Why Doesn't Moog Release A Poly?

I was looking through Tone Tweakers site today and Vintage Synth Explorer and it just occured to me, why doesn't Moog release a poly synth with memory like they did with the Memory Moog:

With the resurgence and success of the company post voyager/little phatty/moogerfoogers, I would assume they have the bank and more importantly following to pull it off, even if the tag did end up being $4000-$4500. I know I'd jump on it, even if it did take a year of saving. Who needs a car when you can just sit inside and program polyphonic Moogey analog goodness? The answer to that question is, of course, no one.

It's a bit risky to say this, but honestly I don't like "polyphonic" Moog sound as much as Prophet sound or Roland sound. Moog sound is already massive and I know people who finds MemoryMoog sound less musical than some others. Tastes differ, but the main issue about the lack of a modern Moog is the price I guess.

I've heard Memorymoog demos and was struck with awe. That thing is just OBESE. And I mean in degeneric way, genetically manipulated obese XD

I won't question the musicality, as it surely can find its place within certain genres. Those sync sounds were the most cutting sounds I've ever heard, and the basses... seriously, if there's a man whose fatness is in Guiness', this sound tops it!

On topic, I think that they wouldn't do it because it would just be {censored}ing expensive, and not as flexible (probably), as Solaris is, for example.

I don't mean just like the Memory Moog, just a polyphonic Moog. I would prefer it to be it's own synth really, although the MM does sound pretty fantastic here:

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I think Moog is doing it right. It would be so easy to produce a product that would fail and cost the company dearly. Instead, everything they've produced in recent memory has succeded. I don't think that's an accident.

I think they are examing the market really carefully and weighing production cost and potential demand vs what they would have to charge any new product and who else is producing similar items. So far I think they've been doing a great job.

Just remember, analog synthesizers are a niche of a niche of a niche of a niche... etc. Add too many niches and you're left with one or two people who will actually buy your product when you've sunk who knows how much $$ into R&D.

So to answer your question, I think they haven't released one because the time isn't right for them just yet. That could change though.

I definitely think the economy is factoring heavily. When you have musicians selling off their gear to make rent it's hard to get a 4k or more analog to leave the port. I think a limited production wouldn't be too, too risky, but hey I'm not a business man. I know there are a bunch of people on this forum that would spring for that though, myself included :poke:

A duo-moog with a split keyboard would be cool.

Would you be willing to pay $5000 - $6000 for one?

Didn't think so. Neither does Moog.

Is that what an inflation adjusted Memory Moog would come to today? Honest question as I was probably about 3 when it was released so I have no context.

The MM was produced from about '82 to '85. I don't remember what the price of a new one was, but the list price of my Rhodes Chroma from that same time was $5200.

Say for the sake of argument that a new one would set you back $3000 in 1982. That is equivalent to $6600 in today's dollars.

Would you pay that much for a 6 voice synth with CEM oscillators?

The instrument landscape today is saturated with romplers and VAs which have dozens of voices of polyphony, and which can be bought for less than $2000.

Not to mention all kinds of vintage synths that are still available for good money too.

Back then, you had to drop those huge bucks to get a poly synth - not so now.

Moog has survived in this modern market by being a boutique manufacturer of premium construction and materials. That costs lots of money, hence the price of their synths is high.

If they came out with a poly, and it was of comparable quality to the Voyager, nobody could afford it. If they cut big corners on quality and went to a dedicated chip design, it wouldn't really be anything special.

Given what Dave Smith did with the Prophet (i.e. making it affordable), I think Moog could make it affordable.

If it was, say, around $3k (Voyager like), I could go for it.

It would be ok if it had some menus or whatever else they needed to do to make it semi affordable.

Less CV options and even some combined knobs (like on the LP) would be acceptable.

Maybe even just a four voice seeing it would be thick-as-all anyway (which is the way we likes it)

Is the Moog guitar selling much? The price is very high, in fact in or above the range of many hand-made boutique guitars like Melancon, Anderson, Suhr, Grolsch, and others.

The current Moog synth business model blends in with the modular market pretty well. I think the company is also still reaping the benefits of baby boomers and young X-ers like me who were kids in the 60's and 70's and couldn't afford a Moog then but can now. I think the same can be said for many stringed instrument makers that have been around that long, e.g. Gibson and Martin.

Some sort of poly expander for the voyager might be tenable. If it was built to be edited from a voyager proper, you could get two extra voices in it for

Even more economical if you did the same for the LP.

Problem is, it would be more like around, say, $7-8K or more. How much is an Evolver/MEK or a Morpho vs a Voyager?

Best modern substitute would be an Alesis Andromeda, around $2K or so....

Cost, and the wish to stay in business.

We have Andromeda, P08, and Omega/Code.

If Moog released a poly, you'll have people from all those camps complaining of lack of modulation options or too expensive. Not onlyh is it a crowded market, but used polys are more reasonable and softsynths make tough competition

Bob said in an interview that they could make a polysynth but they're not going to.