I actually feel like posting more than one item today. :)
These two videos are from a very cool client, Scott Metzger.
Here's a great demo of the 4 Voice my husband recently did for him.
If you like that, check out his cool Memorymoog Demo video. (I got to peek inside this beast not too long ago. Rudi does excellent work! :)
Showing posts with label moog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label moog. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Now THIS is "synth porn"!
I normally don't like the term "synth porn*", but this definitely applies to this video clip. :)
We stumbled across this gem years ago while going through some VHS tapes.
No actual sex in this clip, but you can imagine what goes on from here. :)
Click here!
Oddly enough, a lot of people we've shown this clip to are more interested in the Moog than what's happening in front of it! ;)
----
* I like synths and I like porn, but I know the difference between them!
We stumbled across this gem years ago while going through some VHS tapes.
No actual sex in this clip, but you can imagine what goes on from here. :)
Click here!
Oddly enough, a lot of people we've shown this clip to are more interested in the Moog than what's happening in front of it! ;)
----
* I like synths and I like porn, but I know the difference between them!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Round 3 of eBay!
Dude, we found NOS Micromoog and Memorymoog front panels at the bottom of a box!
So naturally, they're up on eBay. Also listing some more Memorymoog and Polymoog stuff. :)
So naturally, they're up on eBay. Also listing some more Memorymoog and Polymoog stuff. :)
Monday, August 24, 2009
A World Without Bob
Last Friday marked the 4th anniversary of Bob Moog leaving Planet Earth.
I did a very small tribute to him... I toasted him with a friend when we were at a Steely Dan concert.
I'm proud to say I did meet the Esteemed Dr. Moog a couple times, and somewhere I have a picture of his signature on my first iPod. He signed that when he debuted the Voyager back in '02, the same year he earned a technical Grammy. (Refrained from laughing at the guy who brought his MG-1 to have it signed that night, btw.)
Two years before that, there was the AH party where I danced near Bob. Fun night, but a little bittersweet now because of what happened later that year when someone I had a great conversation with that night got butthurt over the Sage Hoax.
I do wish that idea to have 1 volt/octave known as a "Moog" had gone somewhere. That would have been cool.
So Dr. Moog, I hope you're enjoying the afterlife. You deserve it after the impact you made while on Earth.
I did a very small tribute to him... I toasted him with a friend when we were at a Steely Dan concert.
I'm proud to say I did meet the Esteemed Dr. Moog a couple times, and somewhere I have a picture of his signature on my first iPod. He signed that when he debuted the Voyager back in '02, the same year he earned a technical Grammy. (Refrained from laughing at the guy who brought his MG-1 to have it signed that night, btw.)
Two years before that, there was the AH party where I danced near Bob. Fun night, but a little bittersweet now because of what happened later that year when someone I had a great conversation with that night got butthurt over the Sage Hoax.
I do wish that idea to have 1 volt/octave known as a "Moog" had gone somewhere. That would have been cool.
So Dr. Moog, I hope you're enjoying the afterlife. You deserve it after the impact you made while on Earth.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Emerson & Moog, #2
Figured I'd post two things today, to make up for my sporadic updates.
(As I've said before, this blog is a very low priority, as it's something I do for fun, not fame.)
Anyhoo, here's the second pic I have of Keith Emerson & Bob Moog on stage together. Posted the other one nearly a year ago. (If you click on the "Bob" tag, you can find the other one.)
(As I've said before, this blog is a very low priority, as it's something I do for fun, not fame.)
Anyhoo, here's the second pic I have of Keith Emerson & Bob Moog on stage together. Posted the other one nearly a year ago. (If you click on the "Bob" tag, you can find the other one.)
Monday, May 4, 2009
Broadway Baby!
I was looking through the eBay folder on my husband's HD while relisting auctions, and I found this:
We sold this Mini years ago. It was purchased for the Broadway production of Jesus Christ Superstar.
The concept album was made before the Mini was, so it's interesting that a Mini was added to the orchestra.
