minimoog voyager gold

Gold 10th Anniversary Moog Minimoog Voyager announced

Only 31 are being made, and you'll have to pay $15,000 to buy one

For many, Moog has always represented the gold standard in analogue synthesis, and now it has a synth with a gold finish.

Created to celebrate a decade of the Minimoog Voyager, the hand-crafted 10th Anniversary edition looks like a very special creation indeed. As well as having a 24 karat gold-dipped chassis, it boasts a black piano lacquered wood cabinet, Japanese Awabi pearl inlay, a personalised 24 karat gold name badge and a backlit indigo Moog logo.

There are also indigo LEDs, translucent rotary knobs and all black switches. Each synth comes in a custom-made wood crate and with a handbound manual and certificate of authenticity.

Only 31 10th Anniversary Minimoog Voyagers are being made. 30 of them will be available at a cost of $15,000 each, and it seems that the other one will be offered as some kind of competition prize (though we don't yet know what you'll have to do to try and win it).

Find out more on the Moog website. It's also worth noting that all registered Minimoog Voyager owners will be receiving a "small gift" to celebrate their synth's 10th anniversary.

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I’m the Deputy Editor of MusicRadar, having worked on the site since its launch in 2007. I previously spent eight years working on our sister magazine, Computer Music. I’ve been playing the piano, gigging in bands and failing to finish tracks at home for more than 30 years, 24 of which I’ve also spent writing about music and the ever-changing technology used to make it. 

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Moog Music has announced the release of a limited edition Gold MiniMoog Voyager. Handcrafted in Asheville, North Carolina, this iconic analog synth is made with the finest materials and then dipped in 24 Karat gold to celebrate its ten year anniversary. The classic wood housing has been neatly dressed in a custom, high gloss black piano lacquer chosen specifically to accentuate the Japanese Awabi pearl adornment on the sidepieces. The 10th Anniversary Minimoog Voyager also includes custom translucent knobs, an illuminated indigo-colored Moog Logo, a gold headphone jack, a personalized engraved gold plate, all black switches, a letter pressed certificate of authenticity and a hand-bound user’s manual. This flamboyant instrument/work of art made its unofficial debut at Moogfest 2012 about a week ago when Miike Snow threw down with it during their headlining set. Only 31 of these rare and valuable instruments will be handcrafted, and 30 will be available for sale worldwide . What’s happening to the 31st you might ask? Well to thank their loyal customers who have allowed the small company to thrive while staying true to their ideals, Moog will be giving away one of the limited edition Minimoog Voyagers to a very lucky winner (details for entry will be released November 16th). All registered Voyager owners will also be receiving a small gift of gratitude for their support. Only 5 units are available for sale in the United States, and the remaining 25 will be spread out across countries around the world. This probably impossible-to-get-your-hands on limited edition 10th anniversary Minimoog Voyager retails at $15,000.

Posted By: Nazy F | No Comments » Tags: 10th Anniversary 24 24 karat gold analog analog syth Anniversary Asheville Ashville authentic Awabi best-selling synth Carolina edition gold gold synth Golden handcrafted iconic synth Japanese karat limited limited edition Miike Miike Snow Minimoog Minimoog Voyager Moog Moog Music Moogfest Moogfest 2012 Music NC north north carolina Pearl Snow synth synthesizer

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10th Anniversary Moog Minimoog Voyager Is Dipped In Gold, $15k

Got a spare $15k burning a hole in your pocket?

Then you may want to check out the 10th Anniversary Moog Minimoog Voyager . It’s like a normal Voyager, but dipped in gold.

Here are the details:

• 2 Karat Gold Dipped Chassis
• Black piano lacquered wood cabinet
• Japanese Awabi pearl inlay
• Personalized 24 Karat gold name badge
• Rear backlit Indigo Moog logo
• Indigo LEDs with tricolor LFO rate LED
• Translucent rotary knobs
• All black switches
• Custom printed manual cover
• Hardbound manual
• Custom made wood crate
• Letterpress certificate of authenticity
• Limited to an edition of 31

The MSRP for the 10th Anniversary Moog Minimoog Voyager is $15,000. See the Moog site for details.

80 thoughts on “ 10th Anniversary Moog Minimoog Voyager Is Dipped In Gold, $15k ”

Why, what’s the point? It’s not like they are goin to fly off the shelf, and their just goin to end up in some rich jerk’s collection never to be played or enjoyed by anyone else…

ya.. its 2012 we know they can make a moog out of gold and its good enough for me..

