Moog Mavis review and comparison to other synths 

Wonderful review! Brings up a lot of the things that kept me from going for a Mavis. Namely I think it comes down to, if you have 44 spare hp in your rack and NEED a Moog-voice, this is your best (only?) option. And if you drop the money on it, it will serve that purpose beautifully, and you will not regret having that sound or being a part of the Moog family. If you are just getting started in modular/semi-modular, or even have been exploring for a little while, there are so many other options with more functionality and versatility. I fall into the latter category and opted for an East Beast based on your review (and Jorb's!) and have been delighted every time I have sat down to explore with it. Thanks for all your thoughtful work on this channel!

Great and fair assessment all the way around. I SO appreciate some balance and honesty.

Mmmm your reviews are LOVELY ! Please keep on exactly this way !

It's an amazing companion to the DFAM, and sounds lovely, and very moog-y, in its own right. I also like purpose built devices, and prefer using external sequencers anyway. So the Mavis is just right for me.

Also weird that the folder isn't CVable, that's the best part about them tbh

Love your honesty - never apologize for a good, balanced opinion.

You make such great points! I wish Moog would hire you as a consultant. I'd love to see mods centered around the Mother 32 (or DFAM) instead. IMO I think you are absolutely right.

Appreciate the review and comparison. I believe it’s still a kit by definition. Soldering is not a requirement. It’s still arguably a DIY kit as well. Not in its entirety of course. All in all, I enjoyed the pace and breakdown. 😊

Super review, Robin and super, super, super conclusion 👍

I have M32/DFAM/SH and recently the Mavis and it adds a different sound and feel to the set up -certainly adds something extra to the mix that the others don’t offer Plus sequencing it via any of the others resolves the lack of sequencer problem Additional patching and wave folding for the others is a bonus Yep I’m really pleased I got it I just couldn’t warm to the sound of the west pest on the various videos so chose the Mavis and not in any way disappointed

Thank you for the difficult comparison great stuff as always, now I want to know more about the werkstat so far I only got the typhon but I love it

Greetings from Florida,,,,,,,,,i really enjoyed this Video...1st time watching. Love the way you honestly compared this to other Desktop Synths...i just got the Mavis myself and then discovered your Video....lol....i think out of all my favorites,,,the West Pest seems to really shine....Thanks again....

While I think you are making a good point with most of your comments, I just love to have the Mavis as an addition to my Moog family (M-32, DFAM, Subharmonicon) and I hope Moog in the future will come up with more family members to ad. I just look at it as the little sibling who has it´s own character, which combines just fine with the rest of the family.

Venturing into semi-modular for the first time, I very narrowly passed on this in favour of a 2nd hand Mother 32, for not too much more cost. So glad that I did in the end. No looking back with the M-32, as I now look to getting the DFAM and SH.

I've been hoping for a comparison of the Mavis with the Beast and Pest. Thanks!

Great video, Robin. I think you are spot on in your analysis. I have the Moog semi-modular trio and would not have a Mavis if I had not received it as a gift. It sounds great, and there are things that are unique and cool about it (being able to blend between VCO wave shapes, for example). But I agree-it sounds like a Moog, but doesn’t have the fit and finish of one. Every time I take it down to play with it there is a twinge of disappointment about how light and flimsy it is. Even the Werkstatt has more of a Moog ‘feel’. So, great question, Robin-why are they in this space? Maybe they see the Mavis as a gateway drug into the more expensive stuff? I’m hoping they have something interesting coming up soon that has a fit and finish more aligned with what we think of as a Moog.

what's the no 5 synth I think that sounds old I like that ;)

Thank you for the outro.

I think you hit the nail on the head at the end. It isn't a cheap synth and is too quirky for the price. I'd love Moog to make a 2/3 oscillator, 2/3 lfo modular synth, based on their classic sound structure, but in the Mother 32 format. Just a voice with tons of well thought out patchbay possibilities, no sequencer, no keyboard. Price it under a grand, and now you're talking. People will rightly or wrongly pay a higher price for Moog gear, and i think the Mother format looks and feels ace, just give us a real good core synth to play with.

Do the Mavis and the Werkstatt have the same oscillator and filter circuits? I already own the Werkstatt and would only want the Mavis if these parts sound better.

Sounds a lot better with the bigger knobs!

Can you drive the Mavis from a beat step? Not the beat step pro. Beat step is the only piece I have that has CV on it

I just ordered a digitakt on sale and I want a analog bit to sequence out of it, this is exactly the video i was looking for. Super cool!! Thanks. --- But i the mavis has no midi? So i guess im looking at the other ones? Or i need a mother or a crave... Idk...

