Review: Arturia Minimoog V

Instead of the usual technical review (there are dozens already), I’d like to present a review of the Minimoog V software synthesizer that deals more with the aesthetics, character and overall instrumental qualities of this wonderful little synthesizer. If you want an oscillator count, you won’t get it here.

First off, let me start by saying that I have owned an actual Minimoog (a sale I regret to this day!) and the Minimoog V from Arturia is a near perfect replica. To those of you who have that indefinable quality of auditory perception which grants you the ability to differentiate a sound generated via analog or digital circuts, the Arturia is close- very close, but no cigar. This comment is meant only for those analog-only snobs out there that insist everything sounds better analog. Yes, there is a difference in quality, character and feel of the sound, but what I am after when using an instrument is available in the Minimoog V: 99% analog simulation.

Out of all the commercial analog-modeling synths out there (there are many!), the MiniMoog V has one clear advantage: an ease of use that was developed by Mr. Robert Moog himself. There are far too many free and cheap analog synths available which hype the sounds they are capable of producing as “screaming leads”, “buzzing basses”, “massive pads” and “killer hornz” (with a ‘z’, yes), etc., and unless you really know what you’re doing, that is really all they can do. The MiniMoog V (and it’s hardware father) are true musical instruments, capable of a wide gamut of subtle emotive sonification.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 15th, 2009 at 4:24 pm and is filed under Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.