“I was never worried that synthesizers would replace musicians. First of all, you have to be a musician in order to make music with a synthesizer”
Robert Moog interview with Jason Gross in 1997 
The Synthesizer can be defined as an electronic machine that produces and controls sound and with the use of pedals and keyboards combines simple waveforms to produce more complex sounds, such as those of various other instruments. The Synth as it’s known colloquially has been the catalyst for countless billboard hits, dance tracks and albums over the last half-century. The Synth and the music is produced has had many contributors over years, however the main contributor and the focus of this blog is on the American pioneer Robert Moog. His dedication, fundamental creations and the simplicity which he added to the his revolution Moog synthesizers starting the 1960s allowed electronic music based sounds not only be created by non-musicians but could allow for live performances, reducing the reliance on magnetic tapes and allowing for new sounds and amazing music to be produced by artist for decades to come. The focus of this blog will be to examine the history of Robert Moog and his Synthesizers, look at in depth his most famous two creations, the Minimoog and Moog Modular Synthesizers, and explore famous works by well-known artist that utilised Moog Synths to create their works.
“Other kids went out and beat each other up or played baseball, and I built electronics”
Robert Moog reflection on his younger years in a 2013 recap on his life by Kyle McGovern
Moog Synthesizers-History; Robert Moog’s development of complex electronic music systems were derived from the inability for fluency to be achieved with the then current electronic based machines. As he stated “the way that electronic music was being created had many limitations as these large, heavy machines were creating electronic sounds, but at extreme time, cost and could perform a limited range of function, in my opinion this had to change…” after utilising funds from external sources and support from academics within the electrical field (Myron Hoffman from the university of Toronto, Herbert Deutsch from the University of Miami) he developed his first modular synthesizer labelled Prototype in 1964 which utilised basic blocks system to allow the system to create its electronic sound while utilising a basic voltage system to allow the electrical signals to be fluent while easy to control. The developments of this product lead to the creation of his company Moog Electronic for which would lead to the creation of the Moog Modular series, the genesis for the modern day synth.
“ A genius for which has no equal in the field of electronic music….without him my job would be a hundred times difficult, or worse… For every electronic artist, or musician in general the patent number 3475623 is one that should be remembered ; its the patent for the first synthesizer, Roberts (Moog) synth”
” Electronic artist Giorgio Moroder on Robert Moog after his death in 2005
Moog Modular Synthesizer; realised in 1964, the introduction of this machine would go on to change the course of music and influence decades of future instrument design. The machine itself was created with individual electronic modules, encased within a wooden frame, and utilised voltage-control as a revolutionary way of creating powerful sounds and distinctive octaves never achieved before. While considered sophisticated and dynamic at its first release, compared to the older electronic based machined realised during the 1950s and early 60s, Moog’s invention was simplistic and could allow music to be created at a faster rate utilising new sounds, as the inceptions of System 55 and System 35 built on from the basic model and allowed it to be relevant for up to twenty years.
“In my own personal view, the synth ( Moog Modular Synthesizer) is one of the most recognizable synthesizers of all time, the archetype to the way synths should be designed and utilised” Musician Keith Emerson at the 50th anniversary of the release of the Moog Modular Synthesizer
50th anniversary of Moog Synth
Minimoog Synthesizer; The development of the Minimoog was utilised as while the advent of the Moog Synthesizers were impressive, there mobility was an issue due to their size and the expensive amount used to pay for the item made the owners wary of their movement; The Solution was the advent of the Minimoog. Developed in 1970, it was a basic system that included the most important parts of the modular synth in a compact package. Very iconic in its own right, the system has been in demand since its inception in the 70s, with a reissuing of the product in 2002 by Moog himself before his death. While only monophonic, and utilising three-oscillator (compared to the 36 on the system 55) its transportation and simplistic nature made it a huge among musicians and transformed live shows forever.
The different sounds of the Minimoog (Original)
“When it was first being realised and utilised, it gave keyboardist like myself new control and freedom…for the first time we could compete with the guitarist…in my eyes these absolutely changed the face of music” Keyboardist Rick Wakeman on the impact the Minimoog had on himself and music industry, information gathered in 1990 article
The Moog realised synths has played important roles within the release of popular music since their inception in 1964 and 1970 respectively. The following is a small collection of tracks and their artist that utilised the Moog synths and the influence this had on the wider musical and social audience since there realise (this collection has no bearing to record sales, but merely a personal reflection from the author and how from the author view these tracks had a positive impact on the music world and expanded the importance of the Moog synths).
