Moog Music Forum

Hi Guys,

I'm trying to decide to get a LP or not. I know I am attempting suicide by coming on here and saying this lol!
But to really understand what the money is for, I've looked through dozens and dozens of you tube videos. All of them seem to be a variation of the same theme- an organ that goes waa waaoooeeeahhh etc. Now I think the sound is nice, and rich, and lots of base. It looks like the little phatty has about 5 exceptional sounds, that are fat- rich, fantastic ect. But I am wondering if I should spend over $1250 dollars for those 5 admittedly nice sounds?
I came across this on my travels;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwBv0-WM ... er&list=UL
and this guy is supposed to use the LP in every production he makes. So maybe the little phatty IS worth the money?

appreciate your comments..

Ed.

Well you asked for it.
To even call a Moog instrument an "Organ" makes me wonder what experience with music you have had in your life. No slam to you, but a synthesizer is capable of realms of sound textures that go beyond your imagination. Digital, analog, poly, or mono are terms for different types of synthesizers.
I own the original release of the "Little Phatty Tribute Edition." I am not too well versed on the newer versions, but they have several useful features my un-upgraded version doesn't.
I am not a gigging musician, but have had one or several keyboards (all synths) for over 25 years.
Realistic strings, thunderous bass, sweet soulful leads, "natural" sounds like Whales, wind, surf, rain, thunder, ~and~ organs, from cathedral pipes to 60s 'pop' organs sounds are but a few of the things that these instruments can do. It's all a matter of learning how to adjust (or "program") the unit. Most come with 'built-in' sounds, but those are just starting points.

Jordan Rudess on Youtube has some interesting videos, and some involve the "little Phatty". Audio is far better in real life than can be heard through a computer. There's really no comparison.

Is a "Little Phatty" "worth it" ??? You'll probably lose a LOT of sleep if you get one. You'll also need to consider your Amp, and there are posts here about those choices. I recommend some kind of Delay unit, or reverb. There really are so many things you can discover in the sonic world. I hope that you don't have close neighbors, as some times, it just feels so good to get LOUD. If you have a music store near you, go try one out. You WILL benefit from reading several very good books on analog 'subtractive' synthesis, also mentioned in these forums.
Don't expect the salesman to be able to show you too much. Many are not dedicated synth players.
Good luck with learning more, and testing the waters. Moog instruments are miles above other synthesizers, a lot depends on WHAT you want to make happen.
People here may fool around, and joke somewhat, but we all love our instruments and are serious about them.

By the way, I'm not married because I HAVE MOOGS.

Eddison,

It seems like you have no idea what the Little Phatty is, or what it does.

I'd say do some more research if your gonna put the money down.

Having said that, I'd recommend every real musician go out and buy one. But know what it does. A synth is like a blank canvass and paint... the sounds you get from it are the sounds you can imagine and create yourself... Just because you heard 5 "sweet sounds", most likely you just heard 5 presets that you liked, does'nt mean anything... Presets in analog synths are usually just for show... The sweet thing about moogs, and most synths in general, is that you can start from scratch, and create the sounds you want. Whatever you can imagine basically. There are some limitations depending on what synth you get, but for the most part, it's a tool to create new sound..... it's not a preset loaded keyboard where all your sounds are already made for you.. (you could use it like that, but admittedly thats pretty lame when you have such a nice peice of gear)

That is my experience so far. I didn't say it is a bad machine- I just haven't seen a good demonstration of its capabilities yet, viewing dozens of videos etc.

To even call a Moog instrument an "Organ" makes me wonder what experience with music you have had in your life.

Is life experience with music a requirement? if so in which context is it required- to post on the forum, to own a LP, or to express an opinion?

most likely you just heard 5 presets that you liked,

Lol! no I have a good idea what a presets sound like- bells and whistles guitars etc, but these to me a silly imitations, are they worth the $1400 ?? If so, they must be really amazing to have such a following from so many, but again, where can I hear these amazing sounds?

Ok the LP can make bell noises, guitar, and wind, and other sounds, but it is not good at these sounds, digital software is just as good. Where the LP seems to excel is using the synth for 'fat' sounds.
This guy here;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgHxsi_k ... r_embedded#!
really brings out a depth and mystery of the synths he plays, but I have yet to find a good demonstration of the LP.

