36 thoughts on “Moog Modular First Look

  1. Mega expensive.
    Can’t pick and choose what modules you want in your modular system.

    This is better than something like a Dot.com system for a fraction of the price how (which, by the way, includes a ladder filter module that sounds as good as Moog’s)?

    Oh yeah, it has the Moog name on it. That’s worth thousands more, right?

    1. Yes, mega expensive and non-configurable. Yes, it makes synthesizers.com look like a bargain. However, it’s not a fair comparison. This is not just an instrument, it’s a collector’s item. There is value, to certain people, in exclusivity, history, heritage, authenticity, the story behind it. These are extremely limited edition, made with cost-no-object parts/materials/techniques and intended for a cost-no-object clientele. Nobody “needs” one of these to make music, just as nobody needs a Ferrari to get around, or a Rolex to tell the time. But in a crazy world of 12 million millionaires, of million-dollar cars and million-dollar watches, the prices of these Moog Modulars are not as crazy as they could’ve been, in fact they’re more affordable now than in the 70’s (inflation adjusted). This is the next phase of Moog Modular resurrection, between the $150,000 Keith Emerson model and the practically inevitable more-reasonably-priced regular production line. No, I don’t know for a fact that that’s happening, but considering all the R&D they’ve invested in so far, Moog would be crazy not to. Give it a year or two.

  2. I love the fact , Dave Smith runs rings over Moog. Moog have only just mastered a very expensive duophonic synth and they decide to concentrate on this ????
    I bet a few faces at Moog are getting worried for the companies future and their jobs and mortgages. The gold plated Moog was a joke, These stupid big old style modulars are crap ( I played on one In Wilmslow /Manchester and really was not impressed.)
    What a laugh , thank you Moog you are a good laugh if nothing else.
    What a joke.
    Does Moog now mean, stupid, irrelevant, decadent, verge of collapse. Moog staff gets your CVs ready!!!

    The guy who asked the questions is very diplomatic.!!

    1. My favorite type of pointless Internet commenter is “random guy who tells a successful company that they’re about to go out of business.”

  3. After just selling an all original 67 RA Moog formerly belonging to the Monkees, I want a new one!

    I’d guess they will be selling modules individually in the last half of 2016 as well as Eurorack versions as well.

    And please Moog, build a six voice polyphonic like Dave Smith because that’s what everyone really wants

    1. Yeah, most people were expecting Moog’s “huge news” to be a new poly synth, something like a modern Memorymoog. NOT SOMETHING THAT MOST PEOPLE CAN’T AFFORD!!!!! For all intents and purposes, the huge news was as good as no news.

      1. I agree with your quote. That is exactly what I thought when I saw the announcement. I had a Memorymoog in the late 80’s-early 90’s. I was hoping for a reincarnation of it.

    1. All of the systems already are accounted for.

      Moog said that they will be building them for a year and a half to meet the initial round of commitments.

      1. “All of the systems already are accounted for.”

        LOL. And you know this how? Are you a Moog employee doing some wishful thinking?

        1. John – No, I asked at the Moog booth about this, and all of the systems are already spoken for.

          I think that many of these are probably reserved by various Moog dealers that want a slice of the sales.

          These seem absurdly expensive to you and me – but there are plenty of people and organizations that won’t be scared off by the price.

  4. I second John’s comments. If I’m going to buy a modular, I want to choose the configuration myself. The price? Explain why I shouldn’t save tens of thousands of dollars and buy a modular system of my choosing from PAIA instead?

  5. I think this is only the first step in a long line of possibilities down the road. They MUST know that only a few universitys and studios can afford this monster. We had one at EKU (55). I wonder if it’s still there?

  6. Yes the price is high. I will probably never own one. I am more likely to buy a dotcom than a real Moog at this point even though I am a huge Moog fan.

    Is this a failure? I would argue no but its too early to tell either way. Its very obvious that they don’t intend to sell these at break-neck pace and this is also not a product that will be defining the direction of the company, per se. They are making, in total, less than 250. Anyone claiming a marketing-miss is clearly not part of their target market. Including me. I’m looking forward to the introduction of more modular equipment from Moog and many other manufacturers and see this as a step in the right direction for the entire industry.

