Vintage Synth Explorer

Moog • Sonic Six

The Sonic Six is an old, simple, and rather interesting machine. It's an outgrowth of Moog's expansion in the early seventies, when it took over a smaller company called Musonics, which made a synth called the Sonic V. Moog took the Sonic V design, updated it with more Moog-like features (S-trig, three-stage Minimoog-like envelopes, etc) and released it as the attache-case-mounted Sonic VI.

It is an early duophonic portable synthesizer. It has some modulation capabilities not found in other small Moog models, and the sound...due to the odd filter design...actually has more in common with something like the Oberheim SEM modules. However, rather simple VCA envelope and VCF filter sections make this an easy synth for any user.

Not commonly seen, they were actually rather durable devices and used ones generally (if proper care was taken of them) are found in good working order. It was designed for home use so it is light and portable and has a built in amplifier and speaker. It's a budget Moog synth that is probably more obscure than useful these days. But it has been used by Freddy Fresh, Stereolab and Spectrum/EAR.

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arpman

Posted 48 days ago

This article does not describe this machine at all. It is a total BEAST! By the way, it was made in 1972, NOT 1974.

P.S.

This design was originally a concept design for the Minimoog!

Bill C.

Posted 60 days ago

It's hardly a budget synth.......a nice unit just closed at $1550 on eBay, even in a sick economy! I've had one for 26 years.......bought it used for $150. I've always known it was a keeper, and I will NEVER part with mine. Most people who have laughed at these over the years obviously never took the time to appreciate its capabilities, quickly dismissing it simply because it wasn't a "Classic Mini Moog". Yes, it has limitations, but it's utter simplicity and charm cannot be denied. As well as that "RIGHT HERE" sound, and the endless LFO, filter, and triggering possibilities, you can easily stay up for hours exploring new ways of scaring the crap out of your neighbors.

Adelhart Strijder

Posted 69 days ago

I agree that this article should be removed and/or rewritten. The opion stated here is very far off from what the Sonic Six really is. It must be a very old article, or written by someone who has no clue what analog synthesis is about. Especialy the sentence "probably more obscure than useful these days" is a totaly inaccurate observation. The Moog Sonic Six is a very flexible, inspiring and great sounding analogue synthesizer.

Paris Clinton

Posted 103 days ago

Yes. the person who wrote this crap article didn't know what he is talking about. It is totaly amazing analog monster with a huge sound, Audio-input, ringmodulation, 2 fast lfo's and...
It has tunning problems too like other synths of the 70's.
Sonic Six is a special timsless cult-synth and not a budget obscure Moog.

Pokelok

Posted 151 days ago

The article says this is a simple synth. Please tell me, how many other fixed-architecture synths can do 4-operator frequency modulation, with two audio-rate modulators and two VCOs?

Odd filter design? It's a standard low pass Moog ladder filter. The first models had a rip-off of the Moog filter using diodes instead of transistors. Still 24dB Lowpass. Not even close to the SEM 12dB multimode filter.

"Budget Moog synth"? Judging from ebay prices, it's the most expensive Moog apart from the "indisputable classics" (Mini, Taurus, Memory, modular), it's the most expensive Moog I can think of.

A very misleading article (it should be re-written!) on a very underrated synth.

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