Minimoog Model D Live Build From the Moog Factory

Moog Music shared this live stream of a Minimoog Model D build, direct from their factory.

The new Minimoog Model D is a faithful recreation of the original design, with a few modern updates.

Moog says that all components are carefully sourced and crafted to recreate the feel of the original Minimoog Model D. Each unit uses the identical component placement and through-hole design of the 1970s Minimoog Model D, in a hand-finished aluminum chassis, with a locally-sourced Appalachian hardwood cabinet.

For a quick overview of the Minimoog build, here’s a behind-the-scenes look from our coverage of Moogfest 2016:

The sound engine and audio signal path of the new Model D are identical to the Model D that Bob Moog and his team engineered in the 1970s.

Here’s a look inside the Model D, and some background on what was involved in recreating the original design:

 

While no changes have been made to the original sound engine or audio signal path, the 2022 Minimoog Model D includes a series of popular functional modifications that expand the instrument’s sonic capabilities. These modifications include:

  • a dedicated analog LFO, with triangle and square waveshapes;
  • a premium Fatar keybed, with velocity and after pressure available via top panel CV jacks with onboard trimpots;
  • MIDI integration;
  • a mixer feedback modification, which allows the Minimoog Model D to overdrive and scream with the turn of a knob;
  • a spring-loaded pitch wheel with center deadband, allowing for improved playability and wild performance flourishes; and
  • Updates to the MIDI functionality, allowing for improved modern studio integration.

Pricing and Availability

The Minimoog Model D is available to pre-order for about $5,000. See the Moog site for more information.

28 thoughts on “Minimoog Model D Live Build From the Moog Factory”

  3. Despite the thrill of it, I still gawk at the $5,000 price tag. I could post various personal pros and cons, but I’m too busy gawking. I once owned a pair of Multimoogs, so I can easily understand people liking giant Moog balls.

  4. Very cool. What’s crazy is that I bought a special edition Subsequent 37 years ago and it was a bad apple. If the front panel was tapped on a little, the sound would either work, or not, or sound really distorted. The process of having it replaced was a pain, but I finally got a solid replacement. I know that kind of things happens but this video kind made me chuckle a little because it looks like an intense QA process but somehow my first S37 slipped through the cracks.

    1. Not even a hater….but it is known that builders will put extra care into models being made on video or sent to reviewers…..this is on any type of product. Not every brand does this, but many do. Not saying this is the case with Moog, but you never know. It is also possible that they put more effort into higher priced models or that their build quality is better than a few years ago.

    2. Your synth could have been in perfect shape when it left the factory and then mishandled by a courier. Several days in the back of a freezing (or extremely hot) truck or two, followed by being thrown onto conveyor belts upside down.

  5. I keep trying to get the sounds I love the Minimoog for from my other synths, but it’s never really the same. Might be a lack of skills, but there’s this typical bass sound that nothing else seems to nail. And I love that sound so much, I would buy the damn thing right away if I could afford it. Makes no sense, but music never really does.

    1. AJH Synths do a modular MiniMoog for a fraction of the price of this. Far better quality and you can add on extra filters and reuse the oscillators and envelopes. People think modular is expensive but for 5K I have a four oscillator synth with seven classic filters. Add in a DC-coupled audio interface and you have CV control from your DAW. I am fortunate enough to have spent about 40K on all my studio gear over the years but my Eurorack modular wipes the floor with everything else in terms of sound quality and flexibility.

      1. The AJH modular mini is indeed amazing, I saw it at SuperBooth. Another alternative is the SE MidiMini V30, although it sounds a bit more aggressive and brittle than the Minimoog.If I was to spend any serious money on something Model D-ish, I would likely go for the original though, just because it makes me happy.

    2. If you’re not obsessed with brand names, cabinet aesthetics, through-the-hole wiring, made in USA, on-board keyboards, etc., and if it really IS the sound you want, get a Behringer Model D. As far as sound is concerned, it is the closest sounding synth to my 70s era Moogs that I’ve heard. That includes the Voyager and the last Moog Model-D reissue.

        1. No, I haven’t heard any of those, except in YouTube videos. From what I have heard, the SE MidiMini, isn’t much closer than the SE-02, and it is outrageously priced at something approaching $3k. I think the SE-3x may be closer, but I haven’t heard anything that impressed me all that much, especially for about $2.5k. As for the Minimod, I’m not into Eurorack stuff, and as an Eurorack-based it really doesn’t offer anything that makes it ergonomically superior to the Behringer Model D. Maybe someday I’ll be able to personally listen to each of these synths, but until I don’t have to drive a half million miles to play with one, I probably never will. As far as sound goews, I’m very happy with my Model D, and it gives me everything that I could ever ask for in a synth for producing spot-on Minimoog tones.

