Moog

Practically synonymous with the word "synthesizer," Moog Music, Inc. has been the source of several, timeless instrument designs for over 60 years. Named after founder Dr. Robert Moog, the company has continually refined their designs since their humble beginnings producing theremin kits in the 1950s. By the late 60s, the expansive Moog modular synthesizers were attracting musicians seeking to explore previously untouched sonic territory, including Wendy Carlos, The Beatles, and others. Carlos' 1968 album Switched-On Bach exclusively utilized Moog synthesizers, and represented a pivotal moment in the history and public perception of electronic music.

However, the early modular synth was largely inaccessible to anyone outside of academia and the most successful of musicians. But upon release of the now legendary Minimoog in 1971, the East Coast synthesis philosophy was solidified in a succinct package, while also being vastly more affordable. The stars seemed to align with the Minimoog, combining the accessible piano-style keyboard format with the now legendary architecture of VCOs, four-pole ladder filter, and ADSR envelope generators, and remains the most recognizable Moog instrument to this day.

Today, the legacy of Bob Moog lives on through a wide range of synthesizers and instruments. The recent surge in popularity of the Eurorack format spawned the release of several semi-modular instruments, beginning with the Mother-32 and followed by the DFAM and Subharmonicon, while the Grandmother and Matriarch incorporate a built-in keyboard and offer plenty of their own Eurorack compatible patch points. No need to worry if modular isn't your thing though, the ultra-flexible Subsequent 37 and the expansive One polysynth round out the lineup of Moog instruments. There exists a Moog synth for everyone, and veteran synthesists and newcomers alike continue to turn to Moog instruments for sound and music of all kinds.