In a very weird alignment of the synth god stars, the last few weeks have seen new software versions of the ARP Odyssey, Yamaha CS-80 and Minimoog, the three greatest synths of all time. But not only that, the latter is resuming production in hardware – for a small cost, that is. You couldn’t make this stuff up. It’s coming up to space year 2023, but really it’s the ’70s, albeit in software.
First out of the starting blocks was the Minimoog Model D App which we reported on last month. For just 30 bucks you get an app that will not only run on your iOS device but also in MacOS (11.2 onwards) within an AU3 compatible DAW. That’s the most influential synth ever… for peanuts.
Or, get it in hardware. Yes, really. The original Minimoog has resumed production at the Moog factory in Asheville, North Carolina. It’s not the first time a modern Minimoog has been in production, the last version stopping in 2016. That model was essentially the original machine with a few additions like a dedicated analogue LFO and new Fatar keyboard, while the latest version adds a spring-loaded pitch wheel.
You might not be all that surprised to hear that this new hardware Minimoog will cost a tad more than the 30 bucks you’ll pay for the app. We’re hearing north of £5,000, but it is a Moog Minimoog, and the last production run is increasing in value because of its limited edition, so expect these new ones to fly off the shelves too. We’ll stick with the app though…