Moog Subharmonicon

[Forum Admin]

Just giving this a plug here. We advance published the JUNE issue Gordon Reid review of the Moog Subharmonicon yesterday and it's unlocked for now for all to read:

/reviews/moog-subharmonicon

[Aled Hughes]

Oh heck. Thank you.
This threw a curveball into my best laid financial plans yesterday...

[Eddy Deegan]

Very nice. I'd seen mention of this and although it hasn't been at the forefront of my thoughts lately I mentally flagged it for further attention at the time. The review is very timely and certainly food for thought as the Subharmonicon potentially fits into one of my upcoming plans quite neatly.

Either way, a good read as always!

"It's easy to describe the LFOs and other modulators on the Subharmonicon because there aren't any."

Thanks Ian.

[Ben Asaro]

I have absolutely no need for this thing, but I really really want it!!

[Eddy Deegan]

I have absolutely no need for this thing, but I really really want it!!

I feel the same way. I'd love one, I could certainly use it but I don't need it. If it was anywhere from £150 - £240 cheaper I'd be giving it serious consideration anyway (on a sliding scale depending), but although it looks like a fantastic thing I can't justify the kind of money they're asking for it

[Aled Hughes]

I have absolutely no need for this thing, but I really really want it!!

I feel the same way. I'd love one, I could certainly use it but I don't need it. If it was anywhere from £150 - £240 cheaper I'd be giving it serious consideration anyway (on a sliding scale depending), but although it looks like a fantastic thing I can't justify the kind of money they're asking for it

Same here really.
It does appeal. And I already have a Mother 32 and a DFAM so it’d be nice to ‘complete the set’ as it were.

But it is too expensive for me right now. Mind you, PMT had on 36 months 0% finance yesterday, though that option is gone now!

[Martin Walker]

Wow - thanks for the early review release Ian!

Martin

[Arpangel]

Definitely an interesting thing, for me it could be very useful, as a stand alone generative source.

[BJG145]

Wow - thanks for the early review release Ian!

Well, I don't approve at all. Sneaking in a Reid review before the mag comes out is like snacking before a meal. I'm going to be good and wait.

[Eddy Deegan]

Moog seem keen to promote the Subharmonicon; I've noticed a number of youtubers showing the hardware off over the last 2-3 days having been sent it by Moog.

Definitely an interesting thing, for me it could be very useful, as a stand alone generative source.

I very much like some of the sounds I've heard from it, though it still remains outside my 'just for fun' price range. I can see myself potentially changing my mind on that down the line once the Eurorack system has grown a bit, as it is a wonderful evolving tone generator and as such may enter the 'properly useful' category for me at that time.

[Eddy Deegan]

There is a very interesting article by Peter Kirn on his website about the Subharmonicon, the history on which it is based, links to a number of videos, an interview with Steve Dunnington (lead designer of the Moog implementation) and a few more things besides for anyone who hasn't seen it:

https://cdm.link/2020/05/moog-subharmon ... interview/

I want one, but the problem is it's about the same price as a Hydrasynth Module and I want one of them too. I don't need either.

Damn. Yay! Damn. Yay! Damn ...

[Arpangel]

Moog seem keen to promote the Subharmonicon; I've noticed a number of youtubers showing the hardware off over the last 2-3 days having been sent it by Moog.

Definitely an interesting thing, for me it could be very useful, as a stand alone generative source.

I very much like some of the sounds I've heard from it, though it still remains outside my 'just for fun' price range. I can see myself potentially changing my mind on that down the line once the Eurorack system has grown a bit, as it is a wonderful evolving tone generator and as such may enter the 'properly useful' category for me at that time.

This is quite an interesting video...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8WESsh8HTk

Eurorack? Hmmmmm? I noticed you used the words "properly useful" there Eddy, be careful, that’s a bit rash!
I’m definitely into pre-made semi-modular these days, they make decisions for me, and the patch points hardly get used.

[The Elf]

I feel as if I'm just standing on the outside looking in. I don't get this machine, any more than I got the Mother-32...

They just don't seem 'musical' to me at all.

This obviously says more about me than the machines in question, because everyone else seems to be entranced by them - I'm clearly missing something, but I've no idea what!

