Moog • Modular Systems
Moog 55 (click to enlarge)
If you could look up "Vintage Synthesizer" in the dictionary, you would likely find a picture of a some monstrous Moog modular system. These systems are simply racks of modular components, a VCA module, different types of Oscillator modules, VCF filters and other modules. This modular system allows you to build your synth to your needs and liking. These systems require you to use patch cables to route your signal from the keyboard through the modules and out the amp... think you can do it? This is analog synthesis at its finest and rawest. And the sound is legendary Moog sound. Commanding very high prices even today, almost 30 years later these machines are the property of only the lucky few. Below are some example systems and their modules.
Moog 3P
A common problem with these synths is their incompatibility with the gate/trig systems used in most other synths. Moog equipment for the most part used a 'high-state' logic called 'S-trig', which maintained a +5V until a trigger was sent, and this was done by dropping the voltage to 0. This is the opposite of what's commonly used in other synths of the time. It also can lead to a problem if a patch used an extensive amount of triggering connections, as each module would cause a voltage drop...and enough of them would send the logic over into low-state and fire the S-trigger. This problem is little-known, and does lead to a good bit of frustration with users who've never worked with Moog gear. But nobody ever said modular synthesis would be easy! These systems have been used by Keith Emerson, Hans Zimmer and Vangelis.
Click here for detailed descriptions of all Moog Modules including diagrams of the systems pictured above.
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Isao Tomita used two different modular systems and occasionally he would use individual modules from these systems (such as the 950B scale programmer and 1630 frequency shifter) with his other equipment.