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Melody Maker

February 16, 1974
IN THE MOOG
Chris Hayes

As rock music becomes increasingly more sophisticated greater demands are
made of the equipment it's played up.
And it's both logical and natural that the more imaginative rock musicians
should begin to look outside the conventional guitar/drums instrumentation to increase their personal vocabulary.
Which brings us to the electronic synthesizer, an instrument totally unlike any other in creation. Even now, its full potential is still to be realised.
Essentially there are two ways to use the instrument. Many keyboard players have used the Moog keyboard as just that a keyboard instrument. Among those players are Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman and Jan Hammer.
Other players have delved deeper into the actual electronic possibilities of the synthesizer, and in this group are rock players like Eno and Irmin Schmidt of Can.
What is the history, development and potential of the synthesizer? The man best qualified to answer is Dr. Moog, who began his experiments in 1964 and became the world's leading expert on this revolutionary advance in electronic music.
With the co-operation of Dallas Musical LTD who are now sole distributors of the Moog in the UK, Dr. Moog answered questions exclusively for the MM from his headquarters in Williamsville, New York.
The first question was intended to establish identity and qualification: Who is Dr. Moog?
I am a 39-year-old electrical engineer with an amateur background in music. My doctoral dissertation was on the subject ultrasonic attenuation in asonic attenuation insodium chloride, in other words, table salt. I began designing electronic musical instruments as a hobby at the age of 14 and first became interested in synthesizers through collaboration with electronic music composers in 1964.
How did the Moog start?
"We manufacture several models of Moog trade-mark synthesizers. Each is a collection of a large number of ideas and technical developments. We began building electronic music modules(building blocks) in 1964 and had enough different modules in our line to put together complete synthesizer system by 1967.
What is the musical function of the Moog?
"Our instruments are called synthesizers because they are used to assemble musical sounds from their component parts. That is what to synthesize means.
"The actual production of sound is only part of the Moog synthesizer function. An equally important function is providing convenient and useful control by the musician of these sounds. Synthesizers generally have keyboards, but are controlled by a variety of other ways, as well as including pitch and modulation wheels, ribbon controllers. Drums, foot pedals, etc.
"The way these controls are proportioned and constructed determines how well a musician can play the instrument."
What is it that makes up the Moog sound?
"Some of the important features that contribute to its figh sound quality are: our patented voltage controlled filter which provides the overtone shaping that enhances plucked string-like, brass-like and vocal like sounds that are perhaps the most important feature of the Moog sound. No other synthesizer manufacturer may use this circuit; the wide frequency range of our instruments results in solid bass sounds, brilliant highs and rich mid-range voices, low-distortion circuits produce clean, clear sound, regardless of the tonal complexity; low-noise, which means the absence of hum clicks, pops and background hiss further contribute to the clarity of the Moog sound; calibrated controls help the musician to consistently get good sound by enabling him to reset the instrument for the precise tone colour that he expects; scaled voicing- the variation of the sound parameters associated with tone colour in relationship to pitch variations- increases the range of good sound that a given instrument setting."
Some synthesizers are said to be unreliable. What is your reaction to this criticism?
"First, we don't skimp on ruggedness. We know the sort of rough handling that electronic musical instrument tend to get these days and we allow for this in our designs."
"Second, we perform all of our instrument under one assembly and test operation roof. Any specially fabricated parts are made locally under our close supervision. Third, we subject all circuit boards and instruments to thorough visual inspection.
"Fourth, we burn all circuits boards in by operating them at elevated temperature and voltage in order to detect component weakness. Finally, every instrument gets a long ride on our shake table to expose any mechanical weakness."
Who are the stars playing Moog and what comments have they made on the instrument?
"There is always a certain danger in listing stars because you are bound to offend those whose names do not make the list. However I can list a couple whose contributions to the technique of synthesizer cannot be questioned. First is Keith Emerson, a fantastically talented keyboard musician.
"Another is Jan Hammer, who was with the Mahavishnu Orchestra; he has developed a dazzling technique on the MiniMoog.
Rick Wakeman has popularized quite a few basic Moog sounds in 'Six Wives of Henry VIII'. The list would not be complete without mentioning Walter Carlos, the musician who produced 'Switched On Bach'. Carlos showed for the time that commercially successful music could be performed entirely on the synthesizer and has continued to maintain the musical and technical standards in the production of subsequent records."