Arturia's Moog Modular V2

Mohoyoho · Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2004 8:29 am Post subject: Arturia's Moog Modular V2

I just downloaded the demo, and I am intrigued by this softsynth. I have read Howard's review below, and I am wondering if the Mod V has improved since the review. I like what I hear, and I especially like the sequencer. But I have never owned an analogue synth, let alone a Moog Modular. The Mod V kind of reminds me of a flight simulator program from a few years ago, and it makes me want to know more about modular synths. Are there any users of this soft synth here?

elektro80 · Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2004 8:49 am Post subject:

I am running it on a G4. I like this synth.

It is "less modular" than the Clavia products but this is really not a big problem. The sound is nice too. Recommended!

Mohoyoho · Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2004 10:31 am Post subject:

Thanks for the reply. Do you think its sound has improved since it first was released?

mosc · Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2004 3:24 pm Post subject:

Just after I reviewed it there was a new release which was said to have better sound. I haven't tried it though.

Mohoyoho · Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2004 7:38 pm Post subject:

This demo has really intrigued me. I'm beginning to understand why a bunch of you have turned to the G2. Now I find myself looking at the G2, but the price is a bit stiff. Is that G2 engine any good, or would I be wishing I came up with the extra bucks for the keyboard? Anyway, the MMV might quench my thirst for awhile.

elektro80 · Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2004 8:06 pm Post subject:

The MMV is excellent, but I guess you can get a Nord Modular ( G1 ) secondhand. It is not as nice a the G2 but there is nothing wrong with it. I think it is great!

zynthetix · Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2004 8:29 pm Post subject:

mosc · Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2004 10:30 am Post subject:

I figure you probably have enough MIDI keyboards, so if you have a MIDI knob box, the the G2 Engine is really swell. That Behringer BCR2000 knob box looks like a dream to me. I would recommend that you buy an expansion board for the engine when you get it.

IMHO, comparing a MMV soft synth to a G2 is like comparing a bicycle to a sports car. The G2 has soooo many more capabilites that it really is in another league.

Mohoyoho · Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2004 12:43 pm Post subject:

Howard,
I don't know if this is a fair comparison or not, but does the G2 sound anything like the Moog Modular? And by the way, what is the story about your Moog? When did you get it? What modules do you have? There aren't many of those around. Are you the original owner?

elektro80 · Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2004 12:55 pm Post subject:

The G2 does not really have a sound of its own like vintage designs like the ARP Odyssey, the CS 80, the early Oberheims, the Polymoog and stuff like that. If it resembles anything it might be the better moments of the Roland 700 system.. only far far better sounding. A Moog modular does have a sound of its own but this is not annoying the same way a Polymoog is annoying. It is about circuit design and components. Howard´s Moog probably has pretty cool filters and the VCOs are fat and full. These things really are in need of constant maintenance.

mosc · Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2004 4:03 pm Post subject:

mosc · Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2004 4:19 pm Post subject:

The G2 can sound exactly like the Moog Modular if I want it to, except for the noise and hum. When I first started comparing them, I noticed there was a big difference in the sounds of the saws and square waves. The Moog's waveforms are approximate whereas the Nord Modular's are almost perfect - when looked at on the scope. If you are carefull and filter the NM oscillators, they can sound like the Moog's. The filters sound very much alike, but with the Moog, you get only one 24 dB low pass filter. On the G2, you get lots of variations you can play with, and if you take Rob Hordijk's filter tutorial, you'll have many more possibilities.

The one thing the G2 doens't have is the 14 band fixed filter bank which is a serious shortcoming in my opinion. The fixed filter bank is an essential analog synthesis module.

IMHO, the original Moog sequencer was just OK. Like almost all sequencers, it only went in one direction. Still, it did have little push buttons for each stage that would force the sequencer to jump to that stage. There was a voltage trigger input with the same function too. The G2 sequencers can't do that. The G2 can be used for forward/reverse operation though, but with some difficulty.

Sound wise, the G2 has it all over the Moog. There are many more modules, more filters, more oscillators, distortion modules, phase shifters, pitch and frequency shifters, chorus modules, multipliers, scale quantizers, delays, reverb, and more. I think the Moog Modular is certainly a great synthesizer from a historical perspective, and, like Bob Moog himself says, the Arturia is a great learning tool, but it ain't all that hot as compared to a G2 or even a NM1. And, I never mentioned - the Moog is just monophonic. Crying or Very sad

I would have sold my Moog years ago, but my wife Juli made me promise not to do it. She sees is as an heirloom. My kids aren't interested it at all, so maybe someday it will go up in an estate sale or be donated to a museum.

