Moog Muse 8-voice Bi-Timbral Polyphonic Analog Synthesizer

Classic Moog Potency Revisits Polyphonic Prowess

Coalescing every careful observation, experience, and constructive breakthrough identified through Moog’s decades of synth-building practice, the Moog Muse represents a hallmark of the modern polysynth landscape, with its vintage aesthetics, ingenuity, and tonal depth for which Moog is known. By design, the Muse’s 8-voice bitimbral operation places the convenience of dual-sound creativity directly into your lap, complete with a multitude of timbral controls per stage for the utmost in expression. It has 61 full-size semi-weighted keys that stand at the ready to harness the vigor of two voltage-controlled oscillators, snaking through an all-analog signal path of two LFOs, a dedicated voltage-controlled modulation oscillator, dual VCFs, a pair of dutiful ADSR envelopes, and an onboard VCA. All of which can be interfaced by an amalgamation of 44 knobs, 16 sliders, and 129 buttons for detailed control around every corner. Likewise, the Muse comes fully dressed with dual back-panel CV I/O, a superb sequencing and arpeggiator station, chord memory, a user-friendly Programmer OLED browser, and Moog's built-in Diffusion Delay signal processor, exceeding all expectations among Ragtime’s synth-savvy creatives. Equipped in modernity and rooted in research-intensive design, the Moog Muse arms synthesists with coveted Moog detail and contemporary sound versatility to take any imagined synth tone to next-level heights.

Equipped to express, primed to perform

A first look at the Muse reveals the anticipated appearance of past Moog marvels tied together by an intuitive operation layout, on-the-spot controls, per-function knobs, and individual menus for sonic manipulation. It has 61 full-size, semi-weighted keys with velocity and aftertouch that form the basis of the Muse’s performance-friendly figure, complete with Pitch and Mod wheels, a Macro knob, an Octave switch, and a Hold switch for seamless dynamic operation. It’s all finalized by a vintage yet strikingly modern Moog-style chassis, satisfying Sweetwater’s staunchest synthesists, from vintage-gear fans to complex sound explorers with versatile workflows. No matter your play style, the Moog Muse promises deep expression potential for stage or studio performances.

Dutiful dual-oscillator design in faithful analog fashion

The Muse’s rich, moldable sound prospects originate in the form of two traditional voltage-controlled oscillators, each governed by adjustable triangle/sawtooth and variable pulse wave controls. Exploration through the use of Octave, Frequency, Wave Mix, FM Routing, and Hard Sync knobs caters to all tonal possibilities, from tight, simple squares to composite textural blends. Moreover, the Muse’s built-in mixer ups the ante with independent level control over both oscillators, the modulation oscillator, and additional Noise and Ring Mod controls — multiplying harmonic opportunities tenfold. Care to go all-original? Bypassing the Muse’s digital delay promises a 100% pure analog signal path, showcasing your creations with full instrumental authenticity.

Idolizing masterful Moog modulation

In addition to its dual onboard LFOs, the Moog Muse’s dedicated voltage-controlled modulation oscillator engine supplies an entirely new plane of experimental routing potential that’s capable of manipulating pitch, envelopes, random generation, and much more. The per-voice, per-patch, and sound-shaping possibilities are virtually limitless, spanning gently chorused soundscapes to complex effects dynamics and beyond, with everything being entirely routable on the mod map via 16 modulation slots. Moreover, with five selectable waveforms under its belt (sine, sawtooth, reverse sawtooth, square, and noise) and a dutiful set of modulation parameters onboard, dictating the exact behaviors of the modulation oscillator to attune to your specific sounds is seamless.

Shape up iconic tones, old and new

With dual filters, envelopes, and a voltage-controlled amplifier, every Moog staple is present onboard the Muse, albeit impressively modern. Both transistor ladder-style filters — one armed with highpass and lowpass modes — provide expert tonal shaping through standard Cutoff and Resonance controls. KB Tracking, Envelope Amount, linked operation, and routing controls make a bounty of potential filtering behaviors possible to achieve new and vintage Moog tones. Within the same realm, dual ADSR envelopes with variable stage curves, multi-trig, loop, and velocity constitute an ample shaping palette for constructing sharp key stabs, foreboding pads, engaging effects, and anything in between. Completed by an analog amplifier with Volume, Pan Position, and Pan Spread parameters, the breadth of the Muse’s tonal formulations lies solely on the shoulders of your creative wit.

Proprietary Moog Diffusion Delay

Mimicking the behavior of old-school vintage digital rack delays, Moog's onboard Diffusion Delay signal processor provides entirely unexpected — yet appreciated — stereo and spatial effects. Independent Time-L, Time-R, Feedback, Character, and Mix controls, as well as delay-per-timbre options, work together via the Muse’s onboard clock or external device clock to obtain movement in the form of ping-pong-style jumps, ethereal echoes, and just about any other bobbing delay effect that comes to mind.

Born of true Moog tradition

Though the company emerged as a trendsetter in sound design with the unveiling of the Moog synthesizer in 1964, a call for polyphonic voicing in the mid-1970s sent iconic synth companies — Moog included — scrambling for solutions. Founder Robert Moog took the assignment seriously, working diligently alongside artists and designers Wendy Carlos and David Luce to meet contemporary creators’ demands and beyond. In 1975, as a result of the company’s hard work, Moog’s first polysynth, aptly named the Polymoog, marked the company’s historic beginning in multi-voice design. Through the years, dedicated research by Robert Moog and his team led to serious advancements in the company’s polyphonic design, including the Memorymoog in 1982 and, more recently, the illustrious Moog One in 2018. Bred by the same attention to research, passion, and steadfast dedication that Robert Moog envisioned since day one, the Moog Muse is primed and ready to foster your creativity.