We sold this Mini years ago. It was purchased for the Broadway production of Jesus Christ Superstar.
The concept album was made before the Mini was, so it's interesting that a Mini was added to the orchestra.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Shameless Plug Alert-Sale on Minimoog/Moog Modular Pointer knobs!
We're selling 42 pointer knobs for Minis or Moog Modulars for the low price of $2.50 each!
You can buy one or as many as you need, but once the 42 are gone, that's all!
Click here for the eBay auction
You can buy one or as many as you need, but once the 42 are gone, that's all!
Click here for the eBay auction
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Jitter, Revisited
Taking a break from the jiggy series to tell a "jittery" story...
A couple years before I met Kevin, Hans Zimmer hired him to build him a very large Moog modular.
(HZ just wrote Kevin to say it's still fine 16 years later, too!)
According to Kevin, they both discussed synths right and left then and what made them sound good.
Hans said that he preferred the sound of the Moog 901 oscillators.
At the time, Kevin didn't understand what he meant--An oscillator to him had pitch, waveform shape, volume and that was about it.
But Hans was certain this wasn't the case.
Two years later, right as Kevin was putting the finishing touches on Hans' big Moog, he found himself with many extra parts left over.
One part was a blank Moog 921B panel.
Kevin decided to use it to build a CEM3340-based oscillator, which is used in Jupiter 6's, Memorymoogs and many other synths we all know and love. (And Kevin's portable VCO!)
You'd think that using a VCO on a chip wouldn't be any different than what Moog used in a 921B... they're both oscillators, right?
Wrong.
When Kevin installed and made a patch with this new "CEM" 921B, he suddenly realized Hans was right.
There was some sort of sound the Moog's had that this new oscillator didn't.
In Kevin's words, the CEM3340-based oscillator "sounded razor sharp and sterile."
This keen observation wasn't thought of much for several years.
Then, a couple years ago, while restoring a Moog modular, Kevin made a video showing a Moog 901 oscillator plugged directly into an oscilloscope.
Here it is: http://www.minimoog.net/moogjitter.mp4
This video showed some sort of "jitter" in the waveform that wasn't present in the CEM3340 chip.
In an interesting and semi-amusing round of "shoot the messenger," Kevin was slammed when he showed this video to others.
They insisted that the video showed nothing that could actually be heard, and anyone who thought otherwise was probably hearing things.
Ken Elhardt took this position after looking for this jitter with his DAW (Digital Audio Workstation).
However, he didn't use an actual 901 oscillator. He used an mp3 of one. (That always struck me as odd, trying to analyze a digital sample of an analog waveform. But hey, I only change caps and rebush keyboards!)
Mr. Elhardt and others added that they prefer a very accurate and stable VCO and if they wanted any "jitter", they'd add it in with noise or whatever. (Personally, I'm not much for ultra-accurate, sterile-sounding oscillators.)
One person even said that Kevin had documented how Moog power supplies were actually responsible for this jitter.
This made me laugh, as the video clearly shows that he used a precision laboratory power supply, not a Moog power supply.
(More on that supply in future posts, as it's the heart of many things that will be featured in the "jiggy series".)
Finally, several people didn't understand what Kevin was showing at all and said whatever great Moog sound there might be is due to drift. (I hope these folks weren't the same ones who like their oscillators sterile!)
But one very well respected tech, Juergen Haible, also countered that Kevin was wrong.
This hurt Kevin's feelings because Kevin used to be friends with him.
He used to share parts, photos and music with him and hosted his site for free.
With all that in mind, I submit for your perusal:
http://www.jhaible.de/living_vcos/jh_living_vcos.html
It's a vco design made by Mr. Haible that he calls "living VCOs."
In reading his description, Mr. Haible describes things this way:
"...A good part of that special sound of early Moog and EMS oscillators is not because of any "randomness", "unstability", "instability" or "noisyness", as so often is said. A good deal of their behavior is because of that, but it is not the whole story. There are also some very deterministic factors in these old circuits which have been unpleasant side effects for the designers back then, but which are worth a closer analysis when we're designing a musical VCO today. "
Kevin found this amusing. (Once he reminded me of this whole jittery debacle, so did I.)