I am not a gigging musician, but have had one or several keyboards (all synths) for over 25 years.
Realistic strings, thunderous bass, sweet soulful leads, "natural" sounds like Whales, wind, surf, rain, thunder, ~and~ organs, from cathedral pipes to 60s 'pop' organs sounds are but a few of the things that these instruments can do. It's all a matter of learning how to adjust (or "program") the unit. Most come with 'built-in' sounds, but those are just starting points.

Ok thats what synths can do but can the LP do all of those things? where can i hear them? As I said I cannot find one good demonstration of the LP, and am wondering if it is really worth the money? I don't have access to a shop where I can check out a LP. I've checked out some of Jordan Rudess videos, but will check out more- the videos I have seen of his were not inspiring at all.
This tube video on the SP is not inspiring at all, but silly insincere babble about how good it is;
http://www.moogmusic.com/littlephatty/? ... t_id=21398
The other samples are mediocre, for such a supposedly incredible machine.

It seems like you have no idea what the Little Phatty is, or what it does.

It seems that way to you?- ok. Its like a blank canvass- ok. But where can I see this canvass? or better yet hear the LP in its element, with an incredible sound? or do I just buy one because someone on the net said it was really really good?

Ok a delay unit and reverb are good add ons, but how many add on does it need? it does not have a sequencer either.


The only thing that does inspire me is the interest and the following the LP has- its a cult thing, and that in itself makes me want to spend money. I am not saying it is a bad machine, or a good machine- I am saying I haven't heard ANY video that fully demonstrates the LP's capabilities, and makes me feel 'I want one'
The SC pro one, the prodigy. the minimoog, all have inspirational videos like some from retrosound72, but not on the LP.

BTW Good reply, thanks for another piece of the jigsaw, it made more sense than all the rubbish I have trawled through so far.

Ed.

Eddison wrote: Ok the LP can make bell noises, guitar, and wind, and other sounds, but it is not good at these sounds, digital software is just as good. Where the LP seems to excel is using the synth for 'fat' sounds.

The LP was not designed to sound like bells, guitars or other acoustic instruments, though because it is a synthesizer it can make sounds which resemble them. I'm sure the software that was designed to sound like those instruments will sound more like them, but that same software won't sound like a real acoustic instrument, just like it won't sound like a real analog synth. If you want a keyboard that sounds like a specific acoustic instrument the LP is not that instrument. If you want a real analog synthesizer, which sounds just as organic and is as playable as an acoustic instrument, then the LP is for you.

What kind of sounds are you interested in hearing from the phatty?

I'll record a demo for you if you tell me what kind of things you want to hear, but to really understand why people love the phatty so much you really need to hear/play with one live.

Yeah.. I think you seem to be expecting something from it that it isn't.

You keep mentioning, "is it worth 1400$?"

Well... yes, but thats relative to who wants it and why. If your looking to get these amazing guitar and wind noises.... than I'd say go buy something else...

But if your looking for a kick ass monophonic analog synth, to get a great monophonic analog sound.. than it's worth the money. You can search the internet forever, but, you'll only really find stuff that other people like.. you won't always find the sounds you want to hear from other people (thats why you have to create them.)

The phatty does have a lot of great capabilities.. and has the ability to make great sounds... but these sounds are going to sound like what it is, a monophonic analog synth.... if your want some sort of digital instrument emulator, your not gonna get it here.

Nobody's trying to dress it up like something it's not. If what it is, isn't worth 1400$ or however much it will cost you to buy one. Then save your money, and don't buy one. Simple.

You really need to play one "in the flesh".

Sure you can view videos on youtube, and listen to soundcloud examples. Like people say, it doesn't compare to playing a Moog through a good amp.

You can read about a great meal at a restaurant - but wouldn't you rather eat the food? There is a huge difference. I was going to make a comparison between a real woman and a virtual one - but this is a nice place

anoteoftruth, you said the LP produces amazing sounds like..

natural sounds like Whales, wind, surf, rain, thunder, ~and~ organs,

I responded..

Ok the LP can make bell noises, guitar, and wind, and other sounds, but it is not good at these sounds, digital software is just as good. Where the LP seems to excel is using the synth for 'fat' sounds.

Then this reply..

If your looking to get these amazing guitar and wind noises.... than I'd say go buy something else...

Hmm. how do i explain, I am trying to tell you that I am not looking for silly sounds of synthetic guitars etc. if I was then I would ''go buy something else''- probably the real thing.
I am trying to tell you that a decent example of the so called amazing abilities of the LP seems to be difficult to come across. So I asked the community for advice on where I can find good examples. Now I'm being told to ''go buy something else'' lol! Not much of an advert for the LP I have to say.

