Moog Modular in Budapest

[banyek]

yesterday we saw this moog modular in the "history museum of radio and television" in budapest, hungary. yes, it is still working, and yes, it's a sample&hold above the keyboard
it was bought by the hungarian state radio in 73 from a german user. thought to share it with you guys.
(yes, i'm already in discussion with them to use it for some recording sessions )

[Voltor07]

That's a lot of blank panels up top. Then again, it is a massive system, probably worth 12-15k in its time.

[thealien666]

Impressive! This thing has 9 oscillators ? I'm used to usually seeing less than that on a Moog 55. But they were highly customizable from the factory. And highly expensive, too!

Are those 8 modules on the top tier #902 Voltage Controlled Amplifiers ?

I wonder what the actual patch on this photo sounds like...? (I can see that OSC2 is 100% A.C. frequency modulated by OSC1 rectangular wave, and is also 100% D.C. frequency modulated by the triangle out of OSC3, and finally the Sine output of OSC1 is sent somewhere else...whew!)

Lucky you, banyek, if you can get time on it ! Thanks for the pic.

[banyek]

Impressive! This thing has 9 oscillators ? I'm used to usually seeing less than that on a Moog 55. But they were highly customizable from the factory. And highly expensive, too!

Are those 8 modules on the top tier #902 Voltage Controlled Amplifiers ?

I wonder what the actual patch on this photo sounds like...? (I can see that OSC2 is 100% A.C. frequency modulated by OSC1 rectangular wave, and is also 100% D.C. frequency modulated by the triangle out of OSC3, and finally the Sine output of OSC1 is sent somewhere else...whew!)

Lucky you, banyek, if you can get time on it ! Thanks for the pic.

yes, atypically, there are 9 of them. also, it has 2 sequencers - not one. the german must have customised it pretty well.
yes, up there you can find 8 VCAs.
well, we only had the sine output, running into that amplifier next to it - which was somewhat strange sounding - probably, it would need some calibration. then the security guards came
i have already mailed the museum asking for contact of the engineer who was in charge of that system, i hope we'll arrange something soon! this thing is too good to just stand there lonely.

[Kevin Lightner]

Properly calibrated, those 960s can even be used as oscillators.

960s basically have a Moog 901 VCO as their clock and can track CV inputs.
One shapes their waveform by manipulating the sequencer stage knobs and instead of using it to output as CV, you listen to it as audio.

Quite a large system and in a rare place to find one so big.
Thanks for sharing.

K

[CZ Rider]

Wow! Thanks for posting that,looks fantastic. Hope you get some time with it! Keep us posted.
Looks like a stock Moog Model IIIC that has the upgraded 921 oscillators. And a stock Sequencer Complement B console, with a custom cabinet above. Nice piece of history there! Even the red/white/grey molded patch cords look to be 70's Moog stock. Quite a find. Hey, where is the ribbon controller?

[banyek]

It's a pleasure guys. I'll keep you updated - planning to go back as soon as possible!

[thealien666]

...960s basically have a Moog 901 VCO as their clock and can track CV inputs.
One shapes their waveform by manipulating the sequencer stage knobs and instead of using it to output as CV, you listen to it as audio...

Ingenious way of using a 960! I had never heard of that "trick", pretty interesting. Thanks for sharing that Kevin.

Now, if only I had such a module to try that out! But one can always dream I guess...
And I wonder if that could also work on Arturia's Modular V software emulation ?

Al.

[MC]

That's almost as big as Emerson's moog

[Kevin Lightner]

And I wonder if that could also work on Arturia's Modular V software emulation ?

I don't see why it shouldn't.
Audio is just voltages changing quickly.
Unless the Arturia has some rule that you can't patch any jack to any jack, it should work.
My concern is more whether Arturia knew that the 960 sequencer clock is scaled at 1v/oct.

On a scope, you'd basically see staircase type waveforms.
But if you can use a 962 to make a single 24 stage sequence and the clock will go fast enough, things will start to smooth out.
You can also limit the number of stages to get much cruder waveforms, but higher possible frequencies.

[Kevin Lightner]

I wonder if the owner was intending to make a vocoder out of that top section.
I think he'd run out of space and would only get 4-8 channels tho depending on whether he added more VCAs (and env followers, filters, etc.)

[banyek]

I wonder if the owner was intending to make a vocoder out of that top section.
I think he'd run out of space and would only get 4-8 channels tho depending on whether he added more VCAs (and env followers, filters, etc.)

good question. since the owner was german he must have wanted to do that
well, still no reply from the museum, i think i'll call them on the phone.
i am really happy to see the discussion going on here - also you have already given a lot more ideas than the basic descriptions at moog archives. thanks!

[omvibes]

Hey Banyek!

Good to see another Budapest Moog man! I've been here for a few years, and never knew about the Moog, although I've been past MR3 (that is the building I think, right?) many times!

I'll go and check it out as soon as I can! And good to know that you may be able to use it in some recording sessions...

Oli

[banyek]

Hey Banyek!

Good to see another Budapest Moog man! I've been here for a few years, and never knew about the Moog, although I've been past MR3 (that is the building I think, right?) many times!

I'll go and check it out as soon as I can! And good to know that you may be able to use it in some recording sessions...

Oli

szevasz omvibes!

yes, it's there. (pollack mihály tér 8.) entry is a ridiculous 600 HUF

got a reply 2 days ago from the radio museum, that they have forwarded my contacts to istván horváth, the engineer who donated the machine to the museum. hope that will be fine. also, the various radios, bells, and sound sources that had been used in radioplays are working and can be tamed in the museum! don't miss it!

[omvibes]

So, I managed to get to the museum yesterday, and lots of fun it was too! I didn't have the balls to touch the Moog though, it looked a beast!

Banyek, if you do get the chance to try it out for some recordings in the museum, and are okay with it, then please could you pm me here, I would love to be hear what it could do 'in the flesh'