Polyphonic Moog Feature Request

[EricK]

I hope its farther out rather than sooner because if it is announced that there will be another deposit and limited run my wife will surely kill me hahaha.


Eric

[superd2112]

I hope its farther out rather than sooner because if it is announced that there will be another deposit and limited run my wife will surely kill me hahaha.


Eric

As would mine, but at least we would die happy, playing our polyphonic Moogs & backing them up with our Taurus 3s!

[anoteoftruth]

I hope its farther out rather than sooner because if it is announced that there will be another deposit and limited run my wife will surely kill me hahaha.


Eric

Haha I had a girlfriend of 5 years that was just like that.... keyword being "had".

[Just Me]

I was told if I brought one more keyboard home, she would leave me. 5 Keyboards and several motorcycles later I still don't miss her!

[anoteoftruth]

I was told if I brought one more keyboard home, she would leave me. 5 Keyboards and several motorcycles later I still don't miss her!

Haha great! haha.

In all honesty though, I can understand to a certain extent when woman get concerned about spending habits with a lot of this pricy gear.. it's only when it gets to a point where I feel like they dont support me in what I'm passionate about, that I gotta draw the line.

My ex literally said, "me or music", when I was trying to build my home studio, to get more into production.. after being a musician for 14 years.. it was a pretty simple answer.

"um.. music. cya" haha.

[Electrong]

I wonder if they're working on a design for a polysynth that doesn't compete directly or indirectly with the minimoog Voyager? That might be a consideration and one of the reasons why they haven't come out with it. Limited market, and Moog already relies on synth buyers for the Voyager and the Little Phatty. Not to rain on the polysynth parade, but their business people would surely need to consider that whatever they release, it may well be that customers would be making a choice, between the new Polysynth or the current monosynths. Their monosynths already are priced higher retail than are Dave Smith's synths. Price point will also have a huge effect on the success or failure of a new Moog Polysynth. I would hope they do some serious business homework before they go down a road that so many synth-makers went down, at their own peril.

For these reasons I'm thinking a variant of the moogerfoogers that are in a rack or half-rack form, to create a modular type synth might be the way to go, as far as new product lines are concerned. I haven't heard much more about the new Oberheim SEMs, but I am wondering how successful THEY have been.

Other factors to consider: The perfluence of computer-based polysynths and their competing effect on the market against a new hardware polysynth, and; today's musical styles and how a new polysynth would stack up against the current soft-synths, and MPC samplers, as well as Live, and other DJ type products. Moog would be wise to try to come up with a product that meets the needs of today's artists. It may be that a MIDI controllable analog polysynth rackmount module of some type would fit in better with some of today's setups.

[CTRLSHFT]

I wonder if they're working on a design for a polysynth that doesn't compete directly or indirectly with the minimoog Voyager? That might be a consideration and one of the reasons why they haven't come out with it. Limited market, and Moog already relies on synth buyers for the Voyager and the Little Phatty. Not to rain on the polysynth parade, but their business people would surely need to consider that whatever they release, it may well be that customers would be making a choice, between the new Polysynth or the current monosynths. Their monosynths already are priced higher retail than are Dave Smith's synths. Price point will also have a huge effect on the success or failure of a new Moog Polysynth. I would hope they do some serious business homework before they go down a road that so many synth-makers went down, at their own peril.

For these reasons I'm thinking a variant of the moogerfoogers that are in a rack or half-rack form, to create a modular type synth might be the way to go, as far as new product lines are concerned. I haven't heard much more about the new Oberheim SEMs, but I am wondering how successful THEY have been.

Other factors to consider: The perfluence of computer-based polysynths and their competing effect on the market against a new hardware polysynth, and; today's musical styles and how a new polysynth would stack up against the current soft-synths, and MPC samplers, as well as Live, and other DJ type products. Moog would be wise to try to come up with a product that meets the needs of today's artists. It may be that a MIDI controllable analog polysynth rackmount module of some type would fit in better with some of today's setups.

In regards to the SEM: The lead time is around 2-3 weeks, they haven't been "in stock" really ever, came out in September 09 or so.

Doing pretty well I'd say.

[anoteoftruth]

Considering Tom Oberheim assembles all of the new SEM's himself... and literally just finished the software for the MIDI>CV version... I'd say they are doing just as successful as what he can keep up with.. at least I know for the midi>cv version, you better be on the waiting list if you want one.

About the whole Poly synth cutting into the mono synth sales... You brought up DSI.. I really wonder how they've handled it.. they don't seem to be hurting too much (though I'm no accountant), and I still hear of a lot of people buying the mopho and evolver, despite having the option of a prophet 08, tetr4, and poly evolver. Personally I don't think it would be as big a issue as people make it out to be. Most people I know usually look for the perfect pair... perfect mono synth paired with the perfect poly.