Just to say I appreciated this different take on things.

Very interesting assessment. Also you make it sound very nice which totally sold it to me. Mavis is now selling for £280 so perhaps time to reconsider. Much more comparable to even the Cre8audio East & West. Half price of M32. As regards lack of midi, what were they thinking. indeed. Lack of sequencer. Well I have the West, East and the Dysmetria. The Cre8 sequencer is ok, brilliant for quickly building up a string of notes, but no ties and no patch point for reset. Dysmetria sequencer is ...well I love the Dysmetria for it's sounds, Keyboard: what were they thinking!! ...but possibly useful in a Eurorack context. Wavefolder. Can CV it by adding an offset. (but fixed connection to filter input, bizarre) But what about the plus points, LFO is 1v/oct in the audio range. Filter is 1v/oct . So suddenly it's a 3 oscillator synth. It has an attenuator...rare in the little synths but essential once patching begins. The + - 5V offsets look very useful when interfacing with Moog stuff. S+H. Well that's handy especially as we found those extra oscillators. Downside, ahem, things totally missing from the patchbay. We'll see, but could be the most hacked Moog yet. (or the most returned ;-)

worth every penny in my opinion. i really love it. i still liked your video and agree with you about the knobs though. what ones are you using? because i'm in the market for some for mine and i'm not sure where to look.

Great Vid. Well balanced and informative. I bought one to compliment my Crave and now I have this Prophet/Moog monster. Sounds so nice. PS - where did you get those knobs for the Mavis; they look like the perfect diameter? Serious question.😃

Love my Mavis but it's a lot of money compared to others for that 'love'. Please can you tell me where you get those 'knobs'? so much better than those sticks ha thx

On top form with this one Robin 👍

In this video and in most that demo a synthesizer coma if I turn it up loud enough to understand the voice then my wife says what is that racket when the synthesizer was playing even if I am using my earbuds

Nice vid! Have a Mavis myself and really like it. Currently use it as the heart of my modular setup. Question though; where do you get those awesome knobs you screw on at the end?? I love them! Thx!

I have the DFAM, subH and M32 and would have added one of these as an extra voice for the M32 section, but as you mentioned: THE PATCHBAY IS ON THE WRONG SIDE MOOG?! it does limit it for the 60hp tier format of the rest of the setup IMO

What’s the name of the silver synth at 38:05

I agree with your criticisms about the Mavis: I couldn't help but be pretty underwhelmed by it when it was released and it hasn't grown on me since. Release the Spectravox!!

I was a little disappointed by the feature set of the Mavis but I gotta say it sounds great. I think it sounded better in these demos but I’ve always been a sucker for the Moog sound. I’ll end up with the Mother-32 I think.

have you got a link for those knobs - i would like to add some to mine (also, do they fit the werkstatt)?

I have a really weird problem with mine. I can get the internal keyboard in tune but it's like it doesn't actually send out a full volt per octave so when i control it with my sq-1 or keystep it sounds god awfully out of tune

Really interesting watching the screen as much as listening

I think you made a good case for why a great synth is more than it's feature set.

What Make & Model is the Silver Synth, the one with the English & Russian labelling? Is it Polyvoks?

Great review Robin. I guess Moog are trying to create a gateway drug for their higher priced range here. I kinda get it, but think they would be better off just making individual Moog modules to keep the price accessible. Imagine if you could buy a classic Moog filter which you could modulate with CV/ midi inputs which would self oscillate & could be used with any other synth/ module. That would be fun. Pop it in your rack & Bobs your Uncle.

I generally agree with your conclusion but if I'm looking at things from Moogs perspective, they do need some kind of entry point at a lower price. look no further than Apple, They don't NEED to make a phone below 14 and 14 Pro, but they still sell an SE model for about $430. It's a bigger segment of the market than people realize. If you get Werkstat or Mavis, you will likely graduate to M32 SH and DFAM. I also think in a lot of ways M32 has been the gateway to eurorack, and Moog loses people at this point, there isn't as clear of a line saying people will graduate to grandmother or Matriarch. I bet Mother 32 indirectly sells more RackBrutes and TipTop Mantis cases than Grand Mothers. It's smart for moog to engage with future customers at a lower price point. I don't think Mavis was intended for someone deep into their synth journey. great video as always!

