Moog VCO which modern equivalent?

cloudhop123 · Post by **cloudhop123** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 6:49 pm

Hi

Am thinking of adding extra VCOs to my home built 3C/55 but would like the security/stability of modern tuning and tracking but hopefully retaining
a good old Moog sound..anyone point me in the right direction preferably
DIY project (Ive heard the Oakley VCO are good?)

thanks

Voltor07 · Post by **Voltor07** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 10:02 pm

I personally would look into the Synthesizers.com VCO's with the ultra stability upgrade. They are by far the most affordable and stable Moog clones on the market.

EricK · Post by **EricK** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 11:50 pm

Okay Im wondering...

3c or 55?

Voltor07 · Post by **Voltor07** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 2:24 am

EricK wrote:Okay Im wondering...

3c or 55?

I'm thinking he's got parts from each.

cloudhop123 · Post by **cloudhop123** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 8:15 am

Thanks Voltor I will have a look at these Osc. what you say sounds promising The 3C is not a 3C yet, still have the third tier to complete so its more like a 55 at the moment with a mixture of modules from both.

EricK · Post by **EricK** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 9:45 am

The MOSLAB modules probably more closely resemble the modules than any other Moog clone that Ive seen so far. THe dotcom Oscs are loosely based on and resemble the 921 to a degree but I think have an extra waveform.
THey are a little more expensive though and I don't know what makes the actual circuit different.

THe Modusonics, we have determined are the closest to actual original designs because they are based purely on the original designs and use original parts. THese cost around 700 though and I don't have a picture of those, just pictures of my 921b.

Edit: I WOULD NEVER DO BUSINESS WITH MIKE BUCKI BECAUSE THERE ARE NUMEROUS INSTANCES OF CUSTOMERS NEVER GETTING THEIR EQUIPMENT BACK.

Eric

Voltor07 · Post by **Voltor07** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 11:18 am

I like the .com's, simply because you don't need the driver module.

They're cheap, too.

cloudhop123 · Post by **cloudhop123** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 11:50 am

Thanks Erick...OK I'm looking for the 60's or 70's modular Osc sound OR early Minimoog osc sound + good tracking....votes on Oakley / .Coms / Mos-lab please!

Voltor07 · Post by **Voltor07** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 12:24 pm

To reiterate...Synthesizers.com oscillators do not require the oscillator drivers, and are quite affordable, and are also very stable with the stability upgrade...probably the most stable on the market.

MOS-LAB's require a driver, which greatly adds to the cost, but retains Bob's original design.

Modusonics are the most expensive, but are exact replicas of Bob's design and utilize the same components as the original modulars.

Oakley's design has a board that ultimately will be discarded. It's an interface board for their own modulars. You'll be paying for something you'll never use, although their core oscillator design is similar to the .com's. Using this information, you'll be able to make an informed decision.

JohnLRice · Post by **JohnLRice** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 5:00 pm

Voltor07 wrote:To reiterate...Synthesizers.com oscillators do not require the oscillator drivers, and are quite affordable, and are also very stable with the stability upgrade...probably the most stable on the market.

MOS-LAB's require a driver, which greatly adds to the cost, but retains Bob's original design.

Maybe I'm mistaken but I was under the impression that while the 921B ocsillator design requires the 921A oscillator driver module (no matter who makes one: Moog, Modusonics, Mos-Lab or Club Of The Knobs etc) the straight 921 oscillator does not require the 921A oscillator driver and works stand-alone. Is this correct or not?

Just FYI for the original poster: I've heard great things about the Oakley VCO but it's stability may be matched or even exceeded by the Synth Tech MOTM-300 VCO. (I have several MOTM-300's and they are GREAT!

) But while both of those have panels that are the same height as Moog panels, they are a little narrower and the mounting hole spacing is different. Also the layout and graphics aren't the same as the Moog style. If you want to put these into a Moog case you might want to at least get some blank panels from synthesizers.com, drill and silk screen/label them and transfer the gutz over.

cloudhop123 · Post by **cloudhop123** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 7:05 pm

Thanks chaps

..well deducing all I'm going for the .Com and see how that performs...its a shame because my home made 901b (exact replicas) sound incredibly fantastic..raw-full-fat-and primitive but musically their crap . I get them to track (just) and next day..back to square one

one 901b 's octave is out by a semitone in middle C range

..talk about frustrating, got the sound cant get the music.

i guess I have to experiment with with various VCO units.

EricK · Post by **EricK** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 4:06 am

The 921 Osc does NOT require a driver as it is its own unique element.

Eric

JohnLRice · Post by **JohnLRice** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 4:35 am

Can anyone please explain why there are two different Moog VCO "types"? Was the 921A+921B(s) just a more economical solution than having a bunch of 921s or?

Will a 921 and 921A+921B pair sound pretty much the same or are they completley different?

Thanks!

Kevin Lightner · Post by **Kevin Lightner** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 5:49 am

John,

A 921 basically IS a 921A with a 921B together.
The boards to both the A & B modules are contained in the 921.
There's no difference in the sound between the two configurations.
The larger 921 has a mixed bi-polar output that's a bit hotter than a 921B delivers and the sync has some minor changes between the two, but otherwise they're pretty much the same.

Bryan B · Post by **Bryan B** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 9:55 am

This is a great discussion! Thanks to everyone who is posting.

Threads like this can lead to serious pain in my future wallet.

I don't have a Modular yet, but when I do... this info will solve my first dilema.

Moog Music Forum

Moog VCO which modern equivalent?

Moog VCO which modern equivalent?

help me choose???

Choice made!