Moog MicroMoog

This is a follow up to my blind review from 2005... :)

I have been using this synth for 3 years now. It is going on 32 years old (build date was late '77). It continues to surprise me when I least expect it. I have been able to get some really good sounds out of it (primarily bass) and for a one-osc synth it is more versatile than I gave it credit for. I wouldn't say it's super easy for the novice, but if you learn about ADSR (attack, decay, sustain and release) you can start developing sounds and then the other features add to the flavor. It gets easier as you tweak.

Monophonic, 1-voice (oscillator) synthesizer perfect for doing solid bass lines and cutting leads. The keyboard action sucks but after 31 years the bushings inside the keys dry up and lead to crooked, uneven keys and clacky action. This can be fixed. No effects built-in but responds rather nicely to my rackmount delay unit. An analog delay probably sounds even better. Where I've found that this synth becomes slightly better than the Prodigy or Rogue/MG-1 is that it shares the same filter as the MiniMoog and is probably why it's referred to as the "Minimoog's little brother". You can easily hear it when doing filter sweeps. While it really doesn't sound a lot like a mini, it makes up for it with options you can't get on the mini, like variable waveshape for example. You can sweep through waveforms as opposed to locking into set waveforms like on the mini. There's also a wide frequency knob that sweeps your oscillator like a rubber band (hard to explain, it's really weird and cool at the same time). Unlike the mini, the Micro uses a pitch ribbon instead of a wheel to do bends. You can get a MIDI retrofit kit for it but it's not something I'm personally interested in. I'd like to keep this one 100% original since it's been good to me so far.

The Micromoog sounds like a Micromoog. Not like a Minimoog! So if you want a Mini, get a Mini. You'll be disappointed if you have your mind set on the Mini. It produces organic, typical thick analog sounds that you would know was a Moog just by hearing it. With the oscillator doubler you can get an octave effect and you can modulate it so when used slightly and modulated almost all the way at a slow speed you can get the effect of a Minimoog lead (similar to de-tuning). The pitch ribbon is tricky to learn at first, but I can see getting used to it if you push yourself to use it often. As stated above, the keyboard action sucks because of the old, rotted bushings so it's really hard to be expressive on the keys when they don't react quick enough. No aftertouch or velocity on this either. A basic analog monosynth with some cool modulation possibilities that you can't do on the Minimoog.

It's been dependable so far after 3 years of pretty constant use and being left powered on for long periods of time. It's also been opened up and f'd around with quite a few times for various reasons by me and it still works afterward so it's pretty solid. I have been in the process of getting mine back up to snuff because I am learning to appreciate it more. Some of those things include cleaning up the j-wires so the notes don't double trigger (like an intermittant key contact) and replacing the bushings on the keys so the action doesn't suck as I've said probably three times now :). I've already repaired the pitch ribbon and it's been working now. I would probably not want to gig with it because it does react to temperature change and would probably be a pain to keep in tune. Build quality is cheap plastic and particle board bottom so it feels like it flexes sometimes. Not the best but certainly doable if left in a solid position.

Moog music does not support anything they made in the 70's. Good luck - there are techs out there you just have to dig the internets.

I would be mad if it were stolen, but I probably would move on to something newer like a Little Phatty (I owned one before but sold it). The reliability factor of a new modern instrument is priceless when you need it to be there for you, but the vintage vibe of owning a cool retro instrument is also very priceless until it needs repairs and then your wallet starts to shrink....

I'll start off by stating I'm primarily a guitarist. Personally I've found this synth to be awesome for my needs. It takes some getting used to for beginners but it doesn't take long to get used to. I've seen the manual online and it is rather well written.

A bare bones basic rig but It will make you develop new tricks. It has a modification for MIDI but I can't bring myself to rip her apart for that reason.

I've never had a bad sound with this thing. I'm big into Nine inch nails, Warmen, Children of bodom, but mostly pink floyd. This synth lets me escape the limits of my guitar and just let it flow.

This thing is a fricken tank. I've only taken it out of the house once and that was for a jam session with my keyboard playing nieghbor.

If stolen My M14 and ar15 would be fully loaded and I'd track that S.O.B. down and give him a lil lead poisoning. I took piano lessons whn I was younger but I'm limited in my abilitys.

