I'm sure most of you saw this ?

[thealien666]

http://www.moogmusic.com/products/minim ... og-voyager

"Rant on:"

Personally, I wouldn't want one. Why ? Because it's not the casing that makes the sound, first of all, and second choosing aluminum is a strange decision in my humble opinion. Wood represents warmth, richness, nature much more suited to the Moog analog sound. Metal represents coldness and harshness much more suited for digital.

What's next, a steel or plastic casing version too ? Why not carbon fiber (that would surely set a record for the highest price tag for a Voyager)
Although I wish them well with this Al version.

Instead of constantly repackaging the same thing, over and over again, with gimmicky things like lights, different color schemes and finish, and now this aluminum version and such, maybe they should concentrate their efforts instead on going ahead with producing modules based on the famed ones in the modular Moog, and offering them in either 5U or Eurorack formats.
There's a limit to endlessly coming up with gimmicks to try and sell more Voyagers. Unless you're like Paul Shaffer of the David Letterman show, and use a Voyager simply as eye candy in the background without ever having played it ?

"Rant off."

[aisling]

Maybe they should make a hemp version next

[thealien666]

Nah, people would be too tempted to smoke the casing of their Voyager...

[Ledbetter]

I agree completely with the OP. Give us new, groundbreaking products.

[CZ Rider]

Perhaps not a product for everyone, I really like that aluminum Voyager. Polished aluminum was always one of my favorite metals. Polished and glass beaded aluminum has a certain depth and luster to it, unlike chrome that is completly reflective. Might go back to my cyclist days, where those high quality Italian made, hand polished aluminum Campagnolo parts had this amazing finish. Or the British hand polished/beaded aluminum covers on a Trimuph motorcycle. This is a true art to get an aluminum finish that has that depth no other metal has.
Not the first time Moog replaced wood with aluminum either. The all wood 955/956 linear controller was replaced with the mostly aluminum 1150 ribbon controller. Even though Moog covered the aluminum with a black anodized finish, I went through great lengths to remove the anodize and properly polish the aluminum housing on one of my 1150's.
Looks warm to me, and a nice contrast between wood and polished aluminum.

I guess Moog could have put some wood accents to make the aluminum Voyager a bit warmer looking? But those old R.A.Moog etched aluminum panels are still one of the warmest looking and sounding synthesizers. All that etched aluminum looks badass!

Nothing but aluminum in those old Moog front panels. Even the original Minimoogs had an aluminum etched front panel. Metal and wood is good, and Moog has a history of using aluminum.
Not a fan of plastics, but a clear Lucite/Plexiglass case on a Voyager would look cool too!

[EMwhite]

I'm not saying I am hot for one but it didn't take much R&D to give a Voyager case to a local metal shop and say "hey, make us a fancy aluminum case using this as your template, maybe we will buy 100 if the price is right and it's well machined".

For one thing, it might be good in an area with bad termite problems or high humidity. Or maybe the seashore? Maybe it has a built in theft detection system and if you try to pick it up you get electrocuted?

I like it better than the solid gold model but that's just me.

[Kenneth]

Yeah I don't really know what's going on over there in Asheville. The Voyager is an amazingly capable, beautiful sounding synthesizer. I think that ought to be enough to sell units, but maybe it isn't.

[Vsyevolod]

If they actually make money off of these Aluminum Voyagers, this allows them to be more creative with their new offerings.

I'm all for it. Let the collectors fund my next Moog purchase.

Stephen




.

[Vince Ascoli]

By special arrangement with Moog Music, I'm delighted to be the owner of Aluminum Voyager #007 I received it about 10 days ago, and it has already seen time on several live shows. The aluminum body is a stunning work of art, it lives on an aluminum Ultimate Support column stand with an aluminum MacBook perched over it and as I hoped it would be, it's truly the Harley-Davidson of live rigs I play over 70 shows a year on average, so my Aluminum is far from a 'collectable'...in fact, it's almost paid for itself already. I also have a Voyager Select, Maple wood with Jade panel and have had great fun lately playing the two of them in duo mode...functionally, I'l no longer miss my Memorymoog for big 4th & 5ths in future recordings. I'll testify in court as an analog synth Subject Matter Expert of over 30 years that that 'the wood one' and 'the metal one' sound...are you ready?...EXACTLY THE SAME:) But I bet you already knew they would. I must say, some of these remarks about what a Moog synthesizer should or shouldn't be, are (I suspect, unintentionally) humorous. I have no dog in this fight, I've owned almost everything Moog has ever made at one time or another and they all had their charm, tho I'm in no hurry to own a Liberation again...I'm just glad Moog exists and is thriving in 2014. Not sure how things are in Canada, but here in the US we're free to simply not buy the Moogs we don't like personally, without criticizing the choices of others. I'd rather spend that time making music.

[DonutDude]

Well said.

I'm so happy Moog is still around also. I never had the chance to get a minimoog when I was young and the thought of buying a vintage model today scares me. Today I own a Voyager, as well as a lot of the other great instruments Moog produces.

Thank you Moog!!!!

[thealien666]

First of all, I'm not criticizing other people's choices. If someone wants an aluminum Voyager, then let them get one and be entirely satisfied with it, there's absolutely nothing wrong in that ! And besides, if it can provide some more money for Moog Music, it can't be dismissed. But I doubt that with only 100 made it'll be a permanent source of additional revenues, much like the recent Emerson Modular Clones.

And you've summed up my point in one sentence in your comment Vince, and I quote : "I'll testify in court as an analog synth Subject Matter Expert of over 30 years that that 'the wood one' and 'the metal one' sound...are you ready?...EXACTLY THE SAME."

So, besides showing off on stage with it, what's the point exactly ? They could at least have upgraded the digital board with some extra flashrom room for added new features in firmware on it maybe ?
It sure looks cool (in all meanings of the word) but that's about it. This is simply a great 14 years old instrument design in a new shell, yet again.
BTW, not everyone who plays a Moog can boast doing shows with them and have them paid for quickly. $4K is a lot of money for most musicians, doing shows or not.

Oh, and Vince, the fact that I live in Canada has nothing to do with anything whatsoever. That was a kinda cheap shot. But hey, I too sometimes write things on the spur of the moment and it doesn't always come out right, and even goes a little too far occasionally.

In conclusion, to each his or her own, and I'm glad you're entirely satisfied with your Al Voyager, Vince. I wish you success with it.

[EricK]

The notion that Moog should continue to repackage old designs for the purposes of "staying afloat" has probably been argued ad nauseam. Solid gold Voyagers, quintuple A topped guitars and electric lap steels are products which have some people scratching their heads. Hopefully they will offer some a la carte 5u modules or the Emerson system will be added to the above list. There have been people clamoring for a polysynth for a long time and people start to wonder what's up with decisions like that in the product vacuum of their customer's true desires.

[MC]

The notion that Moog should continue to repackage old designs for the purposes of "staying afloat" has probably been argued ad nauseam. Solid gold Voyagers, quintuple A topped guitars and electric lap steels are products which have some people scratching their heads. Hopefully they will offer some a la carte 5u modules or the Emerson system will be added to the above list. There have been people clamoring for a polysynth for a long time and people start to wonder what's up with decisions like that in the product vacuum of their customer's true desires.

Fender and Gibson have made ad nauseam variations of Strats and Les Pauls. Why shouldn't Moog?

[Rob Smith]

Big Bambo Voyager................................................Maybe in our future ?

[EricK]

Fender and Gibson have made ad nauseam variations of Strats and Les Pauls. Why shouldn't Moog?

That's not a valid argument.