Okay, here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Er8Gnxywo5o
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDDUnZ-akmg
Something to include in the debate about the quality of sound generated by the Micromoog. : )
Some other things to remember:
Variable waveshape!
Modulation matrix!
Oscillator filter modulation (several settings!)
Great Video.
I love the Micro; it was one of the first synths I ever owned (that and an MG-1 that I bought with the Micro for $90 total in '91), and I kept it for 10 years.
The wide sweeping oscillator frequency is a really great feature as illustrated in your video. fantastic.
That and the oscillator modulation (and other features) really give this little Moog alot of versatility and character.
I wish I had the room and resources to have one of every synth; If I did, the Micro would definitely be among the first synths I would gather for my collection.
But I don’t, so I’m just going to keep a MiniMoog and a small modualr set-up…
…and maybe an MS20…
Thanks, Eric!
These are the things that need to be shown about the Micromoog… people get all caught up in comparison of the tone between it and the other cheaper Moogs… but what is never discussed is the fact that the Micromoog has features not only not seen on other Moogs, but not seen on many other synthesizers.
I went through a “must collect analog” phase… it just gets depressing. I am far too obsessive-compulsive… I started to experience stress when certain synths weren’t being used as much as certain other synths… and then stress because unused synths seem to develop problems more quickly.
What about polyphony?
yeah, polyphony is a wierd thing for me.
I’ve had a number of polys and none of them really did it for me. I agree with those people who say that polyphonics and monophonics are just two totally different instruments.
I actually prefer many divide-down synths to later polys with digital controlled oscillators and memory banks, etc. They just sound stronger or more real to me…
I like the prophet 5, but even it sounds a little soft IMO.
I’ve been wondering about the Jupiter 4 lately. It seems like it might be closer to the sound I’m looking for, based on some things I’ve read.
Wow, Eric, that’s cool… I feel the same way you do. I have been afraid to admit this, due to the vehement Prophet 5 supporters here, but I really prefer analog polyphonics… and by analog, I mean without the help of computers. Let’s face it, you add a computer to handle some aspects, and all of a sudden, you’ve got a computer handling most aspects. Due to the fact that polyphony wasn’t widely affordable until the eighties, all polyponics (unless you work REALLY HARD, or it’s a very old polyphonic) sound like eighties synths.
I have always wanted a Jupiter 4 because it is SO dorky looking… and I expect that it is likely to have a pretty old sound, too. (I’ve heard recordings on the internet)
I have a Yamaha CS-50 which is REALLY GREAT… but can sound strangely digital if you’re not careful. I have a Mono/Poly, which many will dismiss out of hand, but still sounds more 70s and analog than most… but my favourite polyphonic is my PS-3100. I would encourage it to anyone who wasn’t obsessed with having a Prophet 5 or Memorymoog. : )
Oh, yeah, I forgot about the Yamaha CS polys. Those are pretty haunting instruments. I really love what I’ve heard from them, and that ribbon slider is just outrageous when it starts to reverbate (maybe the ribbon is just on the CS80??)
There was this group from Boston in the early-mid 90s called the Swirlies, and they used a CS50 or CS60 or one of them. I always loved it’s sound in their music. I remember I saw them play live a few times and I couldn’t figure out what kind of instrument it was (cause it looks more like a compact organ).. and I always thought it had a strange almost Mellotron type of sound…
Yeah, but most polys in general all sound too digitized to me. for instance, I have a Jupiter 6 right now that I’ve had on extended loan from a friend for a very long time… I’m mostly just holding on to it for him… cause I never play it… It has no magic. I can’t be bothered with patch memories… and it takes me so long to program anything half-way decent sounding on it. I read somewhere that some people have been able to get a Polymoog sound from the Jupiter 6… I wish someone would tell me how.
You know, one sort of odd-ball cheap poly that I like somewhat is the Korg Poly800. It has a kind of almost string synth sound because it only uses one filter for all 8 voices. I have two of the table top version (EX800) that I use alot for Midi sequencing… you can still get them for $50-100. Which is why I bought them in the first place… but then I ended up liking it for alot of sounds. It definitely sounds digital too.. but it’s also really cheap and thin sounding, which I like for some reason… maybe because it doesn’t take up too much space on a track… it can be very minimal…