You got the best explanation of a vocoder I've ever seen on TH-cam. So simple. I love that Moog is continuing the Mother-32 format, they're so engaging.
Honestly it’s a pretty bold move on moogs part to release this sort of esoteric device. It’s certainly not an easy plug and play sort of thing and very much geared towards advanced synthesis and sound design. It’s not at all readily apparent the depth of what this thing can actually do… which is interesting and cool. Great job Sarah for this in depth analysis and review. Of all the initial reviewers on this you by far gave the most thorough analysis
I never in all my research, would have caught that filter banks do not typically have resonance control. Thank you for your continually explorative and informative content. Hoping to drywall my way into a spectravox soon!
This is by far my favorite description of features, and demonstration of creative patch ideas. After watching your video, I am much more likely to add the Spectravox to my Moog stack. Will make sure to use your affiliate link, when I do 🎶🔥
Pleased to witness this resurrection of Spectravox and the continuation of Moog's trademark style. It is a win for us all. I was momentarily en route to the kitchen to grab a drink with this presentation playing at 19:40 when I literally froze in my tracks and returned to see what was transpiring on screen. Neat sounds all around.
Thank you, Sarah, for a very absorbing, detailed, and carefully explained video. You have a great talent in the way you explain everything. Not everyone is as clever when trying to impart information to that level. I shall keep a sharp lookout for future TH-cam videos from you. Take care and keep on doing what you are doing. I'm very interested in Moog products in general. x
@@Johanthegnarler even if we see a dip we have this spectravox and the new big poly synth upcoming to carry through a couple more years of high quality. I think the company will be ok for a while at least.
@@DoctorRevers I don't necessarily think Moog will die for real, I just hope the same attention to quality of sound and the feeling of the UI remains. I could welcome some different directions in innovation and maybe lower prices.
Awesome review/demo/history lesson, as always. The CC when you started processing the Strega signal was: [Applause] Yep, exactly. Sarah making Sarah noises. 10/10. Did not disappoint.
What a fun toy/tool!!! What a great technical review and demo in a clear enjoyable way! Sarah, your voice and demeanor is blissfully calming, inspiring! Can't believe I haven't stumbled on your channel before now given my mostly recent, but intense at times exploration of synths, Moogs in particular. I'll definitely have to consider adding a Spectravox to my Mother, DFAM, Mavis rig at some point. But I'm still very much learning those devices! The DFAM in particular is still a real mystery/enigma to me! I have no idea what I'm doing when I try using that thing! You're a sonic goddess, Sarah! Thanks for a really great video!!! Subscribed and will definitely be checking out your stuff!!
I built one of these at Moogfest in 2019. Glad to see this thing in full production, and glad to see the CV control on the individual banks (the Moogfest version has sliders for each band). As always, thanks Sarah for another killer deep-dive and fearless journey into the corners of these little inspiration boxes.
Great demonstration of stretching the gear in imaginative ways as usual Sarah, thanks! However, there is a typo at 24:13, instead of "Generative filter pinging patch" it should read: "Generative frog singing patch" 🐸😄
what's that filter device on 19:58 ? also what's that black sequencer or keyboard called? Sarah has a good taste on gear and making interesting sound with them, I want a Taiga and that white graphic filter and that black sequencer etc.
For your information, that white box with the sliders is a Chase Bliss reverb box and that black sequencer/keyboard is a Make noise Strega. I did researches for an one hour. No charges 😅
The vocoder was also used to encode / decode interatlantic communications between Roosevelt and Churchill. I believe the same record was used on both sides for encoding and decoding.
The system was SIGSALY. The records were one-time pads - each side had a copy, they were used once only and then discarded. Amazing tech for its time. The Wikipedia article on it is a good starting point, but a bit unreliable: when it says it was installed "60 metres (200 ft) below street level in the basement of Selfridges department store" - really? The store has only five floors above street level, why dig the basements three times deeper?
Thank you for the video, What do you think? If one had to choose only two from the three DFAM, Mother-32 and Subharmonicon, what would you recommend and why? I want Spectravox badly, and the rack has only three places for three moogs, so two moogs more.
