Review: Moog Minimoog Voyager Old School Analog Synth
Available 3-31-2008 the Moog Minimoog Voyager Old School Analog Synth may be out of reach for most people ($2400), but if have the necessary scratch, this classic old school analog synth is incredibly powerful and cannot be touched by many modern digital synth (even high end models).
First, it is build of quality hard wood components and is heavy as hell, but is completely road worthy in my opinion. This monophonic analog performance synthesizer includes a 44-key keyboard with velocity and after pressure outputs, pitch bend and modulation wheels and many control/pedal input jacks.
I love the hinged back panel on this bad boy, it makes it easy to control all your settings and doubles as a great space saving design. Check out the official specs below. I will update this post with additional info as it becomes available. I will also post a full review after the release at the end of March.
Oscillators Module
Three wide-range, high stability VCO s (Voltage Controlled Oscillators) with continuously-variable waveforms. * FREQUENCY controls (2) vary the frequencies of Oscillators #2 and #3 over a +/-7 semitone range with respect to Oscillator #1.* OCTAVE selectors (3) set the frequency ranges of the oscillators in six octave steps.* WAVE controls (3) provide continuous control over the waveforms of the oscillators, from triangular, to sawtooth, to square, to narrow rectangular.* 1-2 SYNC switch synchronizes the Oscillator #2 waveform to the frequency of Oscillator #1, for dramatic timbral effects.* 3-1 FM switch provides linear frequency modulation of Oscillator #1 by Oscillator #3.* 3 KB CONT switch disconnects Oscillator #3 from control by the keyboard, thereby enabling it to function as a drone.* 3 FREQ switch lowers the frequency of Oscillator #3 into the sub-audio range, thereby enabling it to function as a low frequency audio or modulating oscillator.
Mixer Module
Five-input mixer for combining the audio sources prior to filtering. * Input Level controls (5) adjust the relative levels of the oscillator, noise, and external audio input signals.* Input switches (5) enable the player to quickly switch individual audio signals in and out.* External Level LED enables the player to set the correct external audio signal level.
Filters Module
Dual mode filter module includes dual lowpass and highpass-lowpass filtering. Dual lowpass mode consists of two Moog lowpass-resonant filters in parallel, one per output channel. Highpass-lowpass mode consists of Moog lowpass filter in series with a highpass filter.* CUTOFF control sweeps the frequencies of both filters throughout the audio range.* SPACING control sets the spacing between the frequencies of the two filters, over a +/-3 octave range.* RESONANCE control adjusts the resonance of both filters, from none (pure lowpass response) to filter oscillation.* KB CONT AMOUNT control sets how much the filters open and close as the player presses different keys on the keyboard.* Dual Lowpass/Highpass-Lowpass switch selects between dual lowpass operation or highpass-lowpass operation.
Envelopes Module
The Envelopes Module generates two wide-range ADSR (Attack Decay Sustain Release) envelopes. The Filter Envelope sweeps the filter and is available for modulation shaping. The Volume Envelope shapes the overall volume.* ATTACK controls (2) determine the attack times of the envelopes.* DECAY controls (2) determine the decay time constants of the envelopes.* SUSTAIN controls (2) determine the sustain levels of the envelopes.* RELEASE controls (2) determine the release time constants of the envelopes.* AMOUNT TO FILTER control determines how much the filter envelope will open and close the filter, from full negative (inverted envelope) to full positive (non-inverted envelope).* ENVELOPE GATE SWITCH selects whether the envelopes will be triggered by the keyboard, on , or by an externally-applied gate.
LFO Module
Low Frequency Oscillator generates triangular, square, Sample & Hold, and smoothed Sample & Hold waveforms for use as modulating signals.* RATE control sets the LFO rate over the range 0.2 Hz (one cycle every five seconds) to 50 Hz (fifty times a second).* WAVE LFO selector selects Triangle, Square or Sample & Hold (Stepped or Smooth) waveforms for use with the Mod Busses. * RATE LED provides visual indication of the LFO rate.
Enhanced Modulation Busses Module
Selects the sources, destinations, and shaping signals for the two modulation busses.* SOURCE selectors (2) selects the modulation source from the LFO, Oscillator 1, Oscillator 2, Oscillator 3, noise or the external modulation input (MOD2).* DESTINATION selectors (2) selects the modulation destination from Pitch, Oscillator 2, Oscillator 3, the filter cutoff frequencies, the oscillator waveforms, or LFO Rate.* CONTROLLER selectors (2) selects the Mod Wheel, MOD1, Velocity, Pressure, Filter Envelope or Volume Envelope to shape the modulation signal on that bus.* AMOUNT controls (2) sets the overall modulation amount for each bus.
