Moog Spectravox | First Sounds | What to Expect

[@FromTheRoomOfLittleEase]

Can't wait to get one. I love the new Moog semi modular whatever line of equipment. This stuff speaks to me in a way other synth stuff does not. Feels made for me, like I had it made custom by Bob himself, actually.

[@braintree56]

That's awesome! :) I really like these synths too. I can't wait for the Labyrinth.

[@DoctorRevers]

Love it so far. Looking forward to hearing what else comes out of it.

[@braintree56]

I thought it was great too. I think there's a lot of potential here. Honestly, I'm more excited about it after playing with it than I was before I received it! That's a positive.

[@simia85]

Dang, that poster is dope too! Thanks for the hands on review as always!!

[@braintree56]

Thanks. Yeah, the poster is pretty awesome. I only wish it wasn't all folded... :)

[@simia85]

@@braintree56 oh for sure!! I neglected to say that but you’re so right!!

[@3pw00dTV]

Finally a video that shows its potential with dfam 🎉😮❤ super psyched about it now !!

[@braintree56]

There's a lot negative feelings about it - but I honestly thought it was pretty cool. I don't think I'm going to use the Vocoder very much... it's not really my thing, but who knows. But the spectral filter sounds great and seems pretty versatile to me.

[@3pw00dTV]

@@braintree56 agree, I know what I am looking for so if it doesn’t fit I just don’t buy, no need to criticise it that much imho

[@mbrombert]

Completely agree that being able to modulate the Decay would be a game changer... it sounds so good when playing around with it, making the sequence sound nice and choppy. Not having to have your hands on it would be absolutely fantastic. Great demo all round.

[@AboveTheTrees00]

i don't think it would be that hard to add another patch point and couple wires to it...

[@braintree56]

I don't know if I'd feel comfortable digging in there and doing that... Above my skillset! But now I'm going to have to look into it!!! :) at the very least, you could add some external modules. It just felt to me like a missed opportunity.

[@damnedbelowjudas_]

Excited to see more videos. $600 seems like a lot so I'll just experience the Spectravox vicariously through your channel

[@braintree56]

I imagine there will be used ones on the market for significantly cheaper in a few months...

[@NEVERSLEEPmovies]

Great overview - thanks so much!

[@braintree56]

Glad it was helpful!

[@colettedoot7517]

Sounding really great , love it

[@SouthShoreSonics]

It is also awesome if you take too like synths, for example, two MS-20xx, one as program and the other as carrier.

[@braintree56]

Nice!

[@PaulBoos]

Sounds like you bought a marimba... a drippy one at that. This is def going to be a must-buy to go with my Moog eco-system. I think I want to try having my Moog Liberation processed by it. I feel like i could get a really cool flangy styled bass. Thanks for walking through the patches they give you. That oblique percussion is cool - when you started shifting it reminds me of the sound that opens on Devo's remake of Are You Experienced?

[@9coil]

Awesome! Mines still on pre order. :-)

[@braintree56]

Hope you get it soon! It's pretty fun.

[@scobot1]

Thank you for this video. I watched this before mine arrived (today!) and thanks to this, I was familiar enough to achieve some great results right off the bat. Quick question: did yours include a printed owners manual (like the ones for the Sound Studio)? Mine did not. Only the quick start guide. The PDF version lists an owners manual as part of the included items. I did not see yours in the unboxing section. Wanted to know if mine was missing, or they are not including them. Thanks.

[@braintree56]

Thanks. No manual... Seems to be a big complaint for a lot of people. I was a bit surprised as well.

[@scobot1]

@@braintree56 Thank you for confirming. Sorry to hear this. I've reached out to Perfect Circuit to see if they can send me one as I've seen one unpacking video by @Loopop that showed the printed manual - so they must be out there somewhere. Comforted I'm not the only one (will stop looking in the box for the 100th time - lol) but sorry if they are not including them. I understand...but...really? I love the MOOG printed manuals. I guess I can print one out at FedEX Kinkos. Thanks again.

[@scobot1]

@@braintree56 I reached out to MOOG to ask for one and they confirmed "Sorry, we don't have physical copies of this one- its only available as a PDF at this time!" With my eyesight, being able to zoom a PDF if probably better for me anyway (and the planet).

[@keybeardist]

On the DFAM you can modulate decay. It’s part of the “velocity”

[@braintree56]

Yes! You can do it on the DFAM but not the Sub or Mother...

[@DarrenSchmidt-c2s]

Excellent

[@sebastianrussell]

The « marimba » patch is very Buclha like 👍🏽

[@braintree56]

I can see that! :)

[@ManCalledMif]

Excellent video 🎉

[@braintree56]

Thanks!!!

[@braintree56]

Thank you very much!

[@jewe321]

Thanks for the overview. I received mine yesterday and will check it out during the weekend. Initially I wasn´t looking for a vocoder, but after seeing its potential as a filter bank, I decided I will have it to combine it with my other semimodulars (M-32, DFAM, Subharmonicon and MAVIS). Any chance to see more videos on how you combine it with the sound studio? Anyways keep on the great work!

[@braintree56]

Yes - I'll definitely have to integrate this with the sound studio. I think it has a lot of potential. This is making me want to mount my sound studio into a eurorack set up.

[@jewe321]

@@braintree56 That´s why I bought another second hand 3-tier rack, which already only got one open slot left ... maybe for the labyrinth, who knows

[@snörre23]

Does it come with those patch sheets ? Because i read someone complain it does not come with a printed manual.

[@braintree56]

Yes - it came with everything in the video. You can see a quick unboxing at the beginning. No manual - just safety instructions.... But you do get those cards! I was kind of surprised there weren't more of them though.... :p

[@davidgoode7416]

Great explanation, thank you...

[@davidgoode7416]

How were you patching it to control pitch from keystep?

[@alexandermontagnet3361]

Another great video! I have so many mixed feelings about the Spectravox. Obviously, the first one has to do with inMusic acquiring Moog and the decision to outsource the semi-modular line, or let's call the "Mother Line" to Tawain after everything has been made in Asheville, North Carolina for so long. I know that was inMusic's choice and I am glad that if they had to outsource, they chose Taiwan over other places. I do know Moog's mainline synthesizers are still being hand-built in Asheville, North Carolina, which is great. The other mixed feelings are, what this is for? Is it supposed to be almost an "effects" unit for the Mother-32, DFAM, and Subharmonicon? Would it even really sound good/play well with the Mother-32 and Subharmonicon...? Just a lot of questions. It also feels rushed, which is very unlike Moog, who take a long time in R&D and try to squeeze as much as possible and as affordable into their units.

[@braintree56]

The spectral filter is probably the most significant part of this thing. With that said, there is a VCO so it's a bit more than just an effect. It can stand on its own.

[@glenlabuc8508]

I’m not sure about the rushed part. Band filters and vocoders have been part of the Moog gear line for a long time.

[@braintree56]

@@glenlabuc8508 I think the spectravox was also a part of a kit or special activity at Moogfest 2015(?). So the idea has been out there for a long time.

[@alexandermontagnet3361]

@@glenlabuc8508 Yes, it's always been part of Moog and the original was previewed at Moogfest '15 or '16, but I didn't mean rushed in that sense. I meant quality control. I've heard a lot of complaints about the famous wood caps not being the same as the previous Moog semi-modulars, no manual, the quality of the poster print, and some people were complaining about loose knobs and the mic input. Also no midi, but I don't care about that part at all, as I use CV more than anything. I'm just worried about the inMusic acquisition. I don't know though, it's just what I've heard. How is the quality overall in comparison to the Mother-32, DFAM, and Subharmonicon?

[@ukbloke28]

It's not rushed. you can't just say stuff like that without backing it up. It's just 'your feelings'.

[@colettedoot7517]

Vocoder is Dope , even more for the ones like me who cant sing lol !!!

[@MrMightyB]

Great :) thks

[@braintree56]

Thanks!!!

[@temporoboto]

💙

[@smashhead9728]

I mean, yeah, it's cool and I can see why people want it! But I do not agree on the price for value ratio.

[@braintree56]

Yeah... I can see that. I almost wish I could get it in Eurorack format for a bit cheaper.

[@RobertMatichak]

Great video. However I’m not impressed at all. I have yet to see it preform in a more musical role. Seems like a lot of $$$ for little value.

[@DoctorRevers]

Did you see Jamie lidells music video? Have you watched the moog channel videos? They’re good. I kind of agree though. It’s pretty versatile as both a processor and sound source but if you’re not going to make use of all it has to offer then it’s probably not worth it. But for someone who likes this kind of thing then that’s what a quality analog version of it costs and compared to other eurorack modules this could be seen as a good deal. Those presets at the end sound pretty damn good to me. Not even scratching the surface yet.

[@RobertMatichak]

I guess it’s more of a processor than anything else. At $900 Canadian I’ll definitely will be passing on this.

[@braintree56]

Yeah - I think you're right about this. Especially the part about 'eurorack' modules. Perhaps my sense of price is a little out of whack because I've been living in eurorack land for awhile, but... I got this at Perfect Circuit's mother's day sale - 10% off 600. $540. That was a perfectly fine price for this for me... But I also think I'm going to use it a fair amount in my eurorack set-up. I kind of wish they had a eurorack version that gave a bit of a discount...

[@braintree56]

Thanks. FWIW - I really enjoyed playing with it. If you compare this to stuff like Strymon - it's arguable that it's appropriately priced... but ultimately, it's all about value and if you will actually use it in your set-up. I didn't see any decline in quality as others have mentioned.

[@plutonthedarkmystic]

Oh no ... my poor bank account. How can i tell my wife...?!😅

[@tomaszjankowski9522]

What to expect? …not too much!😂

[@braintree56]

It is what it is... It isn't what it isn't... :)

[@RealityShiftUK]

There’s some very nice tones in here and It should go with my keystep pro and dfam but I think I’ll try and get it on sale as it is a bit expensive for what it is

[@theleastsignificantbit4794]

Of all the Moog 60hp boxes, this is the most disappointing.

[@braintree56]

Yeah, that seems to be common sentiment. I certainly haven't heard anyone say it's their favorite! (Which I've heard from at least one person that each of the others are...) I still haven't made up my mind. They had a pretty high bar with the other three. But I could see, as they release more and more, that this could fit well into a greater ecosystem. Maybe?

[@biggrime]

What's disappointing about it?

[@theleastsignificantbit4794]

I think they combined the tech from the Multiband Filter on the Moog modulars and Model 15 app and the tech from their vocoder. That in itself is not bad. Like you said, it’s going to more useful in a Eurorack system. And it does give users a Moog VCO. I think the issue is the cost. The 32, DFAM, and Subharmonicon are worth what they’re charging. I don’t know if this one is worth the price of admission. Who knows? If I try this in person, I could change my mind.

[@theleastsignificantbit4794]

As for this Moog product being “disappointing,” it’s simply an opinion based on perceived value. But if this hurts any feelings, one can simply ignore my comment, or one can call 1-800-BAD-FEEL-they have grief counselors standing by.

[@opticalman6417]

you should get some decent monitors if your going to buy high price synth gear it never make sense to me why people are using budget monitors yet have the money to buy expansive synths lets face it the hs8 will be like the hs 7 it sounds bland so your not really geting the full goodness out of the gear and cheap monitors smear the sound frequencies

[@braintree56]

Yeah, it might be time for an upgrade... Any suggestions?

[@opticalman6417]

@@braintree56 yes Adam Audio A8H Nearfield Three-Way Studio Monitor

[@braintree56]

@@opticalman6417 thanks. I'll add them to my wanted list.

[@jumpingman8160]

Sell it

[@braintree56]

Ha! I'll probably hold onto it for a bit... :)

[@ilthurynel7391]

That's it? 700 dollars for that? Underwhelmed.

[@dickydoes]

Moog, innit. Overpriced for the name.

[@RobertMatichak]

Totally agree with you …. And here in Canadian dollars it amounts to $900! Sorry gonna have to pass on this one. I’d rather buy another M32

[@braintree56]

FWIW - I think it's retailing at $600... Not sure if that changes anything.

[@justanothersounddiary]

The Moog Demo Library got me though - seems to be the missing Moogerfooger

[@DARRYLSTRASSER]

If you’re underwhelmed by this, you’re not recognizing that these, DFAM, Mother 32, Subharmonicon, Mavis, Werkstatt are modules. You use them in conjunction. If you don’t want to invest in American synth manufacturing, then have fun with Behringer junk. That’s up to you, no shame 😂. I love my Volcas but Korg is trying hard to compete with circuit stealing Behringer. Moog won’t play. .

[@spdycar13]

“ A great noise maker” definitely sums it up. I’ve played with it all weekend and am not impressed with it at all.

[@braintree56]

That's too bad... I haven't made up my mind about it yet...

[@spdycar13]

@@braintree56made my mind up this weekend. It’s packed and ready to send back.

[@markrichardson1369]

@@spdycar13 Yes fantastic effects but did you listen to just the oscillator with resonance cranked up? Shook the foundations and reminded me of a Moog Model10. Absolute keeper