Moog Synthesizers

This Halloween, we asked renowned modular synthesist and sound designer Lisa Bella Donna to share her secrets on dialing in spooky synth sounds. Continue reading to learn more about the best synths for sculpting haunting soundscapes, listen to audio examples and download Lisa's exclusive Spooky Synths patchbook for the Moog Grandmother! Check out Lisa's new album, Hypnosis to hear her putting these techniques to use. Continue reading →

Analog synthesizers (and specifically modular synths) are undeniably cool, but some people still shy away from them due to a perception that they’re complicated and expensive. Thankfully, Moog has solved both problems with the new Mavis semi-modular synth kit ($349). Mavis is a genuine analog Moog synth that you put together from pre-assembled components, teaching you the basics of electronics and synthesis while saving you money. When you’re done, you’ve got a powerful little instrument that you can play as a standalone unit or integrate into your modular rig. Follow along as we dig into the surprisingly versatile Moog Mavis! Continue reading →

The world of synthesizers is a vast landscape with lots of options. One of the reasons for its explosion in popularity is that music makers are afforded the freedom to create any kind of rig they can dream up. For some though, this can be a barrier to entry. With the release of the Moog Sound Studio, the historic brand is giving new and old synth enthusiasts all the tool they to start creating music instantly. On the surface, the Moog Sound Studio appears to simply be two different bundled options, the Mother-32/DFAM ($1399) and DFAM/Subharmonicon ($1449). These entries into Moog's semi-modular synthesizers lineup are world-class instruments that have been adopted by knob tweakers and patch-friendly artists all over the world. The best part? You don't need to understand modular synthesis to make interesting sounds with these instruments. Continue reading →

Throughout the past few years, Moog Music has been busy creating semi-modular synthesizers that have become instant classics upon their release. The Moog Matriarch and Grandmother have become the perfect tools for a wide array of musicians, as both have something to offer those just starting out and those who have been creating patches for decades. If you were to quickly scan the Matriarch and Grandmother with a less than critical eye, the differences between the synths might not standout. The Matriarch builds off the Grandmother's semi-modular design, using the same oscillators, arpeggiator/sequencer, ADSR envelope generator, and ladder filter in its make-up. You'll notice a lot of the same colors and controls, but from there, things start to become different. Continue reading →