I’m getting one.

I’m polychaining 6 of them to finally make a polymoog!

Just plain ugly. For the filthy rich with inherited tax cuts.

also dubbed – the hip hop edition.

The. world in some serious economic crisis and moog make a gold panel synth. Well done moog, A hip community minded cool company indeed!!!

Perfect timing for the re election of our world bling bling president 🙂

sarcasm <

irrelevant racism <

So I am a racist to my own race? That is news to me and my skin color 🙂

Well well, how about that

Repulsive pointless decadence .What an utterly useless thing to do.

From the Moog “Bling” collection… I bet next they will be sending one into space.

bob just rolled over in his grave

Admin: Personal attack deleted.

Please keep comments on topic and constructive.

come on Moog stop waisting our time with this crap, it’s like beating a dead horse over and over with these stupid anniversary and signed models. why don’t you spend some of that money on research and delvelopment and build us a polyphonic synth.

Don’t bother leaving a negative mesaage on their youtube video because they are screening all the comments. never going to buy another moog

Do a Google image search for Bob Moog’s car, then take a look again at that monstrosity above again. Makes me wonder about the leadership over at Moog. Doesn’t seem like Dr. Moog’s values provide much guidance any longer.

Kanye West just bought 11 of them, and he can’t work any of them.

i highly doubt that this is an idea which bob moog would have approved of. i hope who ever is running the moog company wakes up and cancels this monstrosity.

Moog used to be for everyone, with at least some cost effective products offered. They must think Mitt Romney’s going to win the election or something, who has that kind of money? suck it…

yes you are right about Romney and Jay Z’s $280 000 champagne tower at his joint in Manhattan… 🙂 google it.

Can you imagine all the free publicity and visual impact they will get at that next Anti Laptop Convention? 🙂

I bought 10 of them.

As if Moog Sound was that accessible to begin with. Minitaur = yes Slim phatty = yes Everything else = no

There are lots of great sounding VST’s out there and CPU’s are only getting faster. Moog either grows up or gets lost in the crowd.

And I thought the Voyager XL was expensive . . . come to think of it, why isn’t this model an XL? If you’re going to make an obnoxiously ostentatious showoff model, why not make it the fully-loaded version?

I wish Moog would produce some more affordable gear.

I was at Snieders bureau (possibly spelt wrong) I checked out the moog minitaur, It looked like a toy, and that thing is not cheap. It is good to see others scratching their heads about moog. If they turn away from the real world and it economics , it won’t be long before they come unstuck. Their gear is hyped to fuck

Moog proving how out of touch they are with consumers

What do you think Moog should be building? Something comparable to the MiniBrute?

Moog is one of the few companies still making synthesizers that are built as well as vintage synths from the 70s.

One of my big complaints with most current synths (most of the Roland, Korg + Yamaha stuff) is that they’re virtual analog synths in cheap plastic cases. The M-Audio Venom is like that – a virtual analog in a cheap Casio keyboard’s body.

Be careful what you wish for!

Come on moog – make a modern Prodigy – (2 vco) synth! You have the technology! Dip it in gold if you like but make a cheaper version for the rest of us.

Yes – I know the Minitaur has 2 vcos but it’s a strange set-up! More pots and more versatility would be nice. (A keyboard is optional!)

“Custom made wood crate” – I’m in.

Next, Moog Beats by Dre edition. With more even more base because of the new MegaBase(tm) filter.

And it has a blinking rotating logo on the back panel.

So ugly, and yet I still love the way it looks.

No way in hell I would ever buy one, but I’ll admit that I’d love to see fake “gold”-versions of some nice, cheap controllers. Maybe I’ve just been listening too much to Brett Domino Trio – Gold.

I’m shocked, primarily because I still would like to use it…

I think, that I would never spend that money on a synthesizer.

golden Moog = creepy

Cool,but for that amount of money you could give the minimoog voyager A LOT of other new groundbreaking cool features. Gold is not going to make it better 🙂 Are they shipping this s***? 🙂 contact your local dealer 🙂 When this s*** is arriving here in Europe only the box will be delivered 🙂

I absolutely love, how this is becoming another example of the convenience of VSTIs.

Given how much software emulates real hardware, now expect Arturia Mini 5 Special Edition to hit the shelves. You pay five times as much, but have a golden UI. 😉

The gold Moog is not for me, over the top and excessive!

