Moog today officially introduced the One synthesizer – their first polyphonic hardware synth in decades.
To introduce the Moog One, they shared a short film, Moog One – A Meditation On Listening, embedded above. Shot on 8mm film and digital video, the film is intended to be a modern re-imagining of the original 1976 demo video for the Polymoog, Moog’s first polyphonic synthesizer.
The film features Jeff Bhasker, Suzanne Ciani, Chick Corea, Mike Dean, Robert Glasper, Dick Hyman, Dev Hynes, Mark Mothersbaugh, Mark Ronson, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Dr. Lonnie Smith, and Paris Strother.
The Moog One is a tri-timbral, polyphonic, analog synthesizer that Moog says ‘builds on decades of technological tradition while pushing the limits of what is technically possible’.
Available in 8-voice or 16-voice configurations, each individual Moog One voice circuit contains an analog signal path more powerful than a Minimoog Voyager, harnessing the power of 3 newly-designed dual-output analog VCOs with ring mod and FM, 2 independent analog filters, a dual source analog noise generator, analog mixer with external audio input, 4 LFOs, and 3 envelope generators.
Each of Moog One’s three analog timbres is an independently addressable poly synth, each with its own sequencer, arpeggiator, and onboard effects library–including a suite of professional reverbs from Eventide®.
The Moog One is available in 8- and 16-voice versions, with a sound engine that is described as ‘the most advanced architecture ever conceived for a Moog synthesizer.’
Per voice, the Moog One features:
- three analog voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs);
- two independent analog filters (a Variable State filter and a Moog Ladder Filter) that can be run in series or parallel;
- a dual-source variable analog noise generator;
- an analog mixer with external audio input;
- four LFOs; and
- three envelope generators.
Essentially three independently addressable polysynths in one, the Moog One tri-timbral architecture lets you assign, split, layer, and stack voices with up to 48 oscillators in Unison mode. Each synthesizer ifeatures its own step sequencer, arpeggiator, and effects processor.
Audio Demos:
Details are available at the Moog site.
tbh, sounds somewhat crappy. i woudn´t trade my jupiter 80 for this.
analog vs totally digital.. not even the same realm
BS
It’s actually what sounds good to me vs what doesn’t for 8k, I could care less about analog vs digital nonsense… it’s all about actual sound in my world, and based on this video I wouldn’t trade my Jupiter 80 for this either.
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its like having a ferrari…but hey…not everyone likes ferrari…i like lamborghini or an aston martin better…that´s why collectors have often different kind of cars…same with synths…
Why am I not surprised about your opinion on the One? At least you are not complaining about the lack of screen 😉
I too wouldn’t trade my Jupiter 80 for this .. I need those 76 keys .. and if I need a polyphonic Moog I’ll just either use one of my Memorymoog samples, or sample one of my many Moog monosynths. Having said that I certainly wouldn’t turn down a Moog One if it was gifted to us 😀
ONE !
Congratulations Moog , Bob would be very proud !
Pair this with a Model 15 Reissue = Bliss !
But the real question is buy now or wait to see if they change the color later with different wood ?
Wow! What an instrument! Haven’t heard a demo that gave me the chills like this since Baloran’s The River! Can’t wait to try one!
Moog demos always do a good job of showcasing the sonic potential of their products. I wish every manufacturer could do the same.
feeling it..
We can bitch about the price, but there’s no denying the fact that this is one impressive sounding and looking instrument.
The audio at the beginning of the video reminds me a lot of the sound of the Novachord, and I haven’t heard anything quite like that from any other keyboard.
they call it moog one for the number of limbs and vital organs you’ll have left after you raise the money for it.
Credit cards and interest!!!! Here I come.
It sounds like 700 years of elderly farts compressed into a too-big synth. I thought I would like it more but it just sounds grumpy, like every note is fighting the other to be heard.
Wow. WTF? Seriously?
What an absolutely annoyingly weak ass embarrassing video. None of those sounds interested me on any level, either as a performance synth or purely as a sound design tool. Forget the analog vs digital nonsense, the stuff demoed was sonically boring as hell.
Hey let me hold a cig in my left hand while I play meaningless drivel bullshit on this 8k synth lol.
Geezus.
I’m with you on this, this video didn’t cut it for me. “Could do better”, not to mention the crazy beginning with sampled sound effects, noisy video, 8-bit graphics and too many uninspiring views of the sea & the Blue Ridge mountains.
whats wrong with this site…need to push F5 for days to see new links. Did a proper reply here and didn´t see anything….
This is not only a site about audio, but also patience..
https://soundcloud.com/moogmusicinc/sets/moog-one
Yeah I don’t know what to think, it either sounds too crowded or out of breath with a couple of ‘classic moog’ sweet spots. Also I think it sounds way too dated but that’s the well-to-do retirement enthusiast market they’re aiming for.
“well-to-do retirement enthusiast market” !! Wow!! That hurts. But spot-on. Except I think the well-to-do retirement enthusiasts are probably bored of that sound after 50 years… They should have added some sample play-back (like the Prophet X).
I bear no one any ill will but anyone on gearslutz knows the most desirable sounds are those of Tangerine Dream circa 1976.
> well-to-do retirement enthusiast market they’re aiming for
🙂 At the end of the video I was thinking, “Man, it’s weird how most of the video was old rich retired musicians who peaked in the 70s and have not released an album in 30 years.” And then I realized oh, of course. They know their market. Like with the big modular reissues, that’s exactly who will be buying these.
not yet inspired to whip out my wallet for this. The video was a complete turn off, didn’t do much to showcase the depth of the instrument. I suppose that will come later. Also, whats with the 70’s woozy filming style and… MIMES? I realize that mime is money but MIMES? No. I would expect this from Akai (the new Akai), not Moog.
I think museums are making bids on their copies, but Moog should Banksy them and create hollow versions with no internal components. Moog One: Trojan Synth.
Taking the price out of the equation, this simply does not impress. I was hoping it would sound more like a MM, or even a big, fat poly 37. It sounds like a sterilized Voyager, which itself sounds like a sterilized MM. This video, like their new website, absolutely sucks. There was no EM, just traditional kbd playing with synth sounds. As a Moog user for decades, this is all very disappointing. The modular reissues are fantastic, (but who can afford them), the 37 still sounds best to my ears, this ONE is a just very expensive dog. DSI stuff sounds better and is more flexible. This will cost them.
“This will cost them.”
lol
It’s back-ordered already at Sweetwater and you think that somehow nobody’s going to buy it?
This is a fantastic tri-timbral analog synth with very powerful specs. Having three powerful Moog polys in one keyboard is amazing. This will be a huge hit with keyboardists, synthesists and with sound designers alike.
A lot of people will love the massive front panel, with dedicated controls for just about everything. It’s not a cheap synth – but I can see it being the center of a lot of people’s studios.
If you’re dismissing it by what people did in the 2 hours that they got to spend with the prototype, you’re kind of missing the point – which is to create a next-generation analog poly with the flexibility to do what YOU want.
the nextgen analog poly that sounds stuck in the early 70s? 😉
I’ll reserve final judgement until I get to try one, I’ll agree. But I’ll bet you dollars to donuts they do not sell a lot of these. I’m not missing any points so far. WTH does “next-gen poly” mean? Other mfgs have been employing these features for some time already. These people know what they’re doing, especially Cianni, and I heard zilch. This will only be “a huge hit” with people that have lots of cash to burn. Its back-ordered everywhere, because.. its not shipping yet. This was my take-away. Nothing more. But anyone who would buy one of these on the basis of this video…
Hey Jert, I just got off of Sweetwater’s site. It isn’t backordered. They haven’t received any yet. They say later this month (Oct. 2018). Thanks for the fake news.
You must be joking the One sounds amazingly good even through Youtube, just imagine how good it will sound IRL = FANTASTIC!
Not joking. Apparently we hear things differently. 🙂
Lets just say I actually listened.
I’d disagree with the Voyager comment. Having bought my first Model D new in 1978, then my 2nd one used four years latter I had a total of 10 years working with them. Sold em both for 150.00 each in 1988 with no regrets. Bought a Voyager a few years ago and much prefer it over my old Minimmoogs .. for the kind of timbres I enjoy at least. There is no right or wrong here .. its all subjective, but the Voyager is by no means ‘sterile’ compared to MY old Minimoogs .. but both of them sounded a bit different from each other as well. Chic Corea migrated from the Model D to the Voyager .. Rick Wakeman has stuck with the Model D .. Jan Hammer ditched Minimoogs all together .. all epic Minimoog artist .. different strokes you know.
I also had 2 MM’s. Regretfully sold the second one. I’ve had 3 Voyagers. Didn’t like them nearly as much as far as the sound goes. Def more mod capabilities though, which I utilized. I think if you polled folks with the later MM’s vs. Voyager, MM would win, which is why they reissued. Thats JMO though. As you say, different strokes.
Hmmm .. yeah think I’ll wait for the Moog Two
I think the last two demos on the soundcloud reveal more of its true character and power. The video was mostly unnspiring to me.
(How do you spell that sucking sound when someone is not sure about something?)
Nothing here screams $8,000 dollars.
I’ve got freeware that sounds more inspiring (ouch!).
OK that’s a funny video and I like it a lot.
Sounds are a little bit worse than the working recently serviced Memorymoog I sold for $500, and they guy I sold it to probably overpaid.
Hopefully we’ll see better demos as time goes by.
I think this machine might sell more Prophet X’s.
https://soundcloud.com/moogmusicinc/sets/moog-one
Thanks for that!! Much better than the demo video 🙂
This will go great with the retirement community…coupled with a RV and yer’ all set. Love the 70’s prof rock/jazz fusion stuff like everything you hear someone doing at the local music shop on any given day. Surprised there is no Bosendorfer piano tucked in there somewhere to really cement its place in the serious musician’s arsenal.
Each osc sounds great on its own but everyone they blend other oscs (esp the squares) it sounds like a pot pourri of harmonics.
Demos are ok. Rev2 can do as good, U-he (and not only) VSTs can do significantly better.
Yep got a few instances of Repro-5 playing some Bach harpsichord concertos right now as I type, and with my secret weapon eq’ing it sounds uber fat and warm like I was back in the 80’s with my Roland, Sequential, and Oberheim poly’s.
Are there ANY examples where the Moog One produces sounds another analog cannot?
Not really. And it think with this architecture it wouldn’t be, prophet 8 is 10 years old already and it’s known what it can and cannot do.
The real problem is that its not a Mini, Poly or Memorymoog. Everyone wants that same nostalgic rush to arrive with ALL-NEW EVERYTHING and its simply not possible. Whether or not you think its $8k worth of synthesizer is subjective. Its the polyphonic Moog people have hollered for. This is what Moog did to get there. I’m not over the moon about it, but it sure sounds like a by-God real Moog to me. The price(s) are still lower than owning 3 or 4 mono Moogs, so if you’re wild for the base sound, a Moog One could be a cost-saving buy. Not for me, though. With $8k, I’d buy a Prophet X and a case of mid-line swill masquerading as champagne. What can I say, I like the stuff with the plastic corks.
I guess that was Mike Dean’s own Moog One. If he played mine with a cig in one hand, he’d need a proctologist to get it back.
Wow…not really impressed with sounds/demo. I’m honestly surprised. I thought I was gonna be gassing for it but I think I’d much rather have the Waldorf Quantum and the $2-4k in my pocket.
I feel like my deepmind12 had a better showcase. Most of those patches were basic synth sounds. Very strange. Would’ve expected some deep electronic arps and some deep ocean dreamy pads but nope. At that pricepoint, maybe they are indeed marketing to rich/old hobbyists or something. I live near the factory so I’ll check it in person still.
Well, it sounds nice.
Dunno why people are complaining.
Yes, it’s expensive. That’s the price. Stop bitching about it, it won’t change anything.
What I see is a fully featured poly synth, with a large amount of control. And that’s always cool. Why do people complain?
On the other hand, there are not a lot of fully analog with that many voices, if analog is what you’re looking for. So I guess that’s a nice thing.
I won’t own it. But yeah, it’s nice, so what?
Would it be fair to compare this thing with the Schmidt synthesizer? It’d be fun to watch a Moog One vs Schmidt.
The Schmidt’s sound architecture on paper is in many ways more advanced. But the Moog On probably wins overall regarding sound, effects, useability and design etc. and is a steal at around one third of the Schmidt’s price.
FWIW, the video with the mimes was a throwback to the Polymoog promotional film… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_XE9HwPAgo
A dream/flagship synth to be sure. This thing sounds amazing. I wonder what the guys complaining are really into…aggressive, cold, distorted, digital sounds?!?! Probably. That’s not what this is for. The Moog One sounds so smooth, warm, and organic. Plus…that line of players in the video was epic, living legends mixed with modern greats. Look up folks like Jeff Bhasker, Robert Glasper, Mike Dean, etc. You’re probably going here a lot of the Moog One on hit records in about a year and the guys complaining will be drowned out my folks on forums asking “How did they get that sound”
Please listen to that part where Chick Corea is playing and try to convince me it sounds good. To me, it sounds congested, distorted, undefined and unbalanced. And I hear this in almost all examples. I find it somewhat hard to believe that this is because I’m into cold, distorted, aggressive, digital sounds.
I haven’t decided yet what I think about it (I’d have to play it and use it in a production to really tell how good it is), but this video doesn’t bode well. I do like the Instagram filters though.
It seems that they’re definitely going for “classic” as the main message to sell the One. And it makes sense, considering that with this price the target market isn’t going to be young guns. All the sound examples so far have that “classic” vibe, but with those features, I’d expect it can also sound more contemporary. But they don’t want to confuse the message: the most important thing is that it sounds like what you’d expect a poly Moog to sound like.
It’s a lot of money, but it’s also packed with amazing features and a no-compromise build. You get what you pay for.
The user interface looks fantastic. Innovative yet intuitive. Moog is seriously good with UI.
The fact that it’s properly three independent synths in one is amazing, but… it makes me wonder, would you actually want to fit three Moog Ones into one mix?
This instrument sounds very thin… and for that price…I would rather go for something else 🙁
Nice synth no doubt. I cant shake the feeling though that many people really almost WANT to like it. Like it does not matter how it sounds. I really can`t hear something i haven`t heard. Maybe we are all a bit saturated by the overwhelming things and sounds on offer that it is really hard to Top anything. Hence my remark that many people WANT to like it first of all and then listen to it an like it, in that order
Maybe the biggest marketing mistake is not talking up the massive mod matrix, the CV ins, the drag and drop mod routings between presets, the timbral morphing on the oscillators, the external effects insert, the intuitive UI, and the impressive filter section. Then again, those things seem to be what everyone here who’s complaining is missing too.
I’m well aware it’s literally the most powerful analog poly ever. I still think it sounds farty and unappealing. I’ve listened to everything so far and I’m not a fan. I think the ‘moog’ sound is better as a mono.
Nail on the head. To me, the mid lows sound really congested. Maybe, when you play it on its own, it’s really inspiring. But I think it would be very hard to use this in a production. That’s for instance the beauty of a Juno60, it magically fits into every mix, even though the sound on its own is not the ‘fattest’. Maybe the Moog sound is just not for polys.
In the short time since its release, I find that the very creditable features matter a bit less to me than wondering how close to “modular” it can really get, in terms of sound design. Its far broader than the classic sawtooth pads indicate. Note the 4 CV ports. Those are there for Eurorack and even Minibrute folks. Clearly, Moog knows part of the base for a flagship will include power users for whom this will be a modular centerpiece. Some people like (and can afford) a stack of flagships, but aside from the obvious cachet of merely owning a Moog One, I’m keen on seeing how well it shows itself off as a “main” synth. There’s an area of analog that goes far beyond the basics and this thing seems well-aimed at showing that off, eventually. I’m drooling for demos from boffins such as Richard Devine. After a few of those, we’ll hear its deeper, “true” voice. Sorry to get so wordy, but I started with a Mini and Multi, so yeah, I’m feeling that old Moog tingle again. Cool.
Sadly, this video does not do this amazing instrument justice. I’ll admit I was very disappointed in the video released by Moog. Daniel Fisher at Sweetwater playing the presets without adjustments is about the best you will hear right now. In fact, if this video were the deciding factor for me, I wouldn’t have purchased one. The Moog One is amazing and no video can do it justice. Videos rarely capture the beauty of an individual instrument’s sounds. You just have to play it, hear it, and feel the sounds around you to understand what makes it so great!