Vintage Synth Explorer

Moog • Memorymoog

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The Memorymoog was the last official synth, made back in 1982, to come from Moog before they eventually went bankrupt and out of business. As a result, it was never fully completed; as MIDI technology was just coming out, the Memorymoog never did get to fully implement MIDI capability. There were two versions of this synth: the Memorymoog and the Memorymoog Plus (the version can be determined via the Autotune feature). The Plus model added a basic MIDI implementation, a Sequencer, and it also had more stable oscillator control, making the Plus model more valuable to collectors than the standard model.

Due to the seemingly incomplete MIDI implementation as well as a less than perfect user-interface/operating system, some popular upgrades and retrofits have been produced and these days it is very common to find Memorymoogs with these retrofits. The most valuable upgrade is the Lintronics Advanced Memorymoog (LAMM), originally designed for the standard model, but also available for the Plus model. It provides a redesigned operating system, advanced MIDI functions and improved hardware components. Kenton Electronics produces MIDI retrofits for both the standard and Plus Memorymoog models (Kenton and Lintronics can even install these upgrades for you, considering the delicate nature and value of the Memorymoog). These upgrades can substantially increase the stability, MIDI functionality and value of the Memorymoog.

The Memorymoog is like having six Minimoogs stacked in one! Features include VCO syncing, sample and hold, and separate filters for each voice! It also has a Unison mode for a fat 18 oscillator monophonic bass and lead sound. And as its name would suggest, it has memory storage - 100 patches! It should also be noted that, while they appear relatively rugged, Memorymoogs are prone to problems, notably missing or stuck voices. It is used by 808 State, The Orb, The Crystal Method, Air, Jean-Michel Jarre, Freddy Fresh, Jan Hammer, Bon Jovi, INXS, Jellyfish, Imperial Drag, Moog Cookbook, Rick Wakeman, Labradford, George Duke and James "Jimmy Jam" Harris III.

VISITOR COMMENTS (20)

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Posting Rules: Please keep your comments relevant! Do not post requests for help, do not use for sales, do not post unless you have something interesting to say about this instrument, or we may delete your post.

 

Steve Brittenham

Posted 101 days ago

Bought mine in '83 or '84, and performed with it until '92. The tuning got to be a major pain in the later years. But the sound was awesome! And I loved having custom program banks I could step through with the footswitch. Made live program changes a breeze. It finally became unplayable (because of tuning) in '97, so I pulled it from my studio and it sits in it's case. I still won't give it up.

tim Burton

Posted 117 days ago

3 Memorymoogs died in my hands in 10 years.
Attempt to service them was pain in ass.
Good sound and layout, but so unreliable taht it doesn't deserve attention. Save your time and take OB8 or Prophet 5.

McFullon

Posted 135 days ago

Bought one of the first of these beasts back in´82...$2,600 compared to the JP-8, P5 or OBxa asking price of over $3,000, at the time. Nicely made, but heavy...especially at the heat sink end!!! The sounds were awesome if you could keep it in tune...good thing it came with voice disable! I eventually got tired of hauling it to the shop for so-called tuning updates and sold it 9 months later....................
Great concept, but built with the wrong technology.

LAD

Posted 170 days ago

I wish the new Moog would make a successor to this, preferably based on the Little Phatty, with eight voices and a ribbon control.

SteveJ

Posted 198 days ago

I can't believe I ever had one of these (a Plus model) and sold it...for only $850 (it was a few years before all the techno people started salivating over old analog gear). At least I didn't lose money on it (I only paid $750 for it a year or so before)!

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