Moog Voyager II

[PhilMckracken]

I got to check out the Moog Voyager today. It was great. Yeah, for the most part it is a minimoog but, it is not just a minimoog. It has midi, it has a touch screen that is really cool, touch sensative keyboard and, of course, sounds great. Oh yeah, it has preset memory too.

There is much to like about this instrument. For electronic music, single line leads and bass, there is nothing that compares.

In fact, I put a down payment on one. Even still, I am not completely sure about it. It is monophonic and thats cool but...
I could ge an Andromeda for about the same money. Or I could get a used Oberheim but that does not really compare.

I think what I am going to do is pay ti off over the next few months since it will take about that long until it gets here. Then it will seem as if I did not really spend alot at all and when the dust settles, bang, I get me a moog...

[PhilMckracken]

A new wrinkle. I am seriously hoping someone else gets to check out this instrument. I am very curious as to what others think. This is why. Two days ago I first check out the Voyager. I liked enough to decide I should get one. the next day I went back to said music store to plunck down my money and lo and behold, there was a used minimoog with ribbon controller and sample and hold box just in on consignment. In fact, the seller was still in the shop. I asked him why he would sell this instrument and he told me that he had been laid off. Times are hard here in NYC and many people are out of work.

The asking price for the used moog with extras is 3k. Pretty high in my opinion. Everything works though it sounds like a bit a a cleaning and general shape up would not hurt.

I compared the two instruments. It was difficult since I did not have the operating manual for the Voyager. Nevertheless I gave it a go. For the most part, they are both very similar instruments.

I can not say with any authority that the original, vintage moog sounded better than the new moog. For the most part, the seemed about the same. The real factors are tha the Voyager has midi, touch sensitivity, memory, presets and a few other items not on the original some of which I was not able to identify without a manual.

ONce the original warmed up, out came that beautiful minimoog sound that anyone familiar with synths from the era would immediatly recognize and love.

But, in the end, the midi, touch sensitivity and memory just was too much to pass up and, the Voyager performance model is $2,500. Actually $500.00 less than the used mini.

Oh yeah, though the used mini had the ribbon controller which I understand is somewhat rare, the new Voyager has a built in ribbon controller but, it is not simply a ribbon. It is square leaving me to believe that it can do some things an old style ribbon cannot. In fact, I am quite sure that is true.

So, in the end, the question is, what would you do. The original, vintage or the new and improved? As for the guy selling it, his opinion was that eventually he would get back on his feet and be able to purchase another mini someday and, according to him, he would always get the original, vintage. No new fangled gear for this guy.

So...any opinion...

[subtractor]

Get the voyager! Who cares if it's vintage or the "real deal"... The voyager is still a moog. And a better moog from the sounds of it. And an x-y pad is way better than a ribbon! Especially if it lets you touch more than 1 place at a time. And $2500 is cheap! What is the performance model?
Voyagers are selling for "buy now" prices up to $3500 right now on ebay!

[Jack Hammer]

The one for $3500 is the signature limited edition. The performance model is without the signature or something like that. I am not exactly sure what the deal is and will check further. Actually, I believe the guy showed me and it was something cosmetic. By the way, there is one extremely important difference between the two instruments that strongly favors the Voyager and that is of course, tuning. It is m¨ch, much more stable. That alone should be enough to decide.

anyway, my money is down on the Voyager performance model. I hope the differences a just cosmetic. If not, I will have to decide if the extra gran is worth it. And, also I treid the x y controller. I did not check to see if you can touch in two places but I intend on finding out and will let you know.

[Jack Hammer]

Oh, by the way, that silly name of Phil McCraken is from my work computer. I could not use the same name so I used that bu Jack Hammer and PHil McCrakin (actually both silly names) are mine.

[subtractor]

OK... Maybe we'll just call you cracker jack!

[f. lai]

Hi. I have Voyager #170. First off, I love it! It only takes 20 seconds to warm up compared to 20 minutes or so with the old ones. It is beautiful and the sounds are there to match. Much more possibilities than the old ones. Updated OS is due out next week as well. For more info check out the discussions at www.sonicstate.com. You need to click "the gas station" and then the Moog section. Very good Voyager discussions there.