Moon Modular Rises Again With Synth-Werk
The Moon Modular synth designs of the late Gert Jalass will live on, with reissues by fellow MU module maker Synth-Werk.
The Moon Modular 505 Multi Mode Filter is the first of a planned series of reissues of designs by the late Gert Jalass.
Since Gert Jalass died unexpectedly in 2024, fans of the 5U/MU format have wondered about the future of his fantastic module designs – which offer modern sequencing and sound design capabilities with the traditional Moog modular large-format interface.
Now Synth-Werk’s Gerhard Mayrhofer has announced the first Moon Modular reissue, the SW MOON 505 Multimode Filter.
The SW MOON 505 Multimode filter features low pass, high pass, band pass (12 dB/oct each) and notch mode (6 dB/oct), which are available simultaneously as well as combined at the mixed output, where the filter mode is voltage controlled.
Cutoff frequency and resonance are voltage controllable too.
This is the first product in Synth-Werk’s Moon Modular filter series, with more modules planned.
Synth-Werk & Moon Modular
The pairing of the lines of Synth-Werk & Moon Modular is very complementary:
- Synth-Werk has had its main focus on offering accurate, full-size clones of the original Moog modular line. The line is essentially designed to be a third-party reissue of the original modules, using original components and through-hole construction, but updated so that modules are compatible with modern ‘dotcom’ style power systems.
- Moon Modular had its main focus on offering a modern take on the large-format modular system, with modern construction and capabilities, in the traditional Moog form-factor.
At trade events, like Superbooth, Synth-Werk & Moon typically displayed next to each other, because their lines were similar in some ways, but also very different.
Synth-Werk has updated the Moon site, and included a couple of lovely memorials to Jalass. These include a downloadable book on The History of Moon Modular, and an retrospective book, LUNAR MAGIC | Gert Jalass’ Work of Life.
Mayrhofer and the Synth-Werk team also share this statement, introducing MOON MODULAR by SYNTH-WERK:
“MOON MODULAR and SYNTH-WERK are connected by a long-standing collaboration and an intensive exchange about our shared love for the 5U modular format.
Gert Jalass was both our friend and mentor. I would even go so far as to say that without Gert, SYNTH-WERK probably wouldn’t have been possible.
Gert always motivated me, Gerhard, to build MOOG Modular clones because he believed I had the technical skills and knew enough about it. Gert was always sparing with praise, but also very helpful when it came to achieving common goals.
We were soon working together on large systems and also gained many mutual customers. MOON and SYNTH-WERK were a good fit from the very beginning.
We consider it both our duty and an honor to continue the life’s work of our friend Gert …
The SYNTH-WERK/MOON Team
– Gerhard Mayrhofer
– Albin Meskes
– Marcus Maisberger
– Markus Gabriel
– Thomas Bichlmaier
– In heaven… Bob, Gert and more”
You can find out more about the SW MOON 505 Multimode Filter at the Moon Modular by Synth-Werk site.
