Moog Sub 37 First Look

2014 NAMM Show: This video takes a first look at the new Moog Sub 37 Paraphonic Analog Synthesizer. 

In the video, Nick Batt of Sonic State talks with Moog Music’s Amos Gaynes about the new synth, which is based on the Moog Sub Phatty, but with some new features, too:

We got a sneak look at a prototype of the just announced Moog Sub 37- a two oscillator paraphonic synth with a very similar voice architecture to the Sub Phatty from last year.

What makes this different also is the fact that it has more front panel functions and status indicators than the Sub Phatty making it a more programmable and intuitive synth to use. There’s a lot of routing and modulation features which take it to a new level.

Check it out and let us know what you think of the Sub 37!

67 thoughts on “Moog Sub 37 First Look”

  2. This is the instrument the Sub Phatty should have been in the first place. 3 octaves, arpeggiator, step sequencer, aftertouch, all of the Sub Phatty “hidden” features on the front panel, 256 presets, wood side panels… and paraphonic! I’m getting one of these as soon as they ship.

    1. In fact, I believe it is what the Little Phatty always wanted to and never came to be. Then, they made the Sub Phatty to see what features the market would want – and then finally married the Little and the Sub into this one awesome piece of synth. At this price point (1500 USD) it will be hard to beat. It also explains, why Moog discontinued the Little Phatty in September 2013 – here is the new Phatty!

      Now, Clavia, see it is indeed possible to add a small display that helps the user… Oh, and to add aftertouch to a keyboard, too…

    2. The only thing missing is the filter circuit of the Little Phatty, and not the Sub’s filter. That MULTIDRIVE doesn’t sound as good as the older OVERLOAD thing. When comparing them side by side, the difference is significant. Having aftertouch is great too!

    3. The sub phatty is compact and still has tons of control on the panel. Perfect for my small home studio while still giving that Moog sound. If I want more keyboard, I’ll connect the controller I already own. The same reasons why I bought it are why I’m keeping it. You guys are as bad as those fan boyz who line up for the latest smart phone. Some lucky people will be waiting for your like-new gear at a discount.

  3. Amos always delivers on his video appearances, always gives very clear, detailed explanations. Almost makes me want to own a Moog.

      1. Well, as it has been mentioned a couple of times in the video – it’s a prototype. I reckon, they haven’t got an awful lot of presets prepared at this stage…

        1. Don’t get me wrong, they guy is awesome and truly knows the thing inside out. It’s just probably hard and (plus you may need a bit of time which you don’t have in front of a camera) to pull some really cool sounds with such a wide range of modulation options. Either way, the OSCs and filter sound amazing, the thing is a funhouse and I can’t wait to order mine.

      1. Thank you. It came and went so fast, I multitasked my way out of catching it. I was wondering if it had some oddball divide-down chip in the chain or what-not. In this case, paraphonic doesn’t mean playable chords; its an enhancement of the main voice and more like a performance feature. Fair enough. That’s not much of an issue in a synth that does such a great mash-up job between a Little Phatty and a Voyager. Moog hit a sweet spot. This will be their new standard.

  8. um.. aftertouch. Wow. Not bashing as its got to be very hard to keep repackaging the same thing, but I’ll hang on to my Voyager thanks. If you’re going to sell a kidney I’d recommend a Prophet 12. Jusy my 2¢.

    1. Well that’s comparing apples and pears, isn’t it? Moogs and Prophets do not only have very different heritage, but also very different sound. It is much rather about using both worlds together than just either or. Also, the Prophet 12 is a hybrid analog/digital synth with an entirely different idea behind it than the Voyager, so what is your point?

      I would be the first one moaning about milking the Phatty cow, but they have – in my opinion – indeed added a ton of nice features to this one that sets it nicely apart from all earlier Phattys. And it is still in another dimension than the Voyager, which ranges in price from 2700 – 5000 USD…

      1. My point, if you’re following along, was directed at the person planning on selling anatomical organs, I assume on the black market, to procure a synthesizer. That being the case, he would get a LOT more for his kidney by getting the P-12. And yes, I know they are different. Thanks for pointing that out. 🙂

        1. Alright, I didn’t connect the dots that way. Probably, because selling kidneys or whatever organs is so far outside my thinking universe that I did not really follow that one in the first place. Considering the downvotes on your post, a few other people did not follow your semantics either… Anyway, selling a well working kidney should finance you both a P-12 and the new Sub37…

  9. So, this thing looks wonderful (wood end cheeks! tons of knobs and buttons!! nicely glowing mod and pitch wheels…), makes the best sound since Sub and Little Phatty got into the Love Shack together, and is supposed to cost a pretty reasonable 1500 USD only? I have something new on my GAS shopping list now.

        1. Module function and flexibility equal to and exceeding the old cabinet systems such as a Model 55, with the exception of analog step sequencers, is realized with the current product line. Step sequencing most likely will arrive with the Sub 37.

          Anything is possible but Moog building something nostalgic like an updated version of a 3P is not very likely.

          Yes, the 500 series modules add Moog analog “flavor” to any audio signal including those made by synthesizers.

  12. Depending on the price, I’m super excited of this, but If the Sub Phatty is still being manufatured, this would have been the perfect time to jump into that 3 oscillator Moogines. The paraphony would have been much more meaningful addition with 3 oscillators, and it would still have been relatively affordable…a mid range Moog.

