Sonic LAB Moog Subharmonicon

The Moog Subharmonicon was originally seen as part of the engineers package at Moogfest some years ago. However with today's announcement we are seeing a new final release version which adds some more features to the original version.
We took it for a spin to see what we could get out of it.
#soniclab
#moog #subharmonicon
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[@HOLODECK-MUSIC-PROJECT]

This is pure synthesizer history! TX to the german engineer Friedrich Trautwein for building 1929 the 1st synth TRAUTONIUM, wich is obviously the role model for this moog Harmonicon - i heared the Trautonium 2 years ago, reminds me a lot! 👏🏻

[@ietsutashu]

Best sounding demo of the Subharmonicon so far! Thanks!

[@SynthgodXXX]

Super cool new Moog design! Very creative!

[@homeslice1479]

I adore the little euro case you used in this video. It allows you to show off all the best ways you can open up semi-modulars with eurorack.

[@gabrielegallo1813]

Fantastic review and great patches as well, thank you!

[@THESYNTHBARD]

Really cool piece of kit! Probably the most interesting thing Moog has released as of late.

[@MarshalArnold]

Excellent demo, thanks guys!

[@martinbrown6652]

Excellent demo as always

[@demian9562]

Beautiful review!

[@iminasamscar9432]

where is our dad?

[@electronictonalities7949]

But can your dad do pulse width modulation?

[@MrKeys57]

Let him rest for a while, he is doing enough as it is, i think

[@inthefade]

This synth is perfect for him to review. I would love to hear what hear would make with this thing. I'm a bit let down. No offense to whoever is doing the review, but we love Nick.

[@knightsouls]

He's more a the cool uncle that dad resents a little bit

[@GlitchComputer]

This is exactly what I thought..... LMAO

[@coolo73]

Sound great! I guess if you're looking to do generative ambient or deep house, this is the Moog to get. Of course it seems you need so much extra stuff to get the most out of it....like in the last example (external FX, external sequencing, added LPGs, etc). You're probably back up to the price of a Moog Matriarch at that point.

[@VinceVega303]

fantastic review!

[@SyllixMusic]

such a cool synth! great video too btw! Can I ask where you got your patch cables from?

[@kellymerrill8024]

Best demo so far!

[@philippwae]

wooooot for real. i like it a lot. wanted it for a long time. wrote a lot of comments under moog videos to ask them to finally build it

[@in_10z]

Best demo so far (plenty out today though)! I think this unit should've been priced same as DFAM and M32. I would've snatched it in a second to slap into my rack next to my DFAM and M32 if it were same price point. Let's face it. It's really not that much more than the other two. One exciting part about the Subharm is the way it pairs so nicely with the other two in this 60HP semi-mod Moog fam.

[@christianthompson1473]

Adding the other gear was a distraction for me. I would've liked more on the subharmonicon

[@homeslice1479]

Plenty of other videos out there; great mix of dry/standalone and wet/with eurorack vids actually. I compiled almost all of them into a playlist on my channel; feel free to check it out. I personally love this one, because my Subharmonicon is going straight into a rack that also has Mimeophon lol. Of the three Moog semis, the Mother 32 does the best on its own. DFAM and SH both completely open up and change when you have them play with friends.

[@johnrichardson3297]

I am least interested in throwing a Mother 32 in the mix... I want other synths to fill duty/cycle.

[@thelearningcenter]

very true!!

[@thewideeye]

I have never heard a new synth that sounds so much as a Korg Poly 800 (do your own conclusions). I am not kidding.

[@johnrichardson3297]

SonicState Can I ask what is the synth/drum machine at 13:25? Please and thank you

[@gkeaoyrge]

Looks like a Nord Drum 2 :)

[@christoroppolo8742]

Another great tutorial. Peace Christo👽🐕🎶🛸

[@Hesohi]

Funky. Nicest tech Subharmonicon groove so far. Useable functions for more than just AvantGarde musical styles.

[@drydessert4198]

There are quire a few synths that sound good. But this is a modern classic.

[@greglocke9914]

whats that module you are using?

[@Wagoo]

Cheers Edd

[@johnrichardson3297]

I want two!

