Moog Music Forum

How many units would Moog have to sell to make a vocoder moogerfoger profitable? And do you think there is a big enough market? I would buy one in a heartbeat.

Until then, I'll keep using my electro-harmonics.

I might be interested in something like that.

It seems like the appropriate form factor. Clearly the v256 from EHX is even smaller.

Analogue or digital?

If you want to see what the former would take (in through hole nonetheless) check out the L1 vocoder for Eurorack.

Digital is much easier, try the just released Warps by Mutable Instruments.

Or do you mean something with several oscillators included in the box?

I was thinking analog, but no oscillators of its own. An adjustable number of bands, some compression for the vocal mic, and some blend controls.

Here is the L-1:

http://l-1.su/Vocoder.html

Yes a Vocoder needs to be a fooger for sure

meterman wrote:Yes a Vocoder needs to be a fooger for sure

There must be some technical aspect to it that we are overlooking. There has to be a reason they haven't done one already. Maybe someone from Moog will chime in.

jsharpphoto wrote:

meterman wrote:Yes a Vocoder needs to be a fooger for sure

There must be some technical aspect to it that we are overlooking. There has to be a reason they haven't done one already. Maybe someone from Moog will chime in.

Just to reiterate: look at what goes into an analogue vocoder with the L1 DIY model. It is available from analog haven for $1720, no power or case included.

Technical aspects:

• 24 decent filters take up lots of PCB space. It would be smaller with SMD, but they would be pushing it to fit onto an MF-sized board
• Custom compander/VCA chips or even more PCB space to build them discrete
• Matched transistor chips (e.g. THAT300) to keep the filters in tune
• High power requirements (0.5A bipolar)
• ?? Unusual form factor for a 'fooger (XLR input), although they do have MIDI on some.

The market is too limited for a risky (expensive) venture. Vocoders are best when your carrier is constant, like an oscillator drone, the brighter/buzzier the better. Doable with a guitar but not as fun!

Now, if they break the taboo and go for a digital 'fooger, all bets are off! It could work pretty well with the animoog engine as an all-in-one setup.

I think the EHX vocoder a sound pretty good, and they are digital.

I don't really see Moog making this, as stated, it's incredibly specialized.