But Moog’s line is more affordable than ever. It’s silly to suggest otherwise – Minimoogs in the 70’s cost more than a car! Now they’ve got virtual Moog’s for $20, real Moog’s starting at $600, and Moog keyboards for a little over $1000. All without ever making their gear feel ‘cheap’.

and made in usa

Moog could go virtual analog, get rid of all the knobs & make their synths out of plastic – then they’d be cheap!

But Yamaha already has that market cornered!.

wow, thats pure decadence … moog lost a few points for me. from tools to gold plated like hasselblad with the bu*t ugly luna camera

Note to self: gotta change that poor looking VSTi user interface…

Something new for the rappers to steal.

Bling bling

What makes this synth worth 15k? 2 karat gold? The name plate? The piano lacquer finish?

Even with those things, Moog is blatantly full of themselves. To the point of insulting their consumer’s intelligence. To the point of being snotty and obnoxious.

Built efficiently, there is literally no way that the built quality on this thing warrants a 15k pop. No freakin way. There is not enough gold on it to jump the price over 10000 dollars. It isn’t a luxury item. It’s just over-priced.

Three words – Supply and demand. If 31 people each buy one of these, then it’s not priced incorrectly.

Do you buy snacks at the movies? How much do you think that popcorn and those soft drinks cost the theater? Supply and demand – it’s about what price the market will bear.

Sure they can make a fancy gold-dipped Voyager, but apparently it’s too frivolous to bring back the modular despite the actual demand there is for that to happen.

Actual demand that is being handily being met by hundreds of companies competing against each other.

At this point, a Moog modular would be an expensive vanity item, and people would gripe about it being an expensive vanity item!

WOW you guys are hella stupid for what everyone is saying about the MOOG!!! This is a limited edition piece of the great MOOG Voyager!!! What is wrong with you people dayum??? smh…

Does it come with matching grillz?

Just because something is expensive does not mean that the world hates you.

Bling bling Everytime I come around yo city Bling bling Pinky ring worth about fifty Bling bling Everytime I buy a new ride Bling bling Lorinsers on Yokahama tires Bling bling

Haters gonna hate!

I like that this is just completely over the top and insane. Why should guitarists get all the crazy shit? I want an ‘Alien’ synth!

I totally agree. Yes, it’s expensive, but it’s also a VERY limited edition. Why criticize how fancy a Voyager birthday party Moog decided to throw? If you want a Voyager, you can still buy any number of different current models at their regular price. They obviously went over the top on this one on purpose, and while it’s not for me, I like what they did.

WOW becoming the APPLE of the synth world.. just throw more flash and it will make a splash..

Apple? More like Paul Reed Smith.

If you are going to make something OTT you might as well make it right.

Why was all the circuitry and jacks not gold platted? They are the real parts that would actually benefit from the extra conductivity.

Actually, gold plating sounds much worse than nickel plating as gold is a heavy metal and isn’t that conductive. It’s only benefit is that it doesn’t oxidize. So unfortunately and contrary to popular belief gold plating reduces sound quality…..just ask Russ Andrews…

I think the video shows the craftsmanship that has dissappeared with modern electronics. organs pianos harpsichords all had beautiful inlays at one time or another. so it might be nice to see that quality return with casings.

I agree that $15,000 is ridiculous though. I find it hard to believe gold plating would drive the price that high. it’s a nice idea. it does look beautiful in the video. but. it’s just a moog. right?

Mmm, shiny Moog…

I have to wonder if this is one of those things that, once it was built, wasn’t quite as awesome as everyone pictured it during the conceptual / design phase.

I’m torn. I think it looks tacky, but I’m tempted to buy one, stash it unopened somewhere safe and climate controlled, and sell it for $$$ in 5 or 10 years.

They’re only going to make 31 of them — and I’ll bet a dollar that they sell every one.

If I had $15,000 extra just chillin’, I’d get the CS-80 my buddy is selling.

I would seriously want to know, from where and by whom the gold they used was mined.

Moog must be listening to corporate rather than musicians these days. Reminds me of what Fender has been up to lately – $17,000 limited-edition Stratocasters that are made not for players but slimy collectors, as ‘instant collectors’ items’. It’s sick and decadent. Now Fender has been doing this on a large scale for years now, but this is Moog’s first foray into the in-your-face-fetish-item market. Maybe it’s just a phase, maybe an ironic post-modern joke. But it resonates in a a sick market where wealthy people won’t put in banks because rates are too low, so they stash their disposable income in bling. I live in LA so I see it every day.

