512 presets would be nice, but would it be possible?
512 presets?
Trust me, that’s MORE than enough for a monophonic. I have a Moog Source with the Encore Electronics MIDI interface that expands the memory from 16 to 256 programs. I’ve had the MIDI interface since 1990, and I still haven’t filled all 256 programs yet.
512 presets would be practical for a multitimbral polyphonic, but I think it’s overkill for a monophonic.
It sort of boggles my brain trying to figure out how they implemented the backlit panel. My performer is just a sticker over the metal chasis, perhaps the ‘cheapest’ part of the manufacture on the voyager. My plan would have been an anodized, rough surface with painted markings, like an old modular synth. Anyways, back to the point on hand. Did they put a clear panel where our Vgers are solid metal and a sticker with transparent written sections? Looks cool, but I’m wondering what would be modified on a vanilla Vger to get the lights through. I might feel uncomfortable knowing the structural integrity of the front panel had been tampered with in some way. Not that I plan on dropping my Voyager anytime soon mind you… I just like knowing its tough as nails.
Bottomline, my guess here is that the casing for the guts on the 50th is a different beast. I would doubt that, short of an actual swap of front panels that your vanilla Vger will ever see the light of the backlit panel.
And as for ‘based on Alesis VA’? uhh… no. This is not a knock on Alesis, I personally like their current products, but really, thats like saying, ‘the new porsche is actually going to use a Ford engine.’ Companies like Moog and Porsche pride themselves of having a unique and high quality product, built at a premium cost for the discerning taste. Its not about putting in a low cost, licensed product from another company to move units, I mean, how would that in any way shape or form celebrate 50 years of Moog? If you own a Voyager, I should hope you understand what you’ve paid so much for! Now make sure to turn it on, take it for a whirl, smile uncontrollably, then go brag to at least three friends about it (again) today :O)
K.
You know i think the black look is really cool, it looks like it’s really smooth and shiny. It reminds me of a piano or an old RCA theremin. if anything looks tacky it’s the blue lights (i think they look cool but I can imagine they’d get really anoying after a while (can you turn them off?)
I plan on getting a voyager soon (i ache all over not having one) i think I’ll get the performer though (looks more dignified) but I don’t know I don’t think anyone can really give a helpful opinion unless they’ve seen it in the flesh (or should I say “in the backlight front panel”)
i dont know if you can but you should be able to, but my guess is thats the lights are always on. I still think its kinda cool though,never seen a company manufacture a synth like that before. I mean it really is meant to be played and used in the dark. ive never heard of a company addressing this particular issue for musicians on dark stages and dark rooms. in this way. Its better than glow in the dark labeling and the gooseneck lamp.
Thats all well and good but i dont want to see too much more of this
“different versions of the same instrument that are really only cosmetically different” type stuff from moog.
I dont want no gingerbread, i want some meat and potatoes, like a five course meal of salsbury steak and carne asada burritos, ice cold horchata, a blunt in my hand, and fine lady in my lap.
But seriously What i really want to see them do is a brand new synthesizer or maybe a even sequencer. that would even be cooler than the stupid cool blue light up light dealies.
ZEBRA
Yes the backlit blue lights can be turned off.
i dont want to see too much more of this “different versions of the same instrument that are really only cosmetically different” type stuff from moog.
Gibson and Fender have been doing it for years. Even Korg, Yamaha, Kurzweil, and Roland have made same model synths with different cosmetics. Why not Moog? Lighten up.
i am being light, …ohhh wait… i just got your pun.
i shoulda said: to the best of my knowledge i havent seen a company do the light up thing with the keyboard, adressing the whole issue of musicians in dark places with bad eyesight. cuz thats what i meant and thought that i typed.
I didnt mean not ever seeing a company do different cosmetic releases of the same instrument, i have seen that before. MOog could put out a diffferent looking voyager every year till they exist no more, and id be happy, as long as they introduce something new in there, like a brand new synth or sequencer especially. All theys gotsa do is squeeze it in there between all the limited edition voyagers they push out the door in north carolina.
by no means am i hater i was trying to elaborate on my opinion, which is only positive of moog music. Maybe its you who should be the one to lighten up. ..i do not really care if you dont though, ill still like you.
ZEBRA
At first I thought it looked cool with all the fancy blue lighting but then I realised all this just takes away that classic Moog look. The standard Voyager is nice and kind of retro-looking but I still think the plain old Model D looks the best as there is only one light on it - the Power LED!
If anyone doesn;t like black, you can get the new Anniversary model in maple from http://www.bigcitymusic.com in LA. They say they’re the ONLY place in the world to take delivery of the maple Anniversary edition. Much better than black I reckon!
It appears from the website you can convert existing Performer Voyagers to the Anniversary for about $300-400 depending on if you want to keep your existing cabinet or not. Now it makes me wonder how special the Anniversary really is.
hey monads what website? bigcitymusic or moogmusic?
nevermind i found it. its mentions 2.0 of the OS, but its not out yet
This makes me say
hmmmmmmmmm…
Yea I know, I mean nothing against existing Voyager owners. It’s cool they have the option. But to new prospect buyers purshasing specially for the Anniversary and the so called “collectors” factor doesn’t make sense. Kinda shines me off and not really care anymore if you know what I mean.
i do know what you mean and i agree its like its not that special anymore. it is good to know if i wanted it i could retrofit my voyager , but then id end up with a single ugly black panel on one side, and dont know if i want to mess with all that, and i definitely dont want the whole thing painted black to match.
Does anyone have any information on the backlit panel update for normal voyager models?
hey is anyone else anoyed that you can’t see a large pic of the aniversary edition on the moog site
http://namm.harmony-central.com/WNAMM04/Content/Moog/PR/50th-Minimoog-Voyager-lg.jpg
i have my suspicions that this one is fakehttp://namm.harmony-central.com/WNAMM04/Content/Moog/PR/50th-Minimoog-Voyager-fr-lg.jpgbut it’s still cool seeing a large pic that you can clearly see all the controls
Totally agree. The previous largest one I found was at
http://www.audiomidi.com/common/cfm/product.cfm?Product_ID=4754
You’ll have to click the image to enlarge.
With regard to the black cabinet, I don’t have any problem with it and will happily buy this model. However, I would love to see a version of the synth with a red wood case, and orange backlit display and wheels - I reckon that would really reflect the warmth of the instrument, or am I just being poetic(!)?
The whole front pannel would be even more cool, if the knobs would have a position light! O.k. , i never saw this one live, so mybe there is allready enough light, so you can see in which position any knob sits, and my idea is also not so easy to produce, but…
Stefan
I was thinking the same thing. I’d like to see (althought it would add to the cost significantly) is a small LCD dispay above or below the knobs that display current value setting. The OS could display a stored value with the patch to the left and a current position to the right (within the LCD of course). I know this is possible, but we’re talking alot of little LCDs here, one for each knob. I wonder if people would even go for this. I just think it makes it easier for editing and precise adjustment of data. Maybe it’s more convenience if anything else. 
I would really like to get the new bank of Presets. Are these avaliable to the average performer owner?