A Brief History of the Minimoog Part I

[@bradylasserre9320]

2:50 is, to my ears, the finest sound to ever be synthesized on this legendary machine. That Numan performance is legendary.

[@IETCHX69]

What he said .

[@armstronglance]

Still have my 1972 Mini! Bought it directly from Bob over the phone. 😎 Added tuning LED’s to the panel & a keyboard output to run 2 mini’s from one keyboard (in 73). Still have them. 👍

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

Something that always struck me when seeing a Minimoog was how much of a inviting & friendly looking instrument it looks like. The walnut wood case that houses the ivory white and ebony black keys of the keyboard as well as the metallic metal faceplate with the black and silver rotating knobs and switches, which too is covered by a walnut wood stripe all along the top of its moveable controller panel. All that really has a strong elegance and it really is what i consider a classical handmade Instrument. As little plastic as possible and it is almost as if the wood even adds a bit of its own life to the instrument. The analog circuitry may not have been very tuning-stable but it is an instrument that feels like it is alive. Not a single Minimoog sounds identical. Every single one has their own character. It is a timeless beauty.

[@dreammfyre]

We need more interviews with this Bill Hemsath guy. Dude's a hidden legend.

[@Jambodhi]

well done. Thanks - I met Bob at lecture in the physics of sound he gave at McMaster University in 1972. He had a great personality, smiled most of the time and meant it. I learned everything about Synths from him and his inventions. Truly great person.

[@ErichIzdepski]

I can't believe how much the narrator sounds like a computer-generated voice. Simply awesome.

[@ronaldderonde]

Erich Izdepski His voice also through a discrete filter.

[@JamminJazzercise]

Hans Zimmer once said "I had to chose between a Minimoog or a car. I chose the Moog, and I still don't drive today". Lmao!

[@til-kn9qi]

Jacob flores weird... Martyn Ware from the early Human League and Heaven 17 said the same

[@Christof_Classen]

*Now i know why i dont have a Car ;)*

[@Jimbo386000]

Jacob flores honestly I would choose the same. Hahaha

[@djshumon]

Spent most of my money on audio equipment and still buying at 41 years of age.i didnt pass my driving till i was 27 and didnt have a car till 10 years later.

[@IETCHX69]

Not to show off , but the cat assembled it , *ON HIS LUNCH BREAK* , but NOT to showboat , mindja .

[@Blinki18284]

What a great introduction: "Hello, you don't know who i am. And really, why would that matter..." :D

[@Gynecologist]

Blinki18284 😂😂😂😂😂

[@HelloNewYorkCity]

1971 was also when the clockwork orange was released as a film, with a score by wendy carlo's which used the moog modular.

[@bornagainbornagain6697]

Wendy is the biggest reason for synthesizers to go viral. Emerson had a big part in rock as well.

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

While I'm a bit disappointed that Herb Deutsch wasn't mentioned, I'm glad to have learned about Bill Hemsath, an engineer I wasn't previously aware of.

[@salvelegio1425]

To all staff at Moog. Thanks. I just love it and I can’t find words to tell you what these instruments meant to me.

[@victormontano7148]

It was pretty cool that they featured Gary Numan’s “Are friends electric” the mini moog sounds fantastic in that song same as in “Cars” by Gary Numan as well!.

[@franka.spencer4314]

Cars used a Poly...

[@vampoftrance]

Listen to " Down In The Park" its very relevant

[@marcioferraz5282]

I'm a fan of keyboards since I was a kid, something that I enjoyed as much as I could thru the hands of Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Rick Wakeman. Throughout all these years I silently had one eye for this fantastic piece of electronic engineering called Minimoog. This report is more than just. Congratulations for the creator!!!

[@daniellove4576]

That photo of Bill Hemsath is the best thing I've seen all day.

[@spyderlogan4992]

A great short documentary about the Minimoog. Dr. Robert Moog, no less a trailblazer than Leo Fender ~!

[@studio7tahiti]

this is the ultimate vintage synth got mine since 1996 and i love it

[@VibeXplorer]

On point production and direction to go with the Minimoog's 70's character! As intended, I felt like I was watching a 70's documentary. Perfect choice with the narrator and great touch with that Mac hand-up!

[@gasly130]

Facinating, especially from 4:10 to the end. Thanks Bill.

[@randomeddie]

Excellent post! I get all misty-eyed when I watch things like this. It's amazing how this assortment of tech geeks spearheaded an entire musical movement...

[@lefkytheshin]

I've got the goosebumps just watching this.

[@GoFlyYourselves]

you mean the moogbumps? niiiiice! 😁👍

[@isaisanchez3038]

Me too

[@tubularap]

Joe Silva, the anonymous narrator, gets high points from me, for bringing a Macintosh 128K into the frame as a representation of "the Google Machine". And a nice video about the Minimoog.

[@PaulTheSkeptic]

Could you imagine if they didn't make that calculation error? That changed music forever. Now all the filters you hear can do those huge sweeps. Maybe today the synthesizer would be considered a subtle instrument rather than the beast it is if it wasn't for that error.

[@TheOwenValentine]

Loved it! Left out my Mentor ...Sun Ra. Who held the Down Beat poll top synth spot till he transmitted back to space .

[@jamesb.2064]

I had a mini moog in 1973. Never forget it. Led me to much more over my lifetime.

[@thebenallen]

Wow, this was a really great mini-doc! Very heart warming for us folks that feel an intimate connection to these machines. Keep doing what you all do, someday I hope to own a Moog Voyager so that I may fly into space.

[@exessex3522]

The sound of a synth back then really wowed me! I loved it. I spent a good deal of my 1970s record budget on LPs which featured synths - ELP, Yes etc. My favourites were Pink Floyd of course. Wish You Were Here is still my no. 1 favourite album. There are parts which still make my blood tingle. The Beatles had some small synth parts on their last two LPs. Wonder what they might've done if they'd carried on until 1975. Maybe nothing; we'll never know.

[@danamcc221]

I'm surprised you didn't mention Jan Hammer - he was the first jazz fusion artist I was aware of who was playing leads on a MiniMoog. The Mahavishnu Orchestra album Birds of Fire may be the first successful "jazz" album featuring the Mini. It was followed shortly by Between Nothingness and Eternity, recorded live later that year (1973). Both of these albums predate Chick Corea's first album featuring Minimoog and Arp Odyssey synths, Where Have I Known You Before, which was released in 1974. Corea has mentioned that he was very strongly influenced by Mahavishnu, and that influence is fairly obvious in his early synth work. Jan Hammer released a solo album a year later (The First Seven Days), which, in my mind, cements his legacy as the definitive progenitor of jazz fusion synth soloing.

[@DoctorMaxMoebius]

Nice video with excellent, relevant historical clips.

[@lanchanoinguyen2914]

all lengends,electronic legend and musician lengends

[@MCBrainpower]

Superb video, superb synth.... Just great

[@Widmerpool99]

"Hello. You don't know who I am." Magnificent.

[@thehside]

Just like the Mini Moog, so much packed in so little space! Awesome mini doc! :D

[@AlfUckhamHall]

Very very clever people who changed the sound of music.

[@Veneer22]

4:20 Bill Hemsath is a GOD thank you! I also love hearing stories from our later generations. But it's funny you can tell they cut out parts, like how he explained EXACTLY how to get to his office.... Bill we don't need to know where your office was. JUST TELL US HOW YOU MADE IT!!!

[@djshumon]

No human can be compared to god.thats god given talent and therfore his doing gods work..

[@HauntedHarmonics]

Been interested in synths my whole life, and just learned recently that Bob Moog is credited with inventing the VCO and the envelope generator. This man almost singlehandedly built the entire foundation upon which all electronic music is based. Insane when you think about it.

[@sunnypedaal]

Not exactly the envelopegenerator , but the accesible synthesizer yes

[@LDUKMusic]

Amazing. Truly truly amazing.

[@ubiquitousreverser]

We accidentally overdove the filter “like crazy”, but we didn’t know it till we were in production and we were like, “No, No! leave it in!” what a happy accident for such a sound. And that add- “Once YOU have THE Sound, you don’t have to talk about it so much.” Perfect catch phrase. NOW PLAY THE DAMN SYNTH!!! LOL!

[@innosanto]

Moog is legend. As is the guy/team behind CS80 yamaha

[@rinaldo8754]

I love watching this video. Thank you guys from Moog Music Inc for sharing it. You made my day!

[@tonykellydjt2805]

Well done.

[@cityandsuburb]

A splendid programme chaps.......

[@nickpelkey]

This video needs Bernie Worrell. Its great that Bill Hemsath is featured. Way to give credit!

[@GraemeSPa]

When Moog started out there were many means of making noises and music by electronics - none of them simple or within reach of someone outside a lab or a Uni music department. Bob Moog's greatest contribution was the Logarithmic Voltage Control which simplified banking of oscillators to turn nice noises in to great music - he then went on to create the Ladder Filter which gave Moog synths their WOW Factor. A great man, a great inventor and a great pioneer of modern music. He deserves his place in Music (and Electronic ) Heaven. RIP.

[@AudiosErgeonPOGZ]

Moog is my favorite channel now!!!

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

The Minimoog REALLY feels home in Jazz and Funk. To me is is THE most definitive 70s sound. The smooth playful and just happy and comforting sounding leads are just absolutely perfect in these genres. Just as much as the Minimoog's creates mighty bass sounds that enriches every piece of electronic music with a VERY distinguishable layer that you can feel in your tummy. If Music is the Bread, then the Minimoog is the Butter. ^_^

[@sharkasaurus220]

I love the narrator's subtle humour!

[@danknoize]

ahhhhh ... but now I know who you are Mr Silva, and I'll be keeping my out for you. Great intro to Minimoog history 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@jaddae6357]

Made my day seeing that clip of RTF. Haven't heard them in decades.

[@justinparkerthewildwolf6394]

Richard wakeman and Keith emmerson are my favourite players. I love the sound of so many keyboard songs like Gary numan. Even ozzy and sabbath have great Moog

[@Kevin_MK7RSR]

That "HELLO" @ 00:36 came out of nowhere! LOL :)

[@ChristianIce]

LOL I did read the comment before that happened, yet he scared the shit out of me anyway :D

[@MrCamelneck]

Dear MoogMusic, Please bring back the Minimoog Model D. It still reigns supreme today.

[@BritishBeachcomber]

Rick Wakeman of Emerson Lake and Palmer was pitch bending on the original Moog way back before the Minimoog.

[@mattgleason2617]

Great film! Like some of the other guys said, Jan Hammer would be another key player worth mentioning. His playing on Jeff Beck’s “Wired” has some great playing and very fluent use of the pitch wheel. Thanks again

[@joelizquierdo8624]

I bought my Mini Moog because of this video.

[@lightmeupper]

Wow, I almost jumped on becoming a keyboard guy in the 1980s. What a different timeline that would have been?

[@bumfan]

I'm glad they gave props to Chick Corea for popularizing the pitch bend wheel, but multiple sources cite Jan Hammer as being the first one to use pitch bend on a recording, Mahavishnu Orchestra's Birds of Fire in 1973. He was the first one to really master its use and play the synth with guitar phrasing.

[@NEWSITYRAP]

Dr. Moog Cosmic Genius.

[@btaylo24]

Numan never steps away from traditional instruments, he just added synths.

[@RichardLondonSoundLab]

i love this video - love the narrator's passion...

[@firstmusic00]

Hail to this incredible instrument.

[@hakankursunmusic]

thank you!!! great info!!!

[@chandeleerjet5637]

I love how their mistakes became their sound!! Just like music with happy accidents. Tiered something else at play when things like that happen.

[@carpeteria]

Nicely done. I could watch hours of that stuff, so feel free to make more on my behalf whenever you have the time. Thanks.

[@mysterysurf]

Christ, it's an 8 minute long "Brief History of the Minimoog" and people are grousing about which performers they left out of it? Tough crowd.

[@awaken77]

there was list of musical compositions in which Minimoog was used in Wikipedia, but it was deleted , when it became few hundreds of entries

[@DetroitDriveArenaBaller]

mysterysurf lol

[@Oneness100]

They left out probably the most influential, Jan Hammer. Jan was first to use the pitch wheel to mimic a guitar, his pitch wheel technique is copied by EVERYONE else that uses a pitch wheel. PERIOD. He should be listed as the King of the Minimoog. He was one of the first to use it as a lead instrument with the 1972 Birds of Fire recording but he was already using the thing live in concerts prior to that recording.

[@jameshenry2457]

I was almost ready to gripe too. Until I caught myself and noted that this is about "mini" moogs. Not modular moogs.

[@hullinstruments]

Oneness100 I’ve been wondering about this because I hardly see him mentioned anywhere in all of these videos of synth history.

[@Whatsupsherm]

1971 is the best year ever.....because I was born that year! yes. score!

[@the80386]

My home country was also born in the end of that year!

[@Ambience911]

Ugh now I need a minimoog! So dope!