I'm not gonna use a prophet 08 for huge bass sounds if I have a Voyager sitting next to it. And if all I had was a prophet, I would still be salivating over a Voyager to add that extra mmph and color to my tracks. The market works in mysterious ways. I used to ask myself "why do people spend over 2K on Akai MPC's, then record it in their DAW, when software like GURU can be had for 250$ and a trigger finger under 200$ sometimes.... and can actually bring you MORE functionality?"

Well, I just stopped asking myself that.

[Electrong]

It also occurred to me that today, analog synths are no longer so forward-looking as they used to be. Whereas Bob Moog was considered a "synth pioneer," the analog synth--mono- and poly- -- are considered somewhat archaic, backward-looking instruments. Now they're considered a part of music tradition rather than being an upstart industry.

[MC]

It also occurred to me that today, analog synths are no longer so forward-looking as they used to be. Whereas Bob Moog was considered a "synth pioneer," the analog synth--mono- and poly- -- are considered somewhat archaic, backward-looking instruments. Now they're considered a part of music tradition rather than being an upstart industry.

The same could be said for guitars, violins, trumpets, and the human voice.

[CTRLSHFT]

It also occurred to me that today, analog synths are no longer so forward-looking as they used to be. Whereas Bob Moog was considered a "synth pioneer," the analog synth--mono- and poly- -- are considered somewhat archaic, backward-looking instruments. Now they're considered a part of music tradition rather than being an upstart industry.

I disagree... especially in the case of DSI... have you ever used the Evolver, or particularly the Tetra?

How many analog synths in the last 30 years had the following:
4 voice poly
2 osc/2 subs
4-part multitimbral
Have 4 different modes of unison
Have 4 lfos
Have 3 envelopes
Have 4 extra modulation slots
Cost less than $1k in converted dollars

The Voyager is pretty amazing in it's own right too, expanded a lot on the Minimoog's design.

I guess if you're looking for super esoteric, you need to look at the modular world, but the whole "forward looking" thing is a misnomer, analog by nature is not super flexible in some ways, it's limited by physics. It's also got a lot more character because of that. Non-linearities and all that.

[EricK]

it's limited by physics

[Electrong]

Well I at least got a spirited response, didn't I?

I think I'll check out that Tetra, now! But I'll need a controller for it, and if I find one I really like, I'd really appreciate it if Moog comes out with their own Poly synth in a rack or small version I can control via Midi. I'm just saying the module may be a better, more cost-effective route to go to explore going polyphonic for moog.

[MarkM]

It also occurred to me that today, analog synths are no longer so forward-looking as they used to be. Whereas Bob Moog was considered a "synth pioneer," the analog synth--mono- and poly- -- are considered somewhat archaic, backward-looking instruments. Now they're considered a part of music tradition rather than being an upstart industry.

The same could be said for guitars, violins, trumpets, and the human voice.

I think that is the point he is trying to make. Perhaps "archaic" or "backward-looking" are the wrong terms. I think he meant to say they have become accepted as conventional instruments today.

I don't think Tetra or the likes are too revolutionary. After so many decades of technological and manufacturing breakthroughs, one would think there would be some pretty far out analogue synths, or at least more than there are now. I believe the general synth public's desire for traditional analogue synth sounds have prevented rapid innovation. I also think that new instruments, such as the Moog guitar, are a factor in spawning innovative music. I love what some soft synth designers are coming up with. I would love to see someone take a wild Reaktor synth and turn it into analogue hardware. However, I am certain it would be a costly venture. A remake of the Polymoog would be a step backward: been there, done that.

[Electrong]

I wasn't impressed with the polymoog when I played it. I thought it was counter-intuitive. I just feel that Moog's best stuff has been the stuff that predates the venture into the major music-industry competitive herd, just because Sequential comes up with a great poly-synth is no reason to go whole hog and get into a poly synth. I don't own a Voyager but I'd certainly consider buying one if I had more income for something like that. I was indeed trying to make the point in that manner. And it is true that not much new has actually happened in Analog subtractive synthesis. We still have the same basic signal path and I'm happy with some of the sounds I make with my Mini D.

I didn't mean to ruffle any feathers about the "archaic" comment, I should have maybe said it has been generally accepted into the music world whereas before, in the late 60s and early 70s, this was revolutionary, and there was a period of time in the 80s when analogs were sold at pawn shops for very, very cheap. So while we're talking about a technological device, we're also talking about an item that has a bit of nostalgic flair to it at the same time. I think that's ironic. I'm sure Moog music people are pragmatic enough about the realities of the musical instrument industry to be able to come up with a new poly synth that doesn't have severe marketing issues. To be honest, the Moog guitar seems really cool but I am having difficulties figuring out how they could actually sell more of them (don't know if they've been flying off the shelves or not), given the ongoing 40-year-old guitarist vs. Keyboardist/synthesist rivalry.

Going back to the polysynth idea, I still feel that R&D could benefit by exploring more of an expansion module idea that could hook up with the voyager and turn IT into a polysynth. Is that possible? Or is the MIDI control of a Voyager limited to monophonic? Nevermind, most keyboardists might consider the keyboard to be too small for effectively playing polysynths..