How well are these Phatty’s at holding pitch as you play up the keyboard. If I tune mine to middle C using a tuning program in my DAW, and play up or down an octave, the pitch will go sharp or flat very slightly off of 440 Hz. The farther away from middle c, the sharper or flatter it goes. Is this normal for true analog synthesis? I have only worked with virtual analog so I am trying to figure out what is “normal” for this machine.
how much out of tune is the board? How did you check the tuning? More detail would be appreciated before everyone on the group starts assuming their LP is gonna be faulty.
As it happens most analogs do go slightly flat or sharp up and down the keyboard but i do stress the word slightly.
I was not trying to create a panic. I was using a tuning plug-in in Logic 7.1 and running the Phatty through it. I’m not use to true analog synths so I was wanted to know what to expect. I did manage to talk to my neighbor who has a gear list as impressive as yours Goldphinga, and he told me that this is normal.
Dont be sorry man! Im just surprised people would answer on the board saying that this isnt normal, when it is the nature of all analog synths to be slightly out at each end.
If its out by semitone at each end then i would say something is wrong, but otherwise if it sounds ok and you are happy then thats the main thing.
I am with you Carbon…I am on the list at a store for a tribute…I’ve had it with repairs on old synth, that’s the only reason why I want something new…I rather wait until they get it right…So far fixing all my analog synths have been months of waiting plus a lot of shipping fees, etc…no thank you…
I know what you mean about the Source warming up to get in tune. I love my Source but it is worthless for at least 10 minutes after turning it on. It is COMPLETELY out of tune–WAY out of tune. My Model D is in tune from the minute I turn it on. I thought that the Source was supposed to be an improvement with all the new technology!!
That said, no modern analog sould have any scaling issues out of the gate (a short keyboard should track to within a cent or two)…or indicator malfunctions or a loud fixed buzzing in the audio path. I’m going to wait on the LP until I can play one in person.
Both my Source and my Model D have small pots that have a slot for a screwdriver head. You turn these left or right to tune or scale. At the factory, after the instrument was adjusted, they would put something like Loctite on the adjustment head to hold it in place during shipping or transporting from gig to gig.
I would imagine that this is similar to what is done on the LP, although there may be a more modern method of manufacture and adjustment now days.
A rough ride from UPS or Fed Ex could break that Loctite bond and let the range and scale pots get out of adjustment. From what it sounds like, some of these poor LP’s have had a pretty rough ride from the factory to their new home.
I don’t recall seeing range and scale instructions in the LP manual. It doesn’t make sense to have to send it in to Moog every time you want it adjusted…
The Minimoog Model D is simple to tune and range and scale. It can be done without taking anything apart. It can be done by anyone who has a good ear, but it is best if you have the proper equipment to get it exactly in tune.
For whatever reason, the Source was not easy to range and scale or tune. It has to be taken apart to get to the pots. Seems kind of silly to have designed it this way. Once you are into the guts of the machine, it only takes a minute or two to tune up.
i wish people would stop slagging the LP until theyve spent some proper time with one. its like people are wanting to rip this synth to shreds deliberately.
mine should be delievered today so im reserving judgement for a couple o weeks until ive used and abused it on some tracks.
i think most early opinions on gear are usually dubious to say the least. AND i suspect many people who will be buying the LP and asking questions on here dont have much prior analog synth experience, not all, but many.
its great that moogs are becoming available to a new fan base but slightly naive questions come with the territory.
these boards can do more damage to a synths rep than good sometimes, so we’d all be stupid to take opinions on here as gospel.
one persons experience with LP does not mean that the whole job lot is an out of tune light flickering, buzzy mess!
We took the Source on tour and unless we had the room/chance to plug it in and let it warm-up (on-stage) for 30+ minutes… it was useless. It’s tough to find room to warm it up that long, where we won’t have to unplug it again before we play. I’m worrying the band playing before us might kick it over or use it as a table for their beers.
But the issues so far discussed have not been limited to one machine or one person. If it were just a single issue on a single machine. I wouldn’t be so concerned.
Some of the issues have necessitated a repair back at the Moog facility. Its mere prudence that councels my caution. Ashville is a long way from my house
Some of the issues have necessitated a repair back at the Moog facility. Its mere prudence that councels my caution. Ashville is a long way from my house
My sentiments exactly. I’m in the UK and I held off placing an order for an LP here, because I feared a repeat of the minor hardware issues experienced with the first 600 Voyagers (Sig. Ed’s). They had a prototype pitch bend assembly which was far from perfect and various other hardware issues from memory.
Moog support over here is virtually non-existant with Sound Control just finding their feet and Turnkey not knowing their arse from their elbow.
The logistics of getting any hardware upgrades don’t bear thinking about, so I think people are perfectly entitled to express their dismay.
I love Moog, the products and the support, but they’ve had long enough to get the thing right before it went out of the door.
No one is bashing the LP. There are numerous people that are having issues with their LP. Is this a surprise, NO. I think everyone that owns an analog synth at one time or another knows that there will be issues with new products…That’s why we see so much revisions. It will get resolve and it will perform flawlessly.
For me though, after having owned, Jup 6, Pro-One, OB-Xa, Yamaha CS-60, I want something without any issues what so ever. Just want to take it out of the box plug it in and play. No warming up nonsense, no buzz, lights blinking, etc……That is the whole purpose of getting something new. If I want to start sending things back to a tech then I’ll get something vintage and start worrying on repairs.
The LP will be issue free I have no doubt. However, as people keep receiving them there might be more issues and Moog will deal with it as they come along. Once all these minor flaws have been taken care of, I WILL GET ONE. In the meantime I rather wait…..