Is it ridiculous to buy a moog source for live use? i want the moog sound, but i also want the ability to have everything preset (without spending $2500 on a voyager, yet)… but I hear the source doesn’t handle road wear and tear very well. Also, it doesn’t seem like i’d have much real-time control without the knobs. Any thoughts on this?
I gigged with a Source for years - still do. As long as the “crazy source” problem is fixed, they’re trouble-free. I don’t miss the lack of real-time control on the Source.
I echo MC’s post. I still gig with mine, its largely reliable. A couple o times its done the crazy source thing but i just power down and on again and its fine. I t can be easily fixed and is just due to oxidisation on the memory battery connections. The source is an amazing monosynth and theres nothing of its quality with presets at the price. The lack of one dial per function has never been a problem you can move real quick around the source. press the button and turn the dial, very quick and easy. Get one!
p.s i toured my source for two years with no problems at all. Tuning was perfect and it never let me down. These were important big gigs as well and if i didn’t trust the source i’d would have left it at home for def.
p.s i toured my source for two years with no problems at all. Tuning was perfect and it never let me down. These were important big gigs as well and if i didn’t trust the source i’d would have left it at home for def.
I actually bought my Moog Source to replace my Mini Moog for live work because the Source has patch memory, a sequencer and an ARP. You may think that sounds crazy, but when I was playing live, I wanted to push a button and be ready for the next tune with a new patch, OR I wanted to use more than one patch in the same song. As a previous post mentioned you can push a control panel button and turn the large control knob pretty quick if you want to do something live on the fly. I never had the “crazy source” problem with mine. It’s an excellent value and a great sounding synth. I’ve noticed they’ve been going up on Ebay lately.
Mike T.
I, too, never had the “crazy source” problem. However, I would point out that there is a slight noise problem due to the cables carrying signal going near the digital infinite dial. Re-route for improved sound quality. Also, watch closely for an error in the original manual.
The sound is excellent. Not as full as a Mini, IMO, but great nonetheless. As to playing live, unless you have some fancy additions to a Mini, the Source blows it away. The Source (like a few other synths) is a digitally controlled analog synth, meaning that you can store patches, something you could never do with a stock Mini. You can instantly change sounds that you program into it.
Sometimes, I would adjust set it up so I could adjust the Q with the dial, giving me manual control over some aspects of filtering. It worked quite nicely.
I did have some major work done to it. I had added memory positions (so I could store a lot more patches) and MIDI retrofitted. I lost the built in sequencing in the upgrade.
Once, while playing in San Diego, we opened for an up-and-coming Led Zep tribute band. They used an ARP Odyssey, but it got some rain as they were driving to the venue and wouldn’t operate. They asked to borrow my Source (and had me program it) for their set, and I helped them. The name of their band: Great White (later of “I don’t wanna face the day” fame).
I sold my original Source in 1992 and last year picked up another one which I have MIDI’d.
I would gig with my Source and leave my mini in the studio. For my needs the Source sounds closest to a mini then anything I have tried, either analogue or virtual and in my experience I have always found the Source to be quite Road worthy . . with the exception of the earlier version having the tune knob sticking out of the back, prone to getting knocked . . later versions have this knob recessed but really . . there’s very little to get knocked or broken.
I have the encore midi kit installed giving me 256 patches . . try that on a Voyager! Once MIDI’d, it’s also great as a Taurus replacement with a set of Roland PK5 midi pedals (very good Taurus preset).
I have never found the lack of real controls a problem . . after a while you get used to pressing the membranes and tweaking the dial (very tactile) and in fact it’s quite fun to “play” the weighted “Incremental Control” dial as the sound changes after you have let go, so you can twist the dial and continue playing a solo while the filter opens fully, while also adding some mod from the wheel . . try that on a mini without a pedal.
Still one of my favorite moogs
Mal
ok, i’m sold. who’s selling?
Actually, what should I expect to pay? I’ve seen some on ebay for $1000-1200, which seems high, considering most online reviewers/owners payed an average of $650 for theirs.
I would think that $600 - 800 US. There has been someone trying to sell one for the last few months btn $1200 - 1500 which just won’t happen. They have crept up in price over the past few years as more ppl are hearing the praises of it and realize that a lack of knobs is not as big an issue as they thought.
looks like he was successful…
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=29552&item=7320979427&rd=1
WOW!
Someone that posts on Musicplayer.com bought one for 750 bucks not too long ago, and it was in nowhere near as good as condition as mine is. There is only ONE scratch on mine, on the face of the large control knob, otherwise, its perfect. The way the prices are going up, if I sit on some of my analogs for awhile, I may get more than I paid for them way back when.
Mike T.
That’s quite a jump, they’ve been steadily selling for around $600.
MC:
Considering the Moog Source on that ebay link just posted went for 1275.00, I’d say they’ve been going up quite a bit.
Mike T.
I can only concur with everything that has been said about The Source here.Superb underestimated instrument.Sold my Mini a couple of weeks ago to buy an AE Voyager but there’s no way I’d sell my Source.
I talked with a guy last night who does raves and he has a Source that he usies for his live performances - also uses a Future Retro Mobius as a sequencer and cv/midi. He says that when he selects the Taurus and lead button the “kids just go wild as the sound seems to permeate their being”.
never been to a rave - just a tad to old but I asked him to let my son know when he is playing so I can hear/see and feel it.