Can these minimoog / subsequent sounds be replicated by poly synths like Novation peak?

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There is a certain sound I'm chasing, examples:

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I'm not even sure how to describe it. It is very basic sound with lots of reverb / delay, which just sounds incredibly warm. Probably it's just how Moogs sound. Or is it rather easily to replicate a very similar sound with polys like Novation peak / summit, Oberheim TEO-5, Prophet Rev2? Or do I really have to invest into a Moog Muse to get this typical moog sound as a poly?

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While some good patch editing can get you close, I feel these examples and paraphonic mode highlight where the Sub37 shines. For me, my Sub37 sounds quite different to the Peak (more hi-fi) and Rev2 (weak filter) I owned in the past. TEO-5 is quite different with it's SEM filter, but it can produce some interesting tones in these areas.

Limbic bits can be quite useful for comparison, as he typically produces similar presets across different synths:
Last edited by db3 on Mon Oct 27, 2025 11:21 am, edited 2 times in total.

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It is very hard to recreate a sound when it is drenched in Wet Delays and reverbs unless they give you the patch settings.
Even sounds that sounds crap or boring when played dry can sound heavenly when used with delay and reverb.

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I'd say in general, the Peak is a very different sounding synth than any Moog. If you do a search on YouTube, you can find Shoebridge's video where he compares his Peak to a Moog, and while he seems to be pleased with the results, I feel like there's a vast and important difference. Will you agree? Can't say. As others have said, you might be able to get very close on a subset of sounds, and only you can say if you're satisfied with the results. Personally, I keep an ATC-X (Model D clone filter and oscillators) for when I want that kind of sound, but there are now very good Model D emulations on the market, if you don't mind using software. My Nina also has a very Moogish tone in some regards.
Zerocrossing Media

4th Law of Robotics: When turning evil, display a red indicator light. ~[ ●_● ]~

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FWIW, I've owned a lot of synths (including analog).
If you're extremely picky about that sound, nothing (including the Sub-37) is going to sound exactly like a Mini Moog. Yes, it's an extremely simple synth. Yes, it's expensive for what it does.
There's a reason it's still hugely popular.

Had a Novation Summit. I thought it sounded pretty good (not amazing)... but nothing like a Moog (more along the lines of a Prophet Rev2).

For many folks/scenarios (especially with the plethora of software/hardware options available today), the Mini Moog isn't the most practical of choices.
Cost and practicality aside, the experience of playing a Mini Moog can be fantastic.
If you have other synth/s that can cover more ground, the Mini Moog is a great addition.
If it'll be your one-and-only synth, I'd start with something more broad/diverse.
Jim Roseberry
Purrrfect Audio
www.studiocat.com
jim@studiocat.com

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hillcow wrote: Mon Oct 27, 2025 9:09 am Or do I really have to invest into a Moog Muse to get this typical moog sound as a poly?
Might be helpful to clarify this - are you looking for something that is polyphonic? Neither the MiniMoog (monophonic) nor the Sub/Subsequent (paraphonic) are polyphonic.

I’ve never owned either of these, but a Behringer Model D or Poly D should get you very close to these sounds and save you some money compared to a Muse.
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Muse doesn't sound like a Mini Moog.
I wish it did...
Jim Roseberry
Purrrfect Audio
www.studiocat.com
jim@studiocat.com

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Jim Roseberry wrote: Tue Oct 28, 2025 5:45 am Muse doesn't sound like a Mini Moog.
I wish it did...
No but the mother and matriarch get that vibe very well.

Sub37 also probably 'close enough'.

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_leras wrote: Thu Oct 30, 2025 12:04 am
Jim Roseberry wrote: Tue Oct 28, 2025 5:45 am Muse doesn't sound like a Mini Moog.
I wish it did...
No but the mother and matriarch get that vibe very well.

Sub37 also probably 'close enough'.
Matriarch definitely gets closer. IMO, closer than the Sub-37.
I had a Sub-37 for a few days, wanted to love it... but didn't.
I'll likely grab another Matriarch at some point.
Matriarch is probably the best "bang-for-the-buck" synth Moog has made.
Matriarch with 16-voice polyphony and presets would be amazing (cost would likely also be amazing). :hihi:

Numerous synths can get in the same ballpark at the Mini Moog.
I programmed a Mini style sawtooth lead on Polybrute 12 that sounds pretty decent.
Got a Mini style sawtooth lead programmed on my Stage 4 that also sounds pretty good.
Have used that on a few local recording sessions.
Sounds like a Mini... until I actually play my Mini.
A lot of this boils down to how picky you want to get, how much that's worth to the individual, and the practicality of no presets (major limitation for playing live).
Jim Roseberry
Purrrfect Audio
www.studiocat.com
jim@studiocat.com

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Jim Roseberry wrote: Fri Oct 31, 2025 6:22 pmSounds like a Mini... until I actually play my Mini.
Ain't it always this way?

Even emulations will stray from the sound of a Model D, unless they were modeled after your specific Model D. Some get more right than others, but they tend to be monophonic. I believe the issue isn't that it can't be done, but doing it polyphonically and not bringing down most CPUs is really the issue. That said, I think the best way to get polyphonic Moog sounds for under $3,000 is via software.

The most "Moogish" polyphonic hardware synth I've ever owned is the Melbourne Instruments Nina. Not only does it get the filter right, but it's VCOs have that Moog vibe to them as well. Theoretically, my PolyBrute should do it, but it does not. In fact, when I saw that silly video that puts the PolyBrute up against the Muse, my first thought was, "wow, that Muse doesn't really sound like a Moog," and then was treated to the fact that it was a trick, and it had all been the PolyBrute. Nothing wrong with the PolyBrute, and you can squeeze some Moogish sounds from it, but no more so than any synth with a 24 db lowpass.
Zerocrossing Media

4th Law of Robotics: When turning evil, display a red indicator light. ~[ ●_● ]~

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