I play it from time to time, mostly to teach people what analog synthesis is all about. After a student plays the Moog for about an hour, they are ready to try the Nord Modular. Then they see how great 35 years of technological advancement really is. I still use my 35 year old speakers though. Laughing

And, I should not fail to mention that it looks impressive in the studio, even if it takes up a lot of valuable floor space. Rolling Eyes

seraph · Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2004 4:30 pm Post subject:

zynthetix · Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2004 6:50 pm Post subject:

Mohoyoho · Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2004 7:25 pm Post subject:

Darn it! Now I want a G2, and I can't afford one.

elektro80 · Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2004 7:32 pm Post subject:

Why not a secondhand Nord Modular.. the NM1? check for it on ebay. There is nothing wrong with that one.

paul e. · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 9:46 am Post subject:

mosc..that is an interesting analysis of the objective qualities of your old moog and the new g2

strange thing is, subjectively, i can't agree

mind you , i do not own a g2 or an orginal moog

but i have played with a g2 quite extensively at the music store [i have a friend there who lets me play with gear after-hours] , and i have the moog plug in ...and i have heard quite a few examples of the g2 synth here..and the first thiing that has awlays struck me immediately is the g2 is much thinner sounding and obviously'digital' sounding when compared to real analog synths, the moog plug in, or even the VA moog voyager [which i also only have played in a music store]

the sound of the g2 reminds me of a cold nordic wind..maybe a 'swedish' wind ..an immediately recognizeable sound characteristic that is very 'nord'.

i know there are many g2 fanatics here..and like mac users, maybe a bit 'evangelical' about the soundof the g2

in other words, anyone should be sceptical about the claims of the g2 sounding 'better than a moog'..and really play with a g2 and determine for yourself..

after all , sound is subjective in the end

and, nowadays, with fast CPU'S, these softsynths are becoming very powerful..add to that , all the power of a DAW, and you may not need to spend 4,000 for a hardware synth

for that price, you can get a new fast Mac/PC, a controller keyboard, and a whack of softsynths

mosc · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 10:25 am Post subject:

Well, I didn't say the G2 sounded better than the Moog, but I wouldn't say the Moog sounds better than the G2 either.

I'm not surprised someone took me to task about this. There are lots of people with strong opinions about how Nord Modulars sound. I've been living with both for many years, thought the same amps and speakers. I offer my opinion for what it is worth.

One thing, don't forget that all of the G2 sounds heard on this site are mp3 files. Mp3 encoding messes up the sound significantly. Also, the sound of the G2, or Moog modular for that matter, is dependent on the patch being played. If you want a G2 to sound like a Moog modular, you can certainly achieve that.

Rob Hordijk has done a tremendous amount of thinking and anaysis about analog sound. He's some up with some G2 patches that emulate the analog sound amazingly well. I won't describe the techniques he uses because I think he's in the process of preparing something for publication. I only mention it because if you really want that analog sound, you can get it. Oh, and the Nord Modulars can do tubes too.

Laughing

paul e. · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 11:29 am Post subject:

good point about the mp3..tihs is true, it does mess up the sound

wht i was really saying i think is, a fast mac/pc and softsythns is a good alternative way to spend 4,000

and i also thought t was important to state that not all people [i.e. me hehe] find the sound of the nords to be for lack of a better word. 'superior'..at least when compared to other softsynths and VA emulation

to my ears, subjectively, the arturia moog synth sounds more satisfying than the nords signature sound

p.s. is it possible that the noise/hum/tuning issues are what makes some of the old synths have that certain magic quality..imperfection

after all, it is the pursuit of perfect clean sound that lead to some awful synths like the Korg M1 etc

jksuperstar · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 12:09 pm Post subject:

mosc · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 12:13 pm Post subject:

Mohoyoho · Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2005 6:50 am Post subject:

Well, I eventually bought the MMV2 and have been playing it for about a month now. I've come up with about 30 or more patches of my own, and I still am intrigued with this little soft synth. Since learning the MMV2 I have noticed that I am now better at designing patches on my other synths. The MMV2 has helped me understand the subtractive process more fully and has helped me to organize myself when creating a patch. For that alone, it was worth its price. But the sounds are equally incredible. However, there is a con to this soft synth: now I want a modular synth more than ever. I find myself at the MOTM and Doepfer websites. Hopefully I can weather this out, because I can't afford to get into one of those never ending systems.

I also have been looking at the Nords. The NM1 with a keyboard still fetches a high price on Ebay. Also, I have never knowingly heard a Nord modular. There is no store within 100 miles that carries it, so I don't know if I would like the sound. From what I have read there seems to be quite a division when it comes to liking the Nord sound. Hopefully I'll get a chance to hear and toy with one in June.

zynthetix · Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2005 1:47 pm Post subject:

I am still not clear on what is meant by "the nord sound". If it is referrence to Nord Leads or presets, then I understand....those sounds have a specific quality. If not, then....? I hear some differences between Reaktor and the Nord, but I think this is due to the way the respective processors round numbers differently in attempt to simulate analog. I can only assume this is what people are referring to.

Mohoyoho · Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2005 2:51 pm Post subject:

I'm not sure what the Nord Sound is either. The only Nord I have been near was the Nord Lead at a Guitar Center. That's really no place to test drive one, and the one there kept getting notes stuck. Unfortunately there aren't too many exotic keyboard stores around E. Tenn. Everything here is the basic Yamaha, Roland, and Korg romplers. No MS 2000s, JP8000s, Virus, Nord, Waldorf, etc. I had to special order my Alesis Ion. One store does have the Moog Voyager and Moogerfoogers, but that is about it.

chuck · Joined: Apr 26, 2005 Posts: 58 Location: cincinnati, oh

I hope someone is still watching this thread.

I have a MMV2 and love it. Given that, and also that I have Absynth 3, is there an advantage to getting the G2 engine? I have an Edirol keyboard for a controller. Is that adequate for dealing with the G2?

thanks!