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Little Phatty VS Voyager Rack

Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 7:33 pm
by anoteoftruth
Hey guys...

I'm kind of up in the air.. I bought a new little phatty in the summer.. I've been absolutely in love with it since.. but recently I've had a offer from a friend selling his Voyger Rack edition for 1600$

I bought the LP for 1400$ new, could easily get 1400$ for it used since they are quite hard to get a hold of or even see in a store in my area (waited 2 months for mine), so I'm thinking if it is worth it or not to sell the LP and go with the Voyger Rack...

I'm just looking for pros and cons? What major difference will I get with sound? I understand it comes with 1 more VCO, so I can imagine the difference in sound that will make if I utilize it, but I'm really kind of up in the air... losing a keyboard and mod wheels etc mean I'll have to share 1 controller between 2 synths...

Just wanted to see what your opinions are? See if its worth it?

Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 11:33 pm
by Subtronik
I had an LP and loved it but traded it up for a Voyager.

But now I miss the LP because I can't seem to achieve the same warm crunchy depth with the Voyager. I'll buy a LP RME for sure if they ever release one.

If you can wait, save up for a Voyager RME.

Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 11:34 pm
by Portamental
It's a personal choice really. I don't think you LP is as easy to sell as you think (there are quite a number of phatties on canadian kijiji, and they don't move all that fast in the $1000 vicinity). RME is not a bad deal, you get good sound (amazing in fact) but it's in a rack, less convenient (for me... probably the opposite for some people), you don't get the very nice Voyager playing keyboard.

So you make 200-500 dollars in the long run into what amounts to a business deal really. Then you go into the trouble of arranging your set-up with some other keyboards, maybe extra expenses. Fifteen minutes won't spend with your LP away from you and you'll start something missing in your rig if there isn't a full fledged Moog with real keys to be touched. Whenever that happens, believe me, comfort in a bottle is not the solution ;)

I would not do it (for an RME that is). On the other hand, business is business, a sweet deal is a sweet deal, and you can always get another LP later on, maybe one with OUT CV's. I know I would trade my LP for a Sweetwater orange edition in a flash if given half the chance.

It's up to you.

Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 11:35 pm
by anoteoftruth
Yeah.. I think my stance now, is I would really like to have them both.. and use my LP's keyboard to control the Voyager RME... 1600$ perfect condition, is hard to pass up though... just dont have the funds right now so.. it's pretty heartsore. haha.

Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 11:49 pm
by Subtronik
I'm sure you'll find another great deal on an RME in the future. You can't go wrong with a Moog product, so owning two Moog synths will make you twice as happy.

Re: Little Phatty VS Voyager Rack

Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 11:54 pm
by EMwhite
I had a similar dilemma except I was considering buying an RME or an Old School which were approximately the same price. I already have a LP Tribute and won't part with it (!!).

After a bunch of reading and some soul searching, I decided upon the Old School and don't regret it one bit.

To me, an instrument isn't an instrument without a 'soul' and the Old School (and Voyager to a similar extent) have their own. Something about the form of it, obviously the interface that you touch (keyboard). Am sure that the RME is great but sitting there on the otherside of the floor in a rack somewhat diminishes it's glory. The look and feel of the original minimoog is unmistakable.

The LP has some really unique features such as the Arp, Overload on the Filter, the recall/lighted pot setup is really nice. I bought mine off eBay, then upgraded to 2.1 (which required hardware) then upgraded to CV-outs. Even if I could trade it straight up for a Voyager, I would not.

Yeah, you should wait and save up to buy yourself either a Voyager or an Old School. For me, I'm not really into Midi but I do use it from time to time and with the addition of the new MP-201, I'll be able to send sequences into the OS.

Sell everything you have in order to fund your passion or as a friend recently put it "I ate alot of cheese crackers and ramon noodles for lunch to scrape together the dough to pay for one of these"

-Mike W. from NJ

Re: Little Phatty VS Voyager Rack

Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 1:10 am
by CTRLSHFT
MikeWfromNJ wrote:I had a similar dilemma except I was considering buying an RME or an Old School which were approximately the same price. I already have a LP Tribute and won't part with it (!!).

