Moog

Jack Lynt · Nov 30, 2015

I realize this interview is basically an ad, but it's still cool.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAGtlgwFdhM

I'm not even a musician. I don't know what's going on. But I want one. Or two. Or three.

Preferably three.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCJacEzcU7A

Alcove Audio · Nov 30, 2015

Then you might like the documentary "I Dream of Wires."

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3636334/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icGWQZw5n24

And yes, modular synths are lots of fun!!!!

Jack Lynt · Dec 1, 2015

I did really enjoy the trailer. Maybe someday I'll get to see the whole thing. Thanks for the tip!

It looks like loads of fun. And addicting.

JoshL · Dec 2, 2015

The documentary is awesome and lots of fun (I think it's on Netflix now). I have a couple friends who are into modulars. It's not a cheap hobby! One friend seriously got started by winning on Jeopardy. There's some local folks I know too (Pittsburgh Modular), who make some nice starter eurorack kits.

I'd love to get the new Moog as a starter; it sells for a pretty reasonable $600. Of course, they did recently reissue this: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/System55LTD

And if you ever wanted to start building one (or just drool at other people's racks or wishlists), https://www.modulargrid.net/ is a very cool site. cEvin Key of Skinny Puppy has even designed and sells a few eurorack modules (as Subconscious Communications). Related note, I just saw SP live last month, and he had a huge modular rack with him. Intros and outros to songs were filled with crazy synth jams!

Jack Lynt · Dec 3, 2015

Great stuff, Josh. Definitely checking them out. Woh, that System 55 looks amazing. Pre-sold out too.

I bet you'd do great things with one.

WalterB · Dec 3, 2015

lol, right now I am listening to Amorphis - Tales from the Thousand Lakes: melodic Death Metal with Moog.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPQB-FqkJBE

Modular synths sometimes look a bit like mad scientist laboratories to me

Alcove Audio · Dec 3, 2015

JoshL said:
I have a couple friends who are into modulars. It's not a cheap hobby!

But, as you will see in the documentary, the first "commercial" modular synths started somewhere in the neighborhood of $10,000, and that's when a gallon of gas cost about 25¢. Now that gas is $2.50/gallon you can get a very nice start on a modular for $1,000 (only 10% the cost of 50 years ago) and can add on modules for as little as $150. So, once you're started, you don't need to break the bank every time you want to add a new toy, and even the really cool ones are under four figures. It used to be you went with Moog, ARP or one of the custom shops, and they were not compatible with each other. Now there are dozens of little "custom" shops turning out really cool modules that are all inter-compatible via EuroRack and similar systems.

A few Moog Modular Systems:

(Well, of course I had to include my boyhood hero, Keith Emerson!)

A couple of EuroRack systems:

Jack Lynt · Dec 4, 2015

Wowww. ^

ETA: I listened to that album, Walter, and a little something else of theirs. It's not my usual thing, but I kinda dig it. I enjoyed listening to it as I did other things. Thanks for the introduction.