[@GIguy]

I think my all-time favourite musician in regards to these new electronic inventions is Jean Michel Jarre, that man is a legend when it comes to synthesizers and new technology used to create music that is absolutely out of this world. I think it was he that truly kicked off this digital revolution, starting back in the 70s, and he still going strong 50 years later, my favourite being his laser harp, simple technology, but absolutely stunning to watch and to hear! If you’ve never heard of him, you can find a lot of videos on KZbin, listen to it and you’ll see what I mean. I don’t think he ever uses conventional musical instruments, everything is synthesizers of every possible make you can imagine, plus several that he himself invented.

[@ShilohPepBand]

"Hello, you don't know who I am, and really, why would that matter when I am surrounded by such elegant machines such as these." lol

[@dum432]

Thanks mini Moog!!!

[@juanespinosa1259]

Bill Hemsath, the inventor of the Minimoog, done in his lunch breaks, mind you. Later on, put together with input from Bob Moog and Wendy Carlos. God save you Bill Scott for overdriving the filter and Bill Hemsath for using discrete transistors throughout the whole audio path.

[@ghall1964]

My Dad bought me a Radio Shack , synthesizer , which had made by Moog written across the top . This was in the early 80s . I played that thing to death. Unfortunately I lost it in a house fire.

[@weednlogic]

Great video regarding the great works of Mr. Moog and his excellent staff of engineers, but failed to include much about the person that really put these synths to the greatest use in live performance. Keith Emerson of course. The greatest keyboard player ever. Thank you, Mr. Emerson for everything. Kent from Iowa.

[@64mung]

Love the Moog sound!!!

[@doom705]

just order my Minimoog Maple electric blue :D SO STOKED!!!

[@thingfish000]

Nice!

[@elfwing5400]

Fantastic atmosphere. .

[@organicofficial]

Thank you Bill Hemsath

[@studio7tahiti]

i got one since 1995 and i love it is just a dream that synth

[@Sanctuary.Garden.D24]

inspirational! Thank you so much! Moog Music Inc. Justin X

[@djdigital3806]

Moog is my favorite keyboard 🎹 I want one! Love the bass.

[@falkorock]

both parts are amazing! worth to watch! FR

[@ohiorichkidbeats]

Amazing story

[@uncletomable]

This is an excellent video

[@QuestionMarkComposer]

Awesome.Thank you.

[@Cubist88]

I can't believe I've been calling this a MOOG for 15 years, when it's actually pronounced like MOAG..... my life has been turned upside down!

[@TryptychUK]

"Don't be vogue, ask for Moog..."

[@Laubzeck]

say just under 50 yrs here ... always called it "Mooge" and not "Mogue"

[@rohopo]

In high school one of my nicknames was Boog. I knew of Moog, but had no idea how to pronounce it. Me and a friend of mine built a synth and called it the Boog Moog. No I realize that the name doesn't quite work. Still, we're sticking with it!

[@theantipope4354]

Same, but 40 years. lol

[@NZsaltz]

@@rohopo Well, now people are actually calling the Behringer Model D the Boot!

[@johnstaf]

1:50 is a nice demonstration of the Arp Odyssey. 😀

[@INDUSTRIAL_WOLF]

the Minimoog was truly a synthpop icon. the 1980s wouldn't've been the same if this, the Prophet 5, OBX8, and ARP Odyssey didn't exist.

[@marckferrari]

couldnt agree more -- totally riveting and appreciated!!

[@TsavosAlliance]

This video is very educational 😎

[@Hot80s]

Thank you Sir. I really enjoyed watching this.

[@eexot]

Who would have thought......a promoted video that's interesting and relevant to my interest.

[@verdatum]

I've wanted to own a moog since I was 12. Ideally, I want a Moog-modular, but I might settle for a minimoog. They're just such beautiful beautiful instruments.

[@GNeuman]

God Bless, Doctor Bob!!!

[@studio7tahiti]

you rock Bill tks for the minimoog

[@travelinben1966]

I don’t even play keyboards, but the mini moog made me wish I did.

[@lllapathylll2293]

That arp from the start is sooooooo gooooood.

[@tnasburypl]

OMG that program is great!

[@rongrantga]

I owned one back in the 70's. It sat on top of the Hammond B3. Ah the good old days!

[@oppenator]

0:35 best introduction ever?

[@Kodeekat]

Makes me want to drag out my Ensoniq SQ-1 even though I have some physical challenges impacting my ability to play.

[@HidenoriIshibe]

happy birthday Mr Moog!