The Moog Subharmonicon Is Music and so Are You

Music is rhythm, pitch, pitch relationships, and timbre. The Moog Harmonicon is a great example of how these all come together in one of the most interesting performance synthesizers I've touched. Let's talk about it.
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Thanks for watching. My name is Jeremy, and this is Red Means Recording. I've been making music for a few decades now, and this channel is a place to make music and to talk about the tools and techniques to make music with. We'll use synths, drum machines, modular gear, and software.
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[@spkels9125]

I play the exact same game with my fingers! :O Who else?

[@gladiusso]

I do as well!

[@sebastiaanhaverkamp9126]

me too, all the time. hearing the subharmonicon do it's thing gives me great comfort, a feeling of being perfectly safe. i need one.

[@SamChaneyProductions]

Yes I do it all the time. Sometimes when I'm falling asleep next to one of my partners I'll subconsciously be doing it on her leg or something and she'll say "I like your beat"

[@RottenMechGaming]

Add counting syllables to the mix and you have my brain. :)

[@Nokanmusic]

Du skremte meg.

[@loopop]

Lovely small setup and sounds! Release the jams... (in Mr. Burns voice)

[@RedMeansRecording]

Boo urns!

[@almightyEsquilax]

The synths that have bees in their mouth, and when they play, they shoot bees at you?

[@andrewgarner3428]

I know, we’ll take the JamCopter, get in! But Sir, it’s only a conceptual...*cocks gun* I said, GET IN.....

[@tdzucker]

Damn loopop comments on videos? Personal goal of mine right there. First I gotta make some videos

[@slavikdoter]

Release tigers!:))

[@defdac]

I'm so insanely impressed with people that can articulate abstract feelings and ideas so succinctly. They way you can explain how you connect with this device is wonderful.

[@samueldavies8461]

Honestly this is my favourite synth review on KZbin. It convinced me to buy a Subharmonic on and I keep coming back for inspiration.

[@wullybud]

I wasn’t that interested in the subharmonicon when it was initially debuted, until I saw this (just now.) This is hands down the best subharmonicon demo on youtube. Great explanation and great showcase of this synth’s capabilities!

[@erynwells4606]

I love that moment when I put a kick on something that’s a little off kilter and my brain suddenly *gets* it and then it’s a groove.

[@NoirEtBlancVie]

I love this video! I also love the Subharmonicon, there’s something special in that things design.

[@RedMeansRecording]

Yeah it's brilliant. Like you.

[@mrblablablabla]

This is such a great video! The idea of explaining the Subharmonicon by picking apart the basic building blocks of music is absolutely genius. Great work, Jeremy, and thanks for the inspiration!

[@jrkuczunjr]

That was probably the best video to showcase what this machine does. I have been playing with mine for months and never could quite get my head around what was going on. Thanks.

[@michaelkonomos]

What I loved about this one is that you weren’t just teaching, you were actually making really gorgeous music. Wonderful to listen to and very inspiring. Thank you!

[@sinepilot]

I had the same feeling at the end of this video as I did after those massive outdoor raves when the final come-down track would play after the sun had come up. Gratitude for the journey, and sort of waking up from a blissful trance going "man that got deep there for awhile, where have I been?". I made music 25 years ago but let it slip away, now coming back via modular synth and hopeful there are ways of performing modular live without necessarily using a keyboard controller, just as you've done here. So grateful to the YT community for demystifying all of this for me. Thank you Jeremy

[@RedMeansRecording]

❤️🎶❤️

[@mistervalentin8396]

Just rewatched this video of yours .. one of the best walk-throughs of gear I've seen for a long time. I owned the Subharmonicon but felt overwhelmed with how quickly things got out of hand, of all the recent Moog offerings, this one is easily the most complex and one press of a button or turn of a knob can instantly change the vibe - often times for the worse. BUT .. your walkthrough made me rethink working with this instrument, in that it's perfectly okay to have the levels of the subs turned down or off, and explore slowly starting with just VCO1 .. and leaving VCO2 and it's subs untouched. My "instant gratification" attitude made me give up too quickly, me thinks. I may need to revisit this device. Thank you, Jeremy.

[@itscoreywayne]

This has to be the best introduction to the subharmonicon. Amazing overview!

[@traitortotheliving]

Watching videos on gear I already own to fight G.A.S. This one gives me a lot of inspiration thanks man!

[@mdreid]

Fantastic stuff. That was a really unique walkthrough of the Subharmonicon. A lot of the other videos I’ve seen for it go through the controls one by one but I really like your grouping of them by rhythm, tone, harmony, and timbre. Makes a lot of musical sense. I’ve been fascinated by the Subharmonicon ever since I first heard about the Moog workshop version a couple of years ago. I was not disappointed when I finally got my hands on one a couple of months ago. Such a strange, fun, and inspiring synth.

