMoog clones, 2 digital and 2 CEM) and 7 LFOs, many VCAs including 2 mixers and stereo panning for each mixer.

4 filters:
Oberheim SEM doubled to give 12 or 24dB slope.
Roland SH-1 based filter, again with 12 or 24dB.
904a Moog Modular clone
miniKorg Traveller-based design

Filters can be set in series, parallel and are fed from the 2 mixers as 2 pairs.

Spring reverb.

4x5 mod matrix.

Midi or CV in"

Custom Prototype Synth Minim00g 1975

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"What you are looking at is a 100% analog prototype synth professionally built by a tech in the 70s who went on to building aircraft for Hawker Siddeley. The prototype was finished in the summer of 1975. The synth side is complete, really unique looking too. Reminds me more of a Sonic Six but does sound very close to the Minimoog. This synth is clearly based on the later. The keys feel nice to play and are in good condition. All knobs and switches are still intact. I had a tech look at it and they found some faults but does not stop this things power! It's a huge sound! E-Mail me if you want some sound examples. The tech upgraded the PSU with new kettle lead input and caps, cost £120 alone. He advised me not to go further with repairs so to keep it's originality. All that was done extra was fixing low output. But is easy to service if you want it done.

The faults found: Osc. 2 waveshape knob not working on wide and narrow rectangle waveforms. However on Osc. 3 they work just fine. Faulty knob on Osc. 2 no doubt.

Please note this is not a fault but; the drum module was never made for it which was a board that slots inside. All the electronics inside were built for the drum module but the board itself was never completed. You could perhaps have a board custom made if you want the drum section. The last lower 5 keys were assigned for this task so do not sound.

I had the synth up for sale before but decided to get some service done to help preserve it. They don't make 'em like this anymore! Full of top quality components unlike new Chinese toys. I've been as honest as I can be with this listing. I am an established musician and not a dealer. Local pickup is also welcome. Courier will be over £20 for full insurance. Worldwide shipping available but at new owners risk. Insurance a must! You also accept in the terms of this sale that the synth does require further servicing and is sold as non-working because of OSC. 2 knob fault. Rest of the synth is working sounds like a monster! It's easily worth over 2k for something like this. To have a custom built one now would run you near 5k easy. I'm in no rush to sell so please sensible offers only (ovno)"

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Playing Minimoog From Guitar | Second Sound Audio-To-Synth

Published on Feb 25, 2019 mootbooxle

"The Second Sound ACO160 Audio-To-Synth System is a new development that I’m very excited about. They’ve been nice enough to let me borrow their prototype unit to demonstrate...Here it is being used to play the Minimoog from my guitar!

This is a Pitch to CV/Gate and MIDI convertor that is very early in development but is already promising to be the best pitch tracking device yet created! This is reaaaaaally just scratching the surface. Any audio source can be used to play any CV or MIDI instrument! More to come."

Make Noise Introduces the QPAS - Quad Peak Animation System

Published on Jan 23, 2019 MAKEN0ISE

"Introducing the Quad Peak Animation System, or QPAS. The QPAS is a quad core, stereo, analog multimode filter. We highly recommend using headphones while watching this video. All sounds are the direct output(s) of the QPAS."

"The Quad Peak Animation System combines the auditory enveloping of stereo spaced peaks with the animation of two or more peaks in a single channel dancing around each other or engaging in primitive vocalizations. QPAS is Quad Core, containing four identical state variable filter cores with a control system powerful enough to guide them in stereo multi-peak operation, but simple enough to encourage system integration rather than domination.

The Story of the QPAS by Tony Rolando
When I worked at Moog calibrating Voyagers, I monitored with headphones, and one of my favorite sound sensations was that of the stereo low pass filter. You might not even recall that the Voyager had a stereo Dual LPF. It is under utilized since most folks are trying to achieve classic Model D goodness, and the OG MiniMoog was a very mono instrument.

The binaural effect of a stereo Dual LPF is simple: one channel of the sound is brighter then the other. However, the effect is heightened when the filter has an exponential response and the cutoff is modulated. At lower cutoff frequencies the two channels appear to move at similar velocities, but as the cutoff frequency increases, one channel will smoothly increase in velocity, becoming brighter faster. The other channel lags behind, but eventually reaches the same velocity, and finally at high cutoff frequencies the two channels coalesce into full brightness. Where the mono LPF smashes you in the forehead with simple heavy sound, the stereo LPF envelops you, putting you inside the heavy sound.