If you know synth terminology and understand what each function does, then this synth will be easy to get used to in no time. It takes a while at first but the panel is laid out in a user-friendly way. There is no memory, you cannot save your patches. Best solution to this is to get a blank sheet of paper and either draw out the front panel of the synth and make copies of it, or find a blank template online or in the manual that you can copy and use as a patch reference sheet. If you turn off the synth your previous patch will still be active though. Remember this is analog! The manual is pretty good. It is written by Jim Scott who created the Micromoog along with Bob Moog himself. He explains things in a way that the user can understand. It's a pretty hefty manual though and could be overwhelming at first. This is available for download pretty much all over the web. Just do a google search.

As I said before, this is an analog synth. It's also monophonic, so that means 1 note at a time. No polyphony. Keyboard action is pretty good in my opinion. The keys are a little slow compared to a Moog MG-1 that I have where the keys from that era were just kinda quick and clanky. But with the quick keys I think it is easier to do fast leads. On the Micro, it takes a bit to get used to but I think the action is better in the long run because it feels stable and the keys do not rock. This is a J-wire keyboard. Most people complain about the J-wire keyboard on the SC Pro-One, but if this is what the keyboard on the Pro-one feels like, then I don't know what they're complaining about because it's not bad at all. As far as mods go, I know there's a MIDI to CV converter available from Synhouse but I wouldn't even think of tearing up my Moog to add unnecessary functionality to it. No sequencer, but it does have Sample and Hold built in. Also no "effects" per se, but given the right modulation settings you can create chorus and delay the natural way.

I tried the "Bass" patch that was in the manual and was surprised at how much it sounds just like a real electric bass! Other than that, I know you can create the analog version of natural instruments, but these mono synths were really intended to have elctctonic sounds that were different. I surprisingly don't use any of my keyboards to make electronica or dance music. I use them in ballad rock and piano tunes. So as far as versatility goes, I think its a synth for any type of music if you can find the right sounds that interest you. You can be very expressive with the pitch ribbon which, like a pitch wheel, functions the same except it's controlled by a strip that detects the movement of your finger as it slides up and down. This causes the note to bend and then promptly release back to normal when let go. Unfortunately, mine no longer works and I kind of expected it since the synth is about 30 years old. But other than that this keyboard has great true moog sounds. This was a budget moog at the time, but I'm told that it sounds very close to a Minimoog without the other two oscillators. There is a doubling function on the Micro that allows for a lower octave to be mixed in and fatten up the sound.

I would probably never take this on the road anywhere. It's too precious to me and being a vintage instrument, I'd rather see it last in my studio than trying to impress everyone and watching it malfunction or blow up in a puff of smoke! If I really needed this sound on a "tour" lets say, I'd probably go out and buy a new VA synth for peace of mind. The build quality of the Micro isn't really that great either. It's not totally cheap, but it is a molded plastic synth (very sturdy plastic though) with aluminum edging and laminated wood sides. It's not heavy, bur wouldn't want to transport mine and risk damage. It's already very fragile from age.

Well the original Moog music is no longer in business and the new Moog music does not support anything vintage. However there are plenty of people online that specialize in synth repair and many forums and groups dedicated to vintage synthesizers. I'm trying to find a new pitch ribbon and someone online does have the material, so I guess if you look in the right places you can find what you're looking for.

If this were stolen I'd be really pissed. But this is why I'm happy just keeping it in my studio. These aren't Minimoogs but the "vintage analog synth" phase is coming back and these are getting pricy. I don't know if I really got a deal on this because the estimated value was much less, but from what I've seen it sell for in specialty stores I am happy wiht what I paid. So being that it is still a collectible and highly sought after, I would not ever birng it somewhere where it had the potential to get stolen.

