Considering getting One

Polyphonic Analog Synthesizer
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AvMjr
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Considering getting One

Post by AvMjr » Sat Feb 20, 2021 11:46 am

Hi, everyone - or should I say «everyOne»? :wink:

First of all, I realize there's another thread about your opinion on the Moog One for someone else who's considering getting it, but I wanted to see if maybe some of you had an opinion on the Moog One in regards to my own personal needs and wishes for this synth and if you, who have the experience with the unit, think that it would be a good fit for me? In advance, thanks so much for your time and your thoughts!

What I'm primarily after, is a great-sounding analog synth timbre with polyphony options and versatile filters and LFOs for processing these synth sounds – both chords, leads and weird vintage sound effects – as well as the ability to process external sounds through the synth in a similar manner. I really love the variation in «bleeps and bubbles» of Stereolab and the likes (links to examples below), relying heavily on filtering and LFO-treatment of all sorts of sounds. I'd definitely be running my other keyboards and gear through the Moog One, using the different sections of the synth to process sounds and turn them into something completely different – or just add a little bit of texture and filtering for an alternative touch on more «common» sounds.

I'd basically be using the Moog One for recording (for my own solo project and in my work as producer), so I would rather layer different sounds on separate audio tracks to have more control over them in the mixing process, than layer the three different timbres in the Moog One. So I do think the 8-voice model would be sufficient, although I'd be curious to learn your opinions on the pros and cons of the 8-voice vs. the 16-voice considering my needs and main use of this synth. I don't tend to use arpeggios much either, at least so far in my musicianship.

To be able to purchase the Moog One, I would need to sell my Moog Voyager, my Moog Opus-3 and my Korg Polysix. Then I'd be left with my Nord Stage 3, which is my main live keyboard, but which I find myself using a lot for recording synth sounds as well. I'd also like to keep my Korg MS-20, and I have a Farfisa Compact Deluxe, a Fender Rhodes Mark II, a Wurlitzer 200A and a Roland Rhythm 77 drum machine, all of which I'd like to run through the filters of the Moog One. Furthermore, I have a Deagan vibraphone and marimba that I'd like to treat through the Moog One (of course after recording these instruments first).

To sum up, the sounds I'd primarily be after, are more 70s/90s sounding than 80s, although I'm definitely interested in how this synth could potentially expand my soundscape (for instance, one of the artists I work with is very much into ambient music and dissonance) and inspire me to delve further into synthesis to progress the way I work and think about sound. This, in addition to the top-quality timbre, filters and LFOs, is what intrigues me about the Moog One – the possibility to do an endless amount of tweaking, constantly exploring new sonic territories and having it all in one unit that also has polyphony.

I know there's been a lot of issues with a lot of Moog One synths out there, but how often do you think it would need to be serviced – I mean, if I mainly use it in my studio and don't move it around much, do you think it would be stable enough to not have to be serviced every other year? I also know this synth is made up of A LOT of parts – and really tiny parts – so do you think one would have to be a synth specialist to be able to troubleshoot and fix it, or should an all-round instruments technician be able to figure it out?

Do you think the Moog One would be able to replace my Voyager, Opus-3 and Polysix AND add something substantially new and different in terms of sound-processing and tweaking? Do you have an opinion on the filters and LFOs of the One vs. the Voyager?

Again, thank you so much for reading this far, and I'd really appreciate ALL your opinions – both positive and negative, of course – and I look forward to the conversation!

Here are a few examples of the type of sounds and processing I'd be interested in recreating and developing further:

https://youtu.be/DSXf0RRtSQ8

https://stereolab.bandcamp.com/track/off-on

https://youtu.be/rbDB-YYtvWs

https://youtu.be/OXbh_ydJv-4

https://youtu.be/f4NQmZ6kEe8

All the best,
Alexander

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till
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Re: Considering getting One

Post by till » Tue Feb 23, 2021 5:45 am

The Moog One filters don't get this Moog Ladder Overdrive as much as the Voyager.
I kept my Voyager and my Minimoogs.
The Opus-3 uses oct<ve divider technique for the strings. The phase of each note is constant to the others. You don't get this from a notmal polyphonic instrument with individual controlled oscillators. And especially not from VCOs. The Ops-3 also uses some fixed filter bank for its string sounds. You don't get this on most polysynths. So if you are like the string sound of the Opus-3, you won't get it on the Moog one.
keep on turning these Moog knobs

Sequence:
Prodigy * minimoog '79 * Voyager * MF102 * MF103 * MF104z * MP201 * Taurus 3 * Minitaur * Sub Phatty * MF105 * Minimoog 2017+ MUSE * One 16

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noisebit
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Re: Considering getting One

Post by noisebit » Thu Feb 25, 2021 12:25 pm

When I ordered my Moog One in April 2019, there was fortunately no need for me to sell some old gear for purchasing a new gear. Another fact is, this is my first and only Moog synthesizer with all fittings I ever wanted for an analog synthesizer. I never had the intention, that my Moog One has to sound like my Prophet, Virus TI, Waldorf Iridium, Kurzweil...

