Moog Minimoog Model D 2022 Edition

It doesn't get much more original than this: the Minimoog Model D 2022 Edition by Moog is a subtly expanded and modernized reissue of the only true Minimoog synthesizer aka Model D, which was once built from 1970 to 1982. At that time, the Minimoog was a compact and thus stage-ready compilation of the most important module from the famous Moog modular system including keyboard and is not only because of its logical structure the blueprint for most analog and later digital synthesizers that have appeared since the Minimoog. The massive and voluminous sound of the Model D has been inspiring musicians of various genres and listeners alike for over 50 years. Anyone who knows music by Klaus Schulze, Tangerine Dream, Keith Emerson, Herbie Hancock or Rick Wakeman (YES) has already heard the Minimoog.

Modulation means life

Modulations in the Minimoog are subject to a certain purism, so you find two ADS envelopes, which are permanently assigned to the filter and the VCA. The cutoff parameter can follow the played notes, in addition a switchable four-stage keyboard tracking (off - 1/3 & 2/3 - 3/3) is integrated. On the left of the control panel is the controller area, besides Glide you can set here which modulation source is allowed to affect the oscillators and/or the filter. Oscillator 3 respectively the filter envelope and noise respectively the LFO are available for selection. Mixtures from two sources are also possible. Since oscillator 3 can be decoupled from the pitch control, it can be used as a second LFO respectively as FM source. The intensity of the modulation source(s) is controlled by the modulation wheel to the left of the keyboard.

Connections & special tricks

In terms of connections, the Minimoog Model D 2022 Edition is quite close to its ancestor. In terms of control, the MIDI trio is the most advanced interface in this instrument. The keyboard and MIDI interface generate Pitch and Gate as well as Aftertouch and Velocity; however, the last two are not processed by the internal sound generation. On the input side, gate, pitch, filter, loudness (VCA) and mod source are offered for processing control voltages. In this respect, Aftertouch and Velocity can very well be routed to these destinations via patch cables. Since this Model D generates and accepts V-Trig (gate) instead of the aged S-Trig (Schmitt trigger), the synthesizer is compatible with Eurorack modules, among others. Audio is output with higher and lower level mono, right next to it is the audio input, which has its own level control in the mixer section. This is where one of the best-known tricks for giving the Minimoog more sound variation is "hidden": simply patch one of the two outputs to the input, level it in the mixer and turn up the resonance, and the adjustable filter feedback shows its effect. The sound is fuller, much more resonant, clippier and a bit less predictable; still a hot tip - elsewhere this effect is called "brute factor".