Synth Wizards Episode 13: The Moog Modular Mission 

Can't fool me. It was the divining rod that did the trick!

Glad to see Walter Carlos mentioned. I once emailed Wendy from our mutual home city, Pawtucket.Rhode Island. To me, she replied telling me she had grown up in the same library. She later became my lifelong curiosity making music on a thing called a synthesizer..

this is better than a Netflix drama...Well done!!!

another fabulous film from Syntaur. Thankyoul.

Wow wow wow. What a great story!

Oh! You went through SMF! I know that pile of abandoned luggage well… and I was just out there this afternoon dropping somebody off…

Love it. Wasn't prepared for something so finished. Subd

Random thoughts while toking a bone while zoning on this scroll: Wow, it's been a while and I was starting to wonder if I'd ever see another episode of the Synth Wizards, but it seems y'all have really upped the ante and outdone yourselves once again. Keep it up! REPRESENT KALAMAZOO(zoo-zoo-z00z00z00oo。 If you ever require a designated, professional winter-weather driver, I'd like to think my services would be helpful...but you did just fine, and in an ad-hock Synthmobile at that! Bravo! Bravo! Fascinating to see how exceedingly rare, monolithic, and iconic synthesizers change hands nowadays... not too dissimilar to massive quantities of Peruvian Fishscale, or the political fortunes of those students of Machiavelli and Sun Tzu, or so I guess. On an unrelated note...at this point, when is Syntaur just going to come out with a new take on a legendary synth or Frankinstein's Monster of its own Taurine Simulacran design? I mean, with the amount of knowledge, experience, and access to components that you have, you could really give somebody like Black Corporation a run for their money, and I for one would love to lay down a few grand for whatever you might come up with in favor of buying a Deckard's Dream or an Ise-Nin. That's highly speculative...about as speculative as my feeling that the people at Black Corporation may not be of the utmost integrity. I mean, dude got run out of Japan...JAPAN! Like sure maybe it was just political, and I'm all but SURE Black Corpo pissed off the wrong people at Roland *and* Yamaha, but I mean damn. How shady does one have to be before even the Japanese drop their polite facade and run you out of town?? Carlos Ghosen shady, apparently... That was a tangent... Bottom Line: BUILD THE SYNTH WIZARD HIS STAFF! Like the 20, but a one-off - no expense spared. ALL THE FILTER TYPES AND ALL THE FILTER TOPOLOGIES. 🗿 HOLY iSH*T THE SERIAL NUMBER IS PRIME - a 45.4545(repeating) percent probability, out of the 1-55 prime set.

Does David have a music page? I couldn't find him by the name you gave.

What another great episode! I so love this channel!

Hi. Greetings from Finland Very interesting video and so well done. And yes I got CS-80. Thanks for sharing this inspiring movie.

Wow! What a find!

Keep doing these as you can. I have to ask, was some of the background music I heard from the Juno-107, namely using the patch sweep?

Awesome episode !!

Always a pleasure to see another SW episode!

Hey Sam! Isn't that Michael Boddicker's Original System 55 (and system 15) you show early on in the video? He told me that you paid him a visit here in LA not too long ago...

17:30 Seems that's what this all boils down to...

I actually have a Moog but it’s the rogue the budget version they made for radio shack. Unfortunately it’s missing a key and the knobs and slider’s don’t work very well. If you check my videos you can see that I have a collection of “bad gear “ that has gone from Old school to just old. Roland MC-307, micro korg, korg esx1 and a few other things that I have no idea even where to start to get them fixed

Sam et al. Thanks for going on this adventure. The people involved in the vintage synth world are the best people in all of music in my experience. What adventure will we go on next? who knows! heheh. I will be posting videos of making different patches and explorations on my channel @freqnoir I really love you guys and your energy. -David

👍

Am I missing something? Who buys a synthesiser for £55,000 and doesn't even take it out of the box?

💙

I wonder how much this was? 50? More?

sooo cool video!! @alexball @doctormix, we are waiting ur comments here dudes!!

RIP Herbert Deutsch, who worked with Bob on the design. I got to study electronic music with him at Hofstra University and attended some presentations by pioneers there.

These are so heartwarming. What a great result. Btw 16:26 was your finest joke to date.

Fabulous. What a history. I just picked up a Behringer System 55 complete. Stoked to dive in.. especially after this gem. Bravo.

Googling "does behringer make a Moog system 55" killed me.

When you typed "does Behringer make a system 55 clone", I nearly fell off my chair laughing! Great video!