I’m looking for my first ever hardware synth. I’m a total noob because I’m I guitar player but love these sounds and want to add them to my music and band. Which is a good analog synth to start and learn on? Possible compact and I already have the midi keyboard. Budget under 500. Looking at stuff like this one or the east beast or the Erebus reissue. There isn’t anything poly for my budget and compact in this format (also a little bigger). Thanks for the help

Just bought one as part of a modular re-think. I’ve reached an impasse with modular. Want to simplify things and kind of tired of patching the basics. Just want a nice solid, simple devise as a jumping off point. Tried a Pittsburgh Taiga. Couldn’t get on with at all. Out of the box it was wholly disappointing. I’m sure it’s fantastic, from all the demos I checked out. But I couldn’t get it, so it kind of defeats the object of what I’m trying to do. So, it’s going. Also shifting a stack of other modules as part of my re-think. Kind of starting over but with the befit of hindsight from a couple of years of modular madness and trying, often failing, to find my way around this crazy world 🤪 Feeling a little like it’s not for me, but giving it another whirl. BTW, where did you get those knobs? X could do with some of those for my Mavis 👍

I like my Werkstadt ($200 new) and think of the Mavis as Werkstadt V2 but over priced ($350)

If they sold it for $200 I would buy it. Now if you see it as a full voice eurorack module, it is quite cheap. Compare the price to malekko’s manther.

What's the name of the grey Synth?

Where can I get the “visual “ software? I’m new to this. Mike

So here's where the Mavis shines: If you're beginning your synth journey, it's a very good choice. Chirping birds, barking dogs, bongos, space aliens and explosions are all on offer. Yes, $600-800 will buy you a lot more synth, but Mavis' point is manageability. This little unit allows you to focus on the building blocks of synthesis and patching without overwhelming yourself (or your pocketbook.) And the accompanying written materials are excellent, both online and in the box. I put the Moog factory knobs on mine. Couldn't be happier. Nice vid, and nice outro music--Cheers!

This and an SQ-1 are a deadly combination.

I feel sorry for the little Mavis; I may need a tissue... You gotta admit, the HEFT Award seems to go to EAST BEAST. Mainly, GREAT JOB, the review and using your Out Loud voice to talk about the Gorilla in the room. Plus, Mother-32, used, I would buy.

Comments are spot on,without saying what it really is,a lot of money ,maybe ,Moog can and has done better,come on Moog lift your game ,times can not be that bad.

Wish Doepfer would make a semi modular for Euro, would be nice to have a fully CV able voice from the OGs that fits the format

What knobs did you put on it?

What is the thing at 36:09??

I will watch this video in its entirety, but I just don’t get the big media blitz over the Mavis. There’s really nothing new here (wave folding?). There are so many other options available. Moog is better off sticking to the rest of their current line and bringing back some of their effects pedals.

No pico lll?

wait, that thx1138 poster is flash!

let's be honest.. the reason we loved AIRFIX kits was for the glue. oh happy childhood days. (sniff...)

I appreciate your honesty, there are way too many Moog fanboys on youtube who will never say anything bad about the company.

West Pest is the Best!

I thought it was about 200, thomann has it for four, way overpriced for way too little.

Cant see anyone buying one of these when you could pickup a secondhand mother 32 for a similar price ... or Crave for a third the price LOL. Seems like Moog learnt nothing from the Werkstatt debacle, one to leave for the Fanboys. Can't wait to see this on Bad Gear in a week or so.

Nice review from the "other" side. Which means I don't necessarily agree with you. Not because I'm a Moog fanboy (I am), but because you just scratched the surface of what the Mavis can do, and then put it down to price. 1. "Small" feature set. 2. Pretty "high" price. 3. Moog is a boutique shop and should not play in this field. 4. "Others" should fill the cut-price field. Well... I do think you're completely wrong on at least two of these points. 1. The feature set is not small. Listen to Hainbach and what he can do with the Mavis. Just as one example. And most other synths in that price region have only one LFO and probably only a few have a complete ADSR envelope gen. And if you want a poly synth... well, you sure don't want a Mavis... or any other of the synthesisers you presented. So... I think this argument falls completely flat. 3. And why shouldn't they have a cheap entry synth? Just because they let you build this thing and it has crappy knobs? Nothing to defend here, you either go with it or not. And I want to know what knobs you bought there to put on the Mavis... from Thonk probably? :D And yes, why SHOULDN'T they play? To some people it's worth it. And to some... it's not. To each their own. I wish you (all) peace and a merry Christmas.

I find the LFO disappointing - I like SLOW, and its LFO is kinda crap: doesn't go very slow, doesn't go audio rate, so honestly a bit useless. There's just a lot of mediocre going on here.

Moog is not the end all of synths. Over priced and you can find way way better for a lot less. And with there recent price hike. Heck no.

The new Behringer Dfam type synths are wayyyyy better .

I don't believe it!

Beast and the Pest are garbage. Mavis is meh…lots of weird choices