Both synths, while faithful to the originals, have extended capability, like the aforementioned polyphony and MIDI control, of course. Gearheads like me will prefer the Modular, but I'm sure the Minimoog will find a huge audience. But sometimes you just want the classic sound and easy programmability of a Minimoog. As is, the Modular is easier to program than my Dave Smith Evolver and sounds just as good. Consider also that the modular design is a great way to learn sound design and signal flow. (This last feature is essential for all Dark Side Of The Moon era Pink Floyd tribute bands.) The Modular is a bit more difficult to program than the Minimoog due to its huge array of modules, but there is a vast library of very good and very usable presets to get you started. If I had to choose between these two instruments, I'd take the Modular over the Minimoog because of its increased capabilities: nine oscillators versus three, three filters versus one, the building-block architecture, and the super- bitchin' analog step sequencer. Filters are also carefully modeled, and analog-style soft-clipping mode is available (although this greatly increases the CPU drain). Care has been taken to model the Moogs without any aliasing effects, and even the slight instability of the original Moog oscillators is faithfully reproduced. This attention extends beyond the visuals into the sound modeling itself.
Arturia minimoog v Patch#
On the Minimoog for instance, you can pick one of three types of wood for the cabinet, while on the Modular, you can adjust the tension and elasticity of the patch cables. The "look and feel" on both is realistic, and the GUI is easy to use. It's the attention to detail in every way that makes these so satisfying to use. If you factor in that these also stay in tune, won't need recapping, and are polyphonic, you'd have to be a luddite to slag these soft synths. They're even endorsed by Bob Moog himself! Sure, I'd rather own the real instrument, but I can't afford either one. Although Walter Sear might disagree with me, both of these simulations do a very credible job of recreating the classic sounds of the original instruments. These two virtual instrument plug-ins are the two best simulations of a real instrument that I've seen and heard to date.