The biggest mystery of this episode isn’t how he was able to find this rare synth, it’s how a bass music producer was able to afford one. Lol They don’t make shit for $$

Aw sweet, new episode of my favorite RU-vid occasional docuseries dropped! My complements to Sam and the production team!

Synthesizers 4ever

These are so wonderful and this is the best episode yet. As good as anything shot for mainstream TV but WAY more interesting!

I don't think there's any other type of technology that's truly free to develope to be the best it can be for the benefit of humanity even automobiles and air space and communication are constrained by the invention secrecy act of 1955 but music technology is going to the stars

david is even wearing a blade runner t-shirt, must really have been his dream to get a CS80

Practice makes perfect and these videos are constantly getting better and better. This episode, much like the CS80 episode, is like the perfect synth video. Love the wizardry, the poetry, the abundant romance and attention to detail. My Saturday night viewing gets a easy 10 out of 10. I wonder what the next one will be?

A day when I discover a new episode of Synth Wizards is inevitably a good day.

santa couldn't have got him a better gift!! .. woow

Synth Wizards is the best show on RU-vid

OMG

Feels illegal to be this early, awesome episode haha

Another brilliant episode - I love the style of these, the drama and the comedy and the SYNTHS. Wow, my heart started racing when he finally opened that first box and we got a proper look at the Moog.

Hey at the 8:10 mark, you added an extra step. Those 911 EGs are already patched into the 902 VCAs in the envelope routing panel. The Moog is actually a very much pre-patched system. You only need half as many cables to make the same patch you might be used to on "pure" modular systems.

Sam do you have a link for the guy/composer who bought the system 55? I would like to hear the music they produce Thank you

My God !!! What a wonderful world!!!

What a great way to start the day! That's the epitome of "new synth day" for David. Wow :)

I LOOOOOVE yout show!!!!

You should be making proper films ..I would hire you. All you needed was the Afrika Corp on that journey. (Indiana Jones)

Aw, man… this is so cool! I got “Switched-On Bach” for my birthday in 1973, and instantly fell in love with Carlos’s extraordinary work-and also that Moog modular synth behind JSB on the cover. In short order I bought all the other Carlos albums, and many of the ones that came after. A teenaged keyboardist myself, I knew I would have a synth of my own someday, and when I got older I started buying them. But none has been modular. At least so far. But maybe one o’ these days… I always enjoy your videos, and this one was a treat. Congrats on all your finds, and thanks for the fine work. 😎

"Does Behringer make a Moog System 55 clone?" 😂😂😂

A Synth Wizards video is always time well spent. I've enjoyed them all, especially the quest for that beautiful DX 1 and the surprise at finding who sent you on that mission. I've had a couple of DX 7s and currently own a DX 5. I have a suggestion for another synth that is about as easy to find as a purple unicorn: the RMI Harmonic Synthesizer. I still have the RMI 300B that I bought new in January, 1972 as it was my first pro keyboard and not too long ago I picked up a DK-20, a digital keyboard introduced in 1979 and the last product RMI ever made. I am something of an RMI fanboy. (I let out an audible "Hey!!" when I noticed that blue top 300A in the back of the Synthmobile on one of your missions!) Although I live near Nashville now, I am originally from suburban Philadelphia and the factory and headquarters of RMI's parent company, Allen Organ, is in Macungie just outside Allentown, so I used to drop by there from time to time in the 70s and their Marketing Director, Clark Ferguson, very kindly used to take me in the "back room" and demo all kinds of experimental models they were cooking up, including the prototypes for the original Keyboard Computer and the Harmonic Synthesizer. Both of those instruments were out of my reach at the time, but they were pretty amazing technology in 1974 (the KC is arguably one of the very first digital sample playback instruments). The RMI Harmonic Synth is a pretty rare bird--I would be surprised if more than only a few hundred were made. Jean Michel Jarre used one on Oxygene and a few others have employed it, but like everything RMI made, it sounds like nothing else. It would be awfully cool if you could locate one of these very unusual instruments. What saddens me is that Allen these days seems to have no interest whatsoever in this part of their heritage, even though the company is still run by the son of the founder, who was there when RMI was making history. And by the way, being from the western suburbs of Philly, the much beloved and greatly missed Ensoniq, whom I know is also near and dear to Sam, was practically in my back yard, and I've had a number of their wonderful instruments over the years including an SQ2 that I bought from one of their sound designers, and have a TS 12 now. Looking forward to the next Synth Wizards, and thanks always to Syntaur for being there for those odd parts for these old synths that I like to tinker with!

This reminds me of those reality shows I always get stuck watching when I visit my parents. Except this was... entertaining. Great show guys! Congrats and keep up the great work. ♥️🙂👍

Excellent. I could swear I smelled new synth smell as he removed that plastic!

