Moog Animoog Z - the iPhone review

[@BrianKupferschmid]

I also did beta testing for the Z. Moog certainly addressed all the wants on my wishlist. I was lucky enough to have at least one of my preset submissions make it into one of the expansion packs. Once I get a handle on making my own timbres, I’ll be making a load of presets and timbres. I couldn’t be more pleased with this app.

[@MoltenMusicTech]

There's defintely a knack to making those timbres that needs a bit of time and thought.

[@VictorSteiner]

Is there a way to get all our old presets over or were changes made that make that impossible?

[@MoltenMusicTech]

Good question - yes, you can move your old presets over using Files

[@VictorSteiner]

@@MoltenMusicTech also the paid ones?

[@MoltenMusicTech]

I'd recommend surfing the Moog pages that have all that kind of info :D

[@pongtrometer]

top notch overview with clarity, love the Timbres creation section. Cheers Robin

[@Lorichs]

A VERY important thing that the Z brings to the table is interconnectivity with other apps. The IOS music community has been screaming for AUv3 for this synth and now we got it.

[@andrew4982]

Such a nice and clear review of a wonderful synth, bravo. And I really liked the comparison you made in the end with the original Animoog and Moog look, you are so right.

[@garrettscott4748]

What about after touch? can it be mapped to that "pressure" input?

[@t3l3phasicworksh0p]

Microfreak keyboard seems like the natural controller for this

[@robertgrandjean8159]

Thanks for this review, I immediately got myself the Animoog, hooked it to my NTS-1 and some random IKEA-speaker: hours of joy 😃 Great channel btw!

[@Klocaine237]

Use the random rhythm with the dreadbox. Would that work? What about the Melodicer. ??

[@MoltenMusicTech]

Random Rhythm is a trigger machine do no not really, but the other one would have yes

[@IanWaugh]

Hey Robin - Really great review. Awesome sounds but if you want to 'play' it, does it have any built-in quantisation or does it just pitch incoming MIDI?

[@MoltenMusicTech]

It’s all scaled to your choice of regular notes and Midi

[@surrogatemarker]

Can you design ideas on the iPhone app while on the go and move them to the iPad for more studio integration? Will they auto transfer with my apple account or are presets saved in iCloud ?

[@MoltenMusicTech]

I believe you absolutely can do something like that - but i don't know how.

[@brokenscart7989]

I’ve had the old app for like ten years, it was on sale that long ago. I should probably revisit it as a new synth head.. I also really need to get a cable to throw midi at my iPad, there’s some great synth apps. Thanks for the vid

[@oscarwest8395]

Does the Animoog app cost anything ??

[@MoltenMusicTech]

Yes, I think so

[@valdiskrebs566]

Amazing! And in AUM you can open multiple instances, and have a quartet (or more) of Animoog Zs going.

[@MoltenMusicTech]

Nice

[@Noldy__]

What's the name of the hub you're using?

[@MoltenMusicTech]

It's just a generic powered USB hub

[@Klocaine237]

We love you man and your shirts are Fire. Keep it up

[@sicoblum]

Hi, do you know why I cannot connect to audioshare? When I search in the Inter app audio source on audioshare I can see the old version of animoog, but no the animoog z

[@MoltenMusicTech]

Sorry I don’t know anything about it

[@tendrel_sound]

I agree with you about the interface not looking as cool, but I’m still going to make Animoog Z an integral part of my live setup. I’ve been waiting for this update for years! I only wish they would have made ALL the parameters midi mappable (for instance, the MOD page parameters such as Amount) . Great review, thank you sir!

[@joegrant413]

Thanks for the video! Question.... what did the AudioFuse 2 do in the demo? It looked like you tied everything together with the USB hub. It didn't seem as if the AudioFuse 2 mattered. Thanks

[@MoltenMusicTech]

The sound came out of it. Once you add the camera kit adapter you can’t use a headphone output adapter so I used the mini fuse for the sound output. You could use Bluetooth speakers instead but they tend to have a bit of delay in them.

[@Synfluence101]

Totally agree about the Animoog Z vs the original workflow. The original was very Moog. I prefer the original but wish it was Auv3. It would be great to have a "classic version look" ..Bring back the Vintage look and flow.

[@CG1970ify]

Excellent reviews; I agree on everything, especially on the fact that the change of look has lost a bit of magic, and the shift of the filter position ... In general I liked the old interface more.

[@CamdenDogz]

Loved the original which I still have on my iPad. So this is good. What’s the usb hub you have there?

[@MoltenMusicTech]

some generic thing from china via amazon.

[@CamdenDogz]

@@MoltenMusicTech thanks Robin.

[@andrewnancarrow]

I’m still a bit confused on the connections here to get it into the DAW. Would you kindly be able to clarify? You have the Arturia USB interface plugged into the Hub, then the keyboard plugged into the hub, and the Animoog plugged into the hub. But then you say the Hub is plugged into the Animoog. So it’s a loop? How does it get into the computer?

[@MoltenMusicTech]

I didn't get it into a DAW in the video. If you want to record the output of Animoog then plug the output of your phone/audio interface into the audio interface on your computer. In the video I'm just playing the Animoog. I've add a USB hub so that I can power and connect a MIDI keyboard and audio interface to give myself better quality audio. The audio interface isn't connected to another computer - it's become the sound output for the phone. So i'd plug the output of that into another audio interface that's connected to my computer running a DAW? Sounds much more complicated than it is. Just think of it as not an unusual or special thing - there's no magic connection. If you want to record the sound of Animoog you need to physcially plug its sound into something for recording!

[@andrewnancarrow]

@@MoltenMusicTech thanks. Actually I have been recording the Animoog into a DAW with the audio cable plugged in as you mentioned. The problem is it’s only seen as an “audio” instrument, like a guitar or any other non-midi device. I guess I was hoping to figure out how to connect it to the DAW with midi as well so I can sync it to the track bpm etc. and also to (possibly) try to control functions like the LFOs etc in Animoog with the DAW via midi. I mean I know there’s midi options in the Animoog, but trying to figure out how to integrate it with a DAW. For instance through my same USB interface I have my Moog Grandmother connected as an audio source as well as midi. Super confusing on how to do the same with Animoog.

[@MoltenMusicTech]

Ah ok. To use it as a MIDI instrument from your DAW then plug in an audio interface that also has MIDI ports (assuming iOS compatible). Now connect a cable from your computer's MIDI Out to the phone audio interface MIDI In. There's no magic way to USB-it into your DAW - it's not different to the Grandmother. You need to have MIDI ports on both things and connect it up that way. Does that help?

[@andrewnancarrow]

@@MoltenMusicTech Ok, now I’m starting to get somewhere. I do in fact have an audio interface with midi in and out. It also has audio in/out as well. Ok, now the statement that stumps me is “Now connect a cable from your computers MIDI out to the phone audio interface MIDI in.” So my computer doesn’t have a MIDI out. (My USB Audio interface has MIDI out, and it’s connected via USB to my computer.) And then you say “phone Audio interface MIDI in”. What is that exactly. I have a phone and the little white dongle that outputs audio and has a lightning port for power. I guess it’s still a bit vague. If by “phone audio interface” you mean the Arturia thing you showed… then I’m curious how that connects to the other Audio interface that I currently own. (Behringer UMC 404HD).

[@andrewnancarrow]

In other words, can two USB audio interfaces be connected and can Ableton recognize two. Last time I tried that with two different 2ch audio interfaces (to try to get me 4 audio inputs) it didn’t work. It could only recognize one or the other as the source for audio.

[@PanicGirlVids]

Wonderfully explained!

[@julianfback]

I’ve enjoyed the older version but unfortunately this new version doesn’t work on my ancient iPad mini as it requires iOS 14.4.

[@MoltenMusicTech]

I’m the same, I run the original on an iPad 3 with os9

[@soniklink-WKD4496]

It looks ace! The U.I looks like a mix of 'Max Headroom' & 'Sapphire & Steel' on E's :) Sounds wonderful too, and free eh? Nice for iPhoners :)

[@bauhnguefyische667]

It’s an incredible sound engine. Some say East or West Coast, this doesn’t fit the classic Moog sound, but it’s fun to play with and original.

[@Dogboy73]

….…….. just been trying to clean the finger grease from my iPad before realising it was on your iPhone! The touch screen clean regime are for reals!! 🤪

[@MoltenMusicTech]

This ain't no instagram clip, this is real life mate

[@Dogboy73]

@@MoltenMusicTech lol. It certainly is. I wish these phone/tablet companies could come up with some sort of finger grease resistant glass! I'm forever cleaning. It's given me an OCD screen related issue!! :-/ I have an Apple Pencil for the iPad. That helps, but it's not always practical to use. Anyway, 1st world problems!

[@christoroppolo8742]

Well I’ll be dammed! Robin is actually talking about one of my personal favorites on iOS ! To see him touch the dammed thing and then talk about how forward thinking it is . I have been asking Moog to do a hardware version of it for years . Welcome Robin ! Peace Christo👽

[@MoltenMusicTech]

Ha, nice 😊

[@christoroppolo8742]

@@MoltenMusicTech I’ve been sampling my modular into Animoog z to build wave sets ! It’s incredible. 👽

[@Dogboy73]

Wow! Getting this IMMEDIATELY! Had the original since launch. It’s amazing! Good opportunity to revisit it. As ever - iOS connectivity a bit of a PITA! With my old iPad I had an IK MIDI interface and used the headphone out for audio. Obviously the new ones don’t have the headphone out. Sooooooooo, might be interface time just for the iPad 🤔

[@MoltenMusicTech]

Ooops, wrong place for that comment - anyhew! Yes, get the dongle thing.

[@Dogboy73]

@@MoltenMusicTech I'm looking at options. Currently I have a USB-C to MIDI i/o cable I bought from Amazon. Was quite cheap, didn't expect it to actually work! But it works perfectly. Also got a USB-C to mini-jack adapter for audio out from iPad. Both cheap and easy solutions ......... except you can only use one at a time! So, not ideal. I don't really want to buy an interface just for the iPad. But looks like this may be the only solution to be able to connect audio and MIDI simultaneously. And for something like Animoog Z This would be really nice to be able to do ;-)

[@grandmasterjo1]

Moog is synonymous with vintage and how correctly said The sound may be fantastic but the eye seeing niceties makes music sound better always. A good looking studio most often makes better music. 😜

[@NicholasCarn]

That's a fair review, it's an awesome update but I agree, a shame that the filter is not still up front and I did also like the old chucky Moog knobs and metallic vibe. Perhaps they could do a vintage "skin". On the original you could switch which controls were available on the front panels, I think they should bring this back :)

[@WyattLite-n-inn]

Great review and love seeing you do an iOS review ..

[@MoltenMusicTech]

Ha, doesn't happen very often - can you tell?

[@WyattLite-n-inn]

@@MoltenMusicTech lol

[@itme7685]

I originally bought an iPad because I was squinting at Moog Model 15.

[@innerspacerace9196]

At least they did not call it Animoog Zzzzzzz , zzzzzzz. top notch marketing

[@siliconbrush]

There must be a hell of an incentive to ignore 1.6 billion in units on the Android market sold per year to Apples 200 million (according to macrumors). It is a great software synth for sure, to bad the cost of entry is actually the hardware it run on.

[@bob-rogers]

iOS users spend more money on apps. If you can only develop for one platform you're going to go where the money is. Fragmentation of screen sizes and OS versions makes developing for Android more expensive too. With higher cost and less revenue it's not that hard to ignore. And Apple has just made music production a priority. If you didn't have a phone and if music production was a significant factor then there's no way you'd get anything other than an iPhone.

[@isaacc7]

Audio on Android is much more variable than it is on iOS. Different manufacturers with different versions of the OS and different audio connection capabilities makes it very difficult to develop audio apps for android. You can get an iPad for $300 these days. Well worth it for all the music stuff you can do with it.

[@isaacc7]

Oh, and piracy is rampant in Android land as well. That’s another negative for developing for that platform.

[@ukbloke28]

@@isaacc7 this is the correct answer. android is a mess with wildly inconsistent hardware. all the good audio stuff is on Apple. get Apple if you want to do that, android is terrible cheap rubbish.