I just pulled the trigger on a New Voyager Old School. I already have a Voyager select fire. Why did I do this, not sure I think I’m a Whore for all things MOOG. Can you think of any benefits to having 2 voyagers 1 old school? I have 30 days to decide to keep or return.
PS. I also have the Taurus 3 pedals coming my way. Epic set up or Moog Overkill?
EPIC setup, guy. This is similar to the setup I hope to have someday. Why? Because, the OS is 100% not digital. No fancy operating system, no MIDI…I can’t think of a better way to start building a semi-modular rig. The Voyager will allow you presets and MIDI…but does it have the “feel” of the OS? I wouldn’t think so. Also, even though these two instruments will create the same sounds OS to Voyager, and not Voyager to OS, you’ll never be able to recreate the same sound twice on the OS. It’ll always be a touch off, thereby adding to the OS “feel”. I’d keep both synths, and add the Taurus pedals.
Then again with the money I spent on the old school I could start a dot com set up or a eurorack set up. Maybe get one of those sweet analouge solution semi modulars (like the telemark or vostok) or a a6 or a q+. Lots of other gear I could get instead.
Perhaps you haven’t heard, but eventually I’ll have two .com entry level systems with full cabinets. One cabinet will have a couple custom modules based off Minimoog designs. On top of that, my Farfisa, Little Phatty, two Voyagers, Taurus III, and whatever other gear I can conjure up for my studio. Moog and non-Moog together in a single room.
See my signature. There’s a very fine line between “hobby” and “insanity”. I’ll be building up my setup for a long time…at the rate of one module a month, and a synth every other year or so. Hopefully, there’ll still be some Old Schools left in a year. I also plan on doubling (tripleing?) up on 'Foogers. And building stuff for the sake of building stuff.
i think you made a brilliant decision. i would love to get a select series to go with my old school. although i am really praying for a polyphonic moog somewhere on the horizon.
I, myself, would not have an OS and a Voyager. More than one RME and a Select so I could do polyphony through MIDI, maybe.
I would use the money for a S.com or Doepfer system and get some different abilities.
But it is your money and needs.
let us know when you get the OS…i think many members here will have questions asking you to compare sounds between the 2 instruments with similar control settings
if there is not a new polyphonic moog out before i am ready to buy again, i will totally get another voyager. it’s all an effort to have my very own moog museum.
I have three Voyagers and am looking to get 2 or 3 more before I am done. So, I don’t think 2 is crazy at all. I did not opt for any OS’s though. I spent a great deal of time with one and it is a fine instrument.
To me, they sound the same (barring the slight programming possibilities between the two). I did not notice any difference in playability or “becoming one with the instrument” on the OS vs the Voyager. I think the perceived difference between one being all analogue vs the Voyager have digital control over the analogue path is non-sense. They both play like a Minimoog. They both have that instant playability. They both have that “Moog magic”. I also own a large modular system and both instruments played exactly like my modular in the “knob-twisting” and response sense. I own other analog synths and the same can not be said for them.
In the end, I could not bear to lose the touch plate and the possibility of chaining multiple units together for polyphony. Prior to the release of the OS, I have always been confused as to why someone would care about the Voyager having digital control or MIDI. Just use real panel mode and don’t use the MIDI. Simple as that. I do applaud Moog for creating the OS for these users though as it allowed them to not have to pay for these features - especially if they are not going to use them. It may have even allowed some to afford a Voyager.
A couple of questions to ask yourself: How important is it for you to recreate the exact same sound you come up with? How easily do you want polyphony? When using polyphony, how important is it to have the exact same sound on each note? How important is the touch plate? If any of these are important, you are probably going to be happier with a non-OS Voyager.
Since you mentioned polyphony, my advice for you is that if you are looking for easy polyphony, you will need to have MIDI on both units if you want to utilize MIDI Key Order (built into the Voyager & RME - not the OS). Another possibility is to use the Synthesizers.com keyboard. It is capable of allowing up to two notes. But if you add another Voyager, you will need to find something else though. I do not know of another easy way to get polyphony otherwise. I know many have gone mad trying various methods though!
Whoa that’s alot of Voyagers. Well If I can’t hook them up together that’s gonna be a problem. I should of researched this but I guess I got a little carried away. I might have to double think this investment.
The OS appealed to me for both of those reasons. It was definitely easier on my wallet. I also specifically wanted to not deal with presets, midi, or any of the extras from the Voyager. I am pretty sure I was born in the wrong era, all of the older gear appeals to me so much more.
I don’t see myself acquiring another voyager anytime soon though. Maybe get one for my kid one day far down the road. Before that, I want to find a vox continental, a hammond b3/c3, and possibly an old prophet 5 (i wasn’t too much of a fan of the p '08).
Well said Alenation .
Two Voyager SE’s here along with a Model D and a Little Phatty TE, So no you are not crazzy . It all depends on what you want to do with them. If you are hoping to hook the OS up to your other Voyager the only way ypu can do it is through CV.
The OS is nice, but it is not going to be any better than a Voyager with “digital” both use the same analog signal path.
On my Voaygers I’ll MIDI them to each other or something else depending on the project. I’ll store presets for recall later and or live performance. I will also program a new sound from what ever “preset” us called up at the time, then program aniother from that point. It’s a great to have the features the “Digtial” provides.