When I developed the QMMG I learned about multi-peak filtering. Another under-utilized technique, this is processing a single channel of sound, with multiple filter channels, which are modulated, and then summed together to create a new version of the original sound. On the QMMG all four channels of filters were summed to the MIX OUT. There were a few normalizations, but they did not really ease or encourage multi-peak use. The QMMG UI was awkward for use as a multi-peak filter.

A common use for multi-peak filtering is the creation of formants, where multiple band pass filters are carefully programmed to generate human vowel sounds. This can be fun but it requires meticulous programming. If you forget about formants and just modulate until it sounds good, a multi-peak filter can be gorgeous fun. When the multiple peaks are offset from each other and modulated, the effect can be dizzying, as the sound appears to be dancing with itself, moving in many directions and yet it is still a mono sound. It is an auditory illusion.

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David Van Koeverings Prototype #1 Orchestron

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction, also on Reverb

"What we have here is a museum find. This is David van koeverings #1 Proto type synthesizer one of a kind. From a collection owned by David. Moog super salesmen responsible for the launch and success of the minimoog. In great condition comes in Viking case. I plugged the orchestron in it powers up but I have no discs to test it..."

via Wikipedia: "Vako Synthesizers Incorporated, founded by electronic instrument pioneer and former Moog technician and salesperson David Van Koevering, started to build improved versions of the Optigan under the name Orchestron in 1975. Intended for professional use as an alternative to the Mellotron (hence the name Orchestron), it featured improved recorded sounds over the Optigan. The Optigan was an organ that played its sounds from light scanned graphic waveforms encoded on film discs. The sounds with the highest fidelity were on the outer rings of these discs. These outer rings were used for the Orchestron sounds to improve the sound. Although the Model A Orchestron is identical to the Optigan, the models B, C, and D follow the designs of the Chilton Talentmaker. The Talentmaker was taken out of the market after Optigan's manufacturer – Optigan corporation, a subsidiary of toy company Mattel – threatened to sue Chilton because of patent infringements..."

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Superbooth 2018: Hear the Behringer Pro-One in action

Published on May 4, 2018 Future Music Magazine

"Behringer aren't messing about with their synth emulations, with multiple revivals on show at this year's Superbooth. We've had Minimoog and Roland VP-330 clones, and now Sequential Circuits' Pro-One is being recreated. We've been taking a look at a prototype version on the Superbooth show floor."

More Behringer Pro-One posts.

Moog Introduces MINIMOOG MODEL D App for iOS

Published on Mar 26, 2018 Moog Music Inc

"Based on the original analog circuit designs of the world’s first portable keyboard synthesizer, the Minimoog Model D App captures the magic of its hardware namesake, inviting you to explore the fundamental elements of sound by setting, shaping, and modulating each aspect of the sonic phenomena -- or jump straight in and play with over 160 included presets.

Available now on all 64-bit iOS devices for an introductory price of $4.99, the Minimoog Model D App places new realms of creative potential in the palm of your hand.

Download the Minimoog Model D app here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/minim...

Introduced by Moog in 1970, the Minimoog Model D served as the archetype for all electronic keyboards that followed. It gave users the ability to design their own sounds, translating imagination into reality. The Minimoog’s portability, affordability and accessibility made it the go-to instrument for musicians looking to expand beyond the traditional sounds of the time.

Bernie Worrell used the Minimoog Model D to establish Parliament Funkadelic’s futuristic funk sound. Kraftwerk employed the Minimoog Model D on the successful concept album Autobahn, sparking an entirely new genre. Gary Numan replaced his live band’s guitars with Minimoog Model Ds, creating the prototype for industrial music. The classic sound of the Minimoog Model D can be heard on Bob Marley’s Catch A Fire, Michael Jackson’s Thriller and Dr. Dre’s The Chronic.

All sounds in this video, except drums, made with the Minimoog Model D app.