Ain’t gold dipped, but whatever. Guess that’s the easy to digest term for gold plating. Karat? Usually high. 24K is common. But gold is not that bad of a conductor. It’s second next to silver. As for this Moog, it’ll retain its value, but it’s all very silly. Bring out a Moog modular or something interesting to more than the millionaires.

Don’t say that about the modular, people don’t like that idea here.

this is for the guys/gals who love gold plated stuff… Hope the link won’t banned, its all fun 🙂 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fbhv3JHkJNk

I think it looks beautiful.

And they were doing so well with the whole “classy” thing up until a year or so ago…

I really like the little ditty playing in the background of this video. The lead tone is really beautiful, which is one thing I love about my Voyager; it can sound beautiful or completely dirty and brutal.

It looks like a bathroom fixture.

I posted that comment under the video on U2b, but the moderator censored it. Maybe the right to free speech is more recognized here.

Or the demo unit in Home Depot’s lighting department. No, really, form follows function. It was in a carriage that looked like this that Prince Franz Ferdinand (a distant relative of mine) was shot by a Serbian separatist that led to the start of the War to End All Wars Or So The Germans Would Have Us Believe. You want to get shot at by separatists, you go ahead and be seen playing one of these. Leave me out of it.

Seriously absurd. Have they run out of ideas?

Here’s an idea Moog, how about focusing on building new synths, instead of releasing different coloured versions of old ones

Strange thing! Looks nice – But i hope MOOG will release an polyphonic synth one day !?!

Decadent rubbish.

Looks like Trump’s bathroom… but even more tasteless.

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Moog voyager old school.

• Synthesizers

The Voyager Old School sees Moog returning to their roots, but is there a place for an all–analogue, 1970s–style synth in the 21st century?

In 2001, rumours began to circulate of a revised, regenerated Minimoog, followed by a competition to name Bob Moog's latest progeny. The resulting Minimoog Voyager answered the prayers of many. It was, after all, a monophonic analogue synthesizer from Moog featuring Moog oscillators, Moog filters, wood, MIDI, a responsive keyboard, patch memories and knobs and components that were shiny and new. Throw in patch points for extra control, a dedicated LFO, oscillator sync and waveform modulation and you'd think all the boxes had been ticked. However, some amongst the analogue community worked themselves into a lather, convinced that grafting menus onto a Mini was tantamount to nailing a humbucker pickup to a Stradivarius. Some saw it as cheating to dial up a patch from memory rather than making your own, on the spot, every time. Not even Bob Moog, it seemed, could please everyone.

Well, the beardy types' wailing and gnashing of teeth can cease, because there's another new Moog in town — one that rejects all things digital. Ladies and gentlemen, let me present the Moog Voyager Old School!

As the two synths are so intimately related, I'd advise you to revisit Gordon Reid's comprehensive review of the Voyager from June 2003's SOS. Here, like some twisted dentist, I'll ponder the impact of the extractions — and will doubtless wallow in nostalgia along the way. After all, merely glancing at the Old School takes me back to my youth — to a time when what you saw really was what you got. This Moog is that rarest of creatures: a modern synthesizer built with ergonomics, layout and style in mind. This is no exercise in feature cramming!

Weighing in at a hefty 18kg, the Old School is a serious contender. If you admired the standard Voyager, I think you'll agree its latest sibling wins any posing contest between them — without even needing to pout. The wood finish is superb, the feel of the knobs top–notch, and the 44–key (F to C) keyboard is a delight — it certainly beats any vintage Model D I've played for both speed and responsiveness.

On first power–up, the solitary pulsing LED of the Low Frequency Oscillator is understated in comparison to the extravagant light-shows of other Voyager models. This reserved façade blends more naturally amongst older synthesizers, and the lack of a backlit panel or glowing mod wheel should banish any fears of extraneous electrical noise.

No Minimoog would look right without its familiar tilting panel. This one offers five operating positions, although (as Gordon observed in his original review), the wooden case is too close to the rear jack sockets to allow you to use them when the panel is laid flat. Looking closely, you'll see that the panel is actually a printed laminate affair similar to those seen on Dave Smith's recent instruments — all very clear and logical. Scanning from left to right, we find the modulation section, consisting of an LFO and two modulation busses. Then the three VCOs, mixer, dual filters, envelopes and, finally, a big, friendly volume knob. Being both right–handed and a compulsive tweaker, I'd love to encounter a panel laid out in exactly the opposite direction, since the filter and envelope knobs seem to be where my left hand travels most often. Fortunately, the angled panel negates any crossed–arm obstructions!

