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Moog | Memorymoog (Plus)

Description



The Memorymoog was the last official synth, made back in 1982, to come from Moog before they eventually went bankrupt and out of business. As a result, it was never fully completed; as MIDI technology was just coming out, the Memorymoog never did get to fully implement MIDI capability. There were two versions of this synth: the Memorymoog and the Memorymoog Plus (the version can be determined via the Autotune feature). The Plus model added a basic MIDI implementation, a Sequencer, and it also had more stable oscillator control, making the Plus model more valuable to collectors than the standard model.

Due to the seemingly incomplete MIDI implementation as well as a less than perfect user-interface/operating system, some popular upgrades and retrofits have been produced and these days it is very common to find Memorymoogs with these retrofits. The most valuable upgrade is the Lintronics Advanced Memorymoog (LAMM), originally designed for the standard model, but also available for the Plus model. It provides a redesigned operating system, advanced MIDI functions and improved hardware components. Kenton Electronics produces MIDI retrofits for both the standard and Plus Memorymoog models (Kenton and Lintronics can even install these upgrades for you, considering the delicate nature and value of the Memorymoog). These upgrades can substantially increase the stability, MIDI functionality and value of the Memorymoog.

The Memorymoog is like having six Minimoogs stacked in one! Features include VCO syncing, sample and hold, and separate filters for each voice! It also has a Unison mode for a fat 18 oscillator monophonic bass and lead sound. And as its name would suggest, it has memory storage - 100 patches! It should also be noted that, while they appear relatively rugged, Memorymoogs are prone to problems, notably missing or stuck voices.

Moog relabled the Memorymoog so that David Van Koevering (Moog technician and salesperson) could market it to churches and christian music groups, which he did quite successfully as 50 to 100 were sold.

BrandMoog
ModelMemorymoog (Plus)
DeviceSynth
TypeKeys
Engine TypeAnalog
EngineVCO
Voices (max)6
Multitimbral1
Oscillators3
LFOtriangle, pulse, sine, and square waves
NoiseY
Engine Detailed 3 VCO's per voice (pulse, saw, triangle, or any combination)
Filter (VCF)One 24 dB/oct lowpass VCF w/ ADSR per voice!
SequencerPlus model had a sequencer
ArpeggiatorSample & Hold. up-down-first to last with latch on off feature.
Keys61
Key typeKeys
VelocityNo
AftertouchNo
CV-gateCV/GATE
Extra infoMIDI I-O-T on the Plus model, and available by retro-fit/modifications on the standard.
Produced:1982 - 1985
Legend: Obvious Y: Yes, N: No, N/A: Not Applicable
VCO Voltage Controlled Oscillator DCO Digital Controlled Oscillator
LFO Low Frequency Oscillator Sub Sub Oscillator
VCF Voltage Controlled Filter VCA Voltage Controlled Amplifier
Velocity As with a piano, the harder you hit a key, the louder the sound, unlike most organs which always produce the same loudness no matter how hard you hit a key. Aftertouch Pressing a key after you activated it. Channel Aftertouch, no matter which key, it will send a Channel message. Poly Aftertouch, sends the pressure per key instead of the whole channel.
Values for OSC, LFO, Filter, Envelope are per voice unless stated otherwise.

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