Making Music with Moog

MOOG SOUNDS:
The central component, a voltage-controlled oscillator which generates the primary sound signal, is capable of producing a variety of waveforms including sawtooth, square and sine waves.

Also acting as a sequencer, it can create repetitive note patterns without using the keyboard. Moog synthesizer's massive size and complexity was designed for a composer who urged Bob Moog to create a product that could be used in the studio for recording electronic music. When other musicians heard "that sound" they had to have the technology that creates it.

Some studio musicians, however, feared synthesizers could put them out of business. The American Federation of Musicians briefly banned the machines, at least until the union created a new professional category, synthesizer player.

On May 23, 2014 the music world celebrated Bob Moog's birthday and 50th anniversary of his Moog synthesizer with radio tributes and concerts. If Robert Moog (1934-2005) was alive today he'd be 80. The pioneer in the field of electronic music invented his revolutionary device that changed the face of music in 1964. Keith Emerson (Emerson, Lake & Palmer,) The Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, Byrds, The Beach Boys, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock and countless musicians and bands heard what the Moog could do and they had to have it.

When Carlsbad, California's Museum of Making Musicunveiled the first ever Moog exhibit several years ago in partnership with Bob Moog Foundation based in Asheville, NC, Keith Emerson performed on the Moog in a magical music moment.