Moog Music's Voyager - The Minimoog for the 21st Century
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| Signature Edition Minimoog Voyager |
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| Side View of Signature Edition in Walnut |
July 2, 2002
Some three decades after launching the original minimoog, Bob Moog has designed a new, critically acclaimed synthesizer, the minimoog Voyager, which is expected to ship in late July. The creative genius who ushered in the era of synthesized sound has redesigned the legendary minimoog from the ground up, producing a monophonic, MIDI-capable synth even more expressive than the original, with the addition of a velocity-sensitive keyboard and a three-dimensional touchpad controller which registers pressure and position. The Signature Edition, priced at $3,495, is available either directly from Moog Music (formerly Big Briar) or authorized Moog Music dealers who will also carry the $2,995 Performer's Stage Edition.
Moog calls the current analog synth revival "a return to the analog technology that shaped the sound of the pop music of the '70s. Musicians now understand that the versatility, accessibility, and relative ease of control of 'vintage analog' are valuable musical resources." Musicians also recognize that nothing comes close to the lush, fat sound of the original minimoog. This signature sound is now even more accessible in the new Voyager with its intuitive, expressive controls and MIDI support. Mark Vail, author of Vintage Synthesizers, has called the original minimoog "my favorite synthesizer of all time. Nothing else has proven as intuitive, immediately gratifying, musically inspiring, and sonically inviting as my minimoog." Vail calls the Voyager "a brilliant new alternative that goes much further than the original in terms of musical power and flexibility."
Specifications Summary
- Monophonic analog synth
- Full MIDI implementation
- Two Moog filters
- Three oscillators with continuously variable waveforms
- Three-dimensional touchpad control surface
- Velocity- and pressure-sensitive 44 key keyboard
- Hinged, multi-position front panel
- Non-volatile memory stores up to 100 front panel programs
Detailed Specifications
The MINIMOOG VOYAGER Synthesizer is a monophonic (one note at a time) analog performance synthesizer. It incorporates virtually all of the sound resources and functions of the original Model D Minimoog, which was produced by Moog Music, Inc. from 1970 to 1982. It has many new additional features, including a three-dimensional touch surface controller, MIDI IN and MIDI OUT implementation, extensive patching facilities, and a large number of new panel features.
The signal path starts with a bank of three wide-range, high-stability voltage controlled oscillators, one noise source, and one audio preamplifier for externally-applied audio signals. The sound modifiers are a dual mode filter module, containing a dual Moog lowpass mode and a highpass/lowpass mode and one stereo VCA (Voltage Controlled Amplifier). Modulation sources are two ADSR (Attack Decay Sustain Release) envelope generators and one multiwaveform LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator). Control devices include a 44 key keyboard with velocity and afterpressure outputs, pitch bend and modulation wheels, a three-dimensional touch surface, and many control/pedal input jacks.
The MINIMOOG VOYAGER has a hinged, multi-position panel and a solid hardwood cabinet. The universal power supply accepts power from 100 volts to 240 volts.
Oscillators Module
Three wide-range, high stability VCO's (Voltage Controlled Oscillators) with continuously variable waveforms.
- Two FREQUENCY controls vary the frequencies of Oscillators #2 and #3 over a +/-7 semitone range with respect to Oscillator #1.
- Three OCTAVE selectors set the frequency ranges of the oscillators in six octave steps.
- Three WAVE controls provide continuous control over the waveforms of the oscillators, from triangular, to sawtooth, to square, to narrow rectangular.
- 1-2 SYNC switch synchronizes the Oscillator #2 waveform to the frequency of Oscillator #1, for dramatic timbral effects.
- 3-1 FM switch provides linear frequency modulation of Oscillator #1 by Oscillator #3.
- 3 KEYBOARD CONTROL switch disconnects Oscillator #3 from control by the keyboard, enabling it to function as a drone.