[redlester]

After watching the videos and drooling over this for a day or two, I've ordered an Arturia MiniBrute 2S (the one with the wacky sequencer instead of a keyboard).

It was less than half the price of the Subharmonicon, offers loads of semi-modular patching options to interface with my DFAM, Sirin, Sub37 & Behringer Pro-1, and that hopefully will be enough to quench my GAS for a little while at least!

[Arpangel]

I feel as if I'm just standing on the outside looking in. I don't get this machine, any more than I got the Mother-32...

They just don't seem 'musical' to me at all.

This obviously says more about me than the machines in question, because everyone else seems to be entranced by them - I'm clearly missing something, but I've no idea what!

I think for a a lot of us, me included, it's not something we couldn't live without, and a lot of what it does could be done, with a lot of other things.
But I think until you've actually played with it, like a lot of things, it may not click until you get up close and personal. If it still doesnt then it's not for us.

[Eddy Deegan]

I feel as if I'm just standing on the outside looking in. I don't get this machine, any more than I got the Mother-32...

They just don't seem 'musical' to me at all.

This obviously says more about me than the machines in question, because everyone else seems to be entranced by them - I'm clearly missing something, but I've no idea what!

I don't think you're really missing anything in the big scheme of things, any more than I'm missing having a mellotron. It's all about the workflow and how you approach music making. After all, synths are effectively 'just' lovely tools and as such can be employed in different ways, many of which will apply more to some than others.

Much like a lot of Eurorack kit, the Subharmonicon is distinctly orientated towards a certain use case which is very at odds with a lot of 'conventional' music production workflows.

[Arpangel]

Much like a lot of Eurorack kit, the Subharmonicon is distinctly orientated towards a certain use case which is very at odds with a lot of 'conventional' music production workflows.

I’d add the Theremin to that statement....

[Durr GaGa]

What a great thread and I wish I'd seen it earlier! I have been waiting patiently (signing the petition and so on!) hoping for this day to arrive but as it is anything but a general use synthesiser, the UK cost currently puts it outside my reach as discussed on page 2 of this thread:- https://www.soundonsound.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=72258&start=15

My interest is still piqued though and as well as Gordon Reid's excellent SOS review, Loopop has done his usual in depth YouTube review but for me, the best 'sonic' review has been by Gaz Williams here:- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3P5uG87Nsc&t=410s

I so much want to pull the trigger on one of these to go with my Mother 32 and DFAM but........ just too much!

[Durr GaGa]

Well, I have to come clean and admit that the trigger has been pulled on a Subharmonicon - but not by me!! My lovely wife got so fed up with me moaning about the high price of the instrument that she just went ahead and bought me one for our 45th wedding anniversary. It took nearly a month to come back into stock but it only missed the great day by two days.

I am having such a great time experimenting with it

[Martin Walker]

Wow - you're a lucky guy Durr GaGa!

Hope you enjoy your Subharmonicon as much as you did your Wedding Anniversary!

Martin

[Durr GaGa]

Wow - you're a lucky guy Durr GaGa!

Thanks, Martin - indeed I am I think I'm going to keep her on for a bit longer ......

[Eddy Deegan]

That is a very elegant looking rack

[Durr GaGa]

That is a very elegant looking rack

Thanks - it is based around a Moog three tier stand with aluminium side strips added for the top two 60HP boxes. When I knew that the Subharmonicon was coming my way, I had a bit of a dilemma as I really wanted it to be part of the same rack but, although the current unit is actually extremely stable, I didn't want to go as high as an additional box. To avoid this, I built a small wooden plinth 45mm high for the existing rack to stand on so that the front of the bottom unit would be the same height as the rear of the new Subharmonicon. This makes it look and feel like a continuous console with only a minimal increase in overall height.

[Arpangel]

Well, I have to come clean and admit that the trigger has been pulled on a Subharmonicon - but not by me!! My lovely wife got so fed up with me moaning about the high price of the instrument that she just went ahead and bought me one for our 45th wedding anniversary. It took nearly a month to come back into stock but it only missed the great day by two days.

I am having such a great time experimenting with it

God, that looks massive, like a proper synthesiser...

[Durr GaGa]

God, that looks massive, like a proper synthesiser...

All I need now is to learn how to play it .........