The Moog Source reliability

[SWAN]

Im considering buying a Moog Source but am concerned with the reliability particularly the membrane panel. Ive chosen the Source because theres no way I can afford a Minimoog but I would like the vintage Moog sound - and I hear the Source is the closest. I have no issue with buying new analogue - apart from the fact that for the project I want it for I dont want a clean analogue sound - I want that analogue 'grit'...I suspect a Little Phatty would be too refined sounding....perhaps Im wrong maybe the overdrive would help....

The question is - is it really worth spending £900 on a Moog Source when it seems you cannot get replacement membrane panels? And you can get a used LP for £500? Ive heard that the Prodigy is not so good sounding ditto Rogue...

[Alphacode]

Man, where did you hear that the Prodigy is not sounding great ? The Prodigy is the best moog after the Mini regarding sound or features .
Look at the built quality and features!

The prodigy sounds beautiful.

In fact the Prodigy is exactly the same as the Source ,but the source is part digital so better to go for a 500euro Prodigy than the LP , source or rogue if you want the moog analogue sound ! Unless you absolutely need to store sounds ....

[xpander]

Ive chosen the Source because theres no way I can afford a Minimoog but I would like the vintage Moog sound - and I hear the Source is the closest. I have no issue with buying new analogue - apart from the fact that for the project I want it for I dont want a clean analogue sound - I want that analogue 'grit'

go with the prodigy! i own a mess of model d minimoogs and a voyager os, right now the prodigy is hooked up because it sounds fantastic.

[mis psiquicios y yo]

I have one Source and never had a problem with the membrane buttons, and I can tell you it is a really good sounding synth, so wooden-like, almost like if it was an acoustic instrument in certain sounds.

[SWAN]

Ive heard from quite a few Sources (pun) that the Prodigy has rather a dark tone. And that the Source is the only one to really come close to a Mini (like a 2 Osc Mini)....Prodigy goes for pretty high prices so Im not keen on jumping in on one unless its really worth the cash as opposed to just inflated 'Moog' branding....

to underline my point I just came accross this review in sonicstate as I was reading reviews for the Prodigy following above comments:

Theres so many various opinions of every different synth, it's hard to decide who to believe, multiply that by the subjectiveness of all these opinions and it could all add up to nothing;
But with that said, I want to offer yet another: the Prodigy is way over-priced. it doesn't really "sound" like a "moog" if "moog" means the Minimoog and or Moog Modulars. It's a cool synth, well built, and like most every synth, can make excellent bass sounds. But like the Rogue, it doesn't really come that close to the amazing expressive tone of a Mini. I'm sorry, that's been my opinion from listening to it. Ditto the Rogue. it's too bad though; it would be nice if you could get a synth that sounds as good as the Mini, but for $500........The only other Moog that I feel really deserves an inflated price is the Source, which has a much closer architecture and build to the Mini. Yes, this is more talk of the Mini... but you just can't mess with it. the Mini just sounds like liquid gold/ and the others don't, except the Source. Sorry. I come to these opinions not from a technical standpoint (although I believe that the specs/build would support my argument)-- but from personally owning and playing the Micro, Rogue, Prodigy, and MG-1. I've never owned a Mini or Source, but I have played them enough to know for sure what my ears were telling me.

That said - you guys do know your synths - so now Im confused.....

[xpander]

let me distill the bullshit from that "review":

I've never owned a Mini or Source

the Prodigy is pure classic moog sound.

[goldphinga]

The source is very close to a 2 osc mini. mark my words. i know both very well.

[Christopher Winkels]

I owned a Source for three years. It was already a decade old when I bought it, but the membrane panel never gave me a lick of trouble.

Funny enough, the octave switches (which used traditional mechanical buttons, not membrane switches) were the only part of the synth to ever misbehave. Rather ironic, actually.

Your mileage may vary, of course.

[redchapterjubilee]

The Prodigy and The Source have the same innards and roughly the same sound (although The Source has more capabilities). I owned a Source for several years and never had any trouble with the membrane panel. Mine did however develop the "Crazy Source Syndrome" that has to do with oxidation in the power leads, causing the synth to lose voltage and make the onboard computer chip act up. It's an easy fix if you've got someone who knows how to do it.

As for sound...it has the Minimoog vibe in spades. However, I replaced my ailing Source with a Little Phatty earlier this year and I'm amazed at how little difference there is between old and new Moog. Certainly the Source had a little more balls but not something I noticed so much on tape but noticed more in person. And don't let anyone tell you the Source doesn't have much in the way of real-time control. Even with three extra knobs The Source was far more interactive in real-time than the LP (I have to do some menu diving [albeit brief] to achieve the same thing the Source can with button-per-function and the data wheel).

[Alphacode]

Just in regards to all the new vs old moog comparaisons...

Lets remember that we are comparing here ( LP vs source ,prodigy etc... ) one synth that is 30 years old and one that is brand new , who can remember how his moog sounded like when bought in the shop in the 80's .... so a source or prodigy could sound a bit different 30 years ago , all the electronics working for 30years loose it's parameters and can sound different... I have recordings from 80's of My father's Prodigy solos that i could not reproduce on mine whatsoever always sounded a bit different ...

[aeon]

Im considering buying a Moog Source but am concerned with the reliability particularly the membrane panel.

From anecdotal reports, they seem reliable. IIRC, there were replacement membranes on the 'bay.

Ive chosen the Source because theres no way I can afford a Minimoog but I would like the vintage Moog sound - and I hear the Source is the closest.

I've heard that too - word of mouth and in person. It does have vintage Moog sound (with the point of reference being the Mini) in spades.

I have no issue with buying new analogue - apart from the fact that for the project I want it for I dont want a clean analogue sound - I want that analogue 'grit'...I suspect a Little Phatty would be too refined sounding....perhaps Im wrong maybe the overdrive would help....

Perhaps you might consider a Studio Electronics ATC-X. You get Moog flavor (and some ARP, Obie, and Roland acid flavor with the Quad model). Also, it has built-in discrete analog distortion - so you don't get just grit, or overdrive, but brutal filth if you want it. Also, you get MIDI control of the params. And memories. And a more complex engine. All with its own membrane panel! Or use a knob box with it.

[/quote]The question is - is it really worth spending £900 on a Moog Source when it seems you cannot get replacement membrane panels? And you can get a used LP for £500? Ive heard that the Prodigy is not so good sounding ditto Rogue...[/quote]

If worry about the panel is important to you, and you can't get replacements, I would say no.

I can't comment on the Prodigy or Rogue.


cheers,
Ian

[b3groover]

I've got an ATC-Quad coming this week. Already have a Voyager and an SE-1x. I'm curious to hear the ATC and play with the four filters.

If I were using the synth live, I would go for a new synth (which is why I have the new stuff). If you're planning on just using it in the studio, go for the Source!

[pricklyrobot]

The seller chipforbrains (aka technologytransplant) periodically has newly-manufactured replacement membrane panels for sale on Ebay.

[xpander]

don't forget part of the what bonds the Prodigy to the Mini is the great user interface:

[nadafarms]

I'm gonna disagree, I've had many prodigies and disliked them all... I liked the source much more it has a smoother, more pure warm sound to my ears where the prodigy is a bit weak in the osc. sounds a bit metallic and hollow and the filter just sounds like the rogue or realistic. I honestly like the little phatty even better than both and would take one any day over the source or prodigy.

Niether have mini quality though I think the source is closer. I've heard people say the micro is actually the closest.

Anyhow I would steer clear of the prodigy.