Moog

Not many inventors could have claimed as much of an influence on the electronic music scene as Robert Moog. In the early 1960s, Moog built some of the world's earliest synthesizers, and many of his designs are still renowned today as milestones in musical history. Later, he applied his considerable know-how to the Moogerfooger line of effects units, and those synths and pedals remain the cornerstones of the Moog lineup today. Early synthesizers were very big and not what you'd call portable. It took Moog's efforts to change that, with the release of the now-classic Minimoog in 1970. The current generation in that family, the Minimoog Voyager line, offers all the great functionality that kept its ancestors popular for decades, as well as a few modern touches. Some of the great features on the Minimoog Voyager XL, for instance, are a completely analog signal path, high-stability oscillators, ladder filters and hundreds of built-in presets to give you a great soundstage from the very start. But you don't have to be a synthesizer user to take advantage of Moog's high-end electronics. For guitarists, bassists, keyboardists or any other musician who uses effects, there are the Moogerfoogers. The larger of these effects units take their inspiration directly from Moog synths, with similar styling and capabilities. If you're looking for something lower-profile, though, Moog still has you covered with the "Minifooger" series, which have a more typical stompbox size and shape. Are you looking for a truly one-of-a-kind instrument? No mention of Moog would be complete without a nod to the theremin. Not only were theremins some of the first instruments Robert Moog ever built, they're also recognized as the first-ever practical electronic instrument. If you like to tinker, check out the Etherwave Build-Your-Own Theremin kit. With this and a soldering iron, you can build your own theremin from scratch. Or, for a more high-tech and easier-to-learn instrument, consider the Moog Theremini, which has a built-in tuner and pitch assist function to ensure you hit each note spot-on. A worthy legacy to Robert Moog's name, Moog synthesizers and effects units are valuable additions to any stage or studio. Whether you're mastering new creations on a Minimoog, rocking out with a Moogerfooger or mastering the deceptively difficult and undeniably cool theremin, you'll definitely get a lot in return from Moog's electronics.