Moog Muse Polysynth Official Release

Perhaps no one will be surprised to hear that Moog Music has announced the release of Muse, an eight-voice analog bi-timbral polyphonic synthesizer. Muse is now available globally, combining classic Moog analog circuits with advanced digital controls to create an instrument that honors Moog's storied past while looking toward the future.

We were given a short amount of time with Muse at and event in Berlin in May - under strict embargo - and while it was in a club on headphones, early indications were very positive. It sounded good and had all the right elements. We will be receiving a review unit shortly.

This is a big release for Moog as it represents another bite of the coveted Moog polysynth title - the last being the Moog One (rumoured now to be discontinued) which was an ambitious project and one that took a little while to get the final firmware right. This time Moog will be under pressure to deliver out of the gate.

The Muse also is the first major Moog product to be released under the new ownership of inMusic which will presumably bring their mass production chops into play - people we spoke to at the Moog event in Berlin were really excited and respectful of being involved with such an illustrious brand - genuine engineering geekery was evident.

So on to the details of the synth:

Muse represents the culmination of over five years of work by Moog's engineering and product team. This instrument, suitable for both studio and performance settings, features eight analog voices. Each voice includes two voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs), a modulation VCO, dual voltage-controlled filters (VCFs), and a stereo voltage-controlled amplifier (VCA), delivering the recognizable kinetic analog quality.

More Moog Reflections from Misha Mansoor:

Steve Dunnington, a Moog engineering veteran, explains: "With Muse, we've created a Moog polysynth that combines the warmth and sonic power of vintage Moog analog technology and the flexibility of digital control to create a deep and expressive instrument for the modern musician to explore and create with. It's been a labor of love for everyone involved over the last several years."

Key Features of Muse:

• Analog Powerhouse: Eight analog voices, each with two VCOs, a modulation VCO, dual VCFs, and a stereo VCA.
• Performance-Oriented Controls: Intuitive knob-per-function layout with additional menus for each module.
• Advanced Modulation and Sequencing: Includes two LFOs, a dedicated Pitch LFO, assignable envelopes, and a 16-slot modulation matrix per-timbre per-patch.
• Diffusion Delay™: Stereo processor inspired by vintage digital rack delays, adding depth and dimension.
• Bi-Timbrality and Voice Control: Two independent timbres per patch, stackable or split across the keyboard.

Specifications:

• Keybed: 61 full-size semi-weighted keys with velocity and channel aftertouch.
• Controllers: Pitch Wheel, Modulation Wheel, Macro Knob, Keyboard Octave switch, Hold switch, Sustain Pedal input, Expression Pedal input – all pedal functions are assignable.
• Panel Controls: 44 knobs, 16 sliders, 129 buttons, and an OLED screen.
• Analog VCOs: Triangle/Sawtooth mix, variable width Pulse wave, Octave settings, Frequency, Wave Mix, FM routing, and Hard sync.
• Modulation Oscillator: Various waveforms, Audio range toggle, Keyboard tracking and reset, Unipolar switch, and multiple modulation routings.
• VCFs: Moog transistor ladder filters with highpass/lowpass modes, Cutoff Frequency, Resonance, and various routing options.
• VCA: (stereo) Volume, Pan position, Pan Spread per timbre.
• Arpeggiator and Sequencer: Comprehensive features including Clock Division, Step editing, Modulation, and memory for sequences.
• Outputs: Main Left/Right, Headphones, CV In/Out, Clock In/Out, MIDI In/Out/Thru, USB.

Muse: Now Available for Order Worldwide

Muse is now shipping to authorized dealers globally at a price of $3,499 USD. Find a local Moog dealer to experience Muse first-hand and explore its sonic capabilities.

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