The machinedrum upgrade and price was ridiculous. The Voyager, well I’d go with the upgrade just to have all my presets on the machine. At least we’re afforded the option of the upgrade. Moog could as well as released a newer version of the Voyager and features with nothing for us previous owners 
I find this news of a hardware upgrade to be a bit depressing, considering I just got my Electric Blue. I know it’s not mandatory, but most people want all the bells and whistles. On the otherhand, it is somewhat commedable that they aren’t just leaving the existing voyager users completely in the dark, and at least allowing the upgrade.
Here is a message from Sweetwater that they got directly from Moog Today!
Hi Mark, I have more information about the upgrade. First of all, the upgrade is to V2.6 not 3 (there is no V3). The price will be $325 plus shipping. here are the installation instructions to give you a clearer picture:
INSTALLING THE NEW V2.6 UPGRADE ON VOYAGER EDITIONS
You must perform this upgrade in a static free environment.
For Voyager Signature, Anniversary, Electric Blue or Performer Editions:
- Open the chassis (5 screws)
- Detach the 6 cables and 4 connectors attached to the Digital Board
- Unscrew the 6 screws holding down the Digital Board
- Install the new Digital Board
- Attach the cables and connectors
- Close up the unit with the 5 screws
For Voyager Rack Mount Edition:
- Open chassis (7 screws)
- Detach the 6 cables and 3 connectors attached to the Digital Board
- Unscrew the 6 screws holding down the Digital Board
- Install the new Digital Board
- Attach the cables and connectors
- Close up the unit with the 7 screws
As far as i know, Moog will include pictures with these instructions along with the board.
Thanks again.
Yuval
So the rumor is confirmed, $325.00 upgrade.
Sounds simple enough. $325 is too much though.
So…what to do with a redundant $300 digital board ???
It’s a lot of money just to throw in the bin, and given the reliability of these units it isn’t really worth keeping as a spare.
Using it as a Z180 ‘development kit’ is also unlikely due to the specialised nature of the design.
Couldn’t Moog offer a nominal reduction on the price of the new board for the return of the old board for “recycling” ?
It would also be worth knowing what future developments of Voyager functionality now become possible with the new board (as well as the full list of OS v2.6 features) - further incentive to perform the upgrade. With a PC connection (small laptop for stage use) I already have virtually instantaneous access to 700+ patches and the fast scrolling through voices.
Can we assume that no further OS upgrades will occur for ‘version 1’ digital boards ?
I’d keep the board for spares, just in case!
I’d do the same! But for those who don’t want to keep it they shouldn’t just toss the old one out. At worst Moog could instruct us to send it back in the same package we got the new one with (pre-paid shipping package back to Moog)? But i guess if other distributors , like Sweetwater are going to be selling them I don’t know how this would work.
The upgrade aint cheap…but so are all things being Moog.
Its going to be interesting to see what the UK cost is…
Frightening more like! 
Well, what’s the point of the software now? What does the software give you that you couldn’t just do yourself (with the expanded presets)? If you haven’t bought the software yet, you could just say to yourself that you’re in fact SAVING $79 by getting the upgrade! Well, that may be what I tell myself anyway.
Well the Preset Genetics feature of the software is still cool and fun. Plus I don’t think with the hardware upgrade you can categorize patches. This alone for me is worth the price of the librarian. I don’t care how fast you can turn a knob to get to patch 551, it’s not going to be quicker than two clicks on my mouse (1 for category, 1 for patch) and I’m there! That’s even if you remember what patch 551 was to begin with
What’s the Presets Genetics feature about?
It allows you to take two patches and Morph, Mix, Mutate, or Randomize the settings of each producing Offspring patches. It’s like selecting parents and seeing what the kids will look like if mixed together.
Sometimes you can get some pretty cool patches or weird ones depending on what Parameters you include in your settings.
It’s great to see Moog upgrading the Voyager. 768 patch memory storage is quite bit. Having the ability to turn a knob to get to different patches will save time. Now, if it was only a FOUR VOICE and cost LESS, it would be more attractive to us PO’R folks.
Mike T.
Glad to see a bit of humour in here too. I have to say, my Voyager serves me best as a knob-laden fiddle board. I’d love the storage if its an OS thing, but will not miss it for a second if it isn’t.
I do hope my life never gets so complicated that I’d need to get my hands on so many presets so quickly. Lets remember the basis for the Voyager was memory free, and focus on it’s glorious strengths! 
When I get my Voyager the first thing I’m going to do is see which preset I will never need. Those spots will be for my own patches. Evntually I’ll get the upgrade board, but I doubt I’ll use most of the factory patches. However, I’m sure there will be plenty that will inspire me when rolling my own.
I’m curious to find out whether there are other things to this upgrade board that will add even more future features.
Indeed…
I have stopped using presets, and I it has freed me up…its only been a coupla months, I feel like I’ve learned so much!! Yeah, if the board affords some other interresting expansion, I’d prolly spring for it, but patch memory??? I’d just use the editor… I had a Virus synth, what a mess that thing was…1024 patches!!! All useless!!! haha!! Even after programming my own sounds, it felt like I was escaping something very important…you may see what I mean someday, If you don’t already…
the Voyager is badass, i do think its so awesome how we can hot-rod it out with CV processors, MFs, even expansion ROM!!! Keep it comin!!
peacePeace
<< When I get my Voyager the first thing I’m going to do is see which preset I will never need. Those spots will be for my own patches. >>
Actually, I’d suggest the first thing you should do is backup the presets before blowing any of them away. That way, you have them for your own future reference (at least until Moog makes them available on their web site).
I found that some presets that didn’t impress me at first did interest me later. Give yourself a way to get 'em back - just in case.
<< Here is a message from Sweetwater that they got directly from Moog Today!
… First of all, the upgrade is to V2.6 not 3 (there is no V3). >>
Huh? The OS that shipped with the RME is V2.6. According to Moog, this version is recommend only for the RME, not the keyboard version.
Sweetwater’s Summer NAMM coverage lists the upgrade as V3.0:
http://www.sweetwater.com/publications/reports/index.php?action=summary&sid=23&startrow=10
But don’t forget the Virus C allows you to categorize the patches. You can scroll through the banks quick and easy by type (i.e. leads, bass, decay, etc.). I think this could be done on the Voyager with an OS upgrade added to the edit Menu.