    I do agree that this announcement doesn’t generally fit the spirit of NAMM as this is an event for merchandisers to preview upcoming products. There are more merchants at the expo than there will be Moog Modulars sold. I think the announcement would have been better launched at a more intimate event like Moogfest. They basically captured the attention of many thousands for a product that will only be available to 1% of their users (not a political reference).

  7. Moog as a company sit in a very unique position, they are a small company that has strong ties to the recording industry. They won’t have a problem selling the lot to pros, studios and a few rich individuals. People are completely missing the point. Yes it is expensive and they have only produced a small run of units. Is this much different to when they were released the first time around. These will sell out in no time, they could have just as easily made these privately for select people and the world would never have needed to know. But if I had put as much effort and time into producing such amazing machines I’d be showing them to world and making no apologise for the price. What did you expect…..seriously what did you expect.
    On another point, I stopped caring for this as soon as Dave Smith showed us the Prophet 6!

    1. So 35k gets what you could create on a modern voyager or 2, with change left to be able to purchase those monitors, and a larger, more diverse, modern modular system!!

      I thought the buchla stuff was excessive, at least that does more than just going ‘bezowwmmm’

    2. what record industry ? the industry is a relic, i doubt if it makes any economic sense for a studio to buy one of this, at least if emmerson isn’t thei rclient and even thnen i doubt an emmerson production would cost that mich either

  8. More than likely, Moog probably has customers waiting for these modulars. As mentioned, this will be a limited run, much like a Ferrari. Also as mentioned, Moog’s strong credibility in the pro music industry will pretty much assure this limited run of modulars will sell out. Artists like Stevie Wonder, Andre 2000, Jay-Z, Jordan Rudess, etc. probably already made their deposits. Every major studio will likely buy one. Universities like Full Sail, Berklee, Eastman & Julliard will be all over this, too.

    For those of you on a budget, Pittsburg Modular has some really great stuff and are like a young, upstart Moog.

  9. kind of a vanity project i think, clearly aimed at people with more money than most.

    we shouldn’t really complain about that in this age of choice when it comes to synths. there’s good gear to be found at every price point.

  10. To go with your Volcas? Pffff, you must be kidding. The mighty Timbre Wolf is the only synth which deserves to be accompanied by synths of this quality. Volcas….gimme a break. They don’t even have real simulated wood sides.

  11. OK – they havie done this – nice. Somehow my crystal ball tells me we might expect a replica of the Minimoog Model D, in 2016 or 2017. It’s still the most musical monosynth ever made.

    If the modular systems have got their oscillators right, then a Model D is within a doable range.

  12. Most everyone was expecting a four voice polyphonic “Slim-Poly”, and this is what they spent the time on?
    What a waste of time to develop (reissuing) a product that very few people will be able to afford.
    I own several Moog products and respect Bob’s legacy to death, but this seems a caprice born, maybe, out of self-complacency.
    And in the presentation they use the term “more affordable” regarding these products just because they are comparing them with the 150,000$ Emerson’s Modular. What a bad joke.
    Either Moog change their attitude and bring us evolved products based on Moog’s best analog technologies with a twist for the best, or else I don’t see how they will survive with a strong competition. Oh, wait, yes, there’s the Animoog.

  13. Oh yeah, I can see these just flying off the shelves…Moog won’t even be able to keep up with production which will drive the price even higher….I wouldn’t spend $10,000.00 on ANY synth !!

  14. 35k would buy a roomfull of eurorack , damn near one of everything on modulargrid. spaghetti shed ftw.

    pretty shure the noodle room wouldnt have any issue creating the”classic moog” tones.

  15. $35,000 for that “completely recognizable” sound at 7:55 huh?

    Hey, can you play a chord for $35,000?

    Who at Moog made the executive decision that they should put time and money into making these modular system reissues instead of releasing a poly synth, which is what the majority of synth enthusiasts would have preferred?

  16. “So, what justifies a $35,000 price tag in a market where you can build a reasonable system for under $1000?”

    “With every System 55 you buy, you get history and emotions. For nonscientific artistic weirdos and eccentric millionaires, that’s a bargain.”

  17. It is definitely the sound though… I have a vintage R.A.Modular with modules ranging from 1967 to 1971. All the other wanna-be’s can’t touch it, sorry. You can buy your bargain .com’s and COTK’s et al… but you just ain’t gonna come close. “Close enough” don’t cut it where these are concerned…!

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