Saturday Synth Porn: Here are a few more shots, via Sweetwater, of the new Moog Taurus III bass pedals.

Synth Porn Saturday: The Moog Taurus III Bass Pedals in all their glory.

Click on the image to get the full-screen HD surround-sound photo of this droolworthy butt-shaker.

Moog’s selling these for 2K. Check the big photo and you’ll see why it’s going to be worth it.

Preliminary Specifications:

• 100% Analog Sound Engine based entirely on original TAURUS I circuits
• “Taurus I” style
• 2 VCO Oscillators, ADS Contour Generator, 1 VCF Filter, Output VCA
• PRESETS: 16 Banks x 4 presets = 48 Total Programmable Bass Sounds
• BANK 0 will contains the Original Taurus I Presets: VAR, TAURUS, TUBA, BASS
• MIDI: DIN and USB, Merging and Routing
• ARPEGGIATOR: MIDI Sync, TAP TEMPO, Internal
• CV Inputs: VOLUME, FILTER, PITCH, GATE

via Big City Music

The Realistic Concertmate MG-1 is vintage analog synthesizer that was distributed by Radio Shack under their “Realistic” brand name.

It was one of the worst synths that ever bore the Moog name. But, as the video demonstrates, that doesn’t mean it couldn’t make some great analog sounds.

Features:

• Two oscillators with sync & detune, one producing either a Square or Sawtooth waveform, with the other producing either a Pulse or Sawtooth waveform.
• One low pass filter/VCF, that can use the envelope generator, has limited keyboard tracking, and is capable of self oscillation.
• Limited envelope generator with variable attack and release, and a switchable sustain (no decay).
• Oscillator 2 can be tuned independently or synced to oscillator 1.
• Noise generator.
• Ring modulator (called “Bell Tone”).
• Polyphonic oscillator. This oscillator is routed through the filter, but not through the envelope generator or LFO.
• LFO that can modulate the oscillators and the filter using a triangle, square or random waveform
• Portamento (called “Glide”)
• External Control inputs for pre-MIDI CV/Gate.

The Concertmate MG-1 is notorious for it’s inclusion of a cheesy polyphonic organ sound and for using black foam on the interior which decays into a sticky black sludge over time.

If you’ve used the Moog Realistic Concertmate MG-1, leave a comment with your thoughts!

The History Of The Moog Realistic Concertmate MG-1

Synthesis Technology’s Paul Shreiber, who’s known for designing the Cadillac of modular synths, the MOTM, has explained the origin of the Concertmate MG-1:

Radio Shack has no engineering. Rather, that falls (er…’fell’) under TSD (Tandy Systems Design). Also, twice a year Radio Shack holds a private version  of COMDEX/CES, just for them! Vendors line up 50 deep and present their wares.

Back then (early ’80s) about 40% of gear in a Radio Shack was bought ‘outside’. Most electronics was made in a Korean factory that Tandy owned a majority  share called EnCal (EnCal made all of Pioneer’s and Alpine’s car stereos there).

So, during one of these mini-trade shows who is on the presentation list (which TSD got in advance) but a one ‘Dr. D. Luce’. Well, when I saw Mr.  PolyMoog on the list I had to see this. So sure enough here he wanders in with a hand-made small synth. He demos it. Bernie Appel, the #1 decision maker (er…the *ONLY* decision maker of what went in the store or not) had this type of conversation:

BA:  What the f*** is that piece of s***? (BA enjoyed treating all new vendors this way. This was his equivalent of “Hello.”)

DDL: It’s a music synthesizer prototype. [Proceeds on a 3 minute demo. You had 5 minutes to present. Period!!]

BA:  (interested, but certainly not going to show it to the Yankee geek) How the hell do you plug it in?

DDL  points out the 1/4″ jack.

BA:  Where in the holy hell, in my store (they were always referred to as “my stores”) does that thing go? Up my ass?

See, RS had not a single piece of gear that had 1/4″ jacks! All RCA. BA knew this.

DDL at this point looks like he’s gonna puke. He’s quivering & sweating like a whore in church (sorry, that’s another BA expression!)

BA:  Play me a tune. [DDL one-fingers a classical thingy.]

BA:  That damn thing busted? What’s with this 1 finger shit? [DDL explains about monophonic blah blah blah.]

BA turns to me.

BA:  You know what the hell he’s talking about?

Me:  (thinking this is a trick question) Err…yeah.

