Voyager well received at SynthDIY

punkdisco · Post by **punkdisco** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 11:36 am

..well, kind of!

Took my AE to SynthDIY in Cambridge, UK this weekend. Its funny but it got a totally mixed reception. It was almost like anyone over 35ish could/would not accept it had anything to do with the Minimoog, let alone Moog. Everyone else was very impressed. Being a SynthDIY meeting you have to remember these guys are pretty hardcore synth geeks.

Its quite frustrating as I have no way to defend this point, having never used an original Mini. I know it should not matter but hey.. I guess I should have copies these comments from Gordon Reid's excellent review, maybe with the first paragraph in bold:

[http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/Jun03/a ... oyager.asp]

It's now time to disagree with the yobs on the net who state that the Voyager sounds "nothing like a real Minimoog". I don't have a clue what they're talking about and, to be honest, neither do they.

This statement isn't based on memory, or some rose-tinted memories of the sound of a near-mint, vintage Minimoog. For the bulk of this review, an original Minimoog (number 11235, to be precise) sat next to the Voyager, and direct comparisons were available.

The similarities between the two are unmistakeable when you listen to the oscillators without filtering. Somehow, and I don't know how, the Voyager has been imparted with that indefinable 'Moogyness'; that warm growl that always set the Minimoog and its modular forebears apart from the crowd.

Being very picky, I found that some of the Voyager's waveforms were slightly brighter than the Minimoog's equivalents, requiring me to close the filter slightly to make them all-but indistinguishable from each other. Others required that the filter remained wide open. But, in all cases, the differences between the Voyager and my Minimoog were no greater than between two dissimilar Minimoogs.

goldphinga · Post by **goldphinga** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 12:24 pm

The Voyager is the nearest to an old school mini you can get without actually getting an original. No doubt.

It does not sound exactly like the old minis but has enough of that sound and a unique sound of its own. Its a slightly thinner and duller sound but just as characterful in its own way and not better or worse. Add this great sound to all the midi control, quality build and patch storage, and its obvious why the voyager has so many haters! They are just jealous!!!!! Its every bit a moog and sits perfectly alongside my source and memorymoog. I love it.

Tell those over 35 synth nerds to get out more.Ive used my voyager on a day to day basis on tour for the last 6 months and its the perfect monosynth, its never let me down and is built like a tank. How could i possibly do quick patch changes and stay in tune with an old mini every night??? The answer is i couldn't and i tried it. There is no alternative to the voyager for me.

gd · Post by gd » Tue Jul 26, 2005 12:57 pm

to me it is about making music vs. the year of prod'n etc. I owned a mini D thoughtout the 70's and now have a Source and Voyager AE. They each have their strengths and weaknesses. I find the same comparison's in many things in life - whether it be movie prod'n, music or sports cars and an example in comparing today's with that of yesteryear. Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman et. al. would still sound like themselves whether playing a mini D or Voyager - there is more to great sound than just electronics and branding.

Lengai · Post by **Lengai** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 2:05 pm

I know I already posted this, but isn't the Voyager and not he Model D the first semi modular synth that Dr. Moog actually designed himself? From what I understand, the Model D was designed with Dr. Moog's components while he was away on buisness.

punkdisco · Post by **punkdisco** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 2:58 pm

"From what I understand, the Model D was designed with Dr. Moog's components while he was away on buisness."

Wow, that would be interesting. Looking forward to someone confirming or correcting this..

ta

MC · Post by MC » Tue Jul 26, 2005 3:34 pm

Lengai wrote:I know I already posted this, but isn't the Voyager and not he Model D the first semi modular synth that Dr. Moog actually designed himself? From what I understand, the Model D was designed with Dr. Moog's components while he was away on buisness.

We covered that issue in this thread

http://www.moogmusic.com/forum/viewtopi ... c&start=15

mee3d · Post by **mee3d** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 8:34 pm

I guess there's a good chance that those "over 35's" actually remember the original minimoog production run and still remember the life changing event that playing thier first minimoog was . . you can't beat that.

The great thing about the Voyager is it's allowing a whole new generation to go through that process, trouble is, it's not that inspiring to those who have been there before.

Mal

Aged 37 and owned 5 minimoogs and one Voyager in his life, remembers going into Soho Soundhouse when he was 11 and playing his first Model D (on top of a CS80).

punkdisco · Post by **punkdisco** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 4:03 am

Hi Mal

"Aged 37 and owned 5 minimoogs and one Voyager in his life, remembers going into Soho Soundhouse when he was 11 and playing his first Model D (on top of a CS80)."

Cool dude.. Im 35 and remember Soho Soundhouse with nostalgia. When I was 17 (1987) I used to go there when I could and eventually I saved enough to afford my first sampler: Akai x7000, a huge monster.

Anyway, I can beat this

My daughter got her first play on a Moog when she was 4. Used to take her into Turnkey and she would stand and bash away on their Voyager (much to the annoyance of the assistance). Im teaching her the Voyager btw. On command and without guidance she can: change patches, makes the sound longer (increase the amp sustain), and make the sound quieter (Cutoff - well, of course I had to teach her that one!) When she is the next PJ Harvey, she can tell Rolling Stone magazine how she remembers playing her Dad's Moog when she was 5

Can't walk through Soho Square without getting all squishy. The square used to be fully of homeless people in tents/shelters. They have all gone. Perhaps they all found places to live, but I suspect not..

mee3d · Post by **mee3d** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 5:57 am

Here's my boy Jack at the age of 3!!

punkdisco · Post by **punkdisco** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 6:03 am

Very cool

Nice cape..

Boeing 737-400 · Post by **Boeing 737-400** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 1:26 pm

Extremely lucky young man!

ELPNeil · Post by **ELPNeil** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 2:50 pm

Well I suppose this makes me out to sound old but I remember going into Feldon Recordings in Great Portland street London (the first Moog agent in UK) and seeing a Moog 3C and the first Minimoogs with RA Moog badge on them.
I also remember the Soho Soundhouse.
regards
Neil
Ps nearly 52.

Previously owned a Moog 15,35 and 55.
Polymoog.
2 x Minimoogs
4 x Memorymoogs
1 x Voyager.
All gone now bar 1 x LAMM and a MMplus.

boose44 · Post by **boose44** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 5:55 pm

Man, you guys over there in London had it great!

The biggest music store in the little Florida town where I lived didn't even get a mini until 1973, and they wouldn't let you touch it! They kept it wrapped in its plastic see-through bag behind the counter. grrr...

They did put out a Roland 1000, and would even let you press the keys a few times.. lol.

When they got a Mellotron they kept it in the back and you practically had to bribe a salesperson to see it. And this was after I had bought a couple thousand $$ of equipment, too.

No wonder they are no longer in business. Thank heavens!!

-bruce
(a young 50)

boose44 · Post by **boose44** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 6:03 pm

mee3d wrote:Here's my boy Jack at the age of 3!!

Wow, where did you dig up the early pictures of Wakeman?

Nothing like getting them started early.

I could never get my two boys to stay interested very long with any instrument. Good thing I only bought Casios, Fender Squires and Pearl Exports. All gone and sold or traded now.

I wish I had a nickel for every nickel I spent on keyboarss, drums and guitars. I could buy more Moogs, then.

Don't ever keep track of how much you spend on your kids. Very depressing after they reach 21 or so and you add it all up. Just do it because you love them and enjoy seeing them happy.

-bruce

gd · Post by gd » Wed Jul 27, 2005 6:57 pm

that has to be one of the best pics I have ever seen! I thought the caption would be either:
Mini Wakeman or
Don't Worry Dad, I'll Grow into it and Prog. Rock will Return!