But I still have the imagination, that my Moog One sounds like no other gear that I possess and sounds on its own. If the Moog One does not sound like an Oberheim XA or a Moog Voyager or a Minimoog - that´s absolute ok for me. I spend much time thinking about the decision in buying the 8 or 16 voices. I decided for the 16 voices. So, the Moog One has 48 oscillators can sound at the same time - not possible for the Minimoog or the Moog Voyager. Has anyone asked the question: "Can a Moog Voyager, Minimoog, Prophet, Oberheim XA sound like a Moog One?" ;-) I don´t know :wink:

The Moog One can be set to a 2x6 and a 1x4 voices Synthesizer at the same time - with three different sounds in split mode. Who´s be able to do this analog, too? Use this setting in real time performance and listen...

I don´t use the Moog One with Midi - perhaps I am the only user doing this. But I really love the philosophy of Stephan Schmitt with his idea to create an electronic instrument without midi ("nonlinear labs C15") for the "performing musician, designed for playability and detailed sound editing" - an absoluty interesting and new way to think about building an electronic instrument. So, I actually purchased a "nonlinear labs C15" last week, a must have for me - like the Moog One.

I will never use the Moog One as an expander for Logic like a VST-Instrument. When I play the Moog, I will press the keys on the Moog and hear the sound. That´s my philosophy.

Many user talk about issues with the moog, you know about, too. I play my Moog One since May 2019. In this time I had one or two times a hanging sticky note and before using firmware 1.3 I had only one reboot while creating a sound. This was caused by a wrong parameter setting (after firmware upgrade). But all the other time I am very happy spending time and making music with my Moog One on FW 1.4. With the new oscillator compensation capability the Moog One can sound clean in tonality, without real analog feeling. But I prefer to switch off the compensation possibility for myself and hear the sound pure with all the uncleanliness random sweeps.

But I respect other people´s opinions- because everyone has their own ideas.

I trust in Moog and in their current development concept - I think, the next firmware upgrade will be a major upgrade.

In your position, I would keep the gear like Korg MS-20 and Polysix. Every instrument has it´s own soul.

Cheers!
Tom
Moog One 16/NL C15/Waldorf Iridium/Prophet XL/Prophet 10 D/Prophet rev2 16/OB-X8/OB 6 D/2600/VC 340/Kurzweil PC3K7/Kurzweil 2500R/Access Virus TI2/Reason/NI Ultimate/Logic X

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AvMjr
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Re: Considering getting One

Post by AvMjr » Fri Mar 19, 2021 9:57 am

Many thanks for your opinions – I really appreciate them! Still considering the Moog One. Any additional views and opinions out there? :D I'm torn between the 8- and 16-Voice - is there a chance for more technical issues in the future with the 16-Voice compared to the 8-Voice?

Iaamusic
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Re: Considering getting One

Post by Iaamusic » Fri Mar 19, 2021 1:10 pm

I’ve had the 8 voice (reasoning that I was after modular type of analog complexity) and don’t wish I’d gone for the 16 voice. I don’t do multiple layers so don’t miss those other 8 voices. The thing I really dig about the One is it’s huge potential wrapped in probably the best UI on a poly synth. I can literally do pretty much most things a rack of modular gear can do, but with Moog filters, polyphony and presets. It’s a fine instrument, with the exception of the FX which I am underwhelmed by at this price point.

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noisebit
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Re: Considering getting One

Post by noisebit » Sat Mar 20, 2021 1:56 pm

When I reflect your question: The most of my self programmed sounds are using only one layer and sound absolute fantastic.

For this, I agree for the 8 voice.

The rest you can do with overdubs😉

I bought the 16 because I like splitting and sequencing in real time.

Cheers
Tom
Moog One 16/NL C15/Waldorf Iridium/Prophet XL/Prophet 10 D/Prophet rev2 16/OB-X8/OB 6 D/2600/VC 340/Kurzweil PC3K7/Kurzweil 2500R/Access Virus TI2/Reason/NI Ultimate/Logic X

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