[@pseen]

11:20 If 12-ET is the chromatic scale, then the diatonic major/minor scale should be named 7-ET, no?

[@_User333]

Mein einziges Problem wäre, einen bereits anständigen Sequenzer wie den Arturia Beatstep Pro anzuschließen, der eine große Überlappung der Funktionen verursachen würde. Wenn Sie beispielsweise Beastep Pro auf ein Dutzend verschiedene Arten verwendet haben, sind die meisten dieser Funktionen möglicherweise bereits in den Subharmonicon-Polyrhythmen vorhanden. Ergänzen sie sich also je nach Patch-Punkten gut oder sind sie nur überschattet? Ich mag die Idee dieses Instruments jedoch und würde sehr gut zusammen mit Mother 32 und DFAM in die 3-Rack-Halterung passen!

[@InvertedPopesMusic]

Very interesting but the price is just holding me back not because I think it is high I just don't have the cash. So to the bucket list it goes. Really nice though.

[@Softlol]

Feel like it is kinda high... But thats moog for you.

[@benmorrow1701]

Why not show more of what the unit can do before spiraling into modular world?

[@homeslice1479]

Because there are dozens of other videos that show it by itself. As someone who intends to put their Subharmonicon in a eurorack case with lots of friends, I very much appreciated this demo. SH and DFAM both scream to play with friends; they don't stand alone QUITE as well as Mother 32.

[@bluename4]

can subharmonics be generated from an external patched source (instead from the onboard 2 oscillators)?

[@VictorSteiner]

blue name Doesn‘t look like it from the patchbay. I don‘t see external audio input.

[@Chasing_Thoughts]

There is a vca input, however this is not an octave pedal , it won’t create harmonies from an input sound.

[@symbiat0]

I would like to know what Eurorack case is being used to house the Mimeophon ?

[@jeanbonnefoy1377]

Harks back to the time of the first electronic music instruments of the 30s-early 50s 👍

[@adam.recording]

@DIV1NITAL There are plenty of them already. Listen to some of those pieces that ppl spam in social media and they barely have a few hundes views here on YT. True some of them suck but there are masterpieces out there and really talendted performers. But nowadays it is very hard to get heard as a musician, especially in this type of genre, as a synthesist / composer. Even a producer who makes mainstream music struggles to get the real exposure/ackowledgement. Nowadays it's all about marketing. Branding your music and yourself. Having key elements (both in performance, visuals and as an artist/character) is essential - if you are good at these and have good marketing strategy, it doesnt even matter if your music sucks.

[@HazeAnderson]

@@adam.recording that's why I do this for me. :)

[@adam.recording]

That's fine, my point was that there are so many ppl making music nowadays that it's nearly impossible to become a "legend" nowadays with this kind of music. Don't get me wrong, long gone the days when I wanted to be famous, I just do it for the pure sake of art now, but I have an insight to the business side of the industry due to my studies and work

[@ztkspace5885]

..............brilliant. Yep, would thoroughly enjoy playing with this instrument. Gives greater options to my own possibilities. Nice one. £739............is that confirmed?

[@CaalamusTube]

$699US currently on the shelves @ Perfect Circuit!

[@sigmondludwigvongripp4310]

Amazing video! This is pretty much exactly the setup I'm working on, except with an OPZ instead of the Digitakt. But how did you get the midi notes to play properly? The main problem I'm having... When a midi note ends, the pitch reverts back to the note set using the dials on the oscillators. It doesn't matter how long midi note is, once the note is released, the pitch changes back, and then it rings out as long as the release is set for. The only thing I have been able to do is to completely cut off the release. When the Play button is off, the notes play as expected (and the release applies to the note played), but then the sequencers are not running, so it not possible to use them to sequence other parameters. How did you solve this? Thanks!

[@AlisonWilder]

I think I remember that in the loopop subharmonicon demo he sets it up to play duophonically via MIDI keyboard, so maybe check out that video. (Of course, it's been 8 months, so you've probably figured it out already.) Cheers!

[@zaneaustin22]

8:00 wow

[@fortheloveofnoise9298]

Aww, where is Nick?

[@knightsouls]

Say Moooooooog. Don't bow to the peer pressure. It can be our revenge for ALOOMINUM.

