Mini V4

I recently bought this VST as part of Arturia's V2 Collection. One of the first synths I ever had experience with as a kid was a MiniMoog. I spent countless hours tweaking the knobs and inventing all kinds of different sounds on it.

I can say, that of all the MiniMoog emulations out there that I've heard, this one is by far the most accurate. I guess that's why Bob Moog endorsed it before he passed. The sound of the MiniMoog oscillators and filters have been the target of many hardware and software synth manufacturers for many years, and they've all come up short. It's hard to describe, but if you've ever played with the original MiniMoog, then you know what I'm talking about. Arturia is the closest I've ever heard the MiniMoog's "sound" since the original.

I do a lot of gigs where I have to play various Funk, R&B and Pop keyboard parts from recordings of the 70's and 80's which, of course, was the heyday for the MiniMoog and when I use this VST live, it sounds like the real thing.

There are lots of VSTs out there that have the capability of creating similar sounds as the MiniMoog. But if you want that "authentic" sound, I haven't really heard any of them get this close.

I'm surprised this synth didn't have reviews for more than half year from its long awaited release.
As far as I'm concerned I liked very much another replica of Minimoog, a synth not very known but one of the best sounding ever in software: Creamware's Minimax.
I'd say that in comparison to Arturia's Minimoog V it has a bigger sound and though it has no arp or mod matrix the sounds ar by far more inspired and interesting.
Back to the Minimoog V. I'm reviewing the demo version v1.
It gives a good impression of a well made piece of software with its stylish classic look though the "extended view" (when you "see" its back) doesn't look so well.
The sound is very good and warm, and the filter does the job well.
The presets are interesting and I liked in particulary a couple made by the godfather of trance; Klaus Schulze. But comparing with Minimax I'd say the presets could be better.
Though it has many qualities I'm definetely regreting that Creamware doesn't make native vstis.
For anyone wanting a virtual native Mini this is for now the best choice. The fact that Bob Moog himself put his signature on it can tell a lot about it.