Moog Synthesizer Feature Comparison

Update 09-23-2019

Over the course of my life I have had flight time with just about every Moog synthesizer model. I spent a couple of years compiling this comparison of them, both vintage and modern. This comparison does not include modulars or semi-modulars (IE Matriarch of Mother-32). To prevent "feature creep", I limited the comparison to shallow feature sets, noting where more extensive options were accessible either from the panel or via a software editor. Summary is my own opinion and is not absolute. Upgrades such as MIDI retrofits can change at any time.

I recommend that you use your browser feature "Open Link in New Tab" from the table of contents of my home page.

I admit the clarity isn't great for an HTML table, here is the raw CSV file if you desire your own table from the application of your choice.

Minimoog

Sonic 5/6

Satellite

Minitmoog

Micromoog

Multimoog

Polymoog Synthesizer

Polymoog Keyboard

Taurus I

Liberation

Prodigy

Source

Opus-3

Taurus II

Rogue

MG-1

Memorymoog

Memorymoog Plus

Sanctuary

Voyager

Voyager OS

Voyager XL

Little Phatty

Taurus III

Minitaur

Sirin

Sub Phatty

Sub 37

One

Power Supply

internal

external

internal

external

internal

external

Mono or Polyphonic

monophonic

paraphonic

monophonic

polyphonic

monophonic

polyphonic

monophonic

polyphonic

monophonic

paraphonic

polyphonic

# of voices

2**

8 or 16

Timbrality

mono

dual limited

mono

triple

Layer/Split

fixed split point

both

USB

yes

MIDI

yes

yes (in only)

yes

MIDI Retrofit

yes

limited

yes

not possible

yes

not possible

yes

not possible

yes

Patch Editing

full

limited

full

limited

full

data wheel

full

Patch Storage

preset

yes

Patch Capacity

12 presets

8 presets plus variable

14 presets

3 preset plus variable

100

128 or 896

100

128*

256

# of VCOs per voices

keyboard length

n/a

keyboard octave button(s)

yes

keyboard velocity

yes

keyboard aftertouch

yes

sequencer

yes

arpeggiator

yes

effects

multidrive

digital FX/reverb

VCO Waveforms

triangle, ramp, tri/ramp, square, 2x fixed pulse (reverse ramp VCO#3 only)

sawtooth, triangle, variable pulse ("quality")

ramp, variable pulse

ramp to pulse continuously variable

ramp, variable pulse

ramp

triangle, ramp, fixed pulse

triangle, ramp, variable pulse

ramp, fixed pulse tandem

triangle, ramp, variable pulse

triangle to ramp to pulse continuously variable

triangle, ramp, variable pulse

ramp

ramp/square

triangle to ramp to pulse continuously variable

variable pulse plus continuously variable triangle to ramp

VCO Octave footages

LO,32,16,8,4,2

32,8,2

MAN,32,16,8,4,2

16,8,4

32,16,8

16,8,4

16,8,4 tandem

16,8,4,2 (LO=VCO3 only)

LO,32,16,8,4,2

16,8,4,2

32,16,8 (limited MIDI note range)

16,8,4,2

pulse width modulation

yes

hard sync

yes

suboscillator

yes

beat frequency control

yes

ring mod

yes

cross mod

exponential

yes

exponential

linear

Noise Source

pink/white

pink

white

pink

pink/white

VCF (ladder unless otherwise specified)

24dB lowpass

24dB lowpass (early=diode ladder)

12dB OTA highpass into 12dB ladder lowpass

24dB lowpass

24dB lowpass master, 12dB per key (limited)

24dB lowpass

nndB lowpass plus 2nd nndB highpass or lowpass, parallel or series. (nn=6, 12, 18, 24)

nndB lowpass plus 2nd nndB highpass or lowpass, parallel or series.

nndB lowpass plus 2nd nndB highpass or lowpass, parallel or series. (nn=6, 12, 18, 24)

selectable 6dB, 12dB, 18dB, or 24dB lowpass

24dB lowpass

selectable 6dB, 12dB, 18dB, or 24dB lowpass

Moog lowpass and Oberheim SVF, parallel or series. Moog filter selectable 6dB, 12dB, 18dB, or 24dB lowpass. SEM selectable LP, HP, BP, or notch

Audio FM

yes

Audio input to VCF

yes

# of EGs

EG Controls

ADS shared D/R

AD zero or full sustain

AD full/no sustain shared D/R

ADS shared D/R

ADSR

AD full/no sustain shared D/R

ADSR

ADS shared D/R

ADSR*

ADSR

ADSR*

Pitch Bend Control

wheel

ribbon

wheel

MIDI

wheel

Modulation Control

wheel

MIDI

wheel

LFO

VCO#3 doubles as LFO

two LFOs each with triangle, square, up/down ramp

triangle, square, S&H

PWM LFO, 2x LFO per VCO (triangle only), VCF LFO (triangle, S&H).