[@monomakes]

sounds very Disasterpeace!

[@CO5MA]

mightlife Yup ❤️

[@TheSupergan]

Hum... While others clone Moog moving forward...

[@TheSupergan]

DIV1NITAL hahaha... if something Behringer is famous for is for been late on everything...

[@AndreCholmondeley]

Indeed..of course that's a valid point...but let's be accurate -- Subharmonicon is "inspired by" synthesis tools from the 30s and 40s: the Mixtur-Trautonium and the Rhythmicon. So it's far from original. Let's ALSO remember that the great, amazing, heroic Bob Moog (who I LOVE and am honored to have met a few times and talked synth).....not at ALL diminishing his genius...but his very first project, that he sold, was a clone of a Theremin. He sold the kits and as complete instruments. So -- throughout history inventors stand on the shoulders of others. ALSO sometimes patents expire...which is why every consumer product in your home..... is probably made by a company that did not invent it. THAT SAID - I wish Behringer had a LOT of soul-searching on some of this attacking critics , business practices etc etc. .....

[@TheSupergan]

Andre' Cholmondeley don’t get me wrong I’m not against Behringer at all... is just that why not take advantage and bring all these clones up to date with a twist, make them with better midi integration, make them something that is ready for the future studio, not a 1:1 museum replica...

[@AndreCholmondeley]

@@TheSupergan Agreed! And better worker pay, situation etc

[@henryhill92]

@@AndreCholmondeley There's a difference between being inspired by other products and directly stealing their visual designs to profit off their image.

[@mishadoumnov]

looks like a great machine. price is the only issue.....

[@lucasj7577]

Already pre ordered this and got a two tier stack for my Dfam

[@Dogboy73]

Well FUCK!! I just looked for prices here in Australia. Not listed yet in the usual outlets I look at. But I noticed the DFAM & Mother 32 prices here have jumped from $900 AUS RRP up to a whopping $1500 AUS RRP. I bought a DFAM 2 months ago from one of these shops for $849. It’s now $650 more expensive. Googling this reveals this has a lot to do with Trump’s trade tariff hike of 25% on imports from China. Further reading makes for a grim outlook to US manufacturing. I think this has been covered on Sonic Talk previously. But this is the first time I’ve really seen the effects of it. I mean there’s no way I could buy the Subharmonicon now knowing that if it had come out a couple of months back it would have been a third cheaper than what it will sell for now. It’s all a bit grim really. Fucking Trump! I hated him enough already. Now this! 🤪

[@Dogboy73]

...... actually we warned back in 2018. This is bad. Moog could go out of business if they either move overseas or the tariffs on parts are removed; www.businessinsider.com/trump-china-tariff-moog-move-harley-davidson2018-7?r=AU&IR=T

[@spridgejuice]

I love your reviews Edd, you really impart the knowledge well, and lots of detail. So this is going to sound really stupid carping on an insignificant detail, but I feel I just have to get it off my chest because it bugs me every time - it's the way you pronounce "oscillator" without a t! ... and it's not as if it's a word you can avoid. "Filter" has a t, no problem, so maybe you could import it?! Sorry, no offence meant, and I will listen anyway, no doubt about it...

[@sonicstate]

Starting to get lockdown wrath? :-)

[@spridgejuice]

starting!? xx

[@Claidheambmor]

Today a man discovered there are other accents than his own. And he didn't like it.

[@spridgejuice]

@@Claidheambmor fair enough, although his accent is almost exactly the same as mine, apart from those pesky unvoiced t's. I got equally unnecessarily annoyed at the voice of Queen Judith in Vikings where she over-emphasises those very same t's

[@MrTanukiD]

Each their own but it sounds like fingernails down a blackboard to me

[@adam.recording]

i think it's cuz he is making a really shitty sounding patch. I'm sure this thing can sound amazing in the right hands but what this guy did here is torture to my ears. No offence but this is not the right instrument for him whoever he is

[@MrTanukiD]

@@adam.recording Nah. I watched loopops review too. Still had the character of a strangled cat.

[@adam.recording]

@@MrTanukiD thats too bad

[@Goettel]

It's lovely of course, but I can't help thinking... where's the bass?

[@annother3350]

Not much Sub I suppose! Just a Harmonicon!