Adjacent to every control is a pale–blue mark. This is your designated safe escape route, presumably for when it all goes horribly wrong. Once upon a time we patiently learned to program our synthesizers with patch–book examples and cardboard overlays. Frankly, Moog are the last company I'd have expected to print a 'default' patch on one of its synths — an indelible set of 'L' plates!

Mildly exasperated, I turned to the rear (or upper) panel, which is largely the same as the Voyager's. This means lots of quarter–inch voltage inputs (11 in total) for interfacing with expression pedals, or modular gear such as Moog's own Moogerfoogers. An effects loop insert point is provided too, ideal for plumbing in external effects after the mixer section and before the filters. This is one of those simple additions that prove to be genuinely worthwhile in practice and had me digging out a wide collection of old effects processors. Adjacent to the insert point, the external audio input is on hand to process any source you fancy — including the Old School's own headphone output. This version of the Minimoog trick sounds a trifle different in this incarnation; indeed, with the levels cranked up it threw up some of the most extreme (and occasionally scary) noises in the Old School's repertoire.

Cape Capers

Familiarisation with the controls took literally seconds, after which I started to get the kind of buzz that took me back to my earliest days discovering synths. The first area I turned to was modulation — perhaps the most significant upgrade from Minimoog architecture. This consists of two identical modulation busses, each offering six modulation sources routable to six destinations via any of a list of six controllers. I thought this synth was a beast, but I didn't realise it was The Beast! The sources available differ from those of a standard Voyager; they include the three VCOs, the LFO, the noise generator and an external modulation input. These may be routed to overall pitch, the pitch of Oscillator 2 or 3, filter cutoff, oscillator wave or LFO rate.

Wave modulation is something you couldn't do at all on a Minimoog, and the only drawback here is that it affects all oscillators — or none; you can't specify a single VCO wave to be modulated. If this isn't as flexible as you might like, it does at least keep things simple. The controller component of the modulation bus has the usual suspects: mod wheel, velocity, aftertouch and both envelopes, plus an external CV or expression pedal.

Lacking the menu options of the standard Voyager, the Old School benefits from more modulation controllers on its panel. But as there are only two busses and three main performance controllers, you might not be able to do everything you want in a single patch. For example, if you route velocity to the filter cutoff and aftertouch to wave modulation, you can't then bring the mod wheel into play — the two busses are already fully booked. Here's where that optional VX351 CV Expander (see 'CV Concerns' box) starts to look anything but.

LFOs & VCOs

I'm sure we all agree that a dedicated LFO is a vital thing to have. This one has a base range of approximately 0.2Hz up to 50Hz, but can be extended considerably by means of a positive or negative voltage at its CV input. There are just four waveforms available: triangle, square, sample-and-hold and smoothed sample-and-hold. Oddly there's no sawtooth — but sawtooth hunters will be pleased to know that, as per the Minimoog, you can draft in one of the three main oscillators for additional low–frequency duty. There's even a switch to deactivate it from the keyboard too, just like old times.

In stark contrast to my own (now departed) Mini, the VCOs behaved impeccably, stabilising after just a few minutes and staying that way. Oscillator 1's pitch is set by the main fine–tune control, with the other two oscillators detunable over a range of seven semitones, up or down. The oscillators sound great — from their lowest 32' setting right up to 1', an octave that comes into its own when you start to explore another 'post Model D' trick — Frequency Modulation. At the flick of a switch, VCO3 becomes the FM source for VCO1, serving up wild excesses of discordant metallic tones, adding bite to any solo.

Speaking of bite, I was recently impressed by Moog's Freqbox and its rich oscillator sync, and I'm even happier with the Old School's implementation. Draft in a modulation bus giving aftertouch control over Oscillator 2's frequency, and you're in sync heaven. I'm guessing Moog improved the aftertouch response after the original review, because I found it played very well, second only to Korg's Prophecy in my own 'pressure hit parade'.

Filters & Envelopes

The original Minimoog's single low–pass filter was enough to make it legendary. The Old School has two of them and a switch that determines which configuration you want: parallel low–pass mode or serial high– and low–pass. Choose parallel and each filter is routed to a separate audio output; choose serial and audio is sent equally to both.

As has been said before, Moog don't provide a way to access each filter's cutoff frequency individually. Instead, a spacing control sets the interval between them over a range of +/– three octaves. Switch into High–pass/Low–pass mode and you enter thin and raspy territory; if you're looking to break away from blatant Moog power, this could become a favourite, with filter spacing acting as a direct thin/fat control.

