Back in 1979, this compact powerhouse hit the scene as Moog's affordable entry into analog synthesis, delivering that iconic ladder filter growl in a keyboard-sized package perfect for basslines that could shake dancefloors.
At its heart, dual voltage-controlled oscillators—one with sawtooth, triangle, and pulse waves, the other adding square—let you detune for thick unison tones or lock them into sync for snarling, harmonic-rich leads. A 24dB/octave low-pass transistor ladder filter with high resonance screams classic Moog warmth, shaped by dedicated ADR envelopes for filter and amp, plus an LFO with triangle and square waves for pitch or cutoff sweeps. The 32 full-size keys offer synth action with velocity and aftertouch sensitivity, pitch and mod wheels for expressive play, portamento for gliding lines, and CV/gate inputs to hook up with modular gear—all in a sturdy black panel that's 23 inches wide, under 16 pounds, and mono out only.
Players have long praised its raw, fat analog punch for techno bass and weird effects, though some note the lack of noise generation or MIDI stock as limitations that modders often fix. It's a vintage gem that still inspires hands-on sound design today.