Very interesting bit of kit, very pleasing timbre - well built, quality components - and I’d say would prove a secret sauce link in a creative sound design audio chain. I’ve still not found out if it can be triggered, other than via midi which it lacks, or shape audio signals passively
Recently decided to start giving moog stuff a shot. Ordering a model D, and one of these to get started. But the more I look into it the more I wanna try more semi modular goodies. Part of me wants to get the Taiga keys and Voltage lab 2. Instead of the model D, but I really wanna have that model D experience.
I Thank You Soo Very Much for this tutorial. You Break it down and Explain everything at a perfect pace. After seeing Way Too Many Videos about anything semi modular and eurorack. You give it more. I have already had to slow a bunch of videos to .25 speed, where they are now talking monkey and now at least I learned the Street Tourist 3 card 😂. You Are Completely Awesome!! Any way of breaking down the DFAM, Mother-32, Subharmonicon and Labyrinth? And hopefully release an actual original BFAM..That was I think 🤔🧐 at Moogfest 2016~ish. Thank You 😊
I’ve watched at least three reviews/demos and not one did a good sounding and intelligible vocoder though Sarahs viddys are always a good technical and creative watch.
Quite an intriguing instrument from Moog. So many unique sounds can be created by and through this new box! Thanks for your in depth explanation and sound examples ~💡🎶🎛🤙🏽💥🎙🐈⬛🌛
Wow, thank you for for this video Sarah! Loved all the sound examples and 22:20 was especially thought provoking for me. What is your overall take or do you have more examples on it being used as a voice vocoder? I’ve been looking for a voice vocoder for Electro-Industrial among other uses. The pinging was really diverse and interesting and with the noise made some great percussion sounds. It seems like a hands on way to get morphing wavetable like sounds in the analog realm and perfect for ambient, scoring, Techno, and beyond.
Sooo many Spectravox videos dropped in the last 24 hours and I came to yours specifically hoping to hear how a trumpet would sound through this…. I, too, am a brass player and I have the DFAM/Subharmonicon combo and figured that this device would be the perfect tool to play trumpet/trombone with my Moogs. Currently I’m using a Roland E-4, but I figured this would have a more rich warm tone being analog and all…plus with the patch points in the filter bank you can patch it up and use the hands for the brass instruments. I know you did so many sound demos in this video, but would you consider a couple more??
I think the reviews at LoopOp are hard to beat when it comes to objectively listing all the features. But I always notice that your videos are in a higher league in terms of background information and explanations, as well as the originality and creativity of the sound examples. One could almost think you were related to Alex Ball. 🙃 I think I need to check in here a lot more often. Oh yes: and these hands are also more beautiful to look at.
It is indeed forunate that Moog offers a 4 unit chasis so I can set in in the same house as a DFAM and two Mother 32a. Not to mention that I can ping it as Hainbach says is one brilliant way to go.
No disrespect but what do people use these types of sounds for? I enjoy playing around with sounds but often wonder how people incorporate these sounds for anything other than special effects.
@@andrewnancarrow Interesting. I wasn’t aware that people liked listening to bleeps and bloops. Good to know. This is a serious question and I was not trying to be obnoxious. I just wanted to know. I never imagined anyone would want to listen to just bleeps and bloops. Now I know.
@@spdycar13 Your mostly failing at not coming across as obnoxious, sounding disrespectful! Lol! Just so you know! You sound dismissive and very unimaginative, narrow minded! I'm absolutely inspired by the sounds Sarah is making in this video!
Doesn't look like it and neither do the other devices in this family, or the Mavis, other than the Mother 32. But you can use a Mother to get sounds, CV outputs from Midi inputs, or get something like the cheap options in the Arturia Keystep line to convert Midi to CV to drive the Spectravox, Subharmonicon, etc. Or use a keyboard controller (like the afore mentioned Keystep line) that has CV ouputs to play synths, devices without midi inputs.
@@RealityShiftUK It should!!! I've used my Keystep 32 with my Mavis easy peasy. The Keystep Pro is a CV output monster, you should be all set and then some.