[@dominicbanfield3491]

That was one of the most inspiring videos I've seen in a while. Restraining the urge to run out and find a subharmonicum and will instead to try apply the concepts to other gear. Thanks Jeremy.

[@fallprecauxionsmusic]

I gotta say, jeremy... I really, REALLY love that you took the opportunity to discuss some synthesis basics & fundamentals of music itself in a demo of an unconventional synthesizer that appears to be somewhat confounding for lots of folks. I've been wanting the subharmonicon, & I'm just about to get one. so this presentation of yours is absolutely perfect inspiration & information for me right now. thank you, sir!!

[@marquee-moon]

The simplest and best compliment I can think to give is that this is really, legitimately inspiring. Glad that you’re doing what you’re doing!

[@TylerOKC]

I think this is my favorite video of yours. You taught music while reviewing a piece of gear. Thanks. And damn it, now I want a Subharmonicon.

[@AndyVonal]

Brilliant! I hope Moog are paying you for this because you have probably just sold a buck-load of these little beauties. Best demo of this synth yet. Fantastic stuff!

[@sindre.pedersen]

After watching just about all the Subharmonicon videos on youtube, I am proud to say I am doing fine without one! Then the RMR videos came out. My Subharmonicon is on its way.

[@Daphoid]

Loopop's sold me, then a few others udnerlined it (BoBeats/Andrew Huang having fun). But this; this just made me lean back in my chair and relax. It's next on my list, moved up over the tr-8s; I'll keep doing drum stuff with the Circuit / maschine mk3 for now with some prep work. Come on Black Friday sale!

[@junny3000]

I’m two years late to this but do either of you have music made with the SubH that I can listen to? I’m doing all my homework before I commit to buying. Thanks

[@change49]

I just ordered the Subharmonicon, and this was the best most straightforward, inspiring, easy-to-follow video I've watched so far. Not only that but the way you describe music and the machine in plain language makes it so much more accessible to noobs like me.

[@radiodiffusionfrancaise1591]

Some good simple moves, making me rethink how I use this instrument. At 23:16 you found some real magic (bringing in that bouncy polyrhythmic VCO 2 sub 2 under the octave triad)- wish you'd stayed there a while... !!

[@krisrhodes5180]

@15:25 "That's not really... great..." and I'm sitting here loving it. It just means you're about to resolve to something new man!

[@creaturefarm2698]

The Best Subharmonicon AND Digitakt video out there! Your videos amaze me everyone! So informative. So approachable. So fun and playful. Thank you for doing what you do. 100%

[@jreynoldsish]

That was just beautiful Jeremy. Always great to get your take on a device but hearing your music grow as you progress to a new piece of gear is really wonderful.

[@seanspartan2023]

Thank you so much for this video! I've been frustrated with my Subharmonicon and needed to hear every one of these tips to get it sounding more musical. I really appreciate this!

[@samprock]

nervous ticks ... i know how to use them now for good :) right on Jeremy!

[@jaka.kragelj]

I'm impressed by the demonstration and the clarity of explanation. Thanks!

[@andrij.demianczuk]

Mind. Blown. Thank you SO much Jeremy for helping explain the subharmonicon. Really level-ups the game :)

[@andrij.demianczuk]

Like you, I’ve been a long-time elektron user, and recently came about a subharmonicon. I was close to offloading it until I walked through this video and really learned how to think about the instrument. I’ve been addicted to it since I first watched this video a few days ago and am pleased to admit it’s probably one of my desert-island devices now :)

[@HerpDerpPerpz]

Man I'm so glad I found your channel. Trying to get into music production, and having you as an inspiration source is faaantastic. Those messy bits you're talking about are the thrill of live jams, I say post 'em.

[@TheDoctorM0]

Dude, the way you resonate on a deeper wavelength! You opened my mind in my approach. Good stuff!

[@fraaaaaaaaay]

I really enjoyed your approach to breaking this down. Sometimes videos like this can wander or feel disorganized, but this format was just right. Thanks.

[@BrotherSkodidi]

Your videos are always great. Informative, and fun to listen to. Loved as you moved through dissonance and back to a resolved chord. Thanks for putting these out, Jeremy. :D

[@adijames]

Very late to this party, but damn this rocks! What a beautiful way to show this instrument. Full of heart. I can’t afford the Moog now, but I’ve just got Slime Child Audio’s Substation for VCV Rack, and now I can follow along with this and it’s splendid. Of course the Substation lacks the beauty of the Moog VCOs, but if you’re on a budget but want to get some Sub and Polyrhythm in your life, then I can fully recommend it. Of course it helps if you have Jeremy’s seemingly magic touch, but you can pretend like I do. Stellar!

