Moog Music today 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 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.

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.

“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.”

Here’s an example of the Moog Muse in action, in 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 with parameter recording, generative/probabilistic functions, and detailed editing for every note.

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.

Here’s another performance video, by Misha Mansoor:

Moog 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
• PANEL CONTROLS – 44 knobs, 16 sliders, 129 buttons – OLED screen
• ANALOG VOLTAGE-CONTROLLED OSCILLATORS – (x2) Selectable Triangle/Sawtooth mix, variable width Pulse wave, Octave (16’, 8’, 4’, 2’), Frequency (+/- 7 Semitones), Wave Mix (blends Triangle/Sawtooth with variable Pulse wave), FM routing and amount, Hard sync
• ANALOG RING MODULATOR – Ring modulation between Oscillators 1 and 2
• ANALOG VOLTAGE-CONTROLLED MODULATION OSCILLATOR – Selectable waveform (Sine, Sawtooth, Reverse Sawtooth, Square, Noise), Audio range toggle switch, Keyboard tracking, Keyboard reset, Unipolar switch, Pitch Modulation routing and amount, Filter Modulation routing and amount, Pulse Width Modulation routing and amount, VCA Modulation amount, Panning switch
• ANALOG NOISE GENERATOR – White noise
• ANALOG VOLTAGE-CONTROLLED MIXER – Independent level control for OSC 1, OSC 2, RING, MOD OSC, and NOISE. Overall OVERLOAD control
• ANALOG VOLTAGE-CONTROLLED FILTERS – (x2) Moog transistor ladder filters (1 with highpass/lowpass modes), Cutoff Frequency, Resonance, KB Tracking Amount, Envelope Amount, Linked Operation, Routing (Series, Parallel, Stereo)
• ENVELOPES – (x2) Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release, variable curves per stage, Multi-trig, Loop, Velocity
• 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)
• OUTPUT SECTION – Master Volume, Headphones Volume, Low Cut EQ
• LFO – (x2) Rate, Amplitude, Waveform selection (Triangle, Sawtooth, Square, Sample-and-Hold, User customizable), Keyboard Reset
• 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
  • POWER – STYLE: IEC Cable INPUT: 100 – 240VAC; 50 Hz – 60 Hz

Pricing and Availability:

The Moog Muse is now available, priced at $3,499 USD.