I really want to like and buy this to be used as a Vocoder first and foremost. I'm listening on a speaker that is very close to studio monitor quality. Yet I struggle to understand what is said through the Vocoder. Very few actual Vocoder examples in this video. Which I honestly just don't get. You are reviewing a device that is primarily a Vocoder. Yet you spend the majority of the videos with focusing on all the other aspects instead. Can it do more than what is briefly demonstrated here? From what little I've seen I'm not impressed with this Vocoder. I expect more from Moog.
I didn't spend much time doing vocoder demos because in my mind, the filter bank and general spectral processing features on Spectravox are really where it shines. Despite the fact that it can act as a simple vocoder, after using it for a while, it feels like the vocoder feature is really a small subset of what this device can do. If you're looking for a vocoder with a significant degree of intelligibility for use with speech, there are probably better options out there. Spectravox is maybe better seen as a general purpose tool for spectral processing and sound design, and not primarily a vocoder. Hope this helps!
I bought one when a retailer accidentally released it early for a day. This vocoder is targeted at using it for musically modulating the carrier, rather than encoding voice. Instead of VCO -> VCF+EG -> VCA+EG, it's VCO -> Spectravox+Voice. I ran a WMD Legion + Mother 32 + Mother 32 as the carrier, and then a mic + preamp to the Program input. A hot voice signal works best. The result is amazing! Yes, it can sort of do the speech vocoder thing. But if that's what you really want, you should buy a different vocoder.
@@spdycar13 I mean when shes talking, its very distracting! Im aware that some people get bored very quick and this may be to keep their attention but I find it distracting. Zooming in on the synth to show close ups is a good thing
why use cheap studio monitors for high end studio gear it makes no sense if you have the money to buy expensive synths why cheap out on studio monitors please explain ?
You got the best explanation of a vocoder I've ever seen on TH-cam. So simple. I love that Moog is continuing the Mother-32 format, they're so engaging.
I love your music. The fact that you demo gear that I'm interested in is a bonus.
Great and comprehensive presentation Sarah! it sounds fantastic, love playing with filters / filter banks!
My favorite sound was the filter pinging. Very informative video.
Excellent video. Easy to understand, straight to the point and lots of audio examples. Well done.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Honestly it’s a pretty bold move on moogs part to release this sort of esoteric device. It’s certainly not an easy plug and play sort of thing and very much geared towards advanced synthesis and sound design. It’s not at all readily apparent the depth of what this thing can actually do… which is interesting and cool. Great job Sarah for this in depth analysis and review. Of all the initial reviewers on this you by far gave the most thorough analysis
MUCH better and more informative video than the Reverb one. I should have came here first!
I never in all my research, would have caught that filter banks do not typically have resonance control. Thank you for your continually explorative and informative content. Hoping to drywall my way into a spectravox soon!
Thanks for sharing the history - really interesting. Awesome demo.
This is by far my favorite description of features, and demonstration of creative patch ideas.
After watching your video, I am much more likely to add the Spectravox to my Moog stack.
Will make sure to use your affiliate link, when I do 🎶🔥
Pleased to witness this resurrection of Spectravox and the continuation of Moog's trademark style. It is a win for us all. I was momentarily en route to the kitchen to grab a drink with this presentation playing at 19:40 when I literally froze in my tracks and returned to see what was transpiring on screen. Neat sounds all around.
Absolutely excellent video. Really appreciate the explainers, the topic organization, and the demos at the end. Please keep making content!
Thank you, Sarah, for a very absorbing, detailed, and carefully explained video. You have a great talent in the way you explain everything. Not everyone is as clever when trying to impart information to that level. I shall keep a sharp lookout for future TH-cam videos from you. Take care and keep on doing what you are doing. I'm very interested in Moog products in general. x
Very cool. Moog’s not dead :)
I just want to add..I love your channel. You’re a super pro. Such good presentation. 👍👍
This was built before Moog died, like 6 years ago
@@Johanthegnarler even if we see a dip we have this spectravox and the new big poly synth upcoming to carry through a couple more years of high quality. I think the company will be ok for a while at least.