    1. I know, it’s insane right? Nick asks the questions he knows readers will pound him with, like after touch and swing. Amon makes incredible sounds and very clearly walks you through what is impressively complex, making you understand and love every minute of it. I love the way he turns away once he knows he’s got nick in the palm of his hands, and lyou can see his brain ticking as he oads the next bit of info he wants to seduce Nick with. Amos is a master!

  14. So when will moog have a new synth that is not a repackage? If they made this a 4 voice poly plus added the filters from the Polymoog then they would have all my money. That’s a repackage I could get behind. On the other hand I’m waiting to see something that is more breakthrough and original but carries a similar organic tone of their old days. Dreams…

    1. I am still waiting to see if Moog EVER does a “re-do” of the MemoryMoog or/and the Polymoog (minus all the “supposed” problems with the Polymoog). I know that a true polyphonic, five octave (or MORE!!!) NEW Moog would be “cost prohibitive” for the majority of us synthesizer enthusiasts on a real “everyday-working-man’s-budget”. But I STILL think it would be an amazing instrument. When I periodically visit the Moog Store in Asheville (I only live about 6 miles away from Moog Music,Inc.— in the Weaverville/Woodfin area North of Ashecille city proper) I always spend a lttile time with the Voyager XL they have on display and tink to yself… perhaps ONE of these days I will be able to afford the $4995.00 asking price for a new one. I “used” to own and greatly enjoy a MemoryMoog PLUS with MIDI. Sometimes i wish I’d have kept it (I only paid $1000.00 for it back in the early 1990s).

    1. Oh but the tilted panel idea is only great if you give users the option to lay it flat like on the Voyageurs. Yet another shape of equipment to fit into already crowded studio spaces. Perhaps we’ll see some mods letting users lay it flat. I’d do it.

      2. What would be the point of laying it flat – other than being more convenient to transport from A to B? I cannot imagine anyone wanting to edit sounds on it with the panel laying flat?

  19. Oh man, this looks fantastic to me. I love my Sub, but this… really makes up for all its shortcomings. Aftertouch is AWESOME. Still, some stuff like mod sources are still hidden. I wish they would have adopted a shift/key style of function control like the Novation Bass Station II did. Regardless, I’m saving my pennies. This is a must have.

  21. one more thing.. this current “styling” of all their Phatty keyboards, is going to look REALLY old in a few years. Like bell-bottoms. (Or are those back?) Again, I am not bashing the undeniable, non-imitatable sound of the Moog. One can do much more with a $49 piece of software as far as modulation, slicing/dicing/stuttering, ad nauseum. But.. NO monophonic analog synth voice sounds like a Moog. (Voyager, Mini, modular) And its not just the Ladder Filter. Its the way all the elements sound together. Its a thing of beauty.

  22. Great video. Amos has a very clear style of explaining things and clearly knows the instrument inside and out! Wish I had the room and the cash. Maybe next year. Certainly looks like the Moog I would go for.

  23. This is the most excited I have been over gear in a while! Can’t wait to get my hands on one. May have to let go of the LP to make room.

  24. Two osc, two lfos, switchable num_poles filter, looping envs, … yikes. This really raises the bar. It takes about 3k of eurorack to sound like that, as I know from sad experience. That’s before you consider a 37 note keyboard with aftertouch. Love the duophony, same as the Arp Odyssey. That’s a really fun part of an Odyssey.

  25. I’d like to hear the “aftertouch” demonstrated. I bought an Arturia MiniBrute last February and it is an INCREDIBLE little two-octave synth (IMHO).

  26. This makes Korgs MS-20 kit look like a loser. I know where my $1500 is going, straight into the ‘buy Amos a Ferarri’ fund.
    Although I think he’d prefer a Nissan GTR cos it’s much more geeky.

  28. Next up on Nat Syntho…. we have a siting of the Moog Sub 37, offspring of the fabled little phatty and sub phatty. Behold their love child!

  29. Amos needs to get over to Elektron and train them on how to do a presentation. I could listen to him all day explaining stuff.

  33. It’s really the first Moog ever, thats really interesting me! Keyboard with Aftertouch, almost every function a Knob and a Step-Sequencer. And the Price is affordable…

  34. Good thing you are deep in the bowels of the Hilton in an undisclosed location Nick, cuz I’m that guy. Next time I WILL FIND YOU and drop some serious tweakage on that 37. The Moogie man will find you!

  35. I have hardly been kind to Moog over the years. I will admit from a UI perspective, for a retro synth, this is one of the better designs I have seen yet. And certainly the colours and layout are very appealing. Yet the sound, it is still truly limited. The tonal range is hardly what I would call expansive, rich yes, expansive, NO!.

  36. 37 keys, 2 oscillators with a sub, Moog filter with easy access and multidrive, a comprehensiv mixer section with overload, enveloppes with goodies, 2 full modulations sections, glide and arpeggiator, with sequencer developpement, presets, paraphonic, aftertouch, almost all one knob access, looks pretty cool like the LP, it’s really worth, do we still need the Voyager ? Maybe, but with a little price sink then… he have a challenger

  38. Not even 3 minutes into the video and they showcase there copy of the Minibrute’s use of the Feedback trick with there own take on it using the external input source knob when no external audio is running through it. They did it with the new Prophet 6 and the Korg’s reissue of the ARP Odyssey as well. Every new analog has taken the hint from Arturia.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *