The Bob Moog Foundation – an independent non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of Bob Moog – has introduced the Vox Humana Sample Bank, a new sample library that recreates the Vox Humana setting of a Polymoog 280A.

The sample bank was created by synthesist Alex Ball, who carefully sampled every note of a Polymoog 280A set to its Vox Humana setting. Ball recorded each note twice to capture variation. Seamless looping, attack and release controls, and reverb are scripted into the associated Kontakt patch. A full version of Kontakt 7 is required to operate the Vox Humana Sample Bank. WAV samples are also included.

“Vox Humana is one of those sounds that is so familiar and yet so otherworldly – synthetic but somehow organic,” noted Alex Ball. “Hopefully, this multi-sampled version of the sound will get a lot of use and bring a lot of happiness to those who can’t access an original unit.”

Released in 1978 as a new and simplified version of the Polymoog 203A, the Polymoog 280A was a fully polyphonic preset-based synthesizer. The 280A model featured fourteen preset sounds, including the Vox Humana setting, which was made famous by Gary Numan with his 1979 hit song Cars.

Pricing and Availability:

The Vox Humana Sample Bank can be purchased for $15 through the Bob Moog Foundation’s online store. Ball donated his work on the sample bank, so 100% of the proceeds go to support the Foundation’s projects, which include:

• Dr. Bob’s SoundSchool, a 10-week curriculum that teaches second-grade students the physics of sound using musical instruments;
• The Bob Moog Foundation Archives; and
• The Moogseum, an immersive, experiential museum located in Asheville, North Carolina.