BA to DDL: We’ll look at it. NEXT!!!!

So began the Luce/Schreiber effort. What he had was the boards out of a Minimoog, no A440 osc, no noise, in a box. So, I got handed that, designed  the MG-1 version (added the organ stuff BECAUSE BA was convinced that typical  RS customers wanted more than 1 note). Added RCA jacks, ring mod do-dad. Then, had to specify parts that Moog never had to use: cheapo pots. I’ll admit it: CHEAPO. They were ALPS and I think we paid (back then) about 23 cents apiece.

That is because the RS gross profit margin was an unheard of 63% (the average of ALL the Forture 500 is like 8%) and lastly, I spent about 3 weeks on just the panel layout and color scheme & wrote the Owner’s Manual along  with, oddly enough, Steve Leininger who designed the TRS-80. He played a Vox  in a jazz band and BA wanted his opinion as well.

Luce and I went back & forth about 5 months until they delivered the “pre-production” units. Moog made them, Tandy supplied most of the parts (we had a company in Japan that bought parts and resold them to Tandy. One day I’ll tell my funny modem capacitor story.)

So, the story was:

• Moog presented the original idea to RS
• They dumped it on me. I had to make it “Radio Shack compliant”. Which meant a re-design. Used the 3046 + Tel Labs tempco for the VCO. More Electronotes than Moog! Moog ladder filter, 3080 VCA. Prototype had mod wheel; *PUNT!*. Cost like $3. Get real.
• Moog built it.
• Tandy had 18 months exclusive. Moog then made the Rogue which is my design without the organ/ring mod, wheels back on.
• No, I didn’t get a free MG-1 or a Rogue.
• No, I didn’t get a lot of money. At that time I was making about $21,500/yr.

Final note: NO!!! I DID NOT pick that stupid black felt that lays over the sliders, then turns to tar. That was Luce’s deal. But, I DID get Luce to send me *every* piece of Moog literature at the time: still have it!

Paul Schreiber
Synthesis Technology

Resources:

• The Moog Realistic Concertmate MG-1 at cykong
• Synhouse plans for adding MIDI to a Concertmate MG-1 synthesizer
• Video via Thalassa77: During the last few days I’ve been restoring this Moog Realisitic Concertmate MG-1 and now the synth is like new. The Moog MG-1 is basically a Moog Rogue with a polyphonic section, it has 2 VCO , 1 LFO with S&H , 1 AR envelope , noise,ring modulator and a genuine Moog filter. The sound is amazing and you can get a lot of different kind of sounds from deep basses to soft leads and brass sounds. On this video i’m just showing a few of sounds that can be created on moment with this little synth
• Wikipedia entry

Moog Music as announced updates to its MP202 Multi-Pedal.

New features include:

• MIDI-to-CV conversion,
• Loopable Envelope Generators with four Envelope Shapes (Linear, Logarithmic, Exponential and Complex)
• CV Lag
• CV Scaling and
• The ability to trigger Gates and MIDI events.

These new features add to the existing feature list including, MIDI Clock Sync, Tap Tempo, Programmable Heel and Toe Voltages, four LFOs, four Analog Control Voltage Outputs, MIDI and USB connectivity. Many of the original features, such as Quad Mode and Noise Generation also received significant enhancements.

MIDI to control voltage conversion is a cool new feature, letting the MP202 double as a four-channel MIDI-CV converter.

Promotion:

Moog Music is announcing a special promotion. From November 15, 2009 through December 31, 2009, the Multi-Pedal’s price will drop to $399 at participating US dealers and through the Moog website.

“The features in OS 2.0 take the Multi-Pedal to a whole new level” said Moog Music President, Mike Adams. “With four channels of MIDI-to-CV conversion, hooking the Multi-Pedal to a laptop sequencer gives you the flexibility and power of an analog step sequencer that can also communicate with MIDI gear.”

OS 2.0 is available as a free download for current Multi-Pedal users.

Gearwire’s Bill Holland takes a look at the Moog Music Minimoog Voyager.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Moog Music Minimoog Voyager Electric Blue

Click here to view the embedded video.

Moog Music Minimoog Voyager Modulation Options

Sunday Synth Jam: Voltage Controlled Passacaglia, Pages 1 & 2, by Paul Hembree (Premiere)

Performed on the CRuNCh lab 1972 Moog Modular synthesizer, with video projection of an attached oscilloscope.