- 3 FREQ switch lowers the frequency of Oscillator #3 into the sub-audio range, enabling it to function as a low frequency audio or modulating oscillator.
Mixer Module
Five-input mixer for combining the audio sources prior to filtering.
- Five Input Level controls adjust the relative levels of the oscillator, noise, and external audio input signals.
- Five Input switches enable the player to quickly switch individual audio signals in and out.
- External Level LED enables the player to set the correct external audio signal level.
Filters Module
Dual mode filter module includes two Moog lowpass-resonant filters in parallel to stereo output or a highpass and lowpass-resonant filters in series, for highpass, bandpass, or lowpass filtering.
- CUTOFF control sweeps the frequencies of both filters throughout the audio range.
- SPACING control sets the spacing between the frequencies of the two lowpass filters or controls the frequency of the highpass filter, over a +/-3 octave range.
- RESONANCE control adjusts the resonance of both filters, from none to filter oscillation.
- KEYBOARD CONTROL AMOUNT control sets how much the filters open and close as the player presses different keys on the keyboard.
- DUAL LOWPASS/ HIGHPASS-LOWPASS switch selects between two lowpass filters in parallel or a lowpass and highpass filter in series.
Envelopes Module
The Envelopes Module generates two wide-range ADSR (Attack Decay Sustain Release) envelopes. The Filter Envelope sweeps the filter and is available for modulation shaping. The Volume Envelope shapes the overall volume.
- Two ATTACK controls determine the attack times of the envelopes.
- Two DECAY controls determine the decay time constants of the envelopes.
- Two SUSTAIN controls determine the sustain levels of the envelopes.
- Two RELEASE controls determine the release time constants of the envelopes.
- AMOUNT TO FILTER control determines how much the filter envelope will open and close the filter, from full negative (inverted envelope) to full positive (non-inverted envelope).
- ENVELOPE GATE switch selects whether the envelopes will be triggered by the keyboard or by an externally-applied gate.
LFO Module
Low Frequency Oscillator generates triangular, square, Sample & Hold, and smoothed Sample & Hold waveforms for use as modulating signals.
- RATE control sets the LFO rate over the range 0.2 Hz (one cycle every five seconds) to 50 Hz (50 times a second).
- SYNC selector selects LFO synchronization source to be from the keyboard gate, MIDI, external gate, or off (no synchronization).
- RATE LED provides visual indication of the LFO rate.
Modulation Busses Module
Selects the sources, destinations, and shaping signals for the MOD WHEEL bus and the EXT PEDAL bus.
- Two SOURCE selectors select the modulation source from the LFO waveforms, Oscillator# 3, the external modulation input, or a software selectable source whose default is noise.
- Two DESTINATION selectors select the modulation destination from the pitch of all the audio oscillators, just Oscillator #2, just Oscillator #3, the filter frequencies, the oscillator waveforms, or a software selectable destination whose default is LFO Rate.
- Two SHAPING selectors select the filter envelope, key pressure signal, key velocity or a software selectable source whose default is on to shape the modulation signal on that bus.
- Two AMOUNT controls set the overall modulation amount for each bus.
Output Module
- MASTER VOLUME control sets the overall level of the instrument's audio outputs.
- HEADPHONE VOLUME control sets the overall level of the headphone output.
- HEADPHONES JACK: 1/4'' tip-ring-sleeve phone jack for regular headphones.
Glide and Fine Tune Module
- GLIDE varies the speed at which the keyboard voltage changes, from instantaneous to several seconds.
- FINE TUNE adjusts the overall tuning of the instrument.
MIDI Implementation Capabilities
- FRONT PANEL STORAGE AND RECALL: Except for the Headphone Volume control and the Fine Tuning control, the settings of all front panel controls, selectors, and switches are stored in the nonvolatile digital memory. A total of one hundred front panel programs may be stored for instant recall.
- CONTROL OF FRONT PANEL PARAMETERS THROUGH MIDI: All front panel parameters are controllable through MIDI Control Change commands.
