Moog Music Forum

Ok, my Slim Phatty will come in a week, i just wanted to ask some questions, so i can stay prepared.
I googled alot about Slim before buying.
So, i am aware about all this warm up time and stuff..

I am just curious...

Is it possible that Slim goes out of tune during the live gig, even if it is properly warmed up??
Should i do any note calibrations as soon as it arrives from the store??
What are the main troubleshooting procedures if anything goes wrong with tuning??

Thanks, i jus want to get myself familiar with its "beahviours".

Congrats on the Moog purchase ~
The Slim Phatty's are GREAT little analog synths!!

As you are aware, a good warm-up is essential ~
I would try to let it warm-up for AT LEAST 20 or 30 minute before trying any tuning or oscillator adjustments.
Being an analog synth, the warm-up definitely makes a big difference, and I think you'll find that once warmed up, the synth stays pretty stable.

If you start having tuning problems - or if you're buying it used - you'll want to run through ALL three calibration routines that are listed in the manual, in the order they are listed. I would recommend you let the SP warm up a goood 45 minutes or so before you start the routines, and plan on at least 1 1/2 hours for all three routines to complete. DO NOT tinker with the synth while the calibration routines are running.

Well worth the time it takes -
made a HUGE difference in the tuning between my Phatty's!
I ran all the routines on my three Phatty's back in October, and haven't had to make any tuning adjustments since!

If your SP doesn't come with a copy of the OS v3.1 addendum, request a copy from Moog tech support ~
it highlights some OS changes that didn't make it into the manual.
(You could download the manual from the Moog web site, and request the addendum, prior to receiving you SP so you can get prepared... )

Spend time with the manual & "hands-on" with the SP -
Once you get used to the menu system, it's really quite easy to navigate.

Also, remember that the Little & Slim Phatty's share architecture, and they can use the same sound preset files.
So, any presets posted on the Moog web site (or elsewhwere) for the Little Phatty will work just fine in the Slim Phatty, as well.
There should be plenty to keep you occupied for a while!

Congrats - have fun!

Randy

Ok, downloaded the manual. That was obvious Thanks.
The synth will come directly from store, brand new. What do you think of calibrating it right away (as soon as it is warmed up)??
Just to avoid doing it later...

P.S. I actually prefer LEDs way of showing parameter postions. I like the small screen, and generaly like the way it is structured and i hope it will stay that way once i get my hands on it.
But, the main reason i ordered slim is the FUNK sound!!
I dont think i'll give up that easily no matter what (only thing that would put me off is a bad sound, which i doubt will happen:))... and if i got used to Analog Four's layout, this should be a relief

And yeah!! Thanks alot, thats was very helpful!!

The Phatty's do have some cool & funky bass & lead sounds!

It certainly shouldn't hurt to run the calibration routines up front ~
unlike a factory reset, the cal routines do not effect any of the patches currently stored in memory.

Assuming the SP should be pretty well cailibrated form the factory, running the routines probably won't take too long.

I haven't spent any hands-on with the Analog Four, but I've skimmed through the manual ~
You shouldn't have any problem working with SP menu system!
And agreed -
The lit buttons and LED rings on the encoder dials are VERY nice features!

I was admiring the Slim Phatty at SamAsh yesterday. Never saw one in person, strangely. It's such a nice package and I fantasize about having 4 of them, let alone 1 but had a question.

The 'warm up time' is said to be longer than an LP? Does this have to do with the tighter quarters of an integrated power supply (vs external) whereas the LP never quite has issues with PS heat getting near the analog section? Just not sure why there would be such a difference, it's counter intuitive to me.

But with regard to grounding issues or being negatively affected by poor house (as in club) grounding; I never had a problem with my LP Tribute. Are the Stage editions or Slim editions more susceptible or have I just been lucky?

Curious... and thanks.

I have heard / read that the compact size - and proximity to the onboard power supply - can be a contributing factor in the tuning / oscillator drift issue. That said, once my three Phatty's (LP Stage II and two SP's) warm up, they seem to collectively hold their tunings & oscilltor settings quite well, and the calibration routines worked exceptionally well when I needed to use them.

I have never used my gear outside my "home studio", but I have had everything running for many hours at a time, with no noticable drift in the tuning between the three. The increase in air temperature in my apartment "studio" IS noticeble after everything has been on for a while!!
(Gotta' love analog!! )

I keep all my Moog gear powered throught the same power strip, MIDI DIN through a central patchbay, and all USB connections use the same hub.
So far, no grounding or USB issues that I know of ~
Although with this long, cold dry winter we've had, EVERYTHING electronic in my apartment has been "zapping" me rather routinely lately!!

Four racked SP's would DEFINTELY be awesome ~
I've barely cracked the surface of what can be done with a poly-chain and my LP/SP combo, but the discoveries I've made so far are VERY cool!!
I can only imagine what it must sound like in the Moog sound labs!