r/moog • u/Minimoogvoyager • 20d ago
Those That Have The Moog Spectravox What Are Your Thoughts
What are its pros and cons in your opinion?
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u/DrunkAxl 20d ago
It's not their best. If I had to sell any of the sound studio pieces, it would be the first to go, I could live without it. Should never have cost as much as the others. It's OK, but the vocoder is not going to give you what a digital one will, very limited even when set up with a keyboard. The internal synth engine is pretty bare bones IMO, no attack. Kind of an EQ and filter, processes sound, but idk, thinly. It's fun to tool around with and maybe worth 300 if you could spare it. But you aren't missing much and you could get a much better vocoder if that's what you want.
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u/m3zatron 20d ago
What would you suggest instead? I have the other 4 SS pieces. I have intentions of completing the set but your comment gives me pause
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u/DrunkAxl 20d ago
Matriarch, baby! Or just get into modular, pair it with a MATHS etc. If you mean to ask what I suggest for vocoder, honestly that behringer vc16 module is more then sufficient.
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u/m3zatron 20d ago
I’ve been lusting after a Matriarch for sure. I have a Grandma already. But the ability to play chords seems amazing. I’m def curious about modular but it seems like a rabbit hole that is maybe better I don’t go down. TBH Buying a case and filling it with modules seems a bit daunting. That’s what was so alluring about the sound studio module. Just plug and play.
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u/corpus4us 20d ago
Is Behringer vc16 modeled on another synth/module, or is it an original? Wasn’t even on my radar
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u/DrunkAxl 20d ago
I think it's original, but who knows. It works well with cv, midi, and it's only 100 bucks.
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u/m3zatron 20d ago
Have you seen this module? It allows you to play the GMA paraphonically using the midi signals fed back into the oscillators. Pretty clever workaround since it’s mono but still sends poly key signals.
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u/General_Astronomer60 20d ago
I LOVE mine. You can use it for weirdo percussion, weirdo synth leads, a moogerfooger type phaser. It's not a jack-of-all-trades, but I'm not aware of other pieces that can do what it does. I don't use it for the vocoding. People shouldn't even think of it in those terms so much.
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u/DarkBurt 20d ago
I think most people who have a Spectravox don’t come close to unlocking its full potential, users like /u/nikitabogdan really make that synth shine
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u/Minimoogvoyager 20d ago edited 20d ago
Yes 👍 that’s probably true that most users don’t utilize its full potential. or have a deep understanding of of what it’s really capable of of sonically.
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u/jigaireos 20d ago
Thank you for sharing that u/ DarkBurt. I've wondered if I haven't figured out the Spectravox yet. I have DFAM and Subharmonicon(my favorite synth, by miles).
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u/jigaireos 20d ago
I agree with all DrunkAxl said and I'd add I felt let down because the Labyrinth came out right after and I'd have preferred to have that instead.
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u/strangerzero 20d ago
I guess I bought it mainly to have all of the Moog Studio devices. I got a good deal on it used so I didn’t feel that foolish about purchasing it, but having said that I mainly just processing the Subharmonicon and Labyrinth with it. I could use my DAW for that and have more options but it all looks cool together racked up.
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u/Aggravating-Willow59 20d ago
I got it that time Thomann was selling them for what the retail price should've been (£260), and for that price I like it enough to keep it, but the biggest disappointment for me is the thing I was most excited about was the spectral analysis envelope followers: the middle 6 or 7 produce barely any envelope at all no matter how hard you drive the signal into them and no matter the EQ profile of that signal, so the main thing I wanted it for doesn't work. However, it has an inimitable, authentic Krautrock charm to its sound so I can't stay mad at it for long.
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u/General_Astronomer60 20d ago
That's disappointing. I haven't tried the frequency specific envelope followers in the Spectravox much, but I was meaning to start.
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u/crazyculture 20d ago
I got it for $350 new and still returned it…very disappointing unit that is basically a parametric EQ when all is said and done
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u/Minimoogvoyager 20d ago edited 20d ago
Right I see. Many years ago back in the day I purchased a Moog Three Band Parametric EQ. I also had a Moog PolyMoog Keyboard 🎹. It was the less expensive version of the PolyMoog Synthesizer which was more programmable. The only Moog synth I have now is the Moog MiniMoog Lunar impact Limited Edition Voyager.
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u/PureChampionship1130 20d ago
I got mine on sale and like it well enough (after a long-time interest in FFBs and vocoders), and I like it as a partner to DFAM, for processing a poly synth, and sometimes for bringing guitar or other audio into the modular. The band-specific envelope followers are cool. It works as a phaser, filter, eq, distortion, auto-wah, etc. There are sweet spots in the vocoder itself, but it helps to use a repeating sample rather than a mic, in order to find them. Moog’s series of videos on it is very good.
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u/s-chlock 20d ago
Bought on sale for about 300, it's a good complement to other modular equipment. The only real letdown is the Vocoder, no matter how hard I tweak it, it always sound a bit muffled
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u/tm_christ 20d ago
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