Built to last a lifetime, each new Minimoog Model D delivers the revered quality, undefinable feel, and authentic sound of a pristine vintage Moog.
Placing the utmost importance on high-quality materials, all components are carefully sourced and crafted to capture the indescribable feeling of the original Minimoog Model D.
This reissue features the identical sound engine and signal path of the 1970s Model D plus a series of popular modifications.
Sounding as vibrant as ever, the Model D retains the exact component placement and through-hole design of a 1970s-era Minimoog Model D.
Originally released in 1970, Minimoog Model D was the world’s first portable synthesizer and served as the archetype for all electronic keyboards that followed. The all-analog instrument gained acclaim for combining the colossal sound of the 1960s Moog modular synthesizers with the accessibility of pre-wired modules—meaning that it could be played instantly and intuitively with no patch cables required. It was quickly embraced by a diverse roster of performers, with artists like Herbie Hancock, Kraftwerk, Rick Wakeman, Sun Ra, Piero Umiliani, Giorgio Moroder, Bernie Worrell, and Gary Numan all shaping unique sounds and forging new musical genres using the instrument.
More than a half-century since its invention, Minimoog Model D is back in production at the Moog factory in Asheville, North Carolina. An exceptional sonic tool and one of the most beloved and iconic synthesizers ever designed, it returns to the hands of synthesists of all kinds and serves as inspiration for the next generation of electronic musicians.
The three-oscillator, monophonic, analog synthesizer is securely housed in a locally sourced Appalachian cherry cabinet and hand-finished aluminum chassis. Sounding as vibrant and deep as ever, its legendary low-pass ladder filter, powerful oscillators, and rich saturating mixer retain the exact component placement and through-hole design of a 1970s-era Minimoog Model D.
While no changes have been made to the original sound engine or audio signal path, the 2022 Minimoog Model D includes a series of popular functional modifications that expand this legendary instrument’s sonic capabilities. These modifications include a dedicated analog LFO with triangle and square waveshapes, a premium Fatar keybed with velocity and after pressure available via top panel CV jacks with onboard trimpots, MIDI integration, and a mixer feedback modification which allows the Minimoog Model D to overdrive and scream with the turn of a knob. And, for the first time in its history, the Minimoog Model D now features a spring-loaded pitch wheel with center deadband, allowing for improved playability and wild performance flourishes. This newest edition also includes updates to the MIDI functionality, allowing for improved modern studio integration.
Minimoog Model D | Will Gregory Moog Ensemble | Archimedes Screw
In collaboration with Moog Music, the Will Gregory Moog Ensemble presents “Archimedes Screw,” a live performance from 11 musicians—with each of the 10 keyboardists using their own Model D to add layers of sound to the composition as it builds.
Utilizing MIDI integration for the 2016 and 2022 reissues, and MIDI-to-CV converters for the vintage units involved in this performance, the Moog Ensemble highlights the modern features alongside the classic sound. According to the group’s musical director and composer, Will Gregory, the instrument’s enhancements expand Model D’s realm of sonic possibility.
“The MIDI aspect of these instruments enables us to open polyrhythmic possibilities between the 10 parts that would be beyond humans to reproduce otherwise. Our hands become free for sound sculpting as we perform by manipulating the filter, resonance, modulation, and envelope controls in pairs. Both these aspects are very important to how I see the Moog Ensemble breaking new ground in live performance and simultaneously giving a more expressive and warm creation.”
“Archimedes Screw” demonstrates Model D’s timeless sound, playability, and relevance as a powerful musical tool for live performance. The Moog Ensemble manifesto, Gregory shares, is very much about live performance as a living breathing unit of musicians listening and responding together.
Hand-Built to Last a Lifetime
At the Moog factory in Asheville, North Carolina, every Minimoog Model D synthesizer is built by hand to its original factory specifications.
Placing the utmost importance on high-quality materials, all components are carefully sourced and crafted to capture the indescribable feeling of the original Minimoog Model D. Each unit that travels through Moog’s production floor sees identical component placement and through-hole design of the beloved 1970s Minimoog Model D in a hand-finished aluminum chassis, secured to a handcrafted Appalachian hardwood cabinet.
“This attention to detail in materials and build allows us to connect directly to the legacy and character of this legendary instrument. The Minimoog Model D is more than just a collection of circuits in a box—it’s a true musical instrument that is a joy to program and play. Bob [Moog] always recognized the importance of an instrument’s feel, and we’ve gone to great lengths to honor his practices through the re-introduction and manufacture of this beautiful synthesizer.” -Steve Dunnington, VP of Product Development at Moog Music
SPECS
- NUMBER OF KEYS : 44
- KEYBOARD RANGE : F0 to C4
- KEYBOARD ACTION : Synthesizer (Spring)
- NOTE PRIORITY : (Low, High, Last): User Selectable
- SOUND SOURCES : 3x Oscillators, Noise Generator and External Audio Input
- OSCILLATOR FREQUENCY RANGE : 0.1 to 20 kHz (In Six Overlapping Ranges)
- OSCILLATOR STABILITY : (short term) > 0.25 %
- OSCILLATOR WAVEFORMS : Triangle, Triangle-Sawtooth (Oscillator–1, Oscillator–2), Reverse Sawtooth (Oscillator–3), Sawtooth, Rectangle, Wide Pulse and Narrow Pulse.
- NOISE GENERATOR : White and Pink
- LFO RATE : 0.05Hz to 200 Hz
- LFO WAVEFORM : Triangle (knob down); Square (knob up)
- EXTERNAL MODULATION INPUT RANGE : +10 millivolts to +2 volts
- EXTERNAL MODULATION INPUT IMPEDANCE : 1MEG Ohms
- FILTER TYPE : Voltage Controlled Low Pass (Ladder Filter)
- FILTER FREQUENCY RANGE : 10 Hz to 20 kHz
- FILTER SLOPE : 24 dB per Octave
- FILTER KEYBOARD TRACKING : ⅓, ⅔, 1:1
- CONTOUR ATTACK TIME : 1 millisecond to 10 seconds
- CONTOUR DECAY TIME : 4 milliseconds to >35 seconds
- CONTOUR SUSTAIN LEVEL : 0 to 100% of Contour peak
- FILTER CONTOUR WIDTH : 0 to 4 Octaves
- VOLTAGE CONTROLLED AMPLIFIER : Loudness Contour Dynamic Range 80 dB
- EXTERNAL AUDIO INPUT VOLTAGE : +10 millivolts (min); +10 volt (max.)
- EXTERNAL AUDIO INPUT NOMINAL IMPEDANCE : 1000K Ohms
- HIGH AUDIO OUTPUT : Typical Voltage: 0.5 volts / Maximum Voltage: 4.2 volts (peak-to-peak)
- HIGH AUDIO OUTPUT NOMINAL IMPEDANCE : 3K Ohms
- LOW AUDIO OUTPUT : (30 dB below High level): Typical Voltage: 15 millivolts
- LOW AUDIO OUTPUT NOMINAL IMPEDANCE : 1K Ohms
- HEADPHONE OUTPUT VOLTAGE : Maximum 0.3 volts
- HEADPHONE OUTPUT IMPEDANCE : 8 Ohms
- GLIDE RATE : 1 millisecond to 10 seconds
- PITCH BