Moog Subharmonicon // Is It Worth It?

[@douglasl2409]

My thoughts, kind of a missed opportunity when they could have gone with Subhar”mom”icon or Subhar”momma”con. With that said, Subhar”mommy”con is just way awkward and uncomfortable. Regardless of the name it’s a great synth and a lot of fun to play around with.

[@Fuzzfooger]

I have had one of these since launch and use it on nearly everything. It is conceptually very different to nearly every other synth I own and it spouts track ideas faster than anything else. I will often start a track with only one oscillator and fade the other oscillators in and out one by one to create an evolving track motif that can't be duplicated by any other tool. When done right it sounds like an incredibly complex line that someone laboured over for weeks, but actually was done in one pass. The VCA and filter envelopes need very gentle tweaking as things evolve to make really psychedelic time shifting effects. It is stunning, but can see why it isn't for everyone, it just happens to suit my workflow particularly well and sparks a lot of joy.

[@colemanhamilton2955]

The Subharmonicon also works great as a strange polyrhythmic sequencer for other pieces of gear (in my case Eurorack) and even within a DAW. I am surprised how little I see about this on the internet, it is an increbly unique set of tweakable triggers with accompanied CV modulation which could even be used to select samples, modulate envelope parameters, etc... Even if you don't want to use the actual sounds that come out of the oscillators, it is an awesome rhythm and CV machine, plus have those sub-oscillators can provide way sick basslines using subharmonics which is an interesting approach...

[@Tiger.Arcade]

I only ever see it used by itself but really shines with using it alongside other modular gear. In addition, it really shines with midi and for accomplishing amazing pads or bass lines like you said.

[@ericMT]

I appreciate the content but mainly I watch these videos for the high energy you always exude in your videos.

[@Tiger.Arcade]

Thanks Eric 🫶

[@chitlun]

When I first got mine, I thought to myself - “what have I done?” It took me a few weeks of experimenting to get into it, then I added a DFAM to it and that opened up all manner of possibilities. It’s not a synth to be used in isolation, it needs external CV to really shine. Obviously why it’s marketed as part of the Mother system. Anyway, 18 months down the line, it’s one of my favourite instruments and it gets used on almost everything I do! Good vid man 👍

[@Tiger.Arcade]

Well said and appreciate you watching man!

[@RealityShiftUK]

I have a dfam and moog grandmother I think this would be the better choice for a 3 rd moog than the spectra vox

[@OPdbx]

I just picked one up used for $399, and I'm confused, but I do see the potential! I've always loved poly rhythms and poly synths so this seemed like a no brainer!

[@jakedooom]

I like the Subharmonicon. It is easy to play it out of tune, but you don’t have to. With care you can choose nicely tuned shifting harmonies. Use CV control inputs to play it duophonically within scales, or use Midi to control just one pitch. You say it has six oscillators, but I find it really only has two… the others are sub-oscillators, though they are not necessarily tuned to sub-octaves, and the pitch sequencers do very strange things with their “tuning” if you let them. I find it’s easiest to keep those tuned to octaves or perfect fifths as the other intervals are strange and difficult. It’s superb to use external pitch control (CV preferably) combined with its rhythm and pitch sequencers, so you can get sequenced, tuned progressions superimposed over and around the melodies you’re playing.

[@Tiger.Arcade]

I have not tried external pitch control except for some patches I followed. I typically use midi and transposing thanks to the latest firmware update. In regards to the six oscillators, I was referring to a general perspective that there are 6. 2 VCOs and 4 Sub-Oscillators. They are all still oscillators. In spite of 4 being influenced by the main 2 VCOs. I should have clarified in the video that there are 2 main VCOs and 4 Sub Oscillators. Thank you for expanding on that. It's important to understand that so you know how the synthesizer functions when playing with the frequency knobs. Thanks for watching man!

[@brettwartchow]

Love this mysterious magical synth. I discover something lovely and gnarly every time I play it. Good stuff.

[@Tiger.Arcade]

Thank you for watching!

[@markushalbig3457]

When I got mine I called it DIS-HARMONICON 😃 because I had a hard time finding a sweet spot. However now its one of my favourite instruments. Just add some valhalla shimmer and close the Filter a bit and it works fine …

[@petercane6376]

I am a newbie and getting on ok with it. I love it. You hit the nail on the head when you said that you have to have it in tune so that both sequencers will sound right with their Sub knobs also properly tuned. Unless you understand tuning or you are a non musician you will find it sounding awful. It has to be fine tuned in the old analogue style similar to a Korg SQ1 sequencer. And...the subharmonics have to start off in tune and as you progress the machine goes off on one!. It was designed to! It is a fantastic bit of kit.

[@abark]

For how sensitive the steps and pattern knobs are I think the size of the knobs is a huge design flaw. It's less of an issue on the DFAM where it won't sound completely awful and out of key. That definitely happens with this though.

[@RealityShiftUK]

I have a dfam and moog grandmother I honestly think this would be a better 3 rd moog than a spectravox

[@polychromatic2207]

People crying and selling this beast of a synth because they don’t know how to tune a chord is funny to me.

[@Tiger.Arcade]

That’s the biggest hurdle. If you can tune it you can play it. I mostly just tune by ear.

[@matthewtunnicliffe201]

I quite like the look of the Subharmonicon. I've not used one personally, but friend has one and it sounds pretty damn good in his stuff.

[@Tiger.Arcade]

It's highly overlooked in my opinion. Most people gravitate towards the mother-32 or DFAM.

[@acidbat4441]

i was intimidated when i got it cuz of all the hype i heard, yet its been one of my favorites since day one, i just jived with it right away and it will live in my rack for eternity

[@Tiger.Arcade]

I feel that totally

[@hieronymous7]

I love mine but also understand that it's not for everyone. It's kind of a synth of happy accidents - it's definitely easy to get dissonant noise, but sometimes wonderful polyrhythmic phrases magically emerge, and those are the times I start recording! I do wish it had a built-in LFO to make it easier to bring some variation to the sounds - I've been experimenting with the one in my MF-103 phaser.

[@Tiger.Arcade]

Yeah, I totally understand. It benefits more when paired with effects or patched with other synths.

[@hieronymous7]

@@Tiger.Arcade Good point! I guess I usually run it through either delay or reverb, phaser occasionally. Any other suggestions?

[@Tiger.Arcade]

@@hieronymous7 Those are great options, try also a chorus effect. Ever since the release of the moogerfooger plugins I have enjoyed pairing it with delay and or chorus. The 104 and 108 I believe.

[@hieronymous7]

@@Tiger.Arcade I've heard good things about the moogerfooger plugins! Unfortunately (or fortunately?) I'm 95% out of the box these days. Chorus is an interesting idea though - never been a big fan on guitar or bass, but might warm up to it at some point - I think I've scratched the reverb itch for now, and have plenty of delays...

[@railinly610]

I've had one for over 3 years and I've never gelled with it.

[@Tiger.Arcade]

My love for it ebbs and flows.

[@Cysubtor_8vb]

Been really debating getting a Subharmonicon since it's one of the few Moog synths still in stock, but wonder how the Sinevibes Odds in a Minilogue XD compares? It's not the same with Odds using stochastic style sequencing vs the polyrythmic, subharmonic series of the Subharmonicon, but I already own the former and the Minitaur is the Moog I originally wanted, so I fear the Subharmonicon may be too unique. Then there's the looming Behringer Spice that will surely be cheaper and likely have more connectivity. Still, the allure of an "American assembled" Moog is making want to jump on one and maybe I can figure out a way to CV connect it with my MS-20 mini and Minilogue XD.

[@aurelaliasflorian]

Totally agree - I would have been overwhelmed if I would have started with the Subharmonicum - now after 1 year of Mother32 and other synth equipment it is a bit easier to get into the Subharmonicum and add it to the set up... ..and is even more interesting to me than the Mother32!!

[@leftmono1016]

My Subharmonicon has a Korg SQ1 permanently attached to it. Opens it up quite a bit and the SQ1 is dirt cheap.

[@Tiger.Arcade]

What’s your favorite way to patch it up?

[@leftmono1016]

@@Tiger.Arcade - currently I’ve got the SQ1 outs to the VCO inputs, with the Subharmonicon sequencer output into the filter. Lots of options though, no real favourites. Always throws up interesting results 😀👍

[@Tiger.Arcade]

@@leftmono1016 This is an excellent idea. I'm looking forward to trying.

[@Half_Plus_Seven]

I was at perfect circuit trying it out and I was totally confused.... but I have alot to learn. The DFAM is the one I want now!

[@Tiger.Arcade]

DFAM is great. I will be doing a video on that soon. The DFAM and Subharmonicon are my favorite of the mother line euroracks.

[@Individual_two]

I have been an early adopter of the "Mother" line since they introduced the M32. The Subharmonicon I've had for almost a year now. You mentioned most of the reasons that some users my not be comfortable with the Sub and I agree. It is at its best when played alone, though I have successfully (with patience) used it with others. My chief gripe with the Sub is the LP filter section must be calibrated differently the other Mothers because mine has weird "sweet spots" when I adjust it. It works great for tinkling stuff like bell sounds, but doesn't do bass as well as other Moog's. In short, it doesn't sound like one would expect a Moog would sound (i.e. some derivative of the MiniMoog, or Sub37) - That takes some getting used to.

[@Tiger.Arcade]

Well said! I missed an opportunity in this video in one specific way and that’s by controlling it with a midi keyboard. I’ve gotten some great organ like sounds and droning from it. Lately, I’ve been trying to play with it as a drum machine where it does kicks or bass drum.

[@Fuzzfooger]

I dunno about using it alone, I always think it sounds best with something dropping 'straight' rhythm behind it like a 4/4 Kick from a DFAM. It gives a solid beat for the polyrhythms to dance around

[@id.unknown1283]

It seems fun, I would pick one up, used. I have a bunch of semi modular and modules that are microtonal/subharmonic only so the sub could be useful. I could see how this has become your favorite synth out of the bundle.

[@Tiger.Arcade]

I know the Mother-32 has been on sale but not the subh. Maybe you can find it used on Reverb or somewhere else. Thanks for watching!

[@asynchronicity]

Simple question: Can a Subharmonicon sequence be transposed via MIDI from a keyboard? Seems like it should do that….

[@Tiger.Arcade]

Yes, actually! It was part of a newer update. See a video I did on this here kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4Tcl5iAm7KkY9k

[@asynchronicity]

@@Tiger.Arcade Great. Thanks!

[@jcradical2520]

It would be so much more useful with separate amp envelopes for each of the two main oscillators.

[@blormpf1740]

I wish it was in a form factor like the grandmother with a lot more room between the knobs and jacks. The pencil eraser knobs suck.

[@Tiger.Arcade]

Moog does sell knob caps to go over these and make them easier to grip and play.

[@DankePlace]

I had 2 M32s, sold because they were too much work to get to play nicely with my other gear, I would have preferred a DFAM and Subh but they never existed at the time. Both sound great and get very wild without having to menu dive like the M32 with those stupid cheat sheet short cuts.

[@Tiger.Arcade]

I could see that with 2 mother-32s. The mother is unfortunately my least favorite of the 3. Which is funny because it started as my favorite. Then it was DFAM and now its the subh. As I explore each one I grow to like them more.

[@DankePlace]

Do yourself a favor and get a Zoom MS-70CDR, these are so cheap and can give the Sub that added flavor, comes with a great shimmer too. I think you can chain up to 4 fx in series, but they're great pedals, I have 2.

[@fjdubya5726]

Is it possible to get lead or bass sounds out of it too, using a controller with CV out or 3.5mm MIDI? I realize that's not its main purpose but sometimes there are fringe benefits and pleasant surprises in some things if you're willing to Noodle enough.

[@Tiger.Arcade]

Short answer, yes. Long answer, you can by playing with the mixer and frequency knobs. It is fun to use with the midi option. If you update it to the latest version you can also transpose and pitch bend.

[@station2station544]

If they'd add an 8-step sequencer Id get one. I thought they could do that in firmware with some trickery - like entering a mode where the two 4-step sequencers combine to show 8, then you can step back to the 2 x 4 mode. 8 steps is important to me because I write a lot of my rhythms with odd number steps such as 5 or 7. I get a bit of ear fatigue from short 3-4 step loops. Cool video nonetheless.

[@Tiger.Arcade]

I totally agree with you and I remember looking into that same thing when I first got it and was a bit let down you couldn't do that. Sometimes you can make it into an 8 step pattern depending on how you set the speed of each sequence.

[@Elcrits1985]

thanks for this nice video!! would you recommend to buy the boundle with the DFAM? I have already the grandmother and I love it

[@Tiger.Arcade]

Yes, absolutely.

[@DayflightTrok]

Someone told me that it sounds always similar?

[@dj_muggzy]

That’s my gripe with it. It’s so fun to use and I always come up with something interesting, but the lack of sound design is disappointing. I’ve recently been running it into my MPC One and several plugins so I’ve been able to get some new sounds.

[@shaneturner9336]

hey is that your music at the 6 minute mark ?! if so i love it !

[@Tiger.Arcade]

It is and thanks! You can listen to the full song on all major music streaming platforms. Just search “Tiger Arcade” and the song is “What A Time”.

[@nanocyde_artist]

It's the only Moog product I own!

[@Tiger.Arcade]

It’s a very versatile one too!

[@alexwestconsulting]

it's really only the limited steps on the sequencer that's a limitation for me. Otherwise the subharmonicon is a truly beautiful instrument. The M32 is the only really questionable one for me, but arguably necessary for the ecosystem. I've got a couple Craves and frankly they do not do a convincing M32. Anyway, Subharmonicon and DFAM are just spectacular.

[@Tiger.Arcade]

What are your thoughts on the Moog Subharmonicon?

[@ciatangallaghe2485]

I think, like everything Moog, it's at least 200 quid overpriced. At least.

[@Tiger.Arcade]

@@ciatangallaghe2485 That's totally fair. At least it is hand made, has excellent resources, and sound. I believe this one is the best value for the price. Just my opinion though.

[@Half_Plus_Seven]

It seems like the sounds are the same as DFAM

[@electricdawn2258]

I absolutely love it and I am happy that I bought it instead of the Mother-32, which I was thinking about first. It has so much rhythmic possibilities, and the sound itself is just great. I'd wish they'd include glide, an LFO, and two attenuators, but the panel is cramped as it is. So, yes, I love it.

[@Tiger.Arcade]

@@electricdawn2258 LFO was a big one for sure. I have the luxury however, of patching it into an LFO from another Moog eurorack.

[@wildbird78]

"This might not be for you" automatically makes me want to buy one.

[@barryjefferies-nv9ek]

Dawm !!! I wish you were my neighbour 😉👍

[@Tiger.Arcade]

Move to Wyoming 😂

[@andrewnancarrow]

My take- it’s a very limited instrument, with a very specific usage that either works or doesn’t. Not super versatile. Tons of limitations, and idiosyncrasies. 6 oscillators and only one Filter and one EG! Ridiculous. Overall the thing has this warm buzzy tone that borders 80’s video games chip tune sounds. Not much ability to shape sounds with the one EG, one VCA, one Filter. And the patch bay is hardly useful to allow integrating other filter or envelopes from outside modules.

[@GarthVader666]

How would it become not worth it? 😂

[@stinkypete9070]

I dig it, feels like it'd be the ultimate noodle box. I just wish the sequencer was a bit longer, and had an lfo or two. Spose you could pair it with the m32 of course, or euro modules to add those.

[@Tiger.Arcade]

Yes, exactly. In my case I use the mother 32 for LFOs and for the sequencer you can patch it out via midi if you’d like.