This is really an offshoot of another thread - the one about the discontinuation of the Voyager Old School. I was just making the point that Moog Music was most likely making room so that they can develop a cool new product. I was pulling for a new polysynth.
As follows: My wish?? Probably a nice, 61 or better yet, a 76 key polyphonic synth with the same quality and basic design as Voyager - traditional analog waveforms with knobs, switches and all. 8 Voices should do the trick. Perhaps with some of LP in there too to help cut down on knobs just a bit. THE MOOD TANK! Such a KILLER instrument that MILITARY TRAINING is required to own one.
Oh, with a removable 'back-lit optical ribbon controller built in as standard equipment.
Oh… might as well add a nice card slot - right there in the front panel… for adding banks of complex waveforms - those can be an after market thing…
alainhubert said: I agree, we all want a polyphonic Moog synth. That should be on Moog Music’s “to do” list. I just can’t imagine the price of such a beast!
Now, I was thinking that if they took the design right from Little Phatty, that could help keep the price down a bit.
Now, my card slot thing for adding complex waveforms might be cool. I mean, think of a Memorymoog, but wtih LP type contol and the card slot just puts complex waveforms into the mix - sort of like the external signal input. You could insert, say a piano sound which would either replace or be added to the oscillators and could be manipulated fully by all of the synths features, i.e. envelopes, filter, etc. The only synth that was designed to do this kind of thing that I know of was the Korg DSS1, but it was a conventional black-box, parameter controlled design.
That could be cool, if it’s feasible. But my question to you all is this: Asside from that, what could be produced in a polysynth that hasn’t already been done?
IMHO, the Memorymoog was one hell of a synth. I’ve owned one for 20 something years. But I think the technology of the time made it a bit un-roadworthy. But aside from that, I still don’t think that there was ever anything that could touch it.
I remember seeing a post from Amos with an oblique reference to a polysynth, so who knows.
To be honest, though, I don’th think I’d really care if Moog produced apolysynth, since it would almost certainly be priced well out of my reach… by several orders of magnitude.
Moreover, I have naval and not military training, so I wouldn’t be allowed to play it…
I have no musical skills whatsoever. That hasn’t kept me from producing pleasing music, though.
What hasn’t been done in a polysynth? What about a keyboard with multiple points on each key that allow you to bend the notes by wiggling your finger(s) side to side?
I think Moog is certainly capable of designing the most bad ass polyphonic thing ever, but I really think price would be a factor. The average musician cannot even justify the price of a Voyager. If Moog dropped Voyager prices and introduced the poly whatever at the Voyager price, then I’d be looking for stuff around my house to sell! However, unless Moog could sell a poly for equal or lesser cost of a Voyager, I (personally) would not consider it.
In no way am I trying to talk smack about Moog either. They are one of the few companies I trust. I consider my Moog gear to be some of the most inspiring instruments I’ve ever played and have no regrets about any purchase. I will also say, that had I not been able to get money from my student loans, I would not have been able to afford their lovely gear for many years.
I am totally OK with them not doing a poly synth and continuing to build mono synths geared toward performance. I will always get more use out of a patchable mono thing than a poly “beast.”
Yeah,
If it hadn’t been for income taxes ad credit lines last year I would still be sitting here with only a Micro, THeremin and a Ring Mod.
Look at the Korg Oaysis. Thats like an 8 thousand dollar unit. Its catered to people like Herbie Hancock. Maybe they could pump out a synth that costs what the Moog guitar does.
Look at Wendy Carlos’s modular…it had some kind of polyphonic section
Im sure that while a modular thing isn’t what people hailing for as a polysynth, they could definately do it.
A+ to the Moog stuff being so inspiring. Its one of the only Professional quality instruments that I own.
Wouldn’t need a card slot so costs for R&D and manufacturing could further be reduced - use the USB port to load an infinite number of waveforms. And with a software interface you could create you own and share with friends (like me!).
There’s a few analog polys currently out there already, I’ve got two (P’08, A6).
If Moog release a polysynth, it’ll be the whole discrete vs. chip argument again. I’m happy with them producing fat monos, unique controllers and beautiful effects.
With all due respect, I have to disagree. There are very few, if any, transistors in the Little Phatty. I think in this day in age where chips are not only more common, but are of the finest quality available, that only TRUE analog purists (the ones who REFUSE to acknowledge the Voyager as a TRUE Moog), would be the ones making this argument. While there are several analog synths, there are no Moog polysynths, and therein lies the issue. Those of us pulling for a Moog polysynth want a synth that not only sounds like a Moog, but looks like a Moog. And we want it to cost as much as a Moog Guitar or less. Which may be impossible. A thousand dollars per voice would still be reasonable, though.
Perhaps you’re right, Voltor. A “Curtis” PolyVoyager probably wouldn’t sound exactly like a Voyager (or several chained together), but would probably have its own sound.
I guess the problem would be sourcing those chips. History has shown us that this process tends to sink synthesizer companies.
N.B. IMO there is a difference between putting a transistor array on a single chip (makes sense, then you don’t have to match them by hand) and putting e.g. a VCF on a chip. Moog filters probably sound the way they do because of the almost discrete nature of the circuit.
Im sorry but a Voyager is a true Moog. Bob Designed it. If they are any more “Purist” than that they can kiss my ass. Oh I guess True Moog means from the Trumansburg factory.
Big Briar is just as much Moog as anything else.
Voltor you know how to get me started.
If Moog did a thang with curtis chips they woudl be following in the footsteps of others. Moog is the INDUSTRY LEADER. Don’t forget that , grasshopper.
