Good Mods (and not so good) for a Mini and Micromoog?

[Electrong]

I have a Mini and Micromoog and I have a Roland CSQ-600. I was wondering just for the sake of discussion and/or possibly future mods, if anyone has a setup where they play the minimoog through a cv-controlled sequencer such as the CSQ-600? What mods were necessary to do this? There is a simple cable converter to get the signal from the sequencer to create a trigger for the mini and the micromoog. There is also a way to convert the trigger from the mini into a gate signal that would go into the csq. These both could be done externally so there is no need to modify the cosmetics of a collectible vintage Mini. Could anyone hook me up to some schematics for these cables and/or breakboxes to be made as a DIY project?

Secondly, anyone out there have any mods on their Mini or Micromoog? For instance, on the Mini, I've heard a sync mod is commonly performed on them. If you have had one or know about them, what type of physical cosmetic mod is required to put a sync mod on a Mini? Is it reversable? Another question, is the only thing limiting to me on a mini is lack of a S/H circuit on the LFO(osc 3) and lack of a Ring Modulator that could be routed between oscillators and/or external signals. An external signal envelope follower would be cool too.

I'm not complaining, though! Every time I get the mini running it is fun times. Maybe I should just get the sequencer interfaces mentioned above and then buy me a couple of Moogerfooger pedals, a Ring Mod pedal, and be happy I've got a S/H circuit on the micromoog. Oh well..

Basically I'm asking about mods, and what mods are worthy of consideration, and what mods may not be a great idea, and what external pedals can accomplish the same thing as a mod..Thanks in advance for any comments, demeaning or otherwise!

[Nick Montoya]

There are 3 or 4 pieces of Moog equipment that would help you with all that you are trying to accopmlish with your Minimoog, without any mods..

Having mods done well, can cost cash. Having mods done badly can cost even more cash..

1. FREQ BOX - achieve the sync sound by syncing 2 or 3 of the minis oscs to the freq boxes osc.. This sounds even better than the sync mod for the mini..

2. RING MOD - just like above, use it in the audio signal. It's very convincing. you could even run in back into the filter from the oscs...

3. MP 201 - 4 built in CV outs with S/H - into the minis filter or osc inputs.. there you go sample and hold..

4. Or CP251 - also has S/H ...

[grjbat1985]

Modifier? or ?

[Voltor07]

Modifier? or ?

Electrong was talking about modifications for the Model D. Nick was saying that modification of vintage gear is risky business, and suggested some cheaper alternatives.

[ColorForm2113]

You could change the 3/16th modulation jack on the micro to 1/4 inch and have access to s&h, and with the s-trig cable you can use the auto s&h. I did this to my micro and it opened up a whole new world of experimentation

[Electrong]

Thanks Nick and Colorform! Yeah, Nick I would certainly prefer no mod at all, because my mini is certainly a precious item. Anyone got any ideas regarding the interface between the Mini/micro and a CSQ? The roland sequencer requires a gate rather than a switch, so in order to control the sequencer with the Moog I'd need to convert the switch to a gate, and in order to control the Mini/Micro with the CSQ I'd need to convert the gate to a switch. Also there's no CV out on the mini.. but that could be accomplished with some type of interface.. There was a guy in Italy who told me about the Moog 961 interface, it has multiple inputs (was a modular module) and converts V-trig to S-trig and the other way around.. They would be expensive to purchase but perhaps the schematics could help in making one?

BTW Nick those pedals would be very cool but consider the price if you purchased them you could almost afford a (used) Litty Phatty for the same amount of coin..

[ColorForm2113]

Synthesizers.com has a volt to switch cable, its like $20US I think

[Electrong]

OK now what about the switch to volt?

[Voltor07]

There was a guy in Italy who told me about the Moog 961 interface, it has multiple inputs (was a modular module) and converts V-trig to S-trig and the other way around.. They would be expensive to purchase but perhaps the schematics could help in making one?

BTW Nick those pedals would be very cool but consider the price if you purchased them you could almost afford a (used) Litty Phatty for the same amount of coin..

This Q961? http://www.synthesizers.com/q961.html $140 is not so bad...not for a Mooger, anyway. As for the MP-201, I've NEVER seen a used LP go for that price.

[Electrong]

There was a guy in Italy who told me about the Moog 961 interface, it has multiple inputs (was a modular module) and converts V-trig to S-trig and the other way around.. They would be expensive to purchase but perhaps the schematics could help in making one?

BTW Nick those pedals would be very cool but consider the price if you purchased them you could almost afford a (used) Litty Phatty for the same amount of coin..

This Q961? http://www.synthesizers.com/q961.html $140 is not so bad...not for a Mooger, anyway. As for the MP-201, I've NEVER seen a used LP go for that price.

No, a Moog 961:

http://www.bigbluewave.co.uk/moog_961.htm

of which there are several sizes and types but they're very pricey.. More like aDIY project with the same attributes of a moog 961.. For instance, if you change an s-trig to a v-trig you need to have a duration of the note. The middle pot on the diagram shows a duration of note.. Oh well..

You misunderstood me, he listed several moogerfoogers, and obviously one of them would be quite a bit cheaper than 4 or 5 of them!:lol:

Anyway the moogerfooger idea has great possibilities for other things besides the sequencing aspect.

[Voltor07]

No, a Moog 961:

http://www.bigbluewave.co.uk/moog_961.htm

of which there are several sizes and types but they're very pricey.. More like aDIY project with the same attributes of a moog 961.. For instance, if you change an s-trig to a v-trig you need to have a duration of the note. The middle pot on the diagram shows a duration of note.. Oh well..

You misunderstood me, he listed several moogerfoogers, and obviously one of them would be quite a bit cheaper than 4 or 5 of them!:lol:

Anyway the moogerfooger idea has great possibilities for other things besides the sequencing aspect.

My bad. Try this post. http://www.moogmusic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6710 There is a cable I mention that does V to S that Synthesizers.com sells, which ColorForm was talking about. CZRider listed a schematic of an S to V converter. As for the MoogerFoogers costing as much as an LP...well...it's totally worth it! They really do add a lot of functionality for the money, and in most cases, are cheaper than a modification that would give you the same functionality. I've got the 102, 103, and CP-251. If you buy one a month, or one every other month, you're still money ahead.

[Electrong]

Very cool Voltor.. Good points about the pedals, you can get them one at a time..better inter-connectivity.

I wonder about the S-trig to V-(gate).. I assume this type of circuit creates a staccato note, and you set the duration with the decay switch on? Otherwise you'd need some type of time-duration function that would hold the note on for a pre-determined amount of time.

[Voltor07]

Very cool Voltor.. Good points about the pedals, you can get them one at a time..better inter-connectivity.

I wonder about the S-trig to V-(gate).. I assume this type of circuit creates a staccato note, and you set the duration with the decay switch on? Otherwise you'd need some type of time-duration function that would hold the note on for a pre-determined amount of time.

Moog has lowered the prices on the three-in-ones, FWiW. I'd still want to buy one at a time, as I like deciding which ones I get, but that's a personal preference and has nothing to do with anything.

About the S-trig to V-gate thingy, I think the transistor acts as a time duration clock...thing. It's probably set for a fixed duration. And this comes from what I know about transistors. Which isn't much. I'm just a hobbyist, after all. The secret is in that transistor, I know that much.