- TRANSMISSION OF FRONT PANEL SETTING VIA MIDI: Setting of all panel controls, selectors, and switches may be transmitted via MIDI Control Change Commands.
- TRANSMISSION AND RECEPTION OF KEYBOARD DATA VIA MIDI: Polyphonic note-on and note-off with velocity can be transmitted. Channel afterpressure can be transmitted. Pitch Bend and Modulation (from the wheels) can be transmitted. All these can also be received, although the tone generators will respond to only one note-on message at a time.
- UPLOADING AND DOWNLOADING OF BANKS OF SETTINGS VIA MIDI: Individual panel programs or entire banks may be uploaded and downloaded via MIDI.
- UPDATING OF OPERATING SOFTWARE VIA MIDI: The instrument's operating software can be updated via MIDI files which will be available on Moog Music's web site (www.moogmusic.com).
Player Control Interfaces
- 44 KEY KEYBOARD produces Pitch, Gate, Velocity, and Pressure control outputs.
- WHEELS: Pitch Wheel bends pitch over a range of up to +/-1 octave. Mod wheel controls the gain of the MOD WHEEL bus.
- GLIDE and RELEASE switches provide real-time on-off control over the glide and release functions.
- THREE-DIMENSIONAL TOUCH SURFACE provides three continuously variable control signals derived from the horizontal and vertical position as well as pressure.
Rear Panel Jacks
Pedal/Control Inputs
These nine jacks are specially labeled with black letters on a white background. They accept either expression pedals or control voltages, and control the following performance parameters:
- VOLUME
- PAN
- FILTER CUTOFF
- OSCILLATOR WAVEFORM
- OSCILLATOR PITCH
- MOD SOURCE 1
- MOD SOURCE 2
- SAMPLE AND HOLD IN
- ENVELOPES RATE
- LFO RATE
ACCESSORY PORT
This is a standard DB-26 connector that allows access to the control voltage and gate output signals from the Voyager. Control signals that are routed to this port are:
- KEYBOARD GATE
- KEYBOARD CV
- KEYBOARD PRESSURE CV
- KEYBOARD VELOCITY CV
- X, Y, AND Z CV OUTPUTS FROM THE TOUCHPAD
- MOD 1 AND MOD2
- MOD AND PITCH WHEELS
- MOD BUS OUTPUTS
- FILTER AND VOLUME ENVELOPES
- LFO TRIANGLE AND SQUARE WAVE
- SAMPLE AND HOLD STEPPED AND SMOOTHED OUTPUT
- NOISE
LFO SYNC -
A gate or trigger applied to this input will reset the LFO waveform to the beginning of its cycle.
ENVELOPES GATE -
A gate applied to this input will start the envelopes.
SAMPLE AND HOLD GATE -
A gate signal applied to this jack triggers the sample and hold circuit.
MIXER EXT IN -
Plug any instrument-level or line-level audio signal in this jack to combine with the oscillator and noise signals prior to filtering.
GLIDE and RELEASE -
A foot switch plugged into either of these jacks will have the same effect as depressing the corresponding switch on the left hand controller panel.
MIX OUT/FILTER AUDIO IN -
This is a TRS insert point that can be used to insert an effect between the output of the Mixer and the Input of the Filters using a standard insert cable. The output of the audio mixer appears here, before being fed to the filter. The Mixer output appears at the tip of this jack, the return to the Filters appears at the ring. If you plug something into this jack, that breaks the normal connection.
AUDIO OUT RIGHT AND LEFT (MONO) -
These are the main audio outputs. These are balanced outputs for noise-free performance on stage or in the studio.
MIDI IN, THRU, and OUT connectors
100-240 VOLT POWER CONNECTOR -
Universal power supply enables the Minimoog Voyager to be plugged in anywhere in the world without special switching or adapters.
For more information, visit their web site at www.bigbriar.com. |