@@DoctorRevers I don't necessarily think Moog will die for real, I just hope the same attention to quality of sound and the feeling of the UI remains. I could welcome some different directions in innovation and maybe lower prices.
Whatever is left of Moog will be cleaned up by Behringer knocking off these boutique synths for 1/3 the cost.
Another small gem by Moog !!!
Very comprehensive demo, thank you
Awesome review/demo/history lesson, as always.
The CC when you started processing the Strega signal was: [Applause]
Yep, exactly. Sarah making Sarah noises. 10/10. Did not disappoint.
What a fun toy/tool!!! What a great technical review and demo in a clear enjoyable way! Sarah, your voice and demeanor is blissfully calming, inspiring! Can't believe I haven't stumbled on your channel before now given my mostly recent, but intense at times exploration of synths, Moogs in particular.
I'll definitely have to consider adding a Spectravox to my Mother, DFAM, Mavis rig at some point. But I'm still very much learning those devices! The DFAM in particular is still a real mystery/enigma to me! I have no idea what I'm doing when I try using that thing!
You're a sonic goddess, Sarah! Thanks for a really great video!!! Subscribed and will definitely be checking out your stuff!!
Another great device from Moog. Another AMAZING demo video from Sarah to sell it to me!! :D
I built one of these at Moogfest in 2019. Glad to see this thing in full production, and glad to see the CV control on the individual banks (the Moogfest version has sliders for each band). As always, thanks Sarah for another killer deep-dive and fearless journey into the corners of these little inspiration boxes.
You had me at the glitchy sounds in the beginning... I need this :D I think it will pair nicely with my Minitaur for some glitchy percussive stuff...
These demos absolutely slap 🤘
Any video that makes me want to get a notebook out is a winner
I love the way you made this video. Its a lecture!
Thanks for the nice video. What always gets me in this kind of videos: gear for 30‘000+, audio source for the ear: 500 🤔
how did you ping the filters with that saw tooth lfo at 13:00?
Nice video with great background info - thanks!
Super informative.
You are a fantastic explainer!
Great demonstration of stretching the gear in imaginative ways as usual Sarah, thanks! However, there is a typo at 24:13, instead of "Generative filter pinging patch" it should read: "Generative frog singing patch" 🐸😄
what's that filter device on 19:58 ?
also what's that black sequencer or keyboard called?
Sarah has a good taste on gear and making interesting sound with them, I want a Taiga and that white graphic filter and that black sequencer etc.
For your information, that white box with the sliders is a Chase Bliss reverb box and that black sequencer/keyboard is a Make noise Strega. I did researches for an one hour. No charges 😅
The black sequencer/keyboard is Make noise 0-Ctrl.
hey Sarah how does the spectravox compare to the other eurorack filterbanks available like the tiptop buchla 296T or the frap tools Fumana?
The Model D app is amazing!
The vocoder was also used to encode / decode interatlantic communications between Roosevelt and Churchill. I believe the same record was used on both sides for encoding and decoding.
The system was SIGSALY. The records were one-time pads - each side had a copy, they were used once only and then discarded.
Amazing tech for its time. The Wikipedia article on it is a good starting point, but a bit unreliable: when it says it was installed "60 metres (200 ft) below street level in the basement of Selfridges department store" - really? The store has only five floors above street level, why dig the basements three times deeper?
great examples! congrats
best demo video no contest
Thank you for the video, What do you think? If one had to choose only two from the three DFAM, Mother-32 and Subharmonicon, what would you recommend and why? I want Spectravox badly, and the rack has only three places for three moogs, so two moogs more.
thx for the lesson :)
Well done!!
Thanks for the deep dive. Learned a lot. Pay no attention to the rude dude.
Very interesting bit of kit, very pleasing timbre - well built, quality components - and I’d say would prove a secret sauce link in a creative sound design audio chain.