The ADSR envelopes are positioned vertically and offer a snappy response rated between one millisecond and 10 seconds. I wasn't particularly taken by the way the knobs are calibrated. In the case of attack, the bulk of the knob's travel is occupied by the fastest attacks, and in the case of release, a large portion of the knob's movement translates to very short release times; only the last sliver of pie is available to set a range between one second and maximum. On the review model, this maximum was over 20 seconds, so finding accurate release times proved rather finicky. It's likely that my solos are just too slow and 'new agey', but this is something to be aware of when you audition an Old School.

As with the Minimoog, the envelopes default to single triggering. This suits my noodly style perfectly — but could be troublesome if you need fast, articulated phrasing. In such cases, multi triggering is available, but is activated by powering on while holding down the top two keys of the keyboard. Not something you'd want to do live! You must also do this every time multi–triggering is needed, as the status is not remembered. The keyboard employs last–note priority rather than the Minimoog's low–note bias, which I think is an improvement. Lastly, a switch will deactivate keyboard triggering of the envelopes — handy when processing external signals via the filters.

If, before the release of the first Voyager, you had asked me what I would hope to find in a modern Minimoog, it wouldn't have been a hundred miles from the Voyager OS. Its full title, 'Minimoog Voyager Old School', is a bit of a mouthful, though; how nice it would have been to simply say Minimoog Model E! This synth is just as comfortable in a lead performance role as the Model D was all those years ago. One look at the panel and you know exactly where you are; its controls feel just right and they're ergonomically spaced for unimpeded access to a wealth of Moog tones. You're not stuck in the past, though: the Old School has way more to offer, thanks to a dedicated LFO, oscillator sync, FM and the dual filter arrangement. Factor in the twin modulation bus and rear–panel interfacing and the options seem to grow exponentially.

There are 896 patches in a V3 Voyager, but I warrant a skilled Old School performer should be able to rustle up the sound he or she wants in the time it takes to locate a favourite amongst that lot — with the advantage that each time it will be a little different. Don't go for an Old School if you insist on absolute repeatability in your music; without memories to draw from, the synthesizer player is forced not to memorise (or write down) each favourite patch but to understand the instrument so deeply that it becomes intuitive. At £500 less than a Voyager Performer, the Old School could be both a money saver and an education.

Not everything in the garden is rosy, however. Dropping MIDI seems a cut too many when faced with the challenge of sequencing the Old School via the CV input. A lesser gripe is the difficulty of setting long attack and release times accurately. Admittedly, this could be more about my preference for a particular style of flowing solo than a serious complaint. Actually, if I had to name just one thing that genuinely bugged me, it's those 'default' patch markings. They really spoil an otherwise elegant panel. Yes, I'm a grumpy old man to get fixated on such things — but have we really dumbed down so much in the space of 30 years that this is necessary?

To sum up, the Voyager's digital bits were never part of its signal path anyway, but if you feel that this new–fangled MIDI lark and patch memories are cheating, or if you simply dream of a modern, reliable, simple–to–use Moog, the Voyager Old School is exactly what the doctor ordered.

Alternatives

Genuine alternatives to the Voyager Old School are thin on the ground, not least because monophonic analogue synthesizers (with or without MIDI) aren't exactly hurtling off production lines. If we peer into the future a little, the forthcoming MacBeth X–Factor promises to be a serious contender, and the Analogue Solutions Leipzig also looks interesting. But for the time being, it's probably another US company that offers Moog the most serious challenge — in the form of the Prophet 08 from Dave Smith. This eight–note polyphonic analogue has MIDI, knobs, a sequencer, patch memories and much more. Admittedly, the endless rotaries don't offer the same instant visual feedback as an Old School and modulation is set via menus, but Dave Smith packs a lot into a compact, affordable synth. Or, for much less cash, Dave's Mono Evolver keyboard with its mixture of digital and analogue technology can't be ignored.

If you turn to digital, the Access Virus TI series still sounds fabulous to these old ears although, granted, there's a little menu–hopping to do. Clavia's Nord Wave fares better in that respect, but its mono mode doesn't handle like a true analogue. Like many digital synths since the Korg Prophecy, its envelopes restart at zero on each keypress, reducing my flowery synth solos to something more like an accordion or melodica! Thankfully, the Virus gets that bit right — something to note if you share my fondness for a certain Schulzian Moog style.

CV Concerns...