[@verbenamusic]

I think they want you to buy a mother32 to do the bass :D

[@Goettel]

@@verbenamusic I'd get the Minitaur. No, I need the Minitaur! I'm not sure what I would need this one for.

[@thebobbybabbitt7703]

Some of the other demos have really good bass. This video just displays some of the other stuff. It’s got some grit down there

[@wul01]

Surely it would be a better review if you didn’t use external hardware, use the patchbay on its own.

[@daveapple205]

I don't think it sounds that great. Maybe they are trying to move away from the MOOG sound or something.....I was impressed by the sounds I heard from the kit built Subs at the trade show and I waited for this to be released...only to be a bit disappointed, I guess. Meh.

[@vegettoblue8705]

Man is a shame that this synth doesn’t have a 6 dB filter too ... tbh should have a switch for a 6/12/18/24 imo

[@HazeAnderson]

You are complaining about a Moog low pass ladder filter? 😂

[@vegettoblue8705]

Haze Anderson you don’t know even why I m asking for that , and yes I would rather have a 6db instead

[@HazeAnderson]

@@vegettoblue8705 why don't you tell us why you are asking for that then. Keep in mind that many will already have such filters ready to interface with the Subharmonicon in their modular racks.

[@vegettoblue8705]

Haze Anderson keep in mind that many already had that in the euro rack ... what kind of answer is that 🤣🤣🤣 !! I won’t tell you why but i will suggest to you to not spent money on it , cuz you will not be able to properly join it , you could achieve almost everything you need on cheaper synths

[@johnrichardson3297]

Vegetto Blue you are akin/contemplating the Analogue Solutions and Avalon Analogue Bassline????

[@turnerthemanc]

with recent additions of the same genre from other manufacturers, this recent trend is that of composition-less automation. Sounds beautiful, but wont sound like you did it anymore than your mother did.

[@johnisrael5183]

Look dont take this the wrong way...but using Arturia with Acustica Audio and nebula....on each Track (Will Give you) 95% of the same result...and a Whole lot easier and fasters....and even running those stems through Any affordable analog gear.....sorry...its sound really good...but between that and vs modern work flows....it just eliminates....so much work in laying down the synth stems...and you can focus on the whole song and not just the synth bus

[@mickpattison7489]

Holy shit, sounds amazing but I need a translator. Where is Nick ? I’m stressed I want one but I can’t figure out what this guy is doing is he even English ?

[@iantanner7579]

I hope they've sourced better potentiometers, etc, than the the ones they've been using in recent years... Sounds and looks superb, but personally, i've had more issues/faults with moog units over the past few years, than i have with all other manufactures put together, - I just dare not risk another moog purchase.... Shame really, after buying the MoogerFoogers in the late 90s/early 00s, i really thought they'd up'd their game, but in recent years i feel the quality has deteriorated a little... I'm not knocking moog or any of their team, absolutely not, - just personal experience, from a retired synthesizer collector.... ~love to ALL, feel no hate~

[@iantanner7579]

They're definitely not any worse, - I only have the K2, but it's a solid unit that perfectly captures that 70s Korg sound... And personally, i find it more fun, and useful, than something like the Grandmother... Looks cool rackmounted too...

[@strangersun7721]

Well if we're speaking anecdotally, I've purchased a grandmother, three mother 32s, a dfam, a sub 37, a Matriarch, and a Minotaur over the last four years. Never had a problem with any of them.

[@HazeAnderson]

I have been tweaking the potentiometers on my DFAM for well over 1 year now and I have had ZERO issues/faults with any of the pots or the unit itself.