Executed from a score with parametric envelopes assigned to different performers. Rough synchronization is achieved with stop-watches, and four short sections in the piece (each about a minute long) allow for some controlled improvisation.

Paul Hembree, Chris Rippey, Steve Snowden, and Curtis Peel, performers.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Voltage Controlled Passacaglia, Pages 3 & 4, by Paul Hembree

via PHIntermedia:

Can anyone figure out what the ground-bass theme is?

Also thanks to Brandon Vaccaro and Sean Brady for help with the MAX panning patch (the only digital aspect of the work… sadly we didn’t have enough voltage controlled amplifiers, nor enough mixer channels on the Moog to produce 4 channel spatizalization).

This has been on MySpace video for a while because they do not have a ten minute time limit. However, I figured I should expose this work to YouTube, so I cut the piece in half and I’m posting both chunks.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here’s another entry for Moog’s Halloween theremin contest, working the cute baby angle.

via matrix12x:

My 17 month old playing with the Theremin. She loves to play, and often uses her head or entire body to play.

In this video she is playing Saint-Saëns: Carnival of the Animals Aquarium. She likes the modular synth on the side.

The insides of the Theremin is a Moog Etherwave, in a Paia Tmax case. I like that case a little better because you can put sheet music on top.Also I am submitting this for the Moog Halloween Theremin Contest, please vote for her.

Pure analog sound on the night of Halloween, for the Moog Music Halloween Theremin Contest 2009.

via SemenCritico

Night Of The Theremin is a terror-filled short about a strange encounter on a dark, desolate highway.

Here’s the sequel – Dawn Of The Theremin:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Happy Moogloween!

via iloveanalogue:

Learn more about the Moog Etherwave Theremin at http://www.moogmusic.comLearn more about Bob Moog’s Legacy at http://www.moogfoundation.org

The following actions are supported:

• Full editing of all Little Phatty preset parameters via MIDI CC messages
• Automation of all LP parameters in real time through the VST host application
• Save/Load presets to and from the Little Phatty
• Presets can be saved in VST Editor format

Supported VST Hosts:

PC – Windows – VST 2.4

• Steinberg Cubase SX 1-3, Nuendo 1-2
• Mackie Tracktion 3
• Imageline FL Studio (Fruity Loops) *see issues below
• Energy XT
• Cockos Reaper 3.11
• Presonus Studio-One
• Plogue Bidule
• Tobybears’ MiniHost
• Hermann Sieb’s VST Host

Mac – VST 2.4 (OSX)

• Steinberg Cubase SX, Nuendo
• Plogue Bidule
• Mackie Tracktion
• Cockos Reaper 3.11
• Presonus Studio-One

VST Little Phatty Editor for PC and Mac is available now for $69 USD.

This is a video introduction to the Moog IIIc modular synthesizer of btpro.

The first video offers an overview of system and modules.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Moog IIIc has two series of VCO, 901 and 921. This video introduces 901 VCO series.

It sounds like it’s basically a raffle, where all the prizes are synth-related.

Prizes include:

• A private look at The Bob Moog Archives in Asheville, North Carolina and lunch with The Bob Moog Foundation Executive Director Michelle Moog-Koussa.
• A VIP tour of Moog Music Inc. and lunch with Mike Adams, President/CEO of Moog Music Inc.
• A VIP tour and luncheon at the Museum of Making Music on January 18, 2010 with Moog exhibition advisor Brian Kehew, Moog Foundation Executive Director Michelle Moog-Koussa, Moog Music Inc. President/CEO Mike Adams, Museum Executive Director Carolyn Grant and Curator Tatiana Sizonenko.
• Moog Little Phatty Synthesizer autographed by George Duke and Moog luminaries (including Brian Kehew, Michelle Moog-Koussa and others). Please note: DRAWING FOR THIS ITEM WILL TAKE PLACE ON APRIL 30, 2010.
• Two (2) tickets to the George Duke & Anita Baker concert at the Nokia Theatre on November 7, 2009. Please note: ENTRANTS NEED TO BE PRESENT TO WIN!

Details on the contest are available at the MofMM site.

It’s Sunday! That means we take a slight break from the non-stop electronic music news coverage and break out the Sunday Synth Jams – new and classic examples of musicians making interesting music with synths and electronic music gear.

You may have seen this one before, because it’s a vintage synth jam from 1977. But it’s Klaus Schulze at his Moogtacular prime…..

If you ever need a definition of Berlin School electronica, this is it!

Tune in, turn on and space out as Klaus Schulze plays live, WDR Köln 1977.

For Schulze fans only: Leave a comment and let me know what your favorite Schulze album is!

via OtixIbiza:

One of my first works as soundtechn. at german television WDR Köln 1977.

Moog Music is celebrating Halloween with a Halloween Theremin Video Contest.

They’re asking thereminists to recreate the classic sounds of horror/sci-fi theremin in a music video.

Here’s how it works:

1. Create your best Theremin video with a Halloween Theme.
2. Upload it to your YouTube channel.
3. Post the YouTube URL for your video on the Moog Music Forum www.moogmusic.com/forum in the Theremin Forum, under the Halloween Theremin Contest topic by Saturday, October 31 at 3:00 pm EST. If you are not already a Moog Music Forum member, you must register.

Prizes:

• 1st prize – Best Video – MF-104Z Analog Delay
• 2nd prize – Most views – MF-102 Ring Modulator
• All contestants whose videos make it to the poll will receive a Moog t-shirt. Limit one t-shirt per video.Videos must be at least one minute in length. Theremin(s) used must be manufactured by Moog Music.

Arturia has released Moog Modular V 2.5, the latest version of its virtual Moog Modular.

Changes in Moog Modular V v2.5:

• Switch to Syncrosoft copy protection.
• VCF audio quality improvements.
• Lower CPU utilization on Mac OS X.
• Better Audio Unit compatibility (Digital Performer most notably).
• Ability to use NRPN MIDI messages for automation.
• Better handling of control surfaces while changing preset.
• New presets added.
• MIDI RPN “pitch bend range” message is now recognized.
• Miscellaneous Bug fixes.

Moog Modular V is available for PC and Mac (VST/AU/RTAS) for $249 USD / 229 EUR.

This is the music video for Ethan Goldhammer’s funky In The Pocket.

This is another great example of how you can make a visually striking music video without a lot of money, if you’ve got a great idea and execute it well.

Original music by Ethan Goldhammer and S. Burke.

Time Lapse footage shot in August 2008 on Block Island, RI.
Stop motion and light paint September 2008 in Cambridge, MA.

via Peter Kirn

This is a trailer for The Italian Moog.

RE_production is producing a documentary movie on Moog instruments in Italian music, directed by Ernesto Romano.

Description:

The movie shows all the most significant Moog experiences of the Italian music history, from the Progressive Rock to the nowadays electronic experimentation, through the voice and the notes of the main musicians.

All of them, from the milestones to the youngest artists, express an endless passion for all the Moog inventions, since they have been introduced in Italy during the Seventies, until the last products.

Finally, all the musicians express an extraordinary love for Bob Moog, as everybody say, the father of synthesizers.

Moog Music has announced the MIDI MuRF Pattern Editor, a free app for Mac or PC that lets you create custom MIDI-controlled filter patters for the MuRF.

Description:

Available as a free download to MIDI MuRF owners, the Pattern Editor software allows players to create, modify and save their own filter sequence patterns. Its point-and-click user interface makes pattern creation a breeze and the on-screen knobs and sliders let users optimize patterns to real-world settings without taking their hand off the mouse.

The MIDI MuRF Pattern Editor provides easy access to parameters only available through MIDI CC commands and saving and storing patterns on a computer allows for an unlimited number of available variations.

“With a possible 64 steps per band and the ability to create polyrhythmic patterns, the MIDI MuRF Pattern Editor lets users tailor their patterns for a sound that’s uniquely their own,” said Moog Applications Engineer, Amos Gaynes. “You can store up to 22 custom patterns at a time on the MIDI MuRF itself, so you can take your unique grooves with you anywhere.”

A thereminist plays the Moog Etherwave theremin and attracts the attention of convention-goers at Music Moscow 2009.

If you know anything about the thereminist, leave a comment below.

via aclexvideo

Mickey Dolenz of The Monkees talks about using the Moog modular synthesizer on Daily Nightly, above, the first pop recording to use the synthesizer:

“Ahh, my little Moog synthesizer,” said Dolenz. “It was actually a pretty difficult thing to use,” he said, recalling how those first-generation synthesizers had to be physically rewired for every different sound the musician might want to use.

“I threw a party for John Lennon one night, and he sat there at the Moog for four hours making flying saucer sounds. It was great for flying saucer sounds.”

“I sold it to Bobby Sherman,” adds Dolenz. “I think he still has it.”

via The LA Times Music Blog