triangle, square, S&H

triangle, square, up ramp, down ramp, S&H

triangle, square, S&H

triangle, square*

triangle, square, S&H

two syncable LFOs each w/triangle, square, up/down ramp, S&H*

triangle, square, up ramp, down ramp, S&H

LFO Modulation

Pitch, VCF

VCO1, VCO2, both, VCF, ring mod

Pitch, VCF, Waveshape

PWM, per VCO

Pitch, VCF

VCO1, VCO2, VCO3, PW1, PW2, PW3, VCF

Pitch, VCF, Waveshape, VCO2, VCO3, #

Pitch, VCF

Pitch, VCF, VCA

Pitch, VCF, Waveshape, VCO2, VCO3, #

Pitch, VCF, Waveshape, VCO2, VCO3, crossmod, #

matrix modulation

Accessories jack (six pin cinch-jones, legacy models only)

yes

Interfacing

Inputs: S-trig, OSC, Filter, VCA

Inputs: Pitch, Filter, Volume

CV/Trigger input/output

CV/Trigger input/output, VCF/volume/pitch CV inputs

CV/Trigger input/output

CV/Trigger output

CV/Trigger input/output

CV/Trigger output, two sweep pedal CV inputs

extensive

CV/Trigger output

Pitch/Trigger/VCF/Volume CV input, USB

Pitch/Trigger CV input, USB for editor

extensive

Production Years

1970-1981

1970-1979

1973-1979

1976-1977

1974-1981

1976-1981

1975-1980

1978-1980

1974-1981

1980-1983

1979-1981

1981-1984

1983-1984

1982-1984

1981-1983

1982-1983

1983-1985

2002-2015

2008-2009

2010-2018

2006-2013

2010-2012

2012-

2018-

2013-

2014-

2018-

Summary

King of the monosynths, the classic. Reissue "Model D" is faithful to original & adds MIDI, velocity, aftertouch but uses external power supply

Unusual VCO->VCA->VCF architecture. Great effects machine but not typical moog sound. Interesting modulation options but confusing interface.

weak sound, zero patch tweaking, zero interfacing

made only one year, defective aftertouch (no repair kit), weak sound, zero patch tweaking, worst of the moogs

Good starter moog for leads, bass, FX

extra VCO doesn't add much above Micromoog, hard sync sweep is limited

Full control interface. Early models badged "Polymoog Keyboard" until release of 14-preset model. Great interface but overhyped, weak moog sound, limited palette of sounds, highly prone to failure. Serial 3900 and higher had all service upgrades and are more reliable.

preset only, no better than full version. Signature "Vox Humana" preset has Gary Numan celebrity attachment

Undefeated bass monster but does little else. No decent MIDI retrofit. Popular with 1970s/80s prog rock groups.

Good expressive lead synth, weak on bass and FX. Weak sounding filter. "POLY" is simple TOS square wave organ and literally useless

Killer hard sync, limited lead synth, weak on bass, very little FX. Early models did not have CV/Trigger interfacing, was available as field upgrade.

Good hard sync, excellent bass and lead synth, very little FX, reliable. Early "data controller" interface w/o knobs but great sound. Early models did not have Roland drumsync interface, was available as field upgrade.

Moog's string machine, also has brass and organ sounds. Basically a shrunk down Polymoog. Not a high mark in Moog history.

weak successor to original Taurus but has that great contoured sweep for cool hard sync sounds. Often missing the 24VDC wallwart power supply.

same synth engine as Taurus II, good beginner synth. Often missing the 24VDC wallwart power supply.

good beginner synth, very limited palette of sounds. Sold through Radio Shack stores during early 80s. "POLY" is simple TOS square wave organ and literally useless

Excellent polysynth with nice modulation options, but limited expression and prone to failure. Extensive service upgrades on later models improved reliability.

adds MIDI and polyphonic/monophonic sequencer. Mono sequencer can be routed to external interfacing. Extensive service upgrades on later models improved reliability.

rebranded memorymoog plus sold to churches

Excellent monosynth with extensive modulation options and modern features. OS V3.x and higher adds many features under the menu. Panel backlighting added in 2004. Various colors and woods were made. Thirty "10th anniversary" models w/gold plated panels were made in 2013. Rackmount/tabletop format (Voyager RME) introduced in 2005.

Voyager "Old School" without MIDI or CPU. Uses same analog circuit board as Voyager.

Basically a Voyager with integrated CP251 & VX351, adds ribbon controller

Good economy monosynth with modern features. "Slim Phatty" w/o keyboard also made in rackmount/tabletop format.

The worthy successor to the original. Limited edition, 1500 units produced.

Bass synth model using Taurus III engine. Tabletop or rackmount ears. *OS rev2 adds many features accessible w/ Editor software.

Same as Minitaur with extended MIDI note range, limited edition with different faceplate, 2500 units produced. *OS rev2 adds many features accessible w/ Editor software.

Not just a bass synth. Good economy monosynth with modern features. Panel interface is basic with much more accessible using SHIFT button & with editor. Minitaur core VCOs with variable waveshaper, many options under the hood accessible with editor.

Impressive range of options, excellent front panel interface. *More options using SHIFT button & editor. **Paraphonic means two independent pitches can be played but they share the same VCF-VCA chain including EGs.

The polysynth that customers have been begging for, with probably the most extensive feature set Moog has ever offered (sans modulars). Reported not to sound like a Memorymoog or Minimoog, but offers a huge palette of sounds. Digital reverb is world class Eventide effects. Digital FX are impressive.

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