Thursday, May 19, 2016

#TBT: The Return Of The Beast!


  
   My good friend and fellow audio enthusiast Dustin who is the proud owner of a Moog SUB 37 and Voyager (pictured below) told me that Moog has re-issued their classic analog synth, The MiniMoog Model D (pic above). 





     It was originally made in 1970-1981 and is still highly sought after to this day). The re-issue will make its formal appearance today in a pilot production run at Moogfest 2016 (May 19-22) in Durham, North Carolina.
"After more than 30 years, the Minimoog Model D returns with a pilot-production run at Moogfest 2016 in Durham, NC. Handcrafted in the Moog Pop-Up Factory, the pilot-production units built during the festival will only be available for purchase on-site in the Moog Store by Guitar Center."
   I remember many a recording sessions early in my career with this "Beast". it sounded amazing going through some vintage compressors and Eqs then recording it hot to tape. Sometimes they would run it through different effects. It was a favorite for bass lines, melodic synth lines and otherworldly sounds.

   Moog synthesizers are used by many musicians and artists such as Sun Ra, Emerson Lake and Palmer, The Beatles, Rick Wakeman, Kashif, Kraftwerk, Daft Punk, David Bowie, Wendy Carlos, Chick Corea, John Fogerty, The Beastie Boys, The Beach Boys, The BeeGees, Michael and Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam, The Neptunes, Alicia Keys, Dr. Dre, Dj Quik, Fatboy Slim and so on.

   A more complete list of " Moogers" can be found on wikipedia here.


   Here's an introductory video for for the MiniMoog Model D re-issue:


 

   The following video by Perfect Circuit Audio showcases some of the sounds and textures of the Model D:





   And here's another video by Youtube user synthi62 where he runs the Model D through distortion and delay effects:



 
    Minimoog Model D re-issue price $3499.

   You can read more about the original Model D at Vintage Synth Explorer.