- Wendy Carlos; Switched-On Bach– This started it all for the Moog based synths, as realised in 1968 using the early prototype of the Moog Modular Synth, the album effectively was a reissue Bach classic music, but utilising electronic synthesizer. Its three Grammys, billboard success and critical success allowed for the impact of electronic music to grow and the sales of Moog based synths to increase dramatically. Sample of Wendy Carlos ‘Switched-On Bach’
- The Doors; Waiting for the Sun– The third album that was realised by the American band in 1969, its influence with in modern music was important as the band utilised the Moog Modular Synth instead of a bass player. The Keyboardist Ray Manzarek created new sounds with the device, allowing classical songs such as ‘hello, I love you’ be created and help popularise Moog’s devices. The Doors “Hello, I love You” using Moog’s Keyboard
- Donna Summers; I Feel Love- This single realised in 1977 was important, not due to the its high billboard position and selling performance, as it was the first song to utilise a complete synthetic backing track using only Moog system 55 synth. Created by Giorgio Moroder, this song mass marketed Moog’s synth to a whole new genre in disco, making a new market for his machine, and new possibly in sound and production quality. Donna Summers ‘I Feel Love’ with Giorgio Moroder backing track
- Emerson, Lake & Palmer; Lucky Man– While not a massively successful song (a top 20 position in the Netherlands) it was the first to comprise of a synth solo using a Moog product. Showing the versatility of the synth and the power synth based music could have with in rock; it became a staple of rock music over the decade. Other note towards the group, the 1970 self-titled track which the tune lucky man was featured on also displayed three live tracks, all utilising the Minimoog displaying the importance of the sound quaintly the synth could bring and how the creation of the live tracks with the synth were similar to those recorded in the studio. Emerson, Lake & Palmer ” Lucky Man” with Moog’s Synth solo
References:
Bijsterveld, K & Pinch, TJ 2003, “‘Should one applaud?’ breaches and boundaries in the reception of new technology in music”, Technology and Culture, vol. 44, no. 3, pp. 536-559
Couture, F 2015, Lucky Man Review, All Music, Los Angles, USA, viewed 28 July 2015, http://www.allmusic.com/song/lucky-man-mt0002515267
Eder, B 2015, Switched-On Bach Review, All Music, Los Angles, USA, viewed 27 July 2015, http://www.allmusic.com/album/switched-on-bach-mw0000976916
Slimmer, H 2007, ‘I Feel Love’ Review for 500 Greatest Songs of all time, New York, USA, viewed 27 July 2015, http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-20110407/donna-summer-i-feel-love-20110526
Garud, R & Karnoe, P 1999, Path Dependence and Creation: Music and its Impact, Routledge Publishing, New York, USA.
Gross, J 1997, Perfect Sound Forever, San Diego, USA, viewed 12 July 2015, http://www.furious.com/perfect/moog.html
McGovern, K 2013, Spin Magazine and publication, New York, USA, viewed 10 July 2015, http://www.spin.com/2013/03/robert-moog-honored-national-inventors-hall-of-fame/
Miller, J 1968, Waiting for the Sun Review, Rolling Stone, New York, USA, viewed 27 July 2015, http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/waiting-for-the-sun-19680928
Moog Minimoog 2014, Moog Online, San Francisco, USA, viewed 27 July 2015, http://www.moogmusic.com/products/minimoog-voyagers/minimoog-voyager-xl
Moog Music 2014, Moog Online, San Francisco, USA, viewed 29 July 2015, http://www.moogmusic.com/sight-and-sound/product_demo/50th-anniversary-moog-modular-synthesizer
Moog System 35 2014, Moog Online, San Francisco, USA, viewed 29 July 2015, http://www.moogmusic.com/products/modulars/system-35
Moog System 55 2014, Moog Online, San Francisco, USA, viewed 29 July 2015, http://www.moogmusic.com/products/modulars/system-55
Moog, RA & Rhea, TL 1990, ‘Evolution of the Keyboard Interface: The Bösendorfer 290 SE Recording Piano and the Moog Multiply-Touch-Sensitive Keyboards’, Computer Music Journal, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 52-60
Pinch, T & Trocco, F 2002, Analog Days: The Invention and Impact of the Moog Synthesizer, Harvard University Press, USA.
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