I’ve still not found out if it can be triggered, other than via
midi which it lacks, or shape audio signals passively
This is by far the best video on this wonderful device! I'm sold; unfortunately your affiliate link is US-based :(
Recently decided to start giving moog stuff a shot.
Ordering a model D, and one of these to get started. But the more I look into it the more I wanna try more semi modular goodies.
Part of me wants to get the Taiga keys and Voltage lab 2. Instead of the model D, but I really wanna have that model D experience.
Thank you for the video
I Thank You Soo Very Much for this tutorial. You Break it down and Explain everything at a perfect pace. After seeing Way Too Many Videos about anything semi modular and eurorack. You give it more. I have already had to slow a bunch of videos to .25 speed, where they are now talking monkey and now at least I learned the Street Tourist 3 card 😂. You Are Completely Awesome!! Any way of breaking down the DFAM, Mother-32, Subharmonicon and Labyrinth? And hopefully release an actual original BFAM..That was I think 🤔🧐 at Moogfest 2016~ish. Thank You 😊
Great video!!!
I’ve watched at least three reviews/demos and not one did a good sounding and intelligible vocoder though Sarahs viddys are always a good technical and creative watch.
Quite an intriguing instrument from Moog. So many unique sounds can be created by and through this new box! Thanks for your in depth explanation and sound examples ~💡🎶🎛🤙🏽💥🎙🐈⬛🌛
Wow, thank you for for this video Sarah! Loved all the sound examples and 22:20 was especially thought provoking for me. What is your overall take or do you have more examples on it being used as a voice vocoder? I’ve been looking for a voice vocoder for Electro-Industrial among other uses. The pinging was really diverse and interesting and with the noise made some great percussion sounds. It seems like a hands on way to get morphing wavetable like sounds in the analog realm and perfect for ambient, scoring, Techno, and beyond.
Interesting… will it be shown at Superbooth in two days?
so is this kinda like an analog formant synth?
good job!
Thanks for this, a great demo. In the uk, the pricing is too high imo, but otherwise it's a really interesting unit.
Sooo many Spectravox videos dropped in the last 24 hours and I came to yours specifically hoping to hear how a trumpet would sound through this….
I, too, am a brass player and I have the DFAM/Subharmonicon combo and figured that this device would be the perfect tool to play trumpet/trombone with my Moogs. Currently I’m using a Roland E-4, but I figured this would have a more rich warm tone being analog and all…plus with the patch points in the filter bank you can patch it up and use the hands for the brass instruments.
I know you did so many sound demos in this video, but would you consider a couple more??
this is SUPERRRRRR interesting!
I think the reviews at LoopOp are hard to beat when it comes to objectively listing all the features. But I always notice that your videos are in a higher league in terms of background information and explanations, as well as the originality and creativity of the sound examples.
One could almost think you were related to Alex Ball. 🙃 I think I need to check in here a lot more often.
Oh yes: and these hands are also more beautiful to look at.
19:33 Expand upon this by using an 8 stage Analog Shift Register instead!
It is indeed forunate that Moog offers a 4 unit chasis so I can set in in the same house as a DFAM and two Mother 32a. Not to mention that I can ping it as Hainbach says is one brilliant way to go.
Very close to a good phaser like Haible Tau when pinged. FM should give a glassy character to the output sound.
So it seems like it could also replicate the old MuRF pedal if you matched it with a DFAM or Subharmonicon.
🔥🔥🔥
Using 0-ctrl to sequence and “play” Spectravox is literally worth it alone. No other modules needed except maybe some delay or reverb.
Thanks!
She sounds like a lab technicien conducting an experiment, interesting, certainly Belle
♥️♥️♥️
No disrespect but what do people use these types of sounds for? I enjoy playing around with sounds but often wonder how people incorporate these sounds for anything other than special effects.
How about simply pure listening pleasure… like any music
@@andrewnancarrow Interesting. I wasn’t aware that people liked listening to bleeps and bloops. Good to know. This is a serious question and I was not trying to be obnoxious. I just wanted to know. I never imagined anyone would want to listen to just bleeps and bloops. Now I know.
