2x New Moog Hardware - 'Sub37' and 'Theremini'

[aciddose]

Especially important to note that if you have software modulation implemented that you can mix into the CV coming from the chip, or even if you just have midi controllers in 7-bit, you can accomplish a vast amount of stuff that an LFO wouldn't even be capable of.

The analog modulators are important when you're doing audio rate modulation or anything very sensitive such as amplitude where the low resolution and low rate don't cut it.

Obviously the LFO would be a performance tool too, which is the key feature. I can't imagine trying to fiddle with 8 LFOs at once though, trying to remember what controls what and so on. Don't see that being very much other than totally random. Fun, but random fun

[spacecult]

Especially important to note that if you have software modulation implemented that you can mix into the CV coming from the chip, or even if you just have midi controllers in 7-bit, you can accomplish a vast amount of stuff that an LFO wouldn't even be capable of.

Good point. As long as you are hooked up to a DAW you have fairly unlimited modulation via automation and whatever other modulators you may have in your DAW. That can also be saved with a project. So, not really missing too much most of the time, maybe.

[himalaya]

Very nice that Moog has been feeling competitive, lately. A little bit vicious, even?

Perhaps the recent Studio Electronics Boomstars have been responsible for that. Who knows... Still, this new Sub37 is one of the nicest synths to come out recently. The GAS cloud is forming here very quickly....

The name reminds me of the old Mood modular stuff. Moog 55 anyone? Sub37 has this nice reference to Moog's past.

[Vertti]

First time I get interested in hardware synth. I think Moog has a winner here!

Want it but will see...

[werp]

I'm hoping the Moog 37 won't be a strictly limited edition of 1000.
I'm hoping it's released as a production model with narsty plastic/rubbery end cheeks.

[EvilDragon]

It won't, they usually produce Stage variants after their Tribute models, that usually don't have wooden sides, and are cheaper.

But this one is a work of beauty.

[spacecult]

The name reminds me of the old Mood modular stuff. Moog 55 anyone? Sub37 has this nice reference to Moog's past.

Yes, I like it much better. All the phat/mofo urban cool naming is starting to look very dated and a little silly! Should have stuck with classics like numbers and astronomy object names.

Surely 37 is in reference to the 3 octave (assuming 37 key) keyboard. But Sub37 does have a nice modular era ring to it!

[whyterabbyt]

All the phat/mofo urban cool naming is starting to look very dated and a little silly!

starting to?

[werp]

It won't, they usually produce Stage variants after their Tribute models, that usually don't have wooden sides, and are cheaper.

But this one is a work of beauty.

I have my limited edition Moog, one of 200. (Redback Little Phatty)
The aftertouch on this is just so tempting.
I know the voyager has aftertouch but it's also missing stuff that the 37 will have.
61 keys with aftertouch, polyphony, cv and midi would be perfection.
NAMM 2016 perhaps..
Moog appear to be masters of giving people just enough with each release to make people like me dribble.

[Ingonator]

Got A Waldorf Pulse 2 and Moog Slim PHatty here so not really feeling tempted here.
If envelopes are digital like in the Pulse 2 i don't see big advantages for the Sub 37 in comparison.
While the paraphonic mode in the Pulse 2 is limited to the variable Pulse waveform it got up to 8 voices and also a mode with unison is available. In the APW modes depending on the pulsewidth you could also add a sub-harmonic to the sound.

Anyway like with other new products of them (like the Sub Phatty last year) i'll try to test this new Moog in March at the Musikmesse.
A few things i like about the Sub 37 compared to the Sub Phatty are e.g. aftertouch (like that very much in the Pulse 2), a bigger keyboard (3 octaves), a LCD display and a bigger patch memory.

I bet that they'll offer a "Stage" version of the synth after the Tribute Edition is sold out which should be cheaper than this. Maybe a rack version will follow too which then will be again interesting for me as a possible replacement for my Slim Phatty.


Ingo

[himalaya]

If envelopes are digital like in the Pulse 2 i don't see big advantages for the Sub 37 in comparison.

A nicely laid out front panel with knobs for each parameter? The matrix approach looks absolutely awkward in comparison.

[3ee]

But this one is a work of beauty.

It sure is!

I'll do everything I can to afford it on it's release!

Impressive mod options for a new analog synth. I remember the Sub Fatty being able to kb track the LFO rate, if this is true for the Sub 37, that would be awesome... analog FM for filter and waveform anyone?

[EvilDragon]

Sub 37 can do all Sub Phatty did, and more.

[chk071]

The Sub 37 sounds gorgeous judging by the videos. One of the few of those monohponic analogs that really turn me on. Minibrute, MS-20, not for me at all...

Edit: Sorry, it's paraphonic.

[Ingonator]

If envelopes are digital like in the Pulse 2 i don't see big advantages for the Sub 37 in comparison.

A nicely laid out front panel with knobs for each parameter? The matrix approach looks absolutely awkward in comparison.

First the matrix approach in the Pulse 2 works nicely if you are used to it (i create da lot of pacthes during the Beta test before any editor was available) and second i now got two editors for it including one with a Max4Live plugin for use in Live 9)and the other one is still in Beta.
There are some features where the more than double priced Sub 37 could not touch the Pulse 2 anyway (e.g. multimode filter, 3rd "real" oscillator intead of Sub-Osc, Unison Osc modes, bigger patch storage, big display, 8 voice paraphony, 8 slot mod matrix with all slots on a single display page).
One feature i find nice in the Pulse 2 is that you could switch off keytracking for Osc 1 and/or 2 to create drone like sounds. Does the "KB CTRL" control at Osc 2 do the same in the Sub 37?
BTW the envelopes of the Sub 37 seem to have a "loop" mode now like in the Pulse 2 envelopes. This is an interesting feature for certain sounds.

Aftertouch (+ Modwheel, Pitch wheel) in the Pulse 2 could be routed via the mod matrix (with several destinations). Not sure how flexible routing for this is in the Sub 37. Have not noticed it in the two modulations busses:
http://www.moogmusic.com/imgs/SUB_37_TRIBUTE.pdf

In the latest OS of the Phatty they added support for Velocity control (from the advanced menu) which could control either the Osc volume or the filter cutoff. Maybe in the Sub 37 aftertouch routing is done from a menu (and/or the editor) too?

BTW i don't say the Sub 37 is bad in any way but based on the fact i alraedy got the Pulse 2 and Slim Phatty it is less impressive for me (if you exclude the knobby interface from the comparison). It is likely that if i would not alraedy own both synths mentioned i would maybe decide to go for the Sub 37 (or Bass Station 2).
If they decide to release a cheaper rack version in the future i would maybe decide to get that one to substitute the Slim Phatty.

FWIW i would love to see the next Moog synth having a multimode filter which could be totally awesome. AFAIk their owly multimode filter so far is from the modular systems (except if you call the dual filter in the Voyager a multimode filter).
A starting point for a multimode filter (besides the old modular ones) could be the 500 series ladder filter filter module which got a Lowpass and Highpass filter:

http://www.moogmusic.com/products/500-s ... der-filter


Ingo