A New Emerson Moog Modular System. Really?

Although not all of you may be dying to know this, Moog Music has a suprise in store: a new edition of the legendary Keith Emerson Moog Modular System. The reproduction of that system (80 modules) is fondly boasted to be a true recreation of the original instrument:

“The new Emerson Moog Modular System is comprised of handcrafted Moog modules built from the original circuit designs and are true recreations of the originals, utilizing the same hand assembly methods used in the Moog Music factory in Trumansburg, NY in 1969. The modules in the new Emerson Moog Modular System are built just as the originals were, by hand-stuffing and hand-soldering components to circuit boards, and using traditional wiring methods.” (Moog Music)

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Be that as it be: a closer look shows that despite its size, this system only offers 5 (audio) VCOs: a package of 3 VCOs (with 3 osc controller) and another package of 2 VCOs (with a single osc controller). In addition, there are two large 921 VCOs, primarily for modulation purposes. That makes a total of 7 VCOs, which, in effect, is the Moog System 55. And which leads us to the question of price …

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The new Emerson Moog Modular System is estimated on the internet to cost approx. 80 000 USD. Now, whether a replica of a 7-VCO system without MIDI and without all those other little goodies is worth this sum, is – let’s be honest – to be doubted. Evidence perhaps, that the Moog Music company actually lives from its name.

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Our humble question: “Will this ‘PR-project for the New Emerson Moog Modular System’ really result in a new Moog production line of modular systems in the near future?” That would be, to say the least, a truely great addition to the music market …

Link: www.moogmusic.com
Link: http://createdigitalmusic.com (worth reading …!)

Photos (c) createdigitalmusic.com
Graphics (c) Mark Vail – Vintage Synthesizers

Filed under General

“Es genügt, einen Ton schön zu spielen” sagte der Komponist Arvo Pärt im Jahre 2005. Diese Aussage ist ebenso einfach wie ich auch exzellent: Es braucht kein Meer an Tönen, denn entscheidend ist der Klang. Dass so mancher Vintage-Synthesizer der 70er und 80er Jahre teils unerreicht hochwertige Klänge liefert, steht außer Frage. Doch tatsächlich leben wir “heute” in einer nahezu perfekten Zeit. Einerseits hat man – mehr oder weniger – noch Zugriff auf die Vintage Analogen, andererseits wird auch bei Neugeräten die wichtige Komponente des hochwertigen Klanges wieder zunehmend berücksichtigt. Doepfer, Cwejman, Synthesizers.com, MacBeth, Moog, GRP, Studio Electronics, COTK, John Bowen und andere Hersteller bauen hervorragende Synthesizer, die den “Klassikern” in nichts nachstehen. All diesen (alten wie neuen) “großartigen” Instrumenten ist Great Synthesizers gewidmet. _________________________________________________________ In 2005 composer Arvo Pärt said: “Playing one tone really well is enough”. In other words, it is sufficient to play one tone 'beautifully'. I agree with that. All musical efforts are focused on the sound itself. Although I studied classical music (piano and drums), it’s the electronic sound that inspires me. Synthesizers are the epitome of new sounds and exciting tonal spheres. Today, many companies produce high-quality - excellent! - synthesizers: Doepfer, Cwejman, MacBeth, Moog, GRP, Synthesizers.com, COTK, Studio Electronics, John Bowen and others. It's their products I'm really interested in ... apart from Vintage Synthesizers, which I have been collecting for 20 years. Subsequent to our former websites Bluesynths and Blogasys, Peter Mahr and I have now created GreatSynthesizers. We hope you like it.