Model D Outputs

EricK · Post by **EricK** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 2:22 am

Can anyone provide any specs on the Mini-D? Like im wondering what kind of outputs that it has and I can't get a good picture of the rear panel to determine that for myself. I might be getting one in a few months if I can be so fortunate so i was wondering if anyone wants to help me out?

Hey anyone want to donate 5 thousand dollars to my artist-in-need fund?
lol

Happy holidays everyone!

Respectfully,
Eric K

GregAE · Post by **GregAE** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 8:10 am

Sorry, no pix from me (no money either

), but you might want to check out the 'Lords of the Minimoog' site for info on all things Mini:

http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/Th ... _the_Mini/

Brian G · Post by **Brian G** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 8:13 am

1/4" Mono High and Low level.

In addition you have CV in for Volume, Pitch and Filter. Audio input to the filter. Also an S Trigger input and two accessory connectors that were used for older Moog accessories.

EricK · Post by **EricK** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 9:51 am

Heheh,
THanks, that helps me out tremendously with everything that I need to know.

Eric

Kevin Lightner · Post by **Kevin Lightner** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 3:45 pm

I would think you could get a good Minimoog D for well under $5000.

Fwiw, there's much disinformation (wrong info) on that French Minimoog site.
Lots of assumptions and guessing provided as fact.
For example, there aren't just the metal and vinyl front panels.
There was a production run of minis with a much thinner vinyl attached to a thin metal backing.
Later they ditched this in favor of a thicker, vinyl only front panel.
So there were not just two types of panels, there were three.
Several errors like this. Possibly minor, but still not completely factual.

But even the Minimoog service manual has several errors and hasn't seemed to cause too many problems.

I also must admit laughing when I saw a pic of one of their "restored" minimoogs complete with all the 30+ year old capacitors still in it.
I guess I'm a snob, but in my opinion that isn't restoration.
They didn't build them with 30 year old capacitors.
It also raises the question: if someone had never played a mini new and didn't attend to several important points when restoring it, how do they know how a mini should behave or sound like when new?
They've yet to hear one.

EricK · Post by **EricK** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 5:59 pm

No the 5K is for the "artist in need fund"

What do you think the minimum for a model D would fetch?

EricK

Joog · Post by **Joog** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 5:49 am

Got my beautiful '74 unmodded Model D for $2500 CDN, I've seen modded and otherwise toyed with ones in the same range and up to 4K on eBay. The Toronto craigslist currently has a '79 Model D for the same price.

EricK · Post by **EricK** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 12:39 pm

Can any of you comment on whether or not you would purchase a Modded out Moog or whether or not you think that any modifications would ruin the overall value of the instrument?

THe modification im referring to is a mod to the low output changing it to 1 V per octave CV out.

Eric

till · Post by **till** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 3:07 pm

EricK wrote:...
THe modification im referring to is a mod to the low output changing it to 1 V per octave CV out.

This will make the typical feedback loop trick impossible. You will have to use the headphone out for this. But a cable in the headphone socket all the time is something I don't like (unless I am in a live situation to check sounds before starting to play).

Kevin Lightner · Post by **Kevin Lightner** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 4:55 pm

The feedback trick could still be done with a Y cable or split signal adaptor.
They're pretty cheap.
I personally don't think it's all that great of a trick, but it's hard to counter people like Jan Hammer who have mentioned using it.
Putting positive feedback into a filter can increase volume and distortion, but usually lowers resonance levels.
It can also overdrive the VCA stage and remove some dynamic range from the envelope.

Do mods lower the value of a synth?
Usually, yes.
But there are well-done mods and hack jobs.
Nice ones might make such a synth more valuable in the eyes of someone who appreciated the mod(s).

Synths are often comparable to cars and women.
Some people like them modded, but most like them original.

I think your larger concern would be getting an integrally good Mini for a good price.
Some have been played to death and no amount of switch cleaning will bring back worn away contact plating.

Btw, here's a trick to know if a Mini has the later temp stabilized oscillators without the need to look or listen to it.
If the synth has been on for 15 mins or more, simply place your hand on the right side panel around the power cord area.
If it's very warm, it's probably fitted with the later VCO's.
That later board draws a lot of current and it's dissipated by heat.
So you can walk up to someone's mini, touch it and then look psychic as you say "Later VCO board, huh?"

(caveat: some internal Midi converters draw a lot of current too.)

EricK · Post by **EricK** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 8:07 pm

I really appreciate all the info posted here! Its definately stuff that I hadn't thought about.

I like the woman analogy too lololol. I could think of a few more i think but it would surely be borderline on whats appropriate for this here forum lololol.

Respectfully,
Eric

space_nerd · Post by **space_nerd** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:53 am

The "touch" trick is nice and funny

I guess for the ingorant rest of us

, we can only tell by looking at the back panel, which osc card is inside: the tuning holes in the three oscillator card versions are in differemt places (that's R.A.Moog, the second oscillator card from 1971-71 onwards, and the "D"one)

HAPPY CHRISTMASS TO EVERYONE

Nikos-Greece

Kevin Lightner · Post by **Kevin Lightner** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 4:08 pm

we can only tell by looking at the back panel

Mmm... sometimes...

Many Minis have the later VCO boards but with an earlier back panel.
Although all minis from serial number 10175 came stock with this board, many boards were sold separately later to retrofit earlier minis.
Not all had their back panels changed or added the additional holes.

MC · Post by MC » Fri Dec 28, 2007 4:42 pm

The feedback trick is most effective when spiking the VCA with less than 100% sustain level. You can get a massive transient punch with 150ms decay and 50% sustain level if you set the ext signal level at the right amount. This overdrives the VCA on the decay transient.

I'd upload a sample mp3 but my FTP access isn't working...

Nick Montoya · Post by **Nick Montoya** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 8:27 pm

Kevin Lightner wrote:
Do mods lower the value of a synth?
Usually, yes.
But there are well-done mods and hack jobs.
Nice ones might make such a synth more valuable in the eyes of someone who appreciated the mod(s).

Well, I think if I sold my mini (that was modded by Mr. Lightner) I'd have no problem getting more than a regular old mini off ebay... What do you guys think?

Sorry for the crappy pic... Tried to link to Kevin's pic, but no more synthfool pix

Maybe yall disagree... But, look at that thing.. Its a beaut !!!

I believe thats the only mod he did, except maybe glide time increase, (right Kev?)...

Some mods I think are a bit crazy, the ones that invlove mounting jacks and/or switches to the panel or body. A popular one is adding Osc 2->Sync.. I think the Prodigy or Phatty sounds best for that though.. On the other hand, I haven't heard a Kevin Lightner version of that mod, so I could be wrong

- Nick