Audio Video News

Moog Music, creator of the iconic Moog synthesizer, today announced the launch of the Minimoog Model D iOS app for Apple devices.

The app is a software version of the Minimoog introduced 40 years ago and used by Michael Jackson, Kraftwerk, Dr. Dre, Trent Reznor, Parliament Funkadelic, and countless other artists over the years. At $4.99 it’s a fraction of the cost of the hardware version of the Minimoog Model D, which lists for $3,749.

Based on Moog’s original analog designs for the first portable keyboard synthesizer, the Minimoog Model D App captures the magic of its hardware namesake, inviting users to explore the fundamental elements of sound by setting, shaping, and modulating each aspect of the sonic phenomena — or jump straight in and play with more than 160 presets; hundreds more presets are available in the Minimoog Model D App Store.

The app was created by Moog exclusively for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, supporting any 64-bit iOS device to deliver “advanced audio and desktop-class performance on the go.”

Taking full advantage of the iOS platform, the Minimoog Model D App incorporates a number of sound creation tools and capabilities not present on its analog antecedent. New functions include the ability to play chords of up to four notes at once, an easy-to-use arpeggiator module for rhythmic pattern creation, a real time looping recorder with unlimited overdubs, a tempo-synchronizable stereo ping-pong delay module, and the Bender — a brand-new wide-range time modulation effect module.

Bob Moog demonstrated his first hand-made Moog Modular synthesizer at the Audio Engineering Society (AES) convention in 1964. It didn’t catch on right away but was used to create a psychedelic soundscape for a scene in 1967’s Midnight Cowboy starring Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight.

In music, Moog synthesizers were used by The Beatles and others but mostly for sound effects in the early days. It can be heard on several tracks from 1969’s Abbey Road, including “Here Comes the Sun” (at the end of the introduction just before George Harrison’s vocals come in.)

Moog’s big introduction was through Keith Emerson’s Iconic solo on “Lucky Man” from the self-titled debut album of the progressive “art rock” group Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Emerson was introduced to the Moog while the band was recording the album and decided to try it out. Remarkably, the famous solo was the first take, captured while Emerson was warming up. No one had ever heard anything quite like it before.

Emerson plays an extended version of the famous solo during in a live performance clip.

The Moog was also a favorite of Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman and has been used by Hip Hop producer, Mike Dean.

For more information, visit moogmusic.com. The MiniMoog Model D Classic Analog Synthesizer app is now available at the iTunes App Store.

Watch a demonstration of the Minimoog Model D app here:

Also see “A Brief History of the Minimoog, Parts 1 and II” below.