Moog Music Forum

Hi everyone,

I'm reaching out to fellow Moog One users—or anyone familiar with its internal architecture—for a bit of collective insight.

We all know the Moog One is an exceptional instrument, sitting at the crossroads of analog purity and digital complexity. On one side, you've got a richly detailed analog voice architecture; on the other, a sophisticated digital layer (embedded Linux, graphical interface, SuperCollider-based effects, etc.).

Here’s my main question:

How do you see the Moog One aging over the next 10, 15, or even 20 years?

Do you believe it will stand the test of time like a Memorymoog or Minimoog Model D?

Or do you think its heavy reliance on the digital side (firmware, eMMC storage, embedded Linux system) makes it more fragile and potentially harder to maintain in the long run?

I'm asking because:

The Moog One can’t function without its digital core, unlike fully analog vintage Moogs.

Components like the eMMC have a limited lifespan (often 7–15 years depending on usage).

As of now, Moog hasn’t released any official tools for reflashing or restoring the system in case of failure.

So I’m curious to hear your perspectives:

Do you feel confident in its long-term durability?

Have you taken precautions (system backups, SSH access, etc.)?

Do you think the community might eventually be able to maintain or restore these units, as has been done with vintage Prophets, Memorymoogs, Jupiters, etc.?

Thanks to anyone who takes the time to share their thoughts. I imagine I’m not the only one wondering about this—especially given how significant an investment the Moog One is, both financially and creatively.

GeorgeBeaumont wrote: Fri Jun 13, 2025 12:31 pm...
How do you see the Moog One aging over the next 10, 15, or even 20 years?

Do you believe it will stand the test of time like a Memorymoog or Minimoog Model D?
...

While Minimoogs often need only minor maintenance like adjusting or cleaning the emphasis pot and the keybed, the Memorymoogs I spotted out in the wild often had major repairs you could no do without real electronic knowledge and equipment.
The Moog One is even more complex as we ask for more and more features. And more parts = hight chance of failing parts.

I bet my 1979 Minimoog will play in the next decade. But I don't think a complex synth like a Moog One (or any other brand) will last 46 years with only one calibrating and just one little repair (emphasis pot cleaned).

The Oberheim Matrix 12 is a pretty complex analog synth with digital patch memory, and digital control, and digital management of its modulation matrix. And they are still working, and holding or exceeding their value. Plus there’s a whole cottage industry that repairs and tweaks these and other vintage synths.

The Moog One seems more robustly manufactured to me, but that could just be a feeling. The 12 seems way more fragile to me.

Plus the current pres of Moog and an original developer have committed ongoing support for the units. We’ll see. Worst case I see is eventually the Moog One is added to the aforementioned cottage industry of repair folks.

Relax, chicken little.

I'm a happy owner of many Moog products, starting in 1999 with two MF-104 delay pedals. Of the synths, I own a Signature Voyager (2002), Taurus 3 (2009), and Minitaur (2015). Seven MF pedals. Zero malfunctions.

I'm an EE and I can attest that the circuit assemblies are robust. As for music gear with surface mount components, I have products dating to 1985 that have had no malfunctions.