I am interested in aquiring a MicroMoog from a friend of mine and I have a few questions about this synth
2, I have played around with the MiniMoog in the past…how does this synth compare to the Mini? Is it capaple of making similar types of sounds?
Thanks
Micromoogs have been going for US$300-500 depending on condition. They don’t sound like a Minimoog; filter sound different, glide sounds different, only one VCO. Nice sounding synth though if you like FX.
I had a Micro for a few years, but sold it when I got a Voyeger. The Micro is great for bass and FX sounds, but the one oscillator is extremely limiting. I was using it for left hand bass in a little trio I was playing in at the time. It fit the job perfectly. I sold it for $400 which is way more than I paid for it. I certainly wouldn’t pay the prices I see them going for. In my opinion, $300 to $500 can be spent a lot wiser.
I had a Micromoog for five years, which I just sold on eBay. I bought it for $615, which was FARRR too expensive, but I believed dealers when they said that theirs were better because they were professionally serviced, etc. While it’s possible to get a real peace of garbage on eBay, on average, what I’ve gotten on eBay has been as functional and in as good of condition as anything I’ve paid too much for from a dealer. Anyway.
I loved the Micromoog. It’s exceedingly powerful due to the routing possibilities it features. It has an amazing versatility of sound.
I started feeling like I should possess a Minimoog, and that it would replace my Micromoog. I have a Minimoog now, and I like it better, but not for the reasons everyone else seems to state.
Don’t fall for the “it is sooooo limited because it only has one oscillator” line. It is not limited at all, it’s exceedingly powerful. It is only limited if you are looking to imitate a Mini, or if you want two or more oscillators beating against each other. There are more timbres possible with multiple oscillators, but once you start adding things like filter modulation (which is a great feature on the Micro) the subtleties of oscillator timbre become less important.
I favor the Mini over the Micro because it is more of a musical instrument than the Micro. This is not a critical comment, merely a functional observation. If you’re looking for modern synthesizer effects for electronic music, the Micro really has more versatility. If you’re looking for an analog synthesizer with the perfect tone for musical use, then I’d probably suggest the Mini. (not to state that modern electronic music isn’t musical… just that the focus is more on the the capabilities of the synthesizer than the tone)
Depending on how you plan to use it, I would suggest getting two Micros and connecting them together. (the Micro has far more voltage control connectability than the Mini) For less than a Mini or even a Multi, you could have an exceedingly powerful synth… more powerful than both of those.
As for what people say about the filter… I disagree. My Micro filter sounded very similar to both the filter on my Mini and the Moogerfooger filter I have. It is only the SYNTH that sounded different… due to things like the Micro having variable waveshape.
If you can find a Micro for $300, i would say to buy it immediately… as you can immediately turn a $200 profit on eBay. The days of cheap Micros are over… and it’s about time. It was so embarrassing to see Rogues and Prodigys selling for more than the Micro back in the day. Two oscillators do not a great synth make, I’m telling you! A good price for a Micro is really anything under $600. (a year ago, it would have been probably 100 dollars less) And, frankly, they’re worth it for the sheer functionality.
Not sure if this helps, but I used a Micromoog on the tune “Philtre 927” here:
http://music.download.com/hieronymous
I really enjoyed the instrument. It’s making all the sounds except the fuzz bass and drums. Oh, actually, it’s lathered in Moogerfooger phaser too - I almost forgot. I’ve also got a Rogue, which I like, but I’ve been having tuning/scaling problems between the two oscillators. Hope you can grab the Micro!