Moog Voyager or Upgrade SE-1 to SE-1X?

[b3groover]

This is an interesting thread. It is kind of humorous to ask people on a Moog forum whether to buy a Voyager or an SE product.

I've had my Voyager Signature Edition since March of 2008. I really enjoy it and have used it live and on recordings. However, I have an aversion to taking it to gigs since it is quite large and bulky and I'm always worried something will happen to it.

With that in mind, I decided to buy both an ATC-X and SE-1X from SE, to determine which one would be a viable replacement on the road.

As someone who has both products, I can honestly say that the SE-1X is much better programmed (the presets blow away the Voyager ones, that's for sure). And it also has very powerful bass. And as another poster pointed out, it is ridiculously funky and great for R&B.

The ATC-X, which I didn't think I would like, has been the biggest surprise at all. It can easily create the most monstrous basses you've ever heard (even more than the SE-1X) and can also be wildly frantic and ugly or ethereal and beautiful. The Voyager by contrast is rather "safe" sounding. The four different filters of the ATC-X are very cool.

That said, I'm still keeping my Voyager because I love the interface and it is quite satisfying to use it in "non-standard" ways. And on special occasions I still do bring it to the gig and it looks very sexy on stage!

I think the original poster was right to upgrade his SE-1 and that would be the advice I'd give to anyone else in a similar situation.

[Voltor07]

Oh YEAH? Well i have a Omega 8 AND a Signature/Annivesary Edition Voyager and i'm only 27 eat your hearts out!!! lmao

In other words, you have more money than brains?

Just kidding, BTW. Great rig!

[Smokey5100]

[cl516]

HERE's something fun - an old blog post I did, about both the Voyager and SE-1X.

[rajprods]

This was really strange. I'm doing a search on the web for Voyager vs SE-1X to get current comments, and I came across this thread. I'm reading it and thinking, wow this is exactly what I was looking for. I start reading the thread and realize I'm the one who started the thread 2 years ago!

I still have my SE-1X, and have been primarily using it in the studio. I'm putting together a keyboard setup for live use. I don't want to take my SE-1X out of the rack, and at the same time, I'm looking for a bass synth with keys to use to have more user control live. I also think having the bass and keys together like Little Phatty or Voyager would be more fun and easier to work with in real time.

Now that the Little Phatty is out (I'm not sure it was out 2 years ago, but if it was, I wasn't looking at it), can I get by with the Little Phatty original or Stage II version to use for R&B bass synth patches? Since I have the SE-1X, I'm not sure if it's necessary to spend over $3,000 for the Voyager since I have most of the same sounds already. Seems to be a bit overkill in the analog bass synth. I guess I could also use the Little Phatty as a controller if I did take the SE-1X out for live use? What would you do in this situation? Thanks.

I'm new to the forum, so I don't know if this topic has been covered. I have an original Studio Electronics SE-1. I haven't used it a lot in the last couple of years, but I want to get back into analog sounds. I'm thinking about upgrading the board to get more banks/sounds. The upgrade is about 1/3 of what I paid for it brand new.

How does the Moog Voyager compare to the SE-1X? This will help me determine if I should just upgrade the SE-1 to SE-1X, or look at the Moog Voyager. I owned a Minimoog years ago, but sold it, so I'm definitely familiar with the original Moog sound. I do miss the feel of the keyboard, it was great.

Any info on this subject would be greatly appreciated.

[Voltor07]

The Little Phatty has been out for a while. I have an original (albeit somewhat modified) Stage I that I bought new in 2007. It does bass very well, and also is great for searing leads. The keyboard action has been updated since the Stage I, and the latest models are a cut or two above mine in quality overall. Definitely worth looking into!

[rajprods]

Thanks for the response.

The Little Phatty has been out for a while. I have an original (albeit somewhat modified) Stage I that I bought new in 2007. It does bass very well, and also is great for searing leads. The keyboard action has been updated since the Stage I, and the latest models are a cut or two above mine in quality overall. Definitely worth looking into!

[Voltor07]

Thanks for the response.

The Little Phatty has been out for a while. I have an original (albeit somewhat modified) Stage I that I bought new in 2007. It does bass very well, and also is great for searing leads. The keyboard action has been updated since the Stage I, and the latest models are a cut or two above mine in quality overall. Definitely worth looking into!

Not a problem. Good luck in your search!

[unfiltered37]

"Take the model D"

Not so sure about that. The Voyager, as by pretty common consensus is a totally different animal. They've been compared to death, but I had both for a couple of years, from which I concluded that the model d's basic sound was far superior: rawer, grittier, more colorful (as far as harmonic distortion), all around more soulful. The voyager's functionality and versatility dwarfs the original so much so that they shouldn't be compared. The voyager is a tool for exploration of creative synthesis, while the D is more for exploring traditional Western (and even eastern) musical creativity within a large but limited palette of sounds.

The D works better for me because I thrive on limitation to be creative. I use analog tape exclusively which compared to digital is very limited, almost primitive by today's standards much like the model D, but the sound and feeling of pure analog signal inspires a need for simplicity and imparts a very live vibe which I tend to favor. But that's just me, and I don't use sequencers or midi, so I have a specific taste.

[unfiltered37]

For now, I'm going to get my Studio Electronics SE-1 upgraded and see how that turns out.

Nothing wrong with that, SE-1x is a great synth, with a juicy and sexy sound Let's put it this way... SE-1x is Halle Berry, Voyager is Cate Blanchett, both different, both beautiful and talented.

Model D is Helen Mirren, vintage, but still hotter than the new competition

- CM

The model D is Chaka Khan, the voyager is Alicia Keyes.

[psicolor]

The best way to make a decision would be an A/B comparison of Voyager and SE-1/SE-1X.