Special thanks to Mason Self (http://www.masonself.com)"

"FEATURES
• Ships with over 160 presets (Hundreds more available in the Minimoog Model D App Store)
• Up to 4-notes of polyphony
• Easily share presets and audio recordings with friends
• Arpeggiator module with note-hold capability
• Stereo ping-pong delay effect
• Bender time modulation effect
• Real-time looping recorder with overdub and immediate sharing
• Selectable envelope shapes and triggering behavior
• Effortless MIDI CC mapping
• Seamlessly backup presets to iCloud
• Play mode for easier panel and keyboard interaction
• A new take on the classic feedback/overload path

SUPPORTS
• All 64-bit iOS devices
• AUv3 Audio Unit Extensions (Including GarageBand)
• Note-per-channel MIDI controllers (MPE)
• Ableton Link
• Inter-App Audio and Audiobus
• 7 and 14-Bit MIDI
• MIDI Program Changes
• Bluetooth LE MIDI controllers
• Share over AirDrop, Mail or other iOS applications"

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Behringer VC340 and friends

Published on Mar 25, 2018 MrFirechild

"The Behringer VC340 prototype is having fun with his friends in the Firechild studio including Memorymoog, Minimoog, Prophet-T8, Mos-Lab modular and a crazy Swedish guy. Composed and produced by www.firechild.se The song is called The Feuerkind Waltz. Don´t miss out the Firechild album A New World (2018) btw."

Abbey Road Institute: The Moog session - The synth that shaped musical history

Streamed live on Dec 1, 2017 Abbey Road Institute

"On the 1st of December we are featuring another historic instrument that shaped musical history: The MiniMoog!

How did it become such an icon?
What makes it so special?
And why does it sound so massive?!

We got you covered. Tune in on the 1st of December.

Shaping musical history:
The Minimoog was designed in response to the use of synthesizers in rock/pop music.
Jazz composer Sun Ra was the first to use a prototype of the Minimoog in his music and Keith Emerson (musician and composer) was the first musician touring with a Minimoog, demonstrating some amazing pitch-bending techniques for the first time with many keyboard players following his example afterwards. Just like the Hammond organ (as shown in our previous event) the Moog became a serious competitor to the electric guitar, making guitarist looking for eleven on their volume control as the only way to compete. Because of its fantastic and cosmic sound, it soon was embraced by the gods of the new progressive rock with bands like Yes and Emerson Lake & Palmer.

As keyboardist of Yes, Rick Wakeman said the instrument 'absolutely changed the face of music.'

Besides progressive rock, Jazz legends like Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock added the Minimoog to their arsenal, delivering devastating jazz solos and Bob Marley introduced the Minimoog when the band first played in the UK on the BBC.

After taking the progressive rock and jazz world by storm, it made its way back towards the synthesizer’s roots, in electronic pop and experimental music. One of the most well-know band using the Minimoog for this purpose was Kraftwerk on their albums Autobahn and The Man-Machine. Shortly after that, the characteristic sound of the Minimoog became an important part of the synth-pop era and inspired an entire generation of electronic musicians like Brian Eno and Ultravox.

Since then the Minimoog transformed the music landscape of every musical genre, from the R&B/Soul of Earth Wind & Fire and the most successful recorded album of all time, Thriller from Michael Jackson, till the West-Coast sound of Dr. Dré and the industrial music of Trent Reznor.

But a major transition occurred when electronic music was slightly forced back into the underground and analog synthesizer started shaping the sound of House Music, Techno and all other genres of electronic music. This is where the Minimoog found a new homebase in the hands of producers and bands like Carl Craig, 808-state, Portishead and many more leading to the iconic sound in today’s electronic music and the production of new Moog synthesizers and soundalikes.

The original Minimoog is a true classic. But what makes the sound so special?
On the 1st of December, MarcoAntonio Spaventi (music producers, mastering engineer, analog synth evangelist and Abbey Road Institute lecturer) will give a Masterclass about the Minimoog and it’s unique sound at Abbey Road Institute Amsterdam. In order to share his love for the Moog, this masterclass will be live streamed through Facebook Live.

MarcoAntonio will talk about the differences between the original Minimoog Model D and the Minimoog Voyager, the unique features of both instruments and the technical aspects that makes it sound so special. But most important, you can hear them live including a jam with an hardware sequencer at the end of the session!

Next to the above mentioned synths, we will have a variety of other Moogs to explore the different sounds and flavours of Robert Moog’s legacy. With one very special model…

The Memorymoog!
Many say the Memorymoog is like having 6 Minimoogs stacked in one machine! While thats not entirely true it does sound like no other poly synth with a very specific and massive character. Just like the Minimoog, the Memorymoog gets his monumental sound due to certain imperfections of the instrument. A perfect example of finding perfection in imperfection! MarcoAntonio will explain you all about the different features that makes this synth so unique."