I’m currently saving towards a Voyager but am starting to wonder if now is the best time to buy one.
Is it my imagination or are developments for the Phatty coming at a much more rapid pace than those for the Voyager? Surely there must be something new on the horizon for the Voyager as well, no?
I know I’m being paranoid but the Voyager is a right pricey piece of kit and I want to make sure I make the right decision.
What do you guys think? Has Moog taken the Voyager as far as it can go or could there indeed be new developments waiting on the horizon?
I’ve had my Voyager Performer Se since 2005. I have upgraded the aftertouch, and the 8 bank memory. I don’t personally think the good folks at Moog could find much too improve with this magnificent instrument. I think the Old School model was also a wise move for those who don’t want computer interfaces, etc. But i do love the touch panel !
As for the Little Phatty, I own a Tribute edition, and while a very little bit frustrated with the new models coming out, I can live without what has so far been developed.
You will be amazed at the Voyager, and I don’t have lots of out-board gear for it. (yet)
Go for it !
I know I’m being paranoid but the Voyager is a right pricey piece of kit and I want to make sure I make the right decision.
I used to think this way about anything electronic that I purchased - especially if it was a big ticket item and DEFINITELY if it’s over $1000.
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that there’s ALWAYS something better if you wait long enough. I mean, there’s a lot to be said about buying something and then a few days later or even a couple of weeks later another “improved” version or alternative comes out, but…
If the Voyager has everything does that you need and sounds good to you and you’re not getting into debt to buy it then go for it - now! Even if something new comes along with some great feature or a “better” sound, you can:
A) Choose to be satisifed with something that meets your needs and that makes you happy
B) You can choose to be unhappy about what could have been.
It’s up to you, and I recommend option A. All I can say is that I am thrilled with my Voyager. I’ve only had it a few weeks and if something “better” comes out I won’t be disappointed. I mean, I sometimes miss the polyphony of some lush string pads, but that’s what my ROMpler is for…or maybe I’ll save up and buy 3 RME Voyagers…
Ill put it to you like this. It seems to me that the price of Voyagers is going up.
A couple of years ago when I got my first Voyager Performer, I think i paid almost 3000 for it. At the time I was convinced that the dealer price was around 2100 and the msrp was 2600. But if you go to a place like Sweetwater or a lot of other places, then they want to sell the Voyager for 2895, but throw in a GiG BaG and other stuff that really, you paid for with their price point.
Id go for it (I did, its supposed to arrive tomorrow) and I already know that youll be really satisfied. If they offer something better, hopefully its only a software upgrade away from being on the one that you get. If its REALLY worth it then Id send mine in for a hardware upgrade probably only after they really improved on the software enough that the hardware upgrade would be absolutely necessary.
A couple of years ago when I got my first Voyager Performer, I think i paid almost 3000 for it.
Id go for it (I did, its supposed to arrive tomorrow)
So, did you sell your original Voyager Performer and are buying a replacement, or is the one you just bought a second unit? If it’s another one I’m just curious why you would get another Keyboard and not an RME?
Technically, Im not really a keyboard player, so my studio isn’t overflowing with Black and Whites so It wouldn’t hurt me to have 2 keyboards. This is replacing my first Voyager and it should be here today.
Eric
I think though that if they made a dedicated touchpad controller and I had it to do all over again, I probably would buy the old school for the all analog control and the RME for the presets.
I feel the Voyager represents Dr. Moog’s penultimate work. The integration with the Moogers and the VX-351 is seamless and the MIDI and digital editing possibilities make pretty heavy icing on the cake.
I’m not really sure where the Voyager could go next in terms of upgrades. I’ve had the v3.x upgrade and after-pressure hardware sitting here for 9 months but why mess with a good thing??? Really I think future developments will be along the lines of the MP-201— that is to say outboard complex CV/MIDI controllers (like maybe a sequencer or event generator) and more Foogers.
If you wanna save some bucks go the Ebay or Craigslist route. With the economy crashing to various degrees around the country I’ve seen some pretty sweet deals on used Voyagers. Be warned though, after you get a Voyager you’ll want a VX-351 and some Moogers. And lot’s of patch cables.
Look at it lke this Jazzpunk,
the Voyager is timeless and “is what it is” it can never be improved on as its perfect,its sound wont get any better.
Its the right instrument to buy so dont worry about whats coming out
I wonder if they plan on putting USB on the Voyager.
I don’t necessarily think that Id rush my Voyager to the shop JUST for a USB hardware install. BUT if a hardware upgrade eventually became necessary to benefit from increases in the software then Id sure send it in.
Example: Hardware upgrade necessary for 896 presets.
I can’t think of anything that they could add that would make the Voyager any better with the exception of more Foogers and things of that nature and we have oogles of threads with ideas on what that would be.
I think the lack of disagreement in this thread speaks volumes: any time to buy a Voyager is the right time. I’ve had mine for a few years and have never once thought “oh I wish it had X”. Compare that to when I bought a shiny new iMac three days before they upgraded the line (dumb!!). With computers and the like waiting can be a smart move, but I agree with everyone else that any possible upgrades to the Voyager would almost certainly not be sufficiently revolutionary to make you feel even a twinge of regret. Go for it!
not to take this too off topic, but I guess I will any way…when thinking about buying a mac, always check macrumors.com…there are geeks out there who are aware of things like retail inventory, tracking when stores are reportedly empty of stock which usually happens before a whole line change…
Also, Mac is pretty decent for to people who bought something a few days before an entire line update…plenty of stories of people being able to exchange for the next one…
Ok, to round this back to the topic, if you think you will love it, buy it…I think instruments are like art…buy the thing you can live with, and enjoy…then the value of having a useful tool will always there.
I completely regret not buying some of my recent instrument purchases sooner…
!