He pointed out that while Mr. Haible says what his VCO's aren't, he doesn't say what they are. No schematic or analysis was provided (at least yet.)
No mention of the word jitter either. ;-)
But Mr. Haible's board layout suggests a design very close to the Minimoog and Moog 921B oscillators. Many of the same exact parts are used as in Moog oscillators.
Mr. Haible's comments suggest that he learned something new here.
He designed his oscillators not to be super accurate, but to be musical instead.
He just built his "living VCOs" upon Moog's basic design.
He intentionally sacrificed perfection for musicality.
Isn't that what Hans originally observed and Kevin documented?
I think Mr. Haible changed his mind, and is skittish about using the word, "jitter."
No harm in a man having to change his position after being so insistent on it previously! (Though I suppose admitting that might be difficult.)
By the way, Kevin said he's has no hard feelings and would love one of his boards.
If we can find the extra cash, I wonder if Mr. Haible will sell us one? :)
A couple years before I met Kevin, Hans Zimmer hired him to build him a very large Moog modular.
(HZ just wrote Kevin to say it's still fine 16 years later, too!)
According to Kevin, they both discussed synths right and left then and what made them sound good.
Hans said that he preferred the sound of the Moog 901 oscillators.
At the time, Kevin didn't understand what he meant--An oscillator to him had pitch, waveform shape, volume and that was about it.
But Hans was certain this wasn't the case.
Two years later, right as Kevin was putting the finishing touches on Hans' big Moog, he found himself with many extra parts left over.
One part was a blank Moog 921B panel.
Kevin decided to use it to build a CEM3340-based oscillator, which is used in Jupiter 6's, Memorymoogs and many other synths we all know and love. (And Kevin's portable VCO!)
You'd think that using a VCO on a chip wouldn't be any different than what Moog used in a 921B... they're both oscillators, right?
Wrong.
When Kevin installed and made a patch with this new "CEM" 921B, he suddenly realized Hans was right.
There was some sort of sound the Moog's had that this new oscillator didn't.
In Kevin's words, the CEM3340-based oscillator "sounded razor sharp and sterile."
This keen observation wasn't thought of much for several years.
Then, a couple years ago, while restoring a Moog modular, Kevin made a video showing a Moog 901 oscillator plugged directly into an oscilloscope.
Here it is: http://www.minimoog.net/moogjitter.mp4
This video showed some sort of "jitter" in the waveform that wasn't present in the CEM3340 chip.
In an interesting and semi-amusing round of "shoot the messenger," Kevin was slammed when he showed this video to others.
They insisted that the video showed nothing that could actually be heard, and anyone who thought otherwise was probably hearing things.
Ken Elhardt took this position after looking for this jitter with his DAW (Digital Audio Workstation).
However, he didn't use an actual 901 oscillator. He used an mp3 of one. (That always struck me as odd, trying to analyze a digital sample of an analog waveform. But hey, I only change caps and rebush keyboards!)
Mr. Elhardt and others added that they prefer a very accurate and stable VCO and if they wanted any "jitter", they'd add it in with noise or whatever. (Personally, I'm not much for ultra-accurate, sterile-sounding oscillators.)
One person even said that Kevin had documented how Moog power supplies were actually responsible for this jitter.
This made me laugh, as the video clearly shows that he used a precision laboratory power supply, not a Moog power supply.
(More on that supply in future posts, as it's the heart of many things that will be featured in the "jiggy series".)
Finally, several people didn't understand what Kevin was showing at all and said whatever great Moog sound there might be is due to drift. (I hope these folks weren't the same ones who like their oscillators sterile!)
But one very well respected tech, Juergen Haible, also countered that Kevin was wrong.
This hurt Kevin's feelings because Kevin used to be friends with him.
He used to share parts, photos and music with him and hosted his site for free.