After a bunch of reading and some soul searching, I decided upon the Old School and don't regret it one bit.

To me, an instrument isn't an instrument without a 'soul' and the Old School (and Voyager to a similar extent) have their own. Something about the form of it, obviously the interface that you touch (keyboard). Am sure that the RME is great but sitting there on the otherside of the floor in a rack somewhat diminishes it's glory. The look and feel of the original minimoog is unmistakable.

The LP has some really unique features such as the Arp, Overload on the Filter, the recall/lighted pot setup is really nice. I bought mine off eBay, then upgraded to 2.1 (which required hardware) then upgraded to CV-outs. Even if I could trade it straight up for a Voyager, I would not.

Yeah, you should wait and save up to buy yourself either a Voyager or an Old School. For me, I'm not really into Midi but I do use it from time to time and with the addition of the new MP-201, I'll be able to send sequences into the OS.

Sell everything you have in order to fund your passion or as a friend recently put it "I ate alot of cheese crackers and ramon noodles for lunch to scrape together the dough to pay for one of these"

-Mike W. from NJ
RME vs an OS is a no brainer, imo. You chose correctly. :)

Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 1:21 am
by Subtronik

Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 3:28 am
by anoteoftruth
Portamental, there are some desperate kids in the area looking for a LP. I've seen 2 wanted ads for a "new or like new" LP willing to pay max 1400$ I'm sure they'd probably try to lower that later but you know...

To everyone else, thanks a ton for the opinions/info. That's exactly what I was looking for. When I got home I sat down with the LP for a while and I think in the end I'm going with my gut. Portamental kind of hit the nail on the hammer.. my only worry was how I would deal with it being a rack, how it would change the feel and my whole setup.. when I step back and look at it, I think having the LP with they keyboard and the whole body, makes it easier to connect with on a creative level. I'll probably be holding onto it.. but wishing to heck I can afford a voyager someday.

Might need to switch to the cracker and ramen diet. Haha.

Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 3:54 am
by EricK
crackers and ramen= bad.

Credit Union Loans=Voyager.

Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 4:14 am
by Portamental
anoteoftruth wrote:Portamental, there are some desperate kids in the area looking for a LP. I've seen 2 wanted ads for a "new or like new" LP willing to pay max 1400$ I'm sure they'd probably try to lower that later but you know...
Well, it is still just a thought at this point, but I think I could quite easily let go my (absolutely mint still under warranty) LP for 1200 and get the OrangeCV LP. Check your contacts, who knows.

I, on the other have been thinking. With two set of Moog keys already, a good deal on RME would be a good way to add more midi moog sound to my set-up. Unfortunately, I shy away at having to buy a VX-351-352 pair for a rack, in which case a Performer is more like what I need next. So I am afraid that shall remain mostly a thought. But who knows, if the price (cdn) is very interesting, i might go for it on a moog mood day nearing Xmas time ;). It's a version 3.X+ version with 7 memory banks, right?

Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 3:59 am
by peterkadar
Hey anoteoftruth,

Don't sell the LP. They're special in their own way. I have a TE as well, and a RME. There is a definite jump in sound quality to me going up to the Voyager series, but there's something special about the LP.

You'll be able to get a Voyager once finances permit. I got my RME from McQuades for $1600 a few months back. You'll find them.

And popcorn is a pretty good snack to go with the ramen. Not too unhealthy... :)

Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2009 4:00 pm
by anoteoftruth
I think your right Peter. You got your RME at long&mcquades for 1600$? Was it a used model?

I think by the time I'm able to buy one, they might even go down in price haha. I still have dreams of 5 oscillators, and Moog polyphony in my sleep..

Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 3:47 am
by WakeOfDestruction
That RME still available? Hate to gain at others loss... but 1600 for a perfect condition RME I can do.

Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 10:10 pm
by peterkadar
Yes, it was used; and a low serial number. It's the old OS, with the single bank of 128 presets. It's in great shape and sounds killer.