      1. You can look all you want, but the SE-02 sounds nothing like a Minimoog. People who say that it, or any current emulation, sounds “like a Minimoog” are really stretching the meaning of the word “like”.

        1. SE is based on the Minimoog and sounds close it but it’s even worse to use than the Model D from Behringer. The Moog sounds richer which makes sense as Behringer is made with about the cheapest parts available.

            1. I imagine the boog’s modern components and circuit board, in addition to being more compact and less expensive, might actually have better tolerance and lower noise than vintage equivalents – for better and for worse.

  7. Humm. Well according to some of the most reputable repair techs around they claim the build in not the same as the original. If anything fails it’s far difficult to repair. Food for thought.

  8. “Live Build”

    This is an assembly – not a live build

    Live build, to me would suggest we were going to get to see the PCBs being populated and soldered – which we don’t

    Really boring, uninteresting and absolutely pointless video

    1. I’m sure the PCBs are done by a pick-n-place machine, and if they aren’t then Moog management are idiots. The $5,000 price tag is for the luxury brand, it’s the Hermes handbag of monosynths.

      1. Nope – they’re hand-soldered with through-hole parts like they were 50 years ago.

        These are the same boards used in vintage Minimoogs. Same layout, same parts and same build. My understanding is that you could pop one out and put it in an old MIni.

        This is the same approach used for the modular reissue and is part of the appeal – you’re really getting the equivalent of a vintage synth.

        As to them being idiots – they’d be idiots not to build synths that people want and that make them lots of money.

        1. (synthtopia seems to have eaten my first comment attempt so apologies if this is a duplicate); I can imagine that hand soldering may have some “vintage” quality (appearance, more uneven and less reliable connections, etc.) vs. wave soldering or other automated methods, but what precisely is the advantage of having a human rather than a machine place the components before they are soldered?

          1. It’s marketing, that’s all. A sizeable minority also believes that through-hole components are superior to their surface mount counterparts and somehow impart a magically deep and effervescent soundstage to otherwise sterile bass notes.

  9. I’m a big fan of artists who use the minimoog such ad gary numan john foxx kraftwerke etc its amazing that the minimoog simple 742 oscillators and ladder filterscusing c280 capacitors were used to make great records like are friends electric and pink floydcused smyths made by ems which also gave great sound I understand that john foxx still uses analogue synth and still makes great music I have all his albumns gary numan now uses a virus digital dynthesizer and still makes great music I find it ironic that I became interested in electronic music when I used to repair the electronic organ at the church wr4 used attend when I wad a teenager I later became a fan of numan who is an atheist the church organ had a army of vacuum tubes and connected by a lot wires I dream of wires ad gary sang the valves are delicate ad in the songvwe are glass

  10. AUD$9000 here in Australia… I know, its Moog and a Model D – but for a few thousand dollars less (AUD$6,199) I could have the complete Behringer System 55.

  11. I love discussions on minimoogs. Vintage, 2016-2022-3-4 etc. I still have my vintage D, along with a 22 reissue and have owned the Behringer poly D.
    I love them all. Personally I’d take the 22 over them all. Vintage minis are a beautiful thing. Stupidly overrated and ridiculously priced…. Like a Harley. Status status status…….total BS. But that’s another story. The reissue I can use 24-7. Not true with my pre Norlin mini. I hate Norlin mini’s by the way. Anyway, the reissue is soooo sweet it unreal. I don’t like the the LFO
    saving you the use of Osc 3 for it. It’s a work of art.

    The poly d is so much fun. I can’t tell u. Does it sound like
    a mini? Kind of. Can u make emulate one….we’ll I can. Love 4 osc. If behringer wanted it too
    Make their poly D legendary, LISTEN UP BEHRINGER: put in a simulated tape delay fully adjustable… add your 2600 spring Reverb. Put a memory save function so you can save 24 sounds plus the fx. Get rid of distortion bs… the chorus is ok. I’d buy at least 2. I have there MS1 and with a little reverb and delay when applicable, it is amazing at its price point. Saving a dozen presets would make it more usable live. Anyway, vintage minis are
    Just another of our tools in our tool box to me. You can drool all over them but there are better alternatives

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