Minimoog Model D back in production
It is reissued 52 years after it invention, and is currently being shipped to Moog dealers worldwide
Synthesiser manufacturers Moog have announced that the iconic Minimoog Model D is back in production, 52 years after it was invented in 1970.
The synthesisers for the new production run are being made at the company’s factory in Asheville, North Carolina, USA and are already being shipped to distributors and dealers in the US and internationally.
An all-analogue synth, the Model D was originally designed by Bob Moog and his team. It rose to become a much-loved and influential instrument during the 1970s due to its pre-wired modules and fitted keyboard, meaning that it could be played instantly and intuitively without needing patch cables.
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It became particularly popular in the burgeoning funk, disco and electronic music genres, with artists such as Herbie Hancock, Kraftwerk, Parliament-Funkadelic, Pink Floyd, Giorgio Moroder and Sun Ra listed among the artists who used the Model D in their recorded music and live performances.
The synthesiser’s 2022 production run retains the sound engine and audio signal path of the original, and is built by hand to match its original specifications. It also retains some new features from the 2016 reissue production run, which includes a dedicated analogue LFO and a velocity tracking keyboard
A brand new feature – a spring loaded pitch wheel – has also been added, meaning that the wheel returns the original centre point after being released.
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Steve Dunnington, the Vice President of Product Development at Moog Music said in a statement: “This attention to detail in materials and build allows us to connect directly to the legacy and character of this legendary instrument.
“The Minimoog Model D is more than just a collection of circuits in a box – it’s a true musical instrument that is a joy to program and play,” he continued.
“Bob Moog always recognised the importance of an instrument’s feel, and we’ve gone to great lengths to honour his practices through the re-introduction and manufacture of this beautiful synthesiser.”
Watch a video of the Minimoog Model D in action below with a live performance from the Will Gregory Moog Ensemble:
For more information on the Minimoog Model D take a look at the official website.
***Isaac Muk is Mixmag's Digital Intern, *follow him on Twitter****