What it is
The combination of the very "fat" sounding VCO´s with the (rightly) famous filter is extremely musical. Because of its warmth (cumulatied even harmonics) is the mini also quite "dirty", which can lead to wonderful sounds. Its focus is to be seen rather in the interaction of the three VCO´s - like tunings - and filter gradients. It can also produce quasi-ring-modulated sounds (frequency modulation), if Osc3 is used as the modulation frequency for Osc1 and the mod wheel is open. Sounds reminding to sreeming electric guitars can be heard when the parameter "Amount Of Contour" is encouraged - by the specific behavior of the filter, the Amount also acts as a sort of "Drive". The return of the signal into the audio input can even generate more extreme, distorted sounds. True Dirt!
This synthesizer exerts a strong magic and it is hard to escape this magic. A synthesizer for any kind of forceful melodies, but also for more abstract sounds. Abstraction is mainly caused by detuning of the 3 VCO´s, filter-curves and through the use of the modulation wheel. Filter-emphasis (resonance) and Contour Amount are critical parameters that complement ideally the sound of these VCO´s.
In the photos my new Minimoog is seen, just after it had arrived. At second glance, it is indeed much better than I dared hope for it - now, at first, a service along with cleaning is due. The keyboard needs new bushings and has be refocused.
MOOG has not turned me on that much in recent days, but after the first few hours with this little monster this has changed. The lack of complexity it makes up by its richness in the sound. The Minimoog has a very clear character and hence an extremely high recognition value!
Extensibility
The Minimoog Model D is not so good for expandings as it´s successor Voyager Old School. Pitch, cutoff frequency and volume are provided for external control. Up to 3 pedals (Moog 958) may be connected.
Today, very hard to find is this pretty joystick XY controller (Moog 959). It gets power from the Mini and has two outputs (cables which can be patched into the appropriate inputs).
I have never seen the Sequencer System (960 sequencer, 961 Interface, 962 Sequential Switch, possibly in the appropriate cabinet) - and at least it seems to be not so widespreaded nowadays.
I will examine in the near future, whether as the Doepfer A174 joy-stick can be adapted to the Minimoog (information welcome!) and look forward to the musical experiences yet to come. More about Moog at a later date.
Here is a short clip (a test with my new HD-Cam Sanyo Xacti FH1):
CD´s
