A Brief History of the Minimoog Part II
Chronicling the influential artists who used the Minimoog Model D to explore new genres and discover the sounds of tomorrow.
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The world's first portable synthesizer is back in production! Designed by Bob Moog and popularized by music of the 1960s, the Moog Model D has made an unmistakable impact on the world of music ever since. New units are now rolling off the line for the first time since 1981, allowing anyone access to the classic synth sounds used by game-changing acts including Herbie Hancock, Bernie Worrell, E.L.P., Frank Zappa, Devo, The Wailers, and the list goes on and on....
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A Brief History of the Minimoog Part I
Follow the life of the Minimoog Synthesizer from its inception through its prolific contributions to poplular music throughout the last 4 decades.
From Moog Music
For the first time since 1981, Moog Music has officially resumed production of the Minimoog Model D. The Minimoog Model D was the world’s first portable synthesizer and served as the archetype for all electronic keyboards that followed. First released in the early 1970’s, the instrument gained worldwide acclaim for combining the colossal sound of Moog’s large-format modular synthesizers with the accessibility of pre-wired modules. Over the last 40 years, some of the world’s most influential artists like Trent Reznor, Gary Numan, Dr. Dre, Keith Emerson and Herbie Hancock have shaped their unique sounds and forged new musical genres using the Minimoog Model D. This valuable sonic tool is now made available to veteran synthesists and the next generation of electronic pioneers.
Each newly built Minimoog Model D is lovingly handcrafted by the employee-owners at the Moog Factory in Asheville, NC. This 3-oscillator, monophonic, analog synthesizer is securely housed in a locally-sourced Appalachian hard-wood enclosure and hand-finished aluminum chassis. The circuit boards retain the exact component placement and through-hole design of a beloved 1970’s era Minimoog Model D.
Though no changes have been made to the original sound engine or audio signal path, the Minimoog Model D now includes a series of popular functional modifications that expand this legendary instrument’s sonic capabilities. These modifications include a premium Fatar keybed with velocity and after pressure available via top panel CV jacks, a dedicated analog LFO with triangle and square waveshapes, CV outputs for pitch, gate, velocity and after pressure, basic MIDI integration, and a mixer overload modification, which when engaged, allows the Minimoog Model D to conjure thicker and far more overdriven sounds than before.
NOTE: Due to the complexity of the build process coupled with the demand for other Moog instruments, we are only able to produce a small number of Minimoog Model D units per month.
• 3 vintage Moog oscillators
• Classic Moog low pass ladder filter with resonance
• Analog circuit boards recreated using original designs and component placement
• Custom reissued transistors critical to sound quality and character
• Military spec precision resistors
• Precision Linear System matched JFETs in oscillators
• Classic thermoset, knurled pitch and mod wheels
• CV Modifications: outputs added for Pitch, Aftertouch, Velocity and Gate (Aftertouch and Velocity have dedicated output level attenuators)
• Modulation Modifications: analog Triangle/Square wave LFO and Filter Envelope added as modulation sources, as well as an External Modulation CV input
• Overload Modification: the output of the Minimoog Model D is automatically scaled and fed back to the External Audio Input for instantly available overdrive
• Improved circuit board connectors for touring reliability
• Fatar TP-9 keybed with velocity and aftertouch
• MIDI in, out and thru
SOUND SOURCES (5)
Oscillators x 3
Noise Generator
External Input
OSCILLATORS
- Frequency Range
- 0.1 to 20 kHz (In Six Overlapping Ranges)
Oscillator Stability (short term) > 0.25 %
- Waveforms
- Triangle
Triangle-Sawtooth (Oscillator–1, Oscillator–2)
Reverse Sawtooth (Oscillator–3)
Sawtooth
Rectangle
Wide Pulse
Narrow Pulse
NOISE GENERATOR
White
Pink
LFO
- Rate
- 0.05Hz to 200 Hz
- Waveform
- Triangle (knob down); Square (knob up)
External Input
- Input Range
- +10 millivolts to +2 volts
- Input Impedance
- 1MEG Ohms
Filter
- Filter Type
- Voltage Controlled Low Pass (Moog Ladder Filter)
- Cutoff Frequency Range
- 10 Hz to 20 kHz
- Filter Slope
- 24 dB per Octave
- Filter Resonance
- At Cutoff Frequency
Contour Generators
- Attack Time
- 1 millisecond to 10 seconds
- Decay Time
- 4 milliseconds to >35 seconds
- Sustain Level
- 0 to 100% of Contour peak
- Filter Contour Width
- 0 to 4 Octaves
Voltage Controlled Amplifiers (VCA)
- Loudness Contour Dynamic Range
- 80 dB
- Audio Input Levels
- 1/4” External Signal Input
- Voltage
- +10 millivolts (min); +10 volt (max.)
- Nominal Input Impedance
- 1000K Ohms
- Audio Output Levels
- High Level Output
- Typical Voltage
- 0.5 volts
- Maximum Voltage
- 4.2 volts (peak-to-peak)
- Nominal Output Impedance
- 3K Ohms
Low Level Output (30 dB below High level)
- Typical Voltage
- 15 millivolts
- Nominal Output Impedance
- 1K Ohms
Headphone Output (stereo)
- Maximum Voltage
- 0.3 volts
- Output Impedance
- 8 Ohms
Keyboard
- Key Action
- Synthesizer (Spring)
- Number of Keys
- 44
- Key Range
- F0 to C4
- Priority (Low, High, Last)
- User Selectable
- Hardwired Connections
- Oscillator–1 (Pitch)
Oscillator–2 (Pitch)
Filter Contour (Trigger)
Loudness Contour (Trigger)
- Switchable Connections
- Oscillator–3 (Pitch)
Filter (Keyboard Tracking 1/3)
Filter (Keyboard Tracking 2/3)
- Typical Voltage
- 0.5 volts
- Maximum Voltage
- 4.2 volts (peak-to-peak)
- Nominal Output Impedance
- 3K Ohms
- Glide Rate (octave)
- 1 millisecond to 10 seconds
- Pitch Bend Range
- (+/-) 5 semitones (minimum)
Control Voltage Outputs
- After Pressure (aftertouch)
- 1/4” TS
0 to +5 volts with user adjustable trimpot
- Pitch
- 1/4” TS
3 volts to +7 volts. C=0 volts
- Gate
- 1/4” TS
0 to +5 volts
- Velocity
- 1/4” TS
Selectable 0 to +5 volts or 0 to +10 volts with user adjustable trimpot
Control Voltage Inputs
- Loudness
- 1/4” TRS
0 to +5 volts; +5 volts = Unity Gain
Ring connector allows pedal control via Moog EP-3 Expression Pedal
- Filter (Cutoff Frequency)
- 1/4” TRS
1 volt per octave of change
Ring connector allows pedal control via Moog EP-3 Expression Pedal Oscillators (Pitch): 1/4” TRS
1 volt per octave of change
Ring connector allows pedal control via Moog EP-3 Expression Pedal Modulation Source: 1/4” TRS
Ring=Noise Send; Tip=Modulation Receive (This jack makes a normalled connection with no cable present.)
- Trigger
- +5 volt V-Trigger; 1/4” TS
Activates both Contour Generators
MIDI Jacks (5-pin din style)
MIDI In
Note On (Trigger), Note #
MIDI Out
Note On (Trigger); Note #; Pitch CV; Velocity; Aftertouch
MIDI Thru Mirror of the MIDI In signal
- Power Supply
- Self-switching external supply; 100–240 volts;
50/60 Hz; <12 Watt nominal consumption.
Locking XLR-4 connector.
Dimensions (with panel fully lowered)
- Width
- 28.625” / 727 mm
- Depth
- 17.125” / 435 mm
- Height
- 5.75” / 146 mm
- Net Weight
- 32 lbs. / 14.5 kg.
TEMPERATURE
- Storage Temperature
- 5F to 140F (2C to 60C)
- Nominal Operating Temperature
- 10 – 35 C (50 – 95 F)
- Operational Temperature
- 10 – 50 C (50 – 122 F)
Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice
Warranty
This item is sold without the Sound Pure 3-year warranty (used / B-stock / dealer-exempt). Coverage terms for items in this category live in Terms & Conditions, Section 27.
Returns
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