Moog Source MIDI Retrofit

The Moog Source is a programmable monophonic synthesizer with built-in arpeggiator and a simple sequencer. The arpeggiator is loads of fun. It features two VCOs, each with triangle, ramp, and variable pulse; VCO1 can go from 32' to 8', and VCO2 can go from 32' to 2' and can be synced to VCO1. An octave button above the necessary pitch bend/mod wheel extends it up into the 1' range. There's a real live mixer for VCOs and noise source followed by the classic Moog VCF. The VCF and VCA each have independent ADSR generators, a big improvement over the Minimoog's ADRs. The LFO can be routed to VCO and/or VCF and can be triangle or square, and an LED indicates the LFO rate. The LFO also doubles as the clock for the arpeggiator. S&H can be routed to VCF or VCO+VCF, but it's a fixed level and is not attenuated by the mod wheel. You can store 16 presets in the Source.

If you know your way around an analog synth with knobs, you won't have trouble with this. Don't let the lack of knobs put you off - the data wheel makes it a breeze to alter patches. I especially like the weighted inertia built into the wheel, it's easy to fly to extremes. And it's WAY better than a set of crappy plus/minus buttons or R*****'s "Alpha" wheel.

On the rear panel are audio out, Cassette interface, CV In/Out and Trig In/Out. There's a later version that includes a drum interface via DIN SYNC jack that interfaces to Roland or Korg drum machines. I don't remember whether the Source is the master or the slave, it's been over ten years since I used the DIN Sync but it did work well.

The factory presets are OK, the "Taurus" is quite usable. It is true that the Source does a good Taurus pedal impersonation, I have the Minimoog, Memorymoog, Liberation, Polymoog, and Micromoog and *none* of them cops a good Taurus like the Source does.

The owner's manual does a good job explaining the functions of this synth. The "service manual" is strictly schematics and calibration, there are no circuit descriptions.

Since this was designed to replace the Minimoog, it may be best to compare the two.

The keyboard doesn't feel as nice as the Minimoog, but the Source has a better design where you won't ever have triggering problems with dirty contacts. The Source's keyboard is only 3 octaves as opposed to 3-1/2 octaves of a Minimoog; yes there's an octave button but it's not the same as having a longer keyboard. The Source's keyboard is plenty long for bass work, but not for extensive lead work.

The LFO on the Source is rather limited in that it won't go into audio range, 100hz is tops. The Minimoog's 3rd VCO in LFO mode can be used in the audio range and can track the keyboard, and I miss these features in the Source. The glide is very good sounding; not the same as the Minimoog but much better than the Micromoog.

How does it sound? The filter sounds fat and the VCOs are rock stable, and I sometimes miss the 3rd VCO that's in a Minimoog. The Source *does* have VCO Sync which the Mini does not, and that's a big plus. In the fifteen years I've owned the Source, I've found that it is best for Minimoog leads and Taurus basses. Only a Minimoog will do a Minimoog bass, there *is* a difference. Neither is better or worse for bass, it depends on your taste.

Two full ADSRs give the Source a notch over the Mini's ADR envelopes, and they are snappy like the Minimoog.

The Source's noise source has that horrible "thumping" sound and loses out. The Mini's noise source is much more usable.

There is no external input to the VCF on the Source like there is on the Minimoog, but it's not hard to mod it.

Way way back when they first started, I got the Encore Electronics MIDI Interface - not only does it add MIDI I/O, it expands patch memory from 16 to *256* patches. This is done using 16 banks by 16 presets and is accessable over MIDI. You lose the sequencer (I don't miss it), but you gain the ability to sync the arpeggiator to MIDI clock. The MIDI interface receives MIDI Patch Select, Filter Cutoff, Pitch Bend, Bank Select, Note On/Off, and a bunch of other things I haven't tried yet. You can dump and load all the patches via MIDI SysEx, but cassette load is still there for old sound storage. I love this thing, it's so nice to play and control from a weighted MIDI controller. See http://www.encoreelectronics.com for more details. It's *worth* the money.

This things cops a very good Minimoog lead sound and Taurus bass pedal if you're into that sort of style. It's not ideal for live tweaking, a panel full of knobs is still the best tool for that. But if you want that fat Moog sound, this will get it. The beating of the VCOs is a very nice effect.

This is an excellent bass machine for live playing. I used it for years as a left hand bass in dance bands. That VCO sync and complete programmability make it a great tool on stage and in the studio.

My Source has some modifications that I added. I replaced the poor noise source with the ability to route VCO2 to FM the filter. That alone opened up a lot of tonal palettes in the source, especially for bass.

When you put the VCOs in sync, the pitch wheel now controls the pitch of VCO2 only; when you use it like this you can get wild sync sweep effects. Too bad you can't route an ADSR to the synced VCO though.

It's been extremely reliable. I carried it in an Anvil flight case for years.

Moog Music doesn't exist anymore. If you need parts, you'll have to look elsewhere. Fortunately the Source doesn't use any rare ICs like CEM chips, but the membrane switch pad has been known to wear out. Mine has been fine.

Encore Electronics is very responsive and helpful.

I think the Source is extremely underrated these days. You can find them for $500 yet Minimoogs are fetching $2000 and up on eBay. The Source has been my main bass unit for many years, and the Encore kit makes it 10x better with control over MIDI. It was the first Moog I ever owned back in 1985. I chose it over a $600 Minimoog because it had VCO sync and programmability. I didn't get a Minimoog until 1993.

So where does the Source fall in with the rest of my Moogs? Here's my personal favorites, from top to bottom:

Memorymoog - best for polyphonic and sound FX.
Minimoog - for that "Minimoog" sound and for experimentation with knobs.
Source - for overall excellent bass sounds and quick patch change, live substitute for Minimoog solos.
Liberation - for lead solos and expression (force sensor, pitch ribbon, great LH controllers)
Micromoog - sound FX and Q&D bass machine, but filter is not as ballsy as a Mini but great for processing external sounds.
Polymoog - strings and pads, weakest filter of the line (other than the godawful Satellite/Minitmoog).

I could talk about the features I wish it had and what I hate about it, but the Source has it strengths and it serves a very good purpose in my music. Doesn't have a 3rd VCO? 95% of the bass sounds I use don't need it anyway.

The Source can push some serious bass tones and can rattle your china. Often I will find a good bass sound on my Minimoog, and then I will duplicate it in the Source for later use. The knobs on a Mini are so immediate, I can find a sound fast and once I find it then I copy it. The only Minimoog sounds I can't duplicate are those bass sounds that *growl* (the Minimoog's VCF is unique for this sound) and those sounds that require a third VCO.

I tried the Studio Electronics SE-1 and I didn't think it was good enough to replace the Source. The SE-1 is a great synth, but it's not a Moog. No virtual analog can come close to a Moog. I've heard that a Waldorf Pulse does a great analog synth emulation but I haven't tried it. So far, the Source reigns and if it were lost I'd replace it with nothing but a Source.