I'm very sorry to bother you, I just wanted to let you know something about Emerson, Lake and Palmer.. In your video here, you'd mentioned that it was Keith Emerson who'd played the Keyboard for Emerson, Lake and Palmer. It actually was Greg Lake, and not Keith Emerson. Keith Emerson was the lead vocalist for E.L.P, Carl Palmer was the Drummer, and Greg Lake was the Keyboard player. It was Greg Lake, and not Keith Emerson.. I didn't want to be the one person who had corrected you on this, just kinda thought it was a much needed correction to the video.. Oh before I go ahead and forget Love your channel!!.. Keep up the amazing work you are doing fantastic job all across the board...

Just picked up my Behringer 55 from FedEx and can't stop looking up System 55 videos. In anticipation of getting home 😊

Have you guys ever thought about cracking open a Casio dg-20? Technically a synthesizer…

Still in the crate, never opened. Why do people spend so much money on a limited piece of gear? Investment? Moog and such should prevent that behaviour. It's such a pity that there are System55 never truly used.

Just bought something from you guys. And then discovered this. Awesome work!!!

i am REALLY having a good and expensive laugh on your humour and all the love you put into these wonderful movies.

Guys, it would have been way easier for you to have delivered the System 55 to my place. Remember that next time! 😆

"Not to be used as a flotation device" XD

Carlos!!! Long time no see! Surprised to see you pop up here. I’ll definitely visit the place soon

Is that his wife? You know when you see some women who are so homely they transcend it almost becoming cute. Well that's one there

Step 1 - click the thumbs up button. Step 2 - watch the video! I learned analog on a Moog modular in college. It was awesome!

Okay but Behringer DOES make a System 55 clone

Im surprised capacitors didnt dry up sitting for years. Amazing

Cracked me up when you googled for a Behringer clone, great humour! 😂

Fantastic, absolutely fantastic, all aspects of the journey, is there a 1 hour version... 😏 👍

Beautiful story I enjoyed every minute watching this 🙌🙏

Pleased to see at the 7:00 mark, another satisfied customer of STG Soundlabs! Very rarely do you see a serious Moog format system without one of my modules in it. Great content guys. Keep it up!

Awesome video! I laughed so hard! Keep 'em coming!

Absolute GOLD. Subscribed, and thank you!

What a great story. To get a new one out the box not used. I’m saying any item.

Can you imagine how hard it would be to get an original System 55

syntaur alwasy has some great story about the synth like no other.

Wow man.. Feel like I see good old movie. Gorgeous

Thank you Sir. Such an inspiring and beautiful documentary. I give you literally my last £2 in my account until payday. Thank you! I look forward to discovering your channel. Excellent voiceover.

Great video guys! And, now I know who to call when I need parts, advice, or a System 55😅

I must say very beautiful video.

Oh I've got three of these, one for each bathroom.

Yessssss! New episode! Thanks for your hard work, I always look forward to the next adventure. Glad you have the ability to continue making these! Seriously better than most big budget documentaries

Fantastic Episode!!!!

Great documentary 👍

Must have cost a fortune

Wow we are spoiled today

Back to reality.

That Behringer search........😂😂😂😂

Best reality TV show not on TV. Well done, and thanks for parts over the years.

8:36 "Straight Outta Patch Cables"

18:58 This CANNOT BE A THING. It made my brain explode just looking at it :D

What a great episode! You really captured the excitement that these legendary synths invoke, although personally I was more excited about the Sledge, what a beauty! Huge credit to you for finding and negotiating a deal with the seller in such a short space of time, but I still shudder when I hear the words "collectable synth". Thanks again for the video!

27:36 you kiiled me 🤣

Congratulations to Eddie Perez on his Producer of the year award!!!

Sam, you are awesome! What a great video. 😃

Like before watching.

Just commenting that you guys make the best synth videos on youtube!

I need to know how much 😂

wow! y'all were up in my home county! so cool! next time you're up in Nevada County for whatever reason (hopefully when it's less snowy) yall should stop by Nevada City/Grass Valley! quaint couple of small towns up there with a vibrant music scene

I WANT to get into Modular synths sooo bad! Oh oh! I think I wet myself. Don't tell my wife. At least I have a Moog Grandmother to start with on my modular journey. Several other synths to but they're not even semi modular. But my Korg Kronos rocks!

Ohhhh guys... This is a thriller. My heart was near to jump some beats, fearing I could not see or hear that beast playing. Luckily it had a happy ending and we know that it is alive and kicking... Alfred Hitchcock could not do that better