Despite the Old School's diverse connectivity, a few desirable features failed to earn a place amongst the throng. There's a dearth of voltage outputs, although, as an optional extra, these can be added courtesy of Moog's VX351 CV Expander. This hooks up via a small multi–pin connector and provides access to voltages produced by the keyboard's velocity and aftertouch, as well as the mod wheel, and more. Be aware that this expander was created for the original Voyager, so some of its outputs (for example, that of the Touch Surface) don't apply to the Old School or, in the case of the keyboard pitch and gate outputs, duplicate what is there already.

It's fortunate that CV and Gate interfacing are on board, since, with MIDI cast aside, the Old School needs some way to interact with the outside world. In my own tests I found that the keyboard's output voltage was scaled much lower than that of my Roland SH101. Oddly, all notes below the keyboard's bottom C sent the Roland into a spin — although three octaves (C–C) worked reliably. Investigation revealed that the Old School puts out negative voltages for any notes below the lowest C, which some synths (such as the 101) can't cope with.

Unfortunately, it was the incoming pitch–CV response that caused me real problems. Driven by the SH101 or by my Kenton Pro 2000 MIDI–to–CV converter, the Old School did not track accurately at all. Moog inform me they decided to omit CV input calibration from the design, and I am advised that the best solution is to use an attenuator from either a VX351 or a Moogerfooger CP251 Control Processor (or a similar module, if you have a modular synth) to tweak the incoming voltage until the Old School plays in tune.

Personally, I can live without patch memories and MIDI control of knobs — but without basic MIDI note reception, I can't drive those chuggy Moog basses from a sequencer without added cost or complication. At this point my nostalgia transferred briefly to the dawn of MIDI: the solution to exactly this kind of voltage incompatibility.

Off The Menu

Obviously, there are tricks a digitally–empowered Voyager can do that are beyond the remit of the Old School — without a menu system, much has to be simplified. Thus, the Old School has no way to transpose the keyboard or set different velocity curves. The pitch–bend range is preset at the factory via an internal jumper, and so is not programmable per patch. The review model was set at seven semitones up or down, but you can change it (from +/– two semitones up to +/– one octave) by following instructions provided on Moog's web site.

There's no equivalent of the Voyager's menu–based mod wheel and pedal destinations (or pot mapping), but it was another of the Voyager's hidden aces that I missed the most: other Voyagers let you freely select the number of poles used by each filter, from one, two, three or four. Both the Old School's filters are fixed at four poles, the Moog standard.

• Fabulous Moog sounds.
• Handles like a dream .
• Stunning good looks.
• MIDI is gone and the pitch CV input doesn't guarantee accurate tuning without external hardware attenuation.
• Those 'default' patch markings! Do you really want someone else's idea of a default patch forever etched into your pride and joy?

Priced between the Little Phatty and the various Voyager models, the Old School represents Moog's purest successor to the fabled Model D. Its WYSIWYG approach is direct and intuitive, and the synth is a pleasure to play. Although not designed to exactly emulate a Minimoog, it has Moog oscillators, envelopes and filters, so can cover the same ground and much more.

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Moog Music Announces 24-Karat Gold Minimoog — 10th Anniversary Edition

Now you can go gold immediately when you get a Minimoog.

Today, Moog Music announced the release of the limited edition 10th Anniversary Minimoog Voyager . For a cool $15,000, you can get a 24 Karat gold Voyager, augmented with upper crust materials, with which to massage your oscillators.

Why wait for the big 50? Moog celebrates the 10th Anniversary of the Minimoog Voyager with a 24 Karat gold edition.

Only 31 will be manufactured – 30 will be available for purchase worldwide, and one has been set aside for a VERY lucky winner. Read on for more details, direct from Moog:

“The 10th Anniversary Minimoog Voyager has been carefully dipped in a 24-karat gold finish. The classic wood housing has been neatly dressed in a custom, high gloss, black piano lacquer chosen specifically to accentuate the Japanese Awabi pearl adornment on the sidepieces.

Additional features of the 10th Anniversary Minimoog Voyager include custom translucent knobs, a glowing Moog logo with indigo illumination, gold headphone jack, all black switches, a personalized engraved gold plate, a letter pressed certificate of authenticity, and a hand bound user’s manual.

Moog has created a short video documenting the build process of this precious synthesizer, which can be seen below.

Only five units are available for sale in the United States, with the remaining 25 units spread out across countries around the world.