I basically bought a Realistic/Moog MG-1 last year and still always wanted an earlier vintage Moog. I love both of them, but I would much rather take the Realistic out of the house and play live in case it breaks I didn't spend that much on it and they're easier to come across if I felt like replacing it. But then again, these are vintage instruments and should be treated with extreme care. They are costly and if you bought one you are most likely a collector and intend to keep it as a vintage piece. They're not really performance instruments anymore due to their age and unreliability. If you want something to perform with, Moog is selling the Minimoog Voyager. But where my Moog sits in my studio, I'm happy with it just where it is.

i like its layout and find the interface (knobs etc) high quality and good for tweaking. the keyboard itself has a somewhat flimsy feel to it, don't whack it too hard (like i did). the pitch ribbon is nice for a change, but nowhere near as good as the yamaha cs pitch ribbon. it makes you play different bends than you'd with a wheel though.

short of a second oscillator (but really it is fat enough as it is) there is hardly a thing left out. plus, i have rarely seen a better equipped back panel on any synth, which makes this a perfect modular building block.

it is very expressive. i have never owned a minimoog, so i can't compare. some reviews state it has a different sound. maybe it's a little like : minimoog=gibson / micromoog=fender. i once owned a rogue and feel it sounded different. the micromoog covers my need for the moog sound nicely. it is probably the most flexible of the little moogs.

i gigged mine and feel maybe i should've left it in the studio. it's not super-sturdy. as stated above, keyboard is weak-ish.

don't know

it's totally worth what i paid, as a got it -broken-for next to nothing and had it fixed. for the inflated prices moogs normally go these days, i guess you'd have to think twice. if you really dig the moog sound, but don't want to pay ridiculous money for a mini, it's probably a good alternative. i would recommend it over a prodigy or rogue.

The Micromoog was a monophonic synth produced between 1974 and 1979 that was meant to be an inexpensive alternative to the Minimoog. For its time and for its intended market, I'm amazed how much can be gleaned from it. The fact that it only has one oscillator is mostly compensated for by the Doubling knob, which adds the same note that you're playing again, only at 1 or 2 octaves below, creating an almost dual-oscillator depth. Detuned and pseudo-ring modulator sounds can be achieved through setting the Octave knob to wide and then moving the Frequency knob. I love the Waveform selector knob, which unlike many other synths, does'nt move rigidly from one waveform to another, but instead turns through all of the 4 waveforms, allowing you to get different mixtures of waveforms for different timbres. It's filter, which I've read is almost indentical to the Minimoog's, features Cutoff, Emphasis, and Contour knobs. It has Attack and Release envelope controls for both the VCF and VCA, with additional Sustain switches that allow you to add a sustain stage to the envelopes. The routing options, like the Filter Osc. by Mod. and LFO routings(like Filter, Filter & Osc., Osc.), really take the Micromoog's versatility to another level. The LFO, activated by the Mod. wheel, features Bend, Noise, Square, Sawtooth, Auto S&H, and manual S&H waveforms; the rate knob goes up to 30Hz, so the LFO is quite fast. Unlike most synths, the Micromoog has a pitch bend ribbon controller, as opposed to a wheel, which can create some interesting effects. It also has a Noise generator and inputs on the back with which you can connect stuff to the various components(e.g. the filter, oscillator). A Fine Tuning knob on the back makes it easy to keep it in tune.

The Micromoog is capable of a wide range of excellent basses, leads, and weird effects; that famous Moog filter sound is really very good.
In a word: incredible. Enough said.

I only got it a few days ago and so far it has worked great, and it hardly ever goes out of tune either. I don't plan on gigging with it, and I keep it a cool, dry place, so I don't know how it would withstand being taken into different environments. I figure, though, that it has survived the last 30 years in perfect working order, so short of being dropped hard on the ground, I don't see what could really go wrong with it.

Haven't needed it. Yet.

For a long time I thought that Moogs were all hype, that you would pay a now-exorbitant price for one only to find out that they couldn't do that much and didn't sound that great. Although that still might be true with other models, the Micromoog has convinced me that Moogs were, and still are, great-sounding, brilliantly conceived, and timeless machines. What impressed me the most with the Micromoog wasn't even just the sound, but its incredible versatility, which I think is almost on par with some contemporary digital synths, let alone old analog ones. The sound is definitely warm and analog, and the basses are indeed fat and deep. Although the Micromoog doesn't offer the flexibility of three oscillators like its big brother, the Minimoog, you won't miss them too much as the Doubling knob allows you get dual octaves, which sound pretty fat; you can even get some detuning with the Frequency knob. If you're looking to buy a Moog at a not-too-expensive price, I would definitely recommend the Micromoog over the other budget Moogs; it's the direct relative of the Minimoog and even does some things the Mini won't. I was lucky that I got mine for only $400 Canadian, but I don't think I would have felt too ripped off if I had spent $200-$300 more, it's that good and that versatile.

The layout is simple, but I have to admit to being partial, as this synth taught me the basics of synthesis. The Instructional Manual (written by Tom Rhea), is useful and more informative than most, if you can track it down.

The open system is impressive, even more flexible than a MiniMoog. The LFO jack is somewhat unique on a lower scale synth such as this one. MIDI control is easy, using a convertor. Audio in and filter control are practicle additions. This board screams for pseudo-modular tricks........

This is better for abstract sounds than other one osc synths, especially with the filter mod by osc control. However, it only has one osc, another would be helpful despite the effective sub osc.

To be fair, I have put this synth through hell over the years, but the tuning is pathetic, even after a lengthy warmup and expensive repairs. It was fine for the first fifteen years or so, I did not treat it with tons of respect when I was younger-not knowing any better.

NA

This would be a great item for Moog to reissue at an affordable price. It does not sound like a MiniMoog, but it has its own beef and character. Having owned it for such a long time, it is hard to be impartial.

Basic mono analog synth. If you know anything about analog, it's a cinch to operate.

Keyboard action is smooth for a synth of this vintage.

Screw around with this unit for a day, and you'll love it forever. Unlimited low-end "oomph". I use it to cover the bass line when my flaky bass player doesn't show. The unique pitch-bend strip works well for expressiveness, and I actually prefer it over the conventional wheel design.

It's almost 30, but it still works. Gleen what you want from that. Since it's not a primary keyboard, I always have a backup.

Moog is history, but I've found resources on the net devoted to vintage synths, and a local shop that had no qualms about repairing it.

My neighbor gave it to me. He got it in trade for a welding job that he did, and it sat in his garage for years. I got it in trade for a TV that I was no longer using.
I have a small collection of vintage synths, and this was a perfect addition. It's the only one that I actually use live.

ANALOG JUICE FOR YOUR BASS ON A HAMMOND? YES THE MICROMOOG DOES FILL THAT VOID WITH MY BLONDE M3 1955 HAMMOND

JUST A SLIGHT ENVELOPE TWEEK AND IT WILL BLOW A NOVA OFF THE MAP WITH FAT POWDER SOUNDING BASS AND DONT FORGET TO TWEEK THE ENVELOPE RELEASE JUST A TAD FOR A TAIL AND YOU HAVE THE MEANIST BASS ON THE BLOCK!!

SNEAKY LEADS WIH LIGHTNING ATTACK - GOOD EXAMPLE IS HERBIE HANCOCKS "PEOPLE MUSIC" OFF THE SECRETS CD AROUND 1976- MICRO HEAVEN

KEEP IT MAINTAINED AND POTS CLEAN AND YOU HAVE A MAINSTAY SYNTH ON YOUR HANDS AND YES REAL WOOD SIDES!!

CANNOT REPLACE

Analog heaven, baby! And monophonic to boot; it just doesn't get much more bare bones than this.

Like I said before it's monophonic. Comes with ribbon controller which is a cool feature and was actually ahead of its time. You get 1 oscillator, 1 lowpass filter, all the basic analog stuff, etc. It also has an octave doubler which can actually turn the thing into a 2 oscillator synth if used correctly. Of course there's no MIDI, but you could get one of those Midijack things to install if you really feel the need for one. Personally I think it's almost sacrilege to add MIDI to a Moog.

This thing sounds phat as hell! Whatever your pleasure, if you're into any kind of electronic music you can find a use for this. BUT YOU"VE GOT TO WORK AT IT. Especially with analog synths. I'm so tired of hearing people complain about how their synths are useless out of the box and weak sounding. You get what you put into it people. Fortunately the Micro forces you. There's no dial-up presets here.

Looks sturdy to me, but I wouldn't bash it around. There's wood on it! Now you know it's analog! Pots can get a little scratchy but can be cleaned. Everything works great on mine except for the external sound input which I don't really need anyway.

