BACKGROUND
Robert Moog - the father of synthesizers invented and build large modular synthesizers in the late 60s. They were large, expensive and almost impossible to take on the road. Theses modular Moog synthesizers were programmed not only by knobs and switches, but also of a spaghetti of cables that connected the different modules to each other. A cut down version of these monsters was so created; the hard wired mini moog, called Minimoog. It became the most popular synth ever, a legend among synthesizers. Almost every synthesizer today is build after the pattern that the Minimoog had for the signal flow.
The first minimoog saw the daylight in October 1970 and was manufactured until 1981. It was first build in 3 beta models until finally Model D was released
And as if God wasn't good enough - the rebirth of the minimoog came 20 years later: Minimoog Voyager. It has exactly the same sound as the Minimoog original, with real analog parts inside. It is also updated with computer memory and fully Midi controlled. It is available in some different models.
Bob Moog died on Monday, 22 August 2005 - the music in heaven needed him. And his synthesizers will live for a long time.
DESCRIPTION
Minimoog model D is the most popular and legendary synth ever made. It is not because it is very expensive, a technologic marvel or extremely rare - because it's not. It's so desirable because the sound. It has a warm and fat sound that suites perfect for every mix. It is monophonic and has a polyphonic cousin, Memorymoog. Many Minimoogs has unstable oscillators, but that is the case with many old analog synths.
It is easy recognized by it's control panel that can be flipped up or down.
MIDIKIT FOR THE MINIMOOG
The Minimoog was made before MIDI, and therefore it's not equipped with MID, but it has CV/Gate (a Pre-Midi solution for synthesizer communication). There are Midi kits for the Minimoog, so it can be controlled by Midi from a sequenserprogram etc.
| MIDI-kit | Pros | Cons |
| Extern MIDI to CV converters | No modify in the Moog and no charges for that. Just plug and play | More expensive. But including service of expert for the intern solution the price is in the same range |
| Intern MIDI retro-fits | Everything is aboard | Need modification of expert |
The most common MIDI-kits for the Minimoog are:
- Synhouse MIDI-jack
- Philips Rees
- Kenton
- Lintronics
You will need a Cinch-Jones plug (number P-302-CCTS-trigg) to the S-trig input and one, two or three cables with a 1/4"-plug at one side and 1/8" miniplug at the other side.
COSTUME MADE MINIMOOGS BY OTHER MANUFACTURERS
There are also other some custom made Minimoogs by other manufactures:
MidiMoog from Studio Electronics (1989) was a rack mounted Minimoog with a genuine Moog Model E board inside, MIDI and like the original Minimoog no patch memory storage.
SE-1 from Studio Electronics (2000) is a rack mounted Minimoog with full MIDI and 396 presets and 396 user patches
SOFTWARE MINIMOOGS
Today many software emulations of old analog synths are very close the original. Steinberg has Model E. It's a little bit thin compared to the real Minimoog, but still ok. Arturia Minimoog V (Model 1.5 and up) is a really good emulation of the Minimoog. The software Minimoogs has all the facilities of software that the original is lacking and sounds ok. But it is still just an emulation and there's nothing like the real thing.
BROCHURES
- The first Minimoog brochure (around 1970
- The second Minimoog brochure (1970)
- Van Koevering advertisement
- Walter Sear advertisement (handmade)
- The first Minimoog brochure in color
- The second Minimoog brochure in color
- The pink Minimoog brochure (1976)
- The last Minimoog brochure (1980)
- Original Moog Warranty (around 1970)
- A German Minimoog Brochure, page 1
- A German Minimoog Brochure, page 2
- A German Minimoog Brochure, page 3
- Another Minimoog Brochure , page 1
- Another Minimoog Brochure , page 2
- Authorized Moog Performer!
The Minimoog in Sound Of Music Studio
MINIMOOG MANUAL
- Get your Minimoog manual from The Vintage Store
MINIMOOG PATCH SCHEET
LINKS
- Fantasyjackpalance
- Harmony Central
- Lords Of The Mini
- Lords Of The Mini - Yahoo Forum
- Moog Archives
- Moog Music
- Moog Patents
- Moog Resources
- Moogworld
- Sonicstate