In 1964, Robert Moog released the groundbreaking Moog Synthesizer, forever altering the landscape of music. This revolutionary instrument, one of the first modular voltage-controlled oscillators and amplifiers, allowed musicians to create and manipulate electronic sounds in ways previously unimaginable.
Before the Moog, electronic sound synths were colossal, room-filling behemoths. Inspired by the theremin, a touchless electronic instrument from the 1920s, Moog sought to create a more portable and accessible version. His first prototype boasted two voltage-controlled oscillators and a voltage-controlled amplifier. The first oscillator enabled users to change a sound’s pitch through voltage, which could then be modulated with the second oscillator to produce effects like tremolo.
While the original Moog Synthesizer cost a hefty $10,000 in 1964 (approximately $100,000 today), it was significantly more affordable than its competition. The first customer, British-American composer Eric Siday, commissioned the synth and requested a keyboard to be added. Other composers eager to explore electronic music followed suit, commissioning Moog to incorporate features like filters, leading to the creation of iconic sounds such as the ‘wah-wah’ effect.
The Moog Synthesizer quickly captured the attention of music pioneers. Paul Beaver, working with Mort Garson, created the album ‘The Zodiac: Cosmic Sounds’, which inspired future experimental musicians. In 1968, Wendy Carlos’s groundbreaking album ‘Switched-On Bach’ reinterpreted Bach’s compositions using the Moog, earning critical acclaim and three Grammy Awards. It was the first classical album to be certified platinum.
The Doors’ 1967 album ‘Strange Days’ showcased the Moog’s potential in rock music. Beaver’s mastery of the instrument created the eerie soundscape for the titular song, blending modulated notes with Jim Morrison’s iconic vocals. Soon after, the Beatles embraced the Moog for ‘Abbey Road’, followed by other early adopters like The Monkees, The Grateful Dead, The Rolling Stones, and jazz musicians Herbie Hancock and Sun Ra.
Moog continued to innovate, releasing the Minimoog in 1970. This even more portable version of the original synth became a sensation, selling thousands over a decade despite initial expectations of selling only 100 units to niche session musicians. It paved the way for other Moog products like the Vocoder, Micromoog, Multimoog, and Polymoog.
Moog’s influence permeated progressive rock, notably on albums by Yes, Tangerine Dream, and Emmerson, Lake & Palmer. But perhaps its most significant commercial success in the 1970s was Donna Summer’s ‘I Feel Love’, almost entirely produced using the Moog.
The rise of digital synths from companies like Yamaha in the early 1980s posed a challenge to Moog, ultimately leading to the company’s bankruptcy in 1987. However, the nostalgia for Moog’s iconic synths revived in the early 2000s, prompting the company’s comeback with a new range of synths.
Robert Moog passed away in 2005, but his legacy continues to inspire and influence musicians today. The Moog company remains dedicated to innovation, releasing new synths such as the Spectravox, Labyrinth, and Muse models. The Moog Synthesizer, a testament to Robert Moog’s ingenuity, has profoundly shaped the soundscape of modern music, leaving an indelible mark on history.