It's a Moog, so any support you get will have to be from the web. Although I'd definitely recommend getting a copy of the user & technical manuals which often show up on eBay.

I love this thing! Let's be honest, I love all Moogs! But not everyone can afford to fork over 3000 bucks for a Mini. So I think this is the next best thing. For a lot less price and a lot less size you can get at least 2/3 the quality of a Mini, which is a saying an awful lot. But don't get suckered into buying one for more than $550 or so. People think that these analog synths are worth the price of body parts. They're not. But they sure are fun to play with! I compose mostly dance music and I find a place for it in almost every song. I think the MicroMoog is very underrated. For being from 1975 this synth is one of the all-time best.

when i first got it,it was slightly baffling...a little tinkering and i understood a bit more

we cant all afford minimoogs...while this is in no way a mini,for the money its very nice.the ribbon and wheel next to each other is also quite handy

i find the micromoog to be quite useful for both bottom end bass in a live setting as well as lead....i use a ampeg SVT to hilight the bottom end this thing can grab

ive had little or no trouble with the micromoog,outside of dusty connections on the pots

Overall,id say the micro is worthy in any analog synth tweakers arsenal....for its size,it packs a lot of bang...i use it in combonation with a opus 3 and it pretty much covers my needs.i would buy another in a heartbeat if some lowlife ripped it off.

This is pretty easy to use. I got it yesterday and I already know how to do lots of stuff! I just mess around with everything and this baby can create some pretty wicked sounds. I love it!

This has lots of neato features! I can't name any off the top of my head. I just know it rocks!

It has a wide variety of sounds. You can create anything imaginable! They are all pretty easy to figure out. It has really good sounds. Not just lots of shitty sounds like most synths.

I have only had mine a day but so far it works great...

I would die if anything happened to this. I have had it one day and it automatically is my favorite thing i own!

Coming from no synth experience before, I had the whole thing figured out
two days after I got it. It's playability is really great, everything is right at your fingertips.

The mod wheel is cool, there are no springs, so it's really easy to get controlled sweeps
The S&H is really neat, a friend of mine always says that it plays itself better than she
can. The ribbon controller is cool, but I don't get to use it much, as my
oscillator is in dire need of tuning.
Oh yeah! The audio input is nice, you can run a guitar through it, and use the moog for some
interessting effects.

Ok, look, it doesn't have alot of "sounds" or instruments, or any
of that Midi junk. But if your looking for some damn amazing
analog synth sounds, you've come to the right place.
Great for techno, rock, or whatever your fancy may be.

Mine is pretty tough as far as I can tell. I was having a bit of trouble with it a while back,
but I think that it was just dusty pots. It's been working fine for
quite some time now.

This machine is one of my favorite instruments.
It's really easy to use if you don't know anything about synths.
The size of it is nice, it can fit on an amphead or organ.
I have a choise between a Korg mono/poly, and my micro, I usually turn to the micro
A very wise friend of mine once said, " don't buy a synth unless there
is wood on it"
this one has wood.

This is the Minimoog for those that don't have $1200 to spend on such a lead synth. It has all the functionality of a Mini minus the three oscillators, but also has a few other goodies such as sample-and-hold, and Open System S-Trigger I/O's This is the epitome of a performance oriented analog synth. Very easy to use and very goo ssounding

This is a bare-bone synthesizer. It's non vel sensitive keyboard is well made up for in it's awesome ribbon controller. This capacitance sensing membrane strip allows for an intersiting and very epressive way of modulation.
You can get MIDI to CV convertors that make this somewhat of a MIDI device
Monophony is a good excuse for a player to wring every last bit of meaning out of each note.

The powerful, electrical sounds possible with the Micro are derivitave of the sort of sounds you will get out of any good Moog. The filters are the heart of this instrument, they are classic Moog filter ladders The Micromoog is a lead players dream...on a budget of course!

MY micro malfunctioned after 2 weeks, but had gone 17 years perfect before that It is a tough looking synth and performs like it looks

Well, Moog aain't around anymore, but because I have the scematics, I have been able to fix the unit myself. It could be a problem getting this unit fixed if you are not an electrical engineer

This synth has awakened me to the new analog truth, of real energy, of music.\ While it may not be the "ultimate" analog unit, it is a great analog synth.