Recording - June 2021 - 30

Moog Sound Studio
Mother-32 & DFAM
Analog Synthesis Experience

of these instruments fun and serendipitous-and of course, serendipity is one
of the ways of modular synthesis!

Hands-on

I recommend reading the manuals to
help wrap your head around the function and use of each instrument, but if
you want to skip that and get hands-on,
Moog has included an educational patch
book for the Sound Studio as a single unit
covering basic functionality, 16 initial
starter patches, and some tips and tricks.
As a modular newbie, these helped me
get some music going. The patch called
'Jumping-Off Point' is just that-it helped
me understand what I was actually doing
when plugging the patch cables into
their respective spots. I created a simple melodic sequence on the Mother-32
accompanied by a simple DFAM groove,
and I was hooked. It was intriguing to
mess with the different parameters on
both machines and see how it changed
the sound. Exploring and discovery are
really what the Sound Studio is all about.

Stuck? Roll the dice...

Hats off to Moog for the included dice
game, which encourages the exploration of modular synthesis in such a fun
and easy way. Using my 'Jumping-Off
Point' patch, I rolled the dice and made
corresponding moves on the synths. A
black die represents patch outputs, and
a white die represents patch inputs for
each machine. I repeatedly made patch
cable changes and then fired up the
resulting sequences to check the results.
From subtle changes to chaos, it was
constantly fun and educational to get
unexpected results and then try to figure
out what happened. This game is a perfect way to get people of any age to
fearlessly dive in and explore without
being intimidated by the endless options
that modular synths can offer.

Stumbling in the dark

Beyond the dice, modular synths are
all about rule-free experimentation.
Patching a cable from a random output
on the DFAM to an arbitrary input on
30 RECORDING June 2021

the Mother-32 (or vice versa) sometimes
had a profound impact on the sound-
and my imagination. I started paying
closer attention to my patching, deepening my understanding of how the two
instruments 'talk' to each other. I came
away with many sequences, rhythms
and textures that I then sampled and
saved as song ideas-none of which
I'd have ever come up with without the
beautifully interactive world of the Moog
Sound Studio.
Sonically, the Mother-32 can range
from rich and warm to sharp and percussive with that classic Moog ladder
filter sound. The DFAM can produce
everything from subwoofer rattling 808like low end to scratchy insect-like textures. I've yet to find their limits.

An endless journey

There's a quote from Moog founder
Dr. Robert Moog on the outside of the

Sound Studio box that says, " What artists need is an endless resource, full of
rough edges and dimly-lit nooks and
crannies that one can explore as one
sees fit. " That quote sums up my experience and opinion of what the Moog
Sound Studio has to offer. There's no
end to the possibilities and sounds you
can achieve with the Mother-32 and
DFAM together in this new package. I've
always been hesitant to get into modular
synths because I thought I would either
find it discouragingly complex, or I'd
get sucked down the rabbit hole and develop an expensive new hobby. Now, I
can't wait to spend more hours with this
endless resource.
Price: Moog Sound Studio:
DFAM & Subharmonicon $1449;
Mother-32 & DFAM $1399
More from: moogmusic.com

Patch &
Tweak with
Moog from
Bjooks
While reviewing the Moog Sound
Studio, I received a copy of Patch &
Tweak with Moog written by author
and electronic musician Kim Bjørn.
As the Moog-focused follow-up to
Kim and Chris Meyer's popular Patch
& Tweak: Exploring Modular Synthesis, this book covers everything Moog, including
its history. It's packed with interviews with electronic artists discussing their musical
approach and concepts along with dozens of patching ideas for the Mother-32,
DFAM, and Subharmonicon, as well the keyboard-based, semi-modular gear Moog
makes such as Grandmother and Matriarch.
Reading through this book opened my eyes to even more possibilities that could
be teased out of the Sound Studio, and I'm already dreaming of the sonic possibilities that a Moog Grandmother or Moog Matriarch would add to the Sound Studio.
Like a master class, it was so fun to read a tip or see a custom patch an artist has
designed, put the book down and instantly try it. I was also struck by how personal
the world of modular synthesis is! Every artist has their own approach and vibe with
the gear, ranging from very methodical and planned to, " Let's see what happens! "
Reading through Patch & Tweak with Moog further alleviated my self-imposed
fear of never fully understanding the bleeping and blooping world of modular synthesis. The goal is discovery, fun, and, most importantly, music. Patch &
Tweak with Moog celebrates all the above in a wonderfully Moog-focused way!
Price: $39.95
More From: bjooks.com

http://www.moogmusic.com http://www.bjooks.com

Recording - June 2021

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