[@THEMISSING76]

Fantastic walkthrough of this machine. Thank you for sharing this insight.

[@harveytherobot]

Jeremy, this is amazing. And you did such a good job presenting it and tying it to music principals. I totally clicked with what you were saying about how it works with your brain. And I felt myself anticipations what you were going to say as you went through! I was playing these slow melodies in my head over what you were playing. It’s like this perfect balance of generative and control. Thanks for this presentation. You just sold one more for Moog.

[@Sakul512]

Please!!! Release all of it! I find the beauty of playing with synths live a lot of times comes from going into chaos and recovering from it to reset the stage for something new. Thanks for your thoughts, really inspiring stuff!

[@StefanWolfrum]

Thanks so much, Jeremy, for taking the time and effort for making this video! Really inspiring! Will play with my Subharmonicon & other Moog gear now, too! ❤️

[@sumadronga]

You have everything figured out, don't you? Hope to some day be as articulate as you are, both verbally and musically. Love your channel.

[@utubebroadcastme]

yes please post the whole jam

[@smacksalad]

Its beautiful, isnt it? Such a great device. The only instrument I've ever found I can play properly :) Its inspired me to start uploading jams weekly. Great video btw, thanks for the ideas and exploration you've done! I just learned a bunch of stuff from you :)

[@tonipepperoni3424]

I really appreciate the way you talk about what music is and break down the concept of music and show that the subharmonicon affects those important aspects of music, I have arturia synths right now but I think in the future I'd definitely really consider getting a subharmonicon

[@xXCatsLoverXx]

super excited to see more videos on this, what a great device

[@ashleyjones4314]

Just bought a subharmonicon today and getting to grips with it. Love your video and the fluid way you play it and make adjustments without trying to be too prescriptive. Will check out your jams.

[@matnetik]

Best video I have seen on this synth, great overview, cheers!

[@squashpsych7052]

I love your work Jeremy! It really inspires me and I just feel happy watching your videos and hearing your music! Thank you!

[@JackDevalera]

This is a wonderful video, explaining so much in such an engaging way. Well done Jeremy.

[@maikvanrossum]

A bit late to the Subharmonicon party… but what a fine, pleasant introduction 😊 And great to see that the DT was invited at that time, too. Missing it lately, now DTII seems to be almost everyone’s coolest new friend 😉 So thank you 🙏🏻 for this inspirational video on ‘music’ 🥳

[@jimlampshady]

More great synth content, nice 1 bro. I think what sets your content apart is the fact you don't resort to the crutch of technical jargon, but rather talk in much more universal terms, "timbre", "energy", "pitch" etc. Keep 'em coming!

[@tomjepson2295]

I LOVE this video, Jeremy. I just got a Subharm and am in awe of its potential. I imagine putting a quantised LFO into the OSC pitches would create some lovely 'sections' in the composition.

[@mitchclarke5144]

This is a really excellent video. Everything about it, it is informative, interesting, entertaining and really shows off what the subharmonicon is capable of. Thank you so much for what you do.

[@kevosx7439]

You've got such calm, lucid consciousness. I can tell you're excited and having interesting thoughts about your relationship to making music but there's no mania, you're not straining to get a point across. Certified cool person.

[@MDWeezer]

Best Subharmonicin video yet, really clicked with my brain! Keep them coming! Would love to see some modulation!

[@ast_rsk]

I feel like you and Hainbach would have a blast working together.

[@defdac]

I want to subscribe to that thought.

[@philphilphil]

You explain this beautifully. The sound is lovely too. Thank you, kind sir

[@arexpressionsphoto]

Best breakdown of this machine I’ve seen! Inspired to buy.

[@murmurelamusique]

thank you man. it’s very enjoying how you make this so obvious. such talent. keep up the recording :) 🙏

[@vncstudio]

Fantastic explanation! I'm able to see the possibilities.

[@ruz8099]

Thanks for sharing! A great format where education meets the magic of creating live music

[@monolunarazul]

Thank you! that jam was beautiful!

[@poolandmusic]

This was really Dope Jeremy, Thank you!

[@rupertstratton7890]

Amazing Jeremy. Thank you for this. I'm going to have to buy a Subharmonicon now. Wonderful explanation and jam

[@rottenjohnny7560]

Wow, sounds awesome Jeremy.