I'll record a demo for you if you tell me what kind of things you want to hear, but to really understand why people love the phatty so much you really need to hear/play with one live.

Thanks for offering jeepo, if it is not too much trouble, I would really love to hear;

filter overload
Glide
latch, division, octave range
What does the ladder filter sound like at low resonance setting- four or one pole?
If the resonance is up full what does it sound like at four pole? one pole?
Overload any good?
What does KB amount sound like at full tilt, or combined with the oscillators?
What does the EG amount sound like when responding to KB velocity?
Arp?



Ed.

I agree that there's not many YouTube videos that I find inspiring for the Little Phatty. I got one because I was listening to guys like Daft Punk and MSTRKRFT and knew they were using the Voyager a lot. The LP was an affordable entry to the sound and legacy that is Moog. I was also completely sick of using a mouse and screen diving with my digital and softsynths.

Here's a link to a small pile of raw stuff that I did with only the Phatty and a JoMoX X-Base 999. I think that the tracks show off a decent selection of the textures that the LP can produce. The only effects used were some light reverb, stereo delay, and compression. All of the glorious gunge is straight from the LP.


http://soundcloud.com/baax-2/sets


And don't forget the the $800 option of the Slim Phatty.

This isn't very exiting, but I twisted many of the requested knobs. Also, I want to clarify the velocity function. velocity directly affects the filter, not the envelope amnt. And also a warning, some of the arpeggiated notes are very low. Too low.
http://soundcloud.com/questionmark_and_sharp/lp-demo

http://soundcloud.com/kittygotsued/phun ... er-space-3

Have you heard this track I made? I posted it in another topic, maybe you missed it. Lot's of different sounds I think

But maybe it's not your cup of tea. All sounds are LP, except for the drums. (Kick, snare, ride, bitcrushed loop thingy)

I've been mis-quoted above, but it can ride... I made the 'nature' sounds with a Korg DW 8000, Which uses sampled waveforms and is polyphonic. I find the pink noise on the LP a bit weak, and not good for such sounds. A lot can be done with modulated white noise, but even the Voyager does not do it that well. ( I know-it's pink/white noise) It all depends where you want to go. The LP is a wonderful instrument in its own sphere of sound.

dada wrote:Hmm ... my troll sensor is beeping but I'l give you the benefit of the doubt.

The LP is a pro instrument. Most people who own one are too busy to post demos on YouTube or Facebook or Twitter or whatever social media site is in vogue this week.

It's an analogue monosynth. Go away and learn subtractive synthesis, play one through a decent sound rig, compare it with something new, a DSI Mo'pho maybe, and then compare it with something old, an SH101 maybe. Then come back and let us know what you think.

Here here.

My troll senses went off after he quoted me on the last post. He's asking to see it do something amazing, when he hasn't even tried it out himself. Like we need to justify to him why it's so great.

Well it is great. Like I keep saying. It's a great monophonic analog synth. One of my fav beside the Voyager. But if you want youtube videos of it blowing your mind, or doing something it doesn't do... your just stirring $hit up.

Eddison wrote:

It seems like you have no idea what the Little Phatty is, or what it does.

It seems that way to you?- ok. Its like a blank canvass- ok. But where can I see this canvass? or better yet hear the LP in its element, with an incredible sound? or do I just buy one because someone on the net said it was really really good?

Here's where you sound like a troll.

What are you looking for here? Your looking for a video or demo to justify you buying one? Like I keep saying, if you don't know what it does, or don't know how to use it, or make it sound good to you, than don't buy one.

You attacked me earlier saying I'm a horrible advert for people to buy Moog gear. I would argue the opposite. I talk about how great Moog gear is to people all the time, but to people who know what it does.

There's nothing worse than having some Moog synth sit untouched in a basement somewhere not being played.

And you, are just stirring $hit up. Nobody is forcing you to buy this. If it doesn't do what you expect it to do, go find something that does.

Anyways thats my last reply to this, cause it smells like troll.

Heh heh...
I bought my Tribute without hearing one single note from one. Guess it must have been because I already owned a Voyager PE !!!

I imagine a few of you folks have had to explain ~what~ a synthesizer actually IS. It is mind-numbing to some folks to hear terms like "sound-design" or "waveform architecture". I usually get 'through' to folks, but it can seem (to me at least) amusing.

FWIW- Alto Music said the wood sides for the "Slim Phatty" should be coming out early December. 3 pieces, $ 84.00 USD . They indicated that only one wood is being made available, same as on the Foogers.