Vintage Synth Explorer

Moog • Rogue

The Moog Rogue could be the very definition of cheap Moog bass. It's a two-oscillator analog monosynth from Moog that, while having genuine and highly desirable Moog componentry, its design cut many corners to make this Moog's most compact and inexpensive offering of its time. In fact, the design was so simplified and streamlined that Moog licensed the design to Tandy/Radioshack who built the identical Realistic Concertmate MG-1, which was even cheaper! Incidentally the Rogue is also utilized as the Moog Taurus II Bass Synth with 1-1/2 octave bass pedals instead of the Rogue's 2-1/2 octave keyboard.

The Rogue could be considered a very scaled down version of the Prodigy (which was itself a very scaled down Minimoog) offering far fewer synthesis options and flexibility. Only two waveforms per oscillator (saw and square/rectangle) and, unlike the Prodigy, the oscillators must play the exact same waveform and pitch range, for a much more limited sonic range of synth tones. You cannot mix Sawtooth with Square/Rectangle waves on the Rogue, whereas you can on the Prodigy and Liberation. Another cutback is the single envelope generator that is shared by both the Filter and the Loudness Amp, offering just Attack, Release and a switchable Sustain mode (OFF, HALF, FULL). Still, the Rogue has a decent Moog filter with an external audio input.

Moog was definitely cutting costs with this model, making it the smallest, simplest and most basic synth in their line-up; yet still versatile and user-friendly enough to be used as the Taurus II Bass Pedal synth and an entry-level electronic tinkering Radioshack junkies music machine. To this day, the Rogue is still an inexpensive place to get good Moog sounds! It is used by Peter Gabriel, Add N To (X), 808 State, Stereolab, Mr. Oizo and KMFDM.

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Peter

Posted Yesterday

The Moog Rogue, without a doubt, is the most underrated analog synth in history!!! To see VSE rate it with only 2 stars is simply crazy! I have been playing synths for 25 years, I have played, or owned just about every synthesizer ever made, and I can say without hesitation that the Rogue is the best sounding synthesizer I ever heard! Not even close! Even my Memory Moog in unison can't touch it! The Rogue blows the Source away, there simply is no comparison. I would even say that it sounds as powerful as the Mini. No analog synth I have ever played can create its thick, throbbing sound. You truly hear the creamy, pulsating voltages. Sure, the controls are very basic, but you can get any sound in the world from this synth. Don't waste your money on an overrated, overpriced Source. Maybe the Rogue I play is different then any other one, but if the rest of them sound anything near this true analog monster, it is worth every penny!

Pip

Posted 9 days ago

I too had and loved one of these! I inherited it from my older sister who tired of it quickly and I remember buying it new in a music shop in ~1980. The assistant told us he was still finding new sounds on it after months, but I was still finding new sounds after 20 years!

A surprisingly versatile machine given its limited structure, but there were inputs and ouputs at the back which enabled you to include it in effects chains as a great outboard filter, modulator or gate for any audio. I had great fun wiring into my polymoog inputs at one time - some totally amazing sounds...

JOE

Posted 59 days ago

great for sound effects and light lead. not much in the way of balls when it comes to bass. its moog and i love it - Go for something like the yamaha Cs 10 over this any day - especially for bass.

Mike A

Posted 107 days ago

This was my first synth, and I still have it in working order. Some great sounds, especially bass. My main quibble was that the tuning tended to drift with heat.

Calaveras

Posted 191 days ago

This is not the same as an MG1. The Realistic MG 1 has a ring mod effect as well as the polyphony/organ sound.
The MG1 has sync on/off, no third option for contoured sync(?)
Also the MG has individual sliders for modulation VCF/VCO modulation, the Rogue has switches. The Rogue has saw, triangle and square LFOs. The MG1 has trianlge square and a random S&H type LFO. Finally the Rogue has pitch and mod wheels where the MG1 does not. They simply are not the same thing.

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