[@danielpirone8028]

Super inspiring! The Fugue machine iOS app offers similar fun if you are interested but don’t have the cash.

[@cembolic_3767]

You described my mind exactly around 12:05 another great vid👍🏾

[@ManCalledMif]

Great to hear this gear combination. The Subharmonicon polyrhythms are transformed by a regular kick from the elektron. The poly reverb sounds gorgeous too.

[@SlowDescentToWild]

Sounds brilliant! Imagine having the Moog going through something like the mood pedal as well - mind blown !

[@H3ath]

I really love this instrument. I've been having fun recently playing with the fact that the vca won't retrigger while the attack phase is running, yet another way to play with the rhythm :D

[@chrisyuo6474]

Played this review while a Zoom meeting with friends, immediately we had a great time! thanks for a great video like this!

[@Pterrordon12]

You always pick great gear to demo, really love the Subharm and would love to add one in.

[@basicnoise]

I am so sold!!! Thanks for this!

[@annonymousname2.0]

this is one of my favourite videos. Ive watched it many times

[@zandermeulemans7606]

Great video, really inspiring i like how it explains a lot about how to use the Subharmonicon without getting to complicated

[@philmillman]

Nice Cantillon mug :) And thank you for the constant inspiration!

[@GoLoopAudio]

This synth fascinates and scares me in equal quantities!

[@arborealsquid2380]

Awesome video, great explanation!

[@wolfphonic304]

Absolutely awesome... thank you 🙏

[@jonridley]

Really well put together, a proper music lecture. ❤

[@cityandmoonbacklineltd3685]

Sounds beautiful.

You can make a pad to sit underneath the Subharmonicon with something that freezes the sound. Clouds comes to mind but there are plenty of other options depending on taste. Every time you feel the need to change the tone/note of the "pad" you just freeze a new portion of what's coming out of the Subharmonicon.

[@dgk_recordings]

24:00 Beautiful transition. Thanks for this

[@fadplastic]

Absolutely gorgeous. The timbres and grooves you get out of the subharmonicon are hypnotic. I think the paired down setup is excellent. Still. I can’t help but wonder how two might sound together playing off each other.

[@maarzt]

fascinating on so many levels. Thank you

[@deerfieldself256]

Thank you for perfectly describing my love affair with the Subharmonicon. Super inspiring walkthrough. Would love to see the longer jams here if there are videos.

[@IntimateNoise]

absolutely loved this!

[@lshel001]

You glorious musical bastard, love this tune you created just as a demo!

[@chitlun]

Excellent stuff! What you said at 10:20 totally resonated with me, I do exactly the same being a drummer of some 40 odd years. I have the Model Cycles, I imagine it would pair exceptionally well with this too... You’ve just given me a reason to sell body parts to raise the funds to buy a Subharmonicon, peace ✌️ p.s. on the subject of the jams, give us the full Bernard, warts n all ✌️

[@sdt1sdt]

Hey man, I just found your channel and your videos on the subharmonicon, and I have to say that they provide some of the best insight into the subharmonicon that I have seen to date. I know this video is 2 years old, but if you still have that unit, do some more videos. They are great.

[@ferum2225]

Very nice and transparent description of the Subharmonicon, good work! I do experimental / noise / ritual stuff with Soma, Ms 20& Diy, etc. and have been pondering the Subharmonicon for quite some time. I think, I’ll definitely get one.

[@kladdha_]

Oh my god. This was so beautiful. Wow!

[@harveytherobot]

And yes, please post the full jams!

[@akibakemono]

Really enjoyed this, Jeremy, and boy does that Moog ever sound sweet.

[@chrisolley2762]

Music is also intent. You have to want it, mean it and pursue it, to make it real. A lot of people forget this. :-)

[@playinmyblues]

Great video. I have had my Subh for awhile now and worked through the manual but I really like your take on it.

[@denimtee4663]

Thank you!

[@simonhmackie]

Yes! My favourite performative (is that a word?) synth, by far. Definitely going to make a small live rig with it, the DFAM and the Analog 4

[@SamChaneyProductions]

I have to say I feel strangely connected to and seen by this video. I do the exact same polyrhythm finger tapping thing all the time, I am planning on getting a FMA tattoo (of the human and reverse transmutation circles), and I really love your musings on the structure of music and the title. I'm very happy to have found this channel.

[@WeirdMedicine]

i know this is 18 months old, but it was extremely inspiring. Thank you! Gave me some new ideas for my subH/Elektron setup.

[@hudsoncraftworks]

Some gems are timeless. This one will be inspiring for a long time.

[@MrRexBaron]

Thanks for this !