@@spdycar13techno loves freak morphing sounds
@@spdycar13 Your mostly failing at not coming across as obnoxious, sounding disrespectful! Lol! Just so you know! You sound dismissive and very unimaginative, narrow minded! I'm absolutely inspired by the sounds Sarah is making in this video!
I love bleeps and boops. Actually much more than traditional “music”
More focus seems to be more on desktop ✌️
nice start with a burp XD
It sounds like you’ve got a faulty one to me
Does the Spectravox have midi?
Nope
Doesn't look like it and neither do the other devices in this family, or the Mavis, other than the Mother 32. But you can use a Mother to get sounds, CV outputs from Midi inputs, or get something like the cheap options in the Arturia Keystep line to convert Midi to CV to drive the Spectravox, Subharmonicon, etc. Or use a keyboard controller (like the afore mentioned Keystep line) that has CV ouputs to play synths, devices without midi inputs.
@@Dylanear Subharmonicon has a midi-in 1/8th inch jack. I can't remember if it comes with the adapter though.
I hope my keystep pro works well with it
@@RealityShiftUK It should!!! I've used my Keystep 32 with my Mavis easy peasy. The Keystep Pro is a CV output monster, you should be all set and then some.
I really want to like and buy this to be used as a Vocoder first and foremost.
I'm listening on a speaker that is very close to studio monitor quality. Yet I struggle to understand what is said through the Vocoder.
Very few actual Vocoder examples in this video. Which I honestly just don't get. You are reviewing a device that is primarily a Vocoder. Yet you spend the majority of the videos with focusing on all the other aspects instead.
Can it do more than what is briefly demonstrated here?
From what little I've seen I'm not impressed with this Vocoder. I expect more from Moog.
I didn't spend much time doing vocoder demos because in my mind, the filter bank and general spectral processing features on Spectravox are really where it shines. Despite the fact that it can act as a simple vocoder, after using it for a while, it feels like the vocoder feature is really a small subset of what this device can do. If you're looking for a vocoder with a significant degree of intelligibility for use with speech, there are probably better options out there. Spectravox is maybe better seen as a general purpose tool for spectral processing and sound design, and not primarily a vocoder. Hope this helps!
I bought one when a retailer accidentally released it early for a day. This vocoder is targeted at using it for musically modulating the carrier, rather than encoding voice. Instead of VCO -> VCF+EG -> VCA+EG, it's VCO -> Spectravox+Voice. I ran a WMD Legion + Mother 32 + Mother 32 as the carrier, and then a mic + preamp to the Program input. A hot voice signal works best. The result is amazing!
Yes, it can sort of do the speech vocoder thing. But if that's what you really want, you should buy a different vocoder.
Some sounds remind me of a poor creature, that is trapped inside the Device. Hope no creatures were harmed for this video.
Sounds like Hainbach
The beginning sounds like my stomach on Taco Bell. 😮
Ultra filthy
When you say vocoder, i imagine Kraftwerk. I do not hear that kind of sound
Yes, she is a nerd 👍
woah, I had no idea you were married to Hainbach.
This is great instrument. But, not for 700$. Maybe 200
No disrespect to Make Noise, but this thing kills their Spectraphon. Analog sounds so much better than digital.
I was going to debate that they are two very different products, but by golly they are the same price !
I have both (Moog on the way) and am looking forward to comparing them.
Sounds and looks great! All these zooming in and out videos are very distracting though, no need for it
For those viewing on a smaller screen, the zoom can be extremely helpful. I screenshot to zoom but not everyone knows how or desires to do that.
@@spdycar13 I mean when shes talking, its very distracting! Im aware that some people get bored very quick and this may be to keep their attention but I find it distracting. Zooming in on the synth to show close ups is a good thing
Yea the jump cuts are distracting to me, but I’m old school. It’s more a millennial thing I guess
@@andrewnancarrow must be for the young ones lol! Cant hold their attention for a minute 😂😂
its defo not as cool as mother or dfam
why use cheap studio monitors for high end studio gear it makes no sense
if you have the money to buy expensive synths why cheap out on studio monitors please explain ?