With all that in mind, I submit for your perusal:
http://www.jhaible.de/living_vcos/jh_living_vcos.html
It's a vco design made by Mr. Haible that he calls "living VCOs."
In reading his description, Mr. Haible describes things this way:
"...A good part of that special sound of early Moog and EMS oscillators is not because of any "randomness", "unstability", "instability" or "noisyness", as so often is said. A good deal of their behavior is because of that, but it is not the whole story. There are also some very deterministic factors in these old circuits which have been unpleasant side effects for the designers back then, but which are worth a closer analysis when we're designing a musical VCO today. "
Kevin found this amusing. (Once he reminded me of this whole jittery debacle, so did I.)
He pointed out that while Mr. Haible says what his VCO's aren't, he doesn't say what they are. No schematic or analysis was provided (at least yet.)
No mention of the word jitter either. ;-)
But Mr. Haible's board layout suggests a design very close to the Minimoog and Moog 921B oscillators. Many of the same exact parts are used as in Moog oscillators.
Mr. Haible's comments suggest that he learned something new here.
He designed his oscillators not to be super accurate, but to be musical instead.
He just built his "living VCOs" upon Moog's basic design.
He intentionally sacrificed perfection for musicality.
Isn't that what Hans originally observed and Kevin documented?
I think Mr. Haible changed his mind, and is skittish about using the word, "jitter."
No harm in a man having to change his position after being so insistent on it previously! (Though I suppose admitting that might be difficult.)
By the way, Kevin said he's has no hard feelings and would love one of his boards.
If we can find the extra cash, I wonder if Mr. Haible will sell us one? :)
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
When restoring a Minimoog...
"Drill, baby, drill!" is NOT a phrase to keep in mind!
Y'see, you're most likely going to leave tiny bits of metal in the pots when you drill them. That's a disaster waiting to happen!
Y'see, you're most likely going to leave tiny bits of metal in the pots when you drill them. That's a disaster waiting to happen!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Only 2 left!
There are only two Taurus 1 Contact boards left! We have no time frame as to when the next set will be made.
Thanks to all who have purchased them this year. :)
Thanks to all who have purchased them this year. :)
Friday, December 5, 2008
Friday, October 31, 2008
Polymoog with Stand!
I got this Polymoog from a Usenet friend of mine. He was cleaning out his house and had no use for it. (No, I don't have it anymore. Sold it when we needed money, and got a nice price for it.)
Found this while looking through old auction files to see what else I can put up.
I put up a couple of store items on ebay for the heck of it.
FWIW, I've got about a dozen NOS buffer boards left.
Found this while looking through old auction files to see what else I can put up.
I put up a couple of store items on ebay for the heck of it.
FWIW, I've got about a dozen NOS buffer boards left.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
I don't think he'll want it back...
A couple of the 901's in the Moog modular that's here have this on them:
Yes, I know the pic's blurry. I'm not used to using my husband's fancy camera. ;-)
Yes, I know the pic's blurry. I'm not used to using my husband's fancy camera. ;-)
Monday, October 6, 2008
Fail (an ebay find)
My husband contributed this one... apparently someone's selling a shirt that has a Voyager on it under the title "Classic Vintage." Can we say FAIL? Yes, we can...
On what planet is a synth that came out this decade "classic vintage"?
What next, a Little Phatty personally signed by Bob Moog?
(Note: This is not meant as a slam against the Voyager. It is meant as a slam against the idiot who is trying to sell these shirts!)
On what planet is a synth that came out this decade "classic vintage"?
What next, a Little Phatty personally signed by Bob Moog?
(Note: This is not meant as a slam against the Voyager. It is meant as a slam against the idiot who is trying to sell these shirts!)
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Happy VCA Day!
We missed the first VCO Day (9/01), but we're early for the second VCO Day, which is on 9/21. :)
Oh, and I realize some of the auctions are not buy-it-now, so my comment on same-day shipping might not apply. ;)
Oh, and I realize some of the auctions are not buy-it-now, so my comment on same-day shipping might not apply. ;)
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