[@iantanner7579]

Yeah, my DFAM is fine too... love it! ~ but, last year i received a Grandmother with a faulty noise generator, the replacement had a crooked mod-wheel and loose octave/seq buttons, the third unit played okay for two months but then the cutoff potentiometer started to rustle, - i contacted moog and they said it was a known issue but that knob wear isn't covered by the warranty... just this wednesday, after i had already posted my original comment, Nick Batt stated that moog had to send him 3 moog One units before he got one that worked. - that was on SonicTalk. I know another youtuber who has had major issues with his Matriarch, - but i won't name him... just google moog potentiometer problems, they've been aware of the issue since the Subsequent 37 and M-32 were released... noisy power connections, missing reverb tanks, tuning issues, - it's a massive rabbit hole... don't get me wrong i love moog gear, been buying synthesizers since 86, and have had plenty of moog stuff... just wish they'd up their game, or drop their prices to reflect their machines true worth... A synthesizer should be like a work of art, and for any artist to grow, they need accurate feedback. No manufacturer is above reproach, no matter the name... i am genuinely happy you've had no issues, but personally, i no longer have any confidence in the brand... ~love to ALL, feel no hate~

[@kw7865]

I don't get it. In all the demos it sounds either bland or flat out horrible... Maybe I am missing something here as lots of people seem to like it...

[@adam.recording]

cuz some of the reviewers are making it scream and whine like a lunatic. Honestly, watching some of my favourite synth-heads reviewing this gave me a headache and it felt like they don't know what they are doing so they are just making some noise. Learn to use the instrument first and then make the review. damn haha

[@djBlindFaith]

Moog cloning Behringer now? Lol Very Neutron looking... probably far superior but still I’m getting Neutron vibes with that patchbay on the right 🤔

[@Unifono2012]

the mother 32 was out long before the neutron and had the patchbay on the right

[@djBlindFaith]

Unifono2012 fair point... ruined my funny now though 😜 🤣🤣🤣

[@JG-ib7xk]

But Neutron literally copied the layout of the Moog Mother32? How is Moog making another synth in the same format as their original Mother32 and DFAM copying Behringer?

[@djBlindFaith]

J G cracking a joke pal... the layout and knob placements just reminded me of it is all... **note to self** Synth heads are too serious for “funnies” 🤔 🤣🤣🤣

[@HazeAnderson]

@@djBlindFaith Yes we are mister! And don't you forget it ... 😅

[@LuddyVonBeat]

nice sound but, pretty monotonous.

[@Heathcliff_hensel]

Nah I'm good

[@annother3350]

Your not ready

[@Honking_Goose]

Cool

[@Heathcliff_hensel]

@@annother3350 not ready for the Moog circle-jerk?

[@derekjurovich]

Me too, haven’t we had enough monosynths with no presets ? I guess the appeal of this is the vintage osc

[@strangersun7721]

@@derekjurovich pbbbft. If that's all you see with this, then you're a troll, a fool, or an ugly combination of both.

[@jarredglenn215]

The voiceover is so muffled and difficult to hear in the mix that it makes this video impossible to consume.

[@MartinSCGF]

Huh?

[@prospectnyc]

It seems super cool but at $700? Pass.

[@_o__o_]

nah

[@frankschneider7190]

cool tool but poor demonstration

[@MinPlanck]

Meh, the fact you have to go straight to external modules just screams the limitations and lacking design choices they have made.

[@HazeAnderson]

Interfacing with other synths is at least half the reason for purchasing a semi-modular synth.

[@MinPlanck]

@@HazeAnderson Yes, but it is also £740 pounds and sold as a standalone unit. PWM with no LFO is a joke. 4 step sequencer LOL. Bearing in mind you could get 3 Neutrons for this price and that would destroy this with function and sound I don't get it. If there is more to this then I didn't see or hear it in this, or any other review.

[@HazeAnderson]

@@MinPlanck it is also 2 years old now. Moog introduced this in one of their Engineering Workshops. It is a 6 oscillator polyrhythmic divide down sequencing BEAST that is not for you. :)

[@HazeAnderson]

@@MinPlanck By the way, I own a Delta CEP A, DFAM, Neutron, Model D, WASP Deluxe, K2 and Pro-1. I like semi-modulars and the Subharmonicon has been a LONG awaited addition to my arsenal. :)

[@MinPlanck]

@@HazeAnderson I was initially interested also owning a fair amount of Eurocrack, an MS20, Lyra8 and Dark Energy 2. I've watched all the reviews and that interest has now faded. I don't even think it sounds that great. Would love a DFAM though. And for me, semi modular is as much about rewiring it's internal patching as adding anything else.

[@robappleby583]

Boring.

[@juno6]

meh

[@renegadefunkstar]

A bit of money for quite a bit of meh... at least to my ears