As a thank you to its customers for making the Minimoog Voyager the best selling analog synthesizer of the last decade, Moog has set aside one of these rare and valuable instruments for one very lucky person to win – details for entry to be announced November 16th. As a specific thank you to Voyager owners, Moog will send ALL registered owners a small gift of gratitude for their amazing support.

Moog is asking all Minimoog Voyager owners to update their registration information at http://www.moogmusic.com/register so that they may successfully receive a small gift in the mail. On November 16th, Moog will announce details on how to enter the 10th Anniversary Minimoog Voyager Giveaway.”

Please note: When you buy products through links on this page, we may earn an affiliate commission.

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First Minimoog Voyager Ever Sold Now on Display In New Moogseum Exhibit

The Bob Moog Foundation is excited to unveil a special new exhibit opening at the Moogseum: Minimoog Voyager Signature Edition serial #002 signed by Bob Moog.  In addition to being signed, this legendary synthesizer was hand-built, was the first ever sale from the current Moog Music, Inc., and was recently donated to the Bob Moog Foundation Archives by the Board of Directors President, David Mash, who has been its sole owner.

The new  First Minimoog Voyager Ever Sold exhibit is part of the Moogseum’s  Bob’s Workbech exhibit focusing on modular synthesis and featuring a legendary modular that includes prototype modules from the late ’60s.

David Mash, President of the Bob Moog Foundation Board of Directors, with Minimoog Voyager serial #002

“We are thrilled to have this unique synthesizer within the Bob’s Workbench exhibit in the Moogseum,” remarked Michelle Moog-Koussa, Executive Director of the Bob Moog Foundation. “Alongside the 1967 Moog modular synthesizer, the Voyager represents one of the first, and one of the last of Bob’s synthesizer designs.”

Minimoog Voyager serial #002

Considered to have been Bob Moog’s crowning achievement, the Minimoog Voyager is a handcrafted, all-analog performance synthesizer that incorporates the features and vast sonic range of the original Minimoog, while adding an exstensive number of new functional improvements to its design. 

In addition to the synthesizer, the new exhibit includes a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Bob Moog, a written reflection about working on the development of the Minimoog Voyager from former Moog engineer August Worley, and a letter from President/CEO of Moog Music, Inc., Mike Adams, detailing the instrument’s origin. The back panel of the Voyager has been carefully removed, and the exhibit has been backed by a mirror to allow visitors to visually explore the intricacies of the synthesizer’s circuitry. 

Minimoog Voyager serial #002 signed by Bob Moog

“In 2002, Berklee awarded Bob an Honorary Doctorate in Music for his lasting contribution to the world of sound and music,” recalls David Mash. “To further honor Bob, Berklee put on a student concert that featured music inspired by Moog synthesizers. I called Bob to ask if he wanted us to use some vintage instruments on stage, and he preferred that we use his latest synthesizer design, a new Minimoog that would be called the ‘Voyager.’ He sent me the instrument in an early stage of completion, including boards labelled ‘Big Briar’, and we used it in the concert. After purchasing the instrument, I sent it back to the factory so it could be completed and brought up to production standards (including replacing the Big Briar boards with updated Moog Music, Inc. boards).”

David Mash with Minimoog Voyager serial #002

“This year, I decided that this special instrument should have a special home,” continues Mash, “and where better than the Moogseum, for all to see? It is a small way for me to give back to Bob’s legacy, for all he did to impact my life for the better. It’s a way for us to honor all he did to inspire countless musicians to create new music with his instruments, and all the other synthesizer creators who were moved to design and build their own, furthering the art of electronic sound. I am grateful to have called Bob a friend, and to serve as President of the Bob Moog Foundation Board—whose mission is to ignite creativity at the intersection of music, science, history and innovation.”

A birthday wish to Bob from Board of Directors President, David Mash, reflecting on their friendship and detailing his donation of the Voyager

Certificate of Authenticity

David Mash with Bob Moog

“As someone who worked alongside Bob to develop the Minimoog Voyager, It is a great pleasure to me that David Mash has graciously donated this first-run MiniMoog Voyager S/N:002 to the Moogseum and that this instrument has come home to Asheville. This instrument is an excellent example of the meticulous craftsmanship that goes into creating a Moog synthesizer, and it is an instrument that should be shared with the patronage of the Moogseum as a tribute to Bob Moog and his timeless legacy.” – August Worley, former Moog engineer

David Mash with Minimoog Voyager serial #002 in the Moogseum

Make advance reservations to visit the Moogseum: https://bit.ly/moogseumtickets

Support the Bob Moog Foundation: http://bit.ly/ContributeBMF

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