Moog today officially announced the Messenger synthesizer at Superbooth 2025, being held May 8-10 at the FEZ-Berlin.
The Moog Messenger is a powerful synth that blends so-called ‘East Coast (Moog)’ and ‘West Coast (Buchla)’ synthesis capabilities. They call it “Moog’s most accessible analog synthesizer to date”.
The Moog Messenger is priced at $899 and it is one of the most capable monosynths that Moog has ever made, introducing new synthesis capabilities, expressive performance options, knob-per-function control, CV/Gate connectivity and more.
With the introduction comes the coordinated release of embargoed videos from retailers, reviewers, performers and synthfluencers alike. Here’s a round up of the videos that offer the best introduction to Moog’s new synth.
The first video, embedded above, is an official Moog video that features synthesist Lisa Bella Donna performing (with multitracking) a complete track using the Messenger, with an extended solo at the end. It’s a great showcase of the range of the Moog Messenger and its live performance options.
In the next video, Andrew Huang shares his take on the Moog Messenger, along with his five outstanding features:
In his latest loopop video, below, host Ziv Eliraz shares a really comprehensive review of the Moog Messenger, including his thoughts on pros and cons, and his tips for ‘DFAM mode’ & using it paraphonically:
Here’s producer Sanjay C‘s take on the Messenger:
“In this video, I walk you through everything you need to know: the analog wavefolder, looping envelopes, modulation matrix, built-in sequencer, Res Bass feature, and more. I’ll show you how it sounds, how it works, and how it stacks up to other synths under $900.”
The next video feature musician and visual designer Tycho (a.k.a Scott Hansen):
“I’m kind of Moog obsessed,” says Hansen. “My first Moog synthesizer was a Voyager, and I ended up getting a Minimoog, Source, Prodigy and Matriarch—which was the primary choice for my album Infinite Health, where I wanted synth and guitar sounds to overlap and connect in interesting ways.”
“The Messenger feels like a very playable instrument, as opposed to something you have to dive into with sound design,” he adds. “Whether you’re a beginner or experienced player, the Messenger seems perfect for writing or live performance—and the patch memory is huge.”
If you want to hear the Messenger get a workout, check out Matt Johnson’s take, which emphasizes sound design and performing:
If you just want to hear what the Messenger sounds like, check out this Shut Up & Play style demo of the Messenger by Sweetwater synth guru Daniel Fisher:
Here, synthesist Sarah Belle Reid offers her take on the Moog Messenger, including her take on how the synth’s range extends beyond standard ‘Moog synth sounds’:
Reid’s video includes an overview of how Messenger works, plus a large number of audio demos and patch examples.
Has Moog released an affordable monosynth keyboard that actually pushes the envelope?
Check out the videos and share your thoughts on the new Moog Messenger in the comments!
Affordable? for who? At $900 + Applicable Trump Tariffs, this is not a “beginner” synth. I do appreciate the Korg-style sequencer, though.
I think, the minilogue xd is probably the way better alternative. Similar form factor, 4 voices, FX. Jam a few of Sinevibes” User oscillators in there (Odds, Dense, Node are all great) and you still have money over to add a Typhon as an awesome Monosynth with even more effects.
I really don’t get the value proposition on this thing and it deserves all the flag it’s getting right now.
I was on the fence about this until I watched the Matthew Johnson video. Now I get it – this synth is not aimed at beginners. It’s a premium compact lead synth with full-size keys. Trust me, the niche is not that small.
On the surface it is yet another two-oscillator analog subtractive mono, but if you look more closely it has some unique refinements and a great sound.
And as much as I like the Minilogue XD for tinkering, it will never sound as sweet as the Messenger.
Matt Johnson demos are superb.
You seem to have a fundamental misunderstanding of what people buy monosynths for.
If you don’t care about these things, go with a soft synth. They’re a lot cheaper, and they sound pretty good, too.
Affordable for people who have steady jobs or can qualify for the easy-peasy music retailer payment plans.
$900 is not ridiculous for any precision instrument on the market.
“Trump Tariffs” aren’t Moog’s fault – why would you blame them for whatever emerges out of Yam Tits’ office and press releases? This thing was conceptualized, prototyped and market tested well before that idiot took office again.
I don’t think this was intended as a “beginner” instrument anyway.
“Affordable? for who? At $900 Applicable Trump Tariffs, this is not a “beginner” synth.”
I feel sorry for the generation that can’t appreciate how inexpensive synths now are, and is too impatient to save up for an instrument.
Apparently Moog will have a China-only $690 introductory price for the Moog Messenger: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/JQvHzevq4ehhP4q5MFC5nw
It has a nice sound, but I am just so tired of it. I’d rather get a Matriarch, at least you could be more experimental with that.
But it’s like… a Moog, you know. It’s not really Moog, because it’s inMusic now, and it does the same as any other Moog, because this is a One-Trick-Pony company, but it’s a Moog. At least it has no display or proper mod & pitch wheels (these really are a travesty, which even the Muse has… another eye-brow-raising contraption in today’s times).
All the shills calling it “the most affordable Moog” should probably add the sentence “Too little, too late”. Because there’s a reason they struggled to the point of being bought by sharks.
Norlin Musical Instruments and MuSonics owned Moog Music in the past. At some point in the 1980s, they even produced air conditioning systems. Arguably, Moog has only ever “really” been Moog when it was owned by Robert Moog,een the case since 2005. Whether the instruments which has not bill be good or not is a question in itself. However, the argument that they can’t be because Moog is no longer M under InMusic woog makes little sense.
Matriarch is more like a studio tool. It is also twice the price.
This is more of a performance synth, and unlike the Sub / Matriarch line, it’s not full of confusing hidden functions.
feels like inMusic is kind of doing what Moog should have been all along. it may be a bit late in the game but i guess better late than never? the Muse seems like an awesome synth and so much more realistic than the Moog One was. this may not be as interesting to people who have been into synths for a long time but nice for people just getting into it. and i think the price is mainly comparing itself to other Moogs, probably not the market in general.
No, poly. It’s 2025. Why is mono still here? It’s inexcusable from Moog.
There’s the Muse.
Also, polys don’t sound like polys.
It’s that thing where major manufacturers have all the candy already prepared but just want to drip feed so to not to give the people what they really want, but give them some of what they want but leaving them wanting for what they know is already possible but is being withheld.
It’s being withheld because more money is to be had by offering slight edges instead of the whole bucket.
Moog know they could have easily made this poly.
buy a muse.
Yes. I have a Moog muse. It is a fantastic 8 voice Moog analog synth. I almost had to sell a kidney to buy one though.
i’m waiting for the first Moog with something other than a ladder filter.
The Messenger has at least 8 filter options, which seems very flexible.
If they went with a diode filter, though, it would definitely sound different!
You’re so right. I bought a Muse and cut it in half so I could experience the beauty of a Moog monosynth.
Unless there is a secret recipe passed down from Bob, Moog is just a brand like other companies, why must people pay premium as Moog synths sound unique or superior to the rest?
Go to a music store and play a Moog Muse. It has such a rich thick versatile sound that only a Moog has. I have a Jupiter 6 and a Jupiter X which sounds great but the Moog just has quality that my other synths don’t have.