The Moog model 2090 Micromoog is a monophonic

analog synthesizer An analog (or analogue) synthesizer is a synthesizer that uses analog circuits and analog signals to generate sound electronically. The earliest analog synthesizers in the 1920s and 1930s, such as the Trautonium, were built with a variety of ...

produced by

Moog Music Moog Music Inc. () is an American synthesizer company based in Asheville, North Carolina. It was founded in 1953 as R. A. Moog Co. by Robert Moog and his father and was renamed Moog Music in 1972. Its early instruments included the Moog synthesi ...

from 1975 to 1979. During 1973 and 1974, Moog attempted to produce a synth system, possibly as a result of seeing Yamaha's massive GX-1. The bass and polyphonic components of the "Constellation" became the

Taurus Taurus is Latin for 'bull' and may refer to: * Taurus (astrology), the astrological sign * Taurus (constellation), one of the constellations of the zodiac * Taurus (mythology), one of two Greek mythological characters named Taurus * '' Bos tauru ...

and

Polymoog The Polymoog is a hybrid polyphony (instrument), polyphonic analog synthesizer that was manufactured by Moog Music from 1975 to 1980. The Polymoog was based on Frequency divider, divide-down oscillator technology similar to electronic organs an ...

, respectively, and while the Lyra monophonic lead synth never went into production, the smaller MicroMoog emerged, using some of the ideas and technology. The

monophonic Monaural or monophonic sound reproduction (often shortened to mono) is sound intended to be heard as if it were emanating from one position. This contrasts with stereophonic sound or ''stereo'', which uses two separate audio channels to reproduc ...

Micromoog was designed by Moog Engineer Jim Scott in consultation with Tom Rhea, with electronic refinement input from David Luce,

Robert Moog Robert Arthur Moog ( ; May 23, 1934 – August 21, 2005) was an American engineer and electronic music pioneer. He was the founder of the synthesizer manufacturer Moog Music and the inventor of the first commercial synthesizer, the Moog synthesi ...

, as a scaled-down, cheaper alternative ($650–$800 market price) to the

Minimoog The Minimoog is an analog synthesizer first manufactured by Moog Music between 1970 and 1981. Designed as a more affordable, portable version of the modular Moog synthesizer, it was the first synthesizer sold in retail stores. It was first popul ...

. It was designed to tap into a market of musicians who wanted an introduction to synthesis, but who could not afford the $1,500 Minimoog. However, while the basic architecture was a simple VCO/VCF/VCA, inexpensive enhancements made it a more creative synth. Its single

voltage-controlled oscillator A microwave (12–18GHz) voltage-controlled oscillator A voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) is an electronic oscillator whose oscillation frequency is controlled by a voltage input. The applied input voltage determines the instantaneous oscilla ...

has variable waveshape, which can also be modulated and a sub-octave can be added one or two octaves below. Its −24 dB per octave low-pass filter has its own envelope generator and can be frequency-modulated by the VCO. The

voltage-controlled amplifier A variable-gain (VGA) or voltage-controlled amplifier (VCA) is an electronic amplifier that varies its gain depending on a control voltage (often abbreviated CV). VCAs have many applications, including audio level compression, synthesizers and ...

has its own envelope generator. A

noise Noise is unwanted sound considered unpleasant, loud or disruptive to hearing. From a physics standpoint, there is no distinction between noise and desired sound, as both are vibrations through a medium, such as air or water. The difference arise ...

generator,

sample and hold In electronics, a sample and hold (also known as sample and follow) circuit is an analog device that samples (captures, takes) the voltage of a continuously varying analog signal and holds (locks, freezes) its value at a constant level for a ...

low-frequency oscillator Low-frequency oscillation (LFO) is an electronic frequency that is usually below 20 Hz and creates a rhythmic pulse or sweep. This is used to modulate musical equipment such as synthesizers to create audio effects such as vibrato, tremol ...

, and modulation routing complete the voicing. Moog chose to use two A(S)R envelope generators (with switchable sustain) instead of the single ADSR more commonly found on budget synths. Other switches like VCA bypass, VCF tone mode and release on/off allow quick changes to be made live. It has a 32-note

keyboard Keyboard may refer to: Text input * Keyboard, part of a typewriter * Computer keyboard ** Keyboard layout, the software control of computer keyboards and their mapping ** Keyboard technology, computer keyboard hardware and firmware Music * Musi ...

with a built-in

ribbon controller A ribbon or riband is a thin band of material, typically cloth but also plastic or sometimes metal, used primarily as decorative binding and tying. Cloth ribbons are made of natural materials such as silk, cotton, and jute and of synthetic mate ...

instead of the more common pitch-bend wheel, although a retrofit pitch-bend wheel was available. The Micromoog also features the Moog Open System control inputs, a pre-

MIDI MIDI (; Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a technical standard that describes a communications protocol, digital interface, and electrical connectors that connect a wide variety of electronic musical instruments, computers, and re ...

control system, which enables the unit to control or be controlled by other Moog synthesizers, even suggesting using it with Moog modules and sequencer. Unusually, the CV inputs were designed to operate at 0.95 V per octave the idea being that the 1 V/octave outputs of synths could get loaded down, but could still be used into the Micromoog. In practice, this is hard to achieve and cannot exceed 0.98 V per octave without modifications. Triggering is Moog standard S-triggering on Cinch Jones connectors. Modulation in/out is on a stereo 3/16" jack a difficult connector to find. An "access pwr" socket is provided for connection of Moog accessories such as the drum controller, sample and hold, and ribbon controller. Early Micromoogs had slightly different panel labelling from serial number 1500 "Articulator" become "Loudness Contour". Later Micromoogs also gained an extra potentiometer on the back to adjust the keyboard output tracking. There were also internal changes to the keyboard. The Micromoog has an audio input allowing external audio to be run through the filter and VCA. The connections on the rear connection panel are as follows: Outputs: LO Audio −10 dBm, HI Audio +12 dBm, S-trig, KBD, Access(ory) power ±15 VDC, 50 mA. Inputs: filter, oscillator (0.95 volts per octave), S-trig, Audio Modulation The Micromoog served as the basis for the

Multimoog The Multimoog is a monophonic analog synthesizer manufactured by Moog Music from 1978 to 1981. Derived from the earlier Micromoog (internally, it consists of a stock Micromoog circuit board with the extra circuitry on a second board), the Multim ...

, a similarly styled, but more generously equipped synthesizer featuring two VCOs, a larger 44-note keyboard, greater modulation options and an early implementation of keyboard aftertouch functions.

Filter modification

The Micromoog has a "fault" that limits its bass timbre. The modification can be foun
here
and has been said to make it able to compete with the Minimoog on a one oscillator level.

Filter modification

See also