Host Ziv Eliraz – in his latest loopop video – reviews the new Moog Muse synthesizer.
Moog positions the Muse as a ‘best of the best’ synth keyboard. The Muse combines discrete oscillators derived from the Minimoog Voyager, a saturating mixer inspired by the classic CP3 mixer, dual transistor ladder filters, and stereo discrete VCAs inspired by Moog Modular circuits.
As ever, Eliraz’s video provides an in-depth review, his take on the Muse’s pros and cons, and plenty of audio demos. Eliraz praises the Moog Muse’s build, synthesis capabilities, the hands-on control, performance options and value.
On the ‘cons’ side, Eliraz notes that the Muse’s analog architecture means that the Muse doesn’t cover as much timbral territory as digital synths, the noise floor is higher than on digital synths, the effects options aren’t as deep as some alternative options, and 256 preset slots is limiting.
Watch the video, and share your thoughts on the Moog Muse in the comments!
Today, Moog Music officially introduced the Muse, an eight-voice analog bi-timbral polyphonic synthesizer that they say is “the culmination of over 5 years of dreams, design, and passion.”
Moog positions the Muse as a ‘best of the best’ synth keyboard. The Muse is an eight-voice, bi-timbral synthesizer with a 61-key semi-weighted keybed, equipped with velocity and channel aftertouch. Muse combines discrete oscillators derived from the Minimoog Voyager, a saturating mixer inspired by the classic CP3 mixer, dual transistor ladder filters, and stereo discrete VCAs inspired by Moog Modular circuits, and offer control over volume, pan position and pan spread per voice.
This synth voice is paired with digital controls, including a 64-step sequencer with sequence chaining, parameter recording, and probabilistic editing, as well as a powerful arpeggiator and chord memory, which, much like the recently-announced Labyrinth.
The stereo Diffusion Delay processor was inspired by golden era vintage digital rack delays, with a unique and powerful set of diffusion, multi-tap, and filter behaviors.
“With Muse, we’ve created a Moog polysynth that combines the warmth and sonic power of vintage Moog analog technology and the flexibility of digital control to create a deep and expressive instrument for the modern musician to explore and create with,” notes veteran Moog engineer Steve Dunnington. “It’s been a labor of love for everyone involved, over the last several years, involving many people who worked hard to bring it to life.”
The Moog Muse in action, a performance by synthesist Lisa Bella Donna:
Key Features:
Eight analog voices, each with two VCOs, a modulation VCO, dual VCFs, and a stereo VCA.
Performance-Oriented Controls: Knob-per-function layout with “More” menus for each module.
Advanced Modulation and Sequencing: Two LFOs, a dedicated Pitch LFO, assignable envelopes, and a 16-slot modulation matrix per-timbre per-patch.
Diffusion Delay: A stereo processor inspired by vintage digital rack delays, adding depth and dimension to any sound.
Bi-Timbrality and Voice Control: Two independent timbres per patch, which can be stacked or split across the keyboard.
Moog says that the Muse was created for musicians that want performance-oriented controls, intuitive knob per function layout, and “More” options for each module, for digging deeper into sound design. It features a 61-key Fatar keyboard with velocity and channel aftertouch, a left-hand controller with pitch and mod wheels, and a programmable Macro knob.
Other performance features include a powerful arpeggiator and a deep sequencer with parameter recording, generative/probabilistic functions, and detailed editing for every note.
Another performance video, by Misha Mansoor:
Muse Synthesizer Specifications:
SYNTHESIZER TYPE – Polyphonic, Bi-timbral Analog Synthesizer
SOUND ENGINE – Analog
POLYPHONY – 8 Voices
KEYBED – 61 full-size semi-weighted Fatar keybed with Velocity and channel Aftertouch
CONTROLLERS – Pitch Wheel, Modulation Wheel, Macro Knob, Keyboard Octave switch, Hold switch, Sustain Pedal input, Expression Pedal input – all pedal functions are assignable
ANALOG VOLTAGE-CONTROLLED AMPLIFIER – Volume per Timbre, Pan position per Timbre, Pan Spread per timbre
DIFFUSION DELAY – Configurable stereo signal processor, Delay Time Left, Delay Time Right, Feedback, Character, Mix, analog bypass switches (to maintain 100% analog signal path)
PITCH LFO – Rate, Ramp Down through Triangle to Ramp Up Shape control, One-Shot Envelope toggle, Keyboard Reset, Pitch Modulation routing and amount
GLIDE – Selectable glide type (LCR, LCT, EXP), Glide amount
CLOCK – Clock rate, Tap Tempo
ARPEGGIATOR – Per-timbre with Clock Division, Octave range, Pattern, Direction, Gate time, Rhythmic programming, etc.
SEQUENCER – 64-step sequencer with Clock Division, Transport controls, Sequence chaining, Step editing, Modulation capabilities, and memory capacity of 16 banks of 16 sequences
PROGRAMMER – Browser via OLED screen with 16 banks of 16 patches, Mod Map, Arpeggiator settings, Sequencer with per-step settings, Global settings, etc.
VOICE CONTROL – Mono or poly voice count per timbre, Unison/Mono, Detune, Timbre editing, Voice stealing configuration
CHORD MEMORY – Chord memory with per-key functionality
MOD MAP – 16 modulation slots per timbre per patch with controllers and mathematical transform functions
Rear Panel
AUDIO OUTPUTS – Main Left, Main Right (¼” TRS)
HEADPHONES – Stereo ¼” (located on the front edge of the Left Hand Controller)
PEDAL INPUTS – Sustain, Expression (¼” TRS; Configurable through Mod Map or for use as ¼” TS CV inputs)
CONTROL VOLTAGE INPUTS – CV IN 1, CV IN 2 (1/8” TS)
CONTROL VOLTAGE OUTPUTS – CV OUT 1, CV OUT 2 (1/8” TS)
ANALOG CLOCK INPUT – CLOCK IN (1/8” TS)
ANALOG CLOCK OUTPUT – CLOCK OUT (1/8” TS)
MIDI
5 Pin DIN MIDI IN, OUT, THRU; MIDI over USB
USB-B connector for interfacing with a computer or other host MIDI device
USB-A connector for connecting to other instruments with Muse as the MIDI host
Sound designer Anton Anru shared this demo of Modular Voices, a soundset for the Moog Spectravox semi-modular synth and analog processor.
Modular Voices features 50 presets for the Moog Spectravox, including 24 Synths, 13 Plucks, 6 Percs and 7 Drones.
Moog Spectravox is a versatile device that can be used in various ways:
It can generate a complete signal without additional devices and audio input.
It can produce musical tones that can be played from a keyboard or used with external sequencers and DAWs.
It can process external audio signals, passing them through the Filter Bank and modulations.
It can operate in Vocoder mode.
It also supports combinations of these different scenarios. For example, using the Vocoder with an external audio signal, plus playing notes from a keyboard or sequencer.
The soundset is presented in the form of downloadable PDF document. Each page contains notes that explain how the patch works, what parameters are worth tweaking during playback, and how to develop the timbre during a performance.
“If you make all the settings consciously and try the things mentioned in the notes, you will learn a lot about the synth and discover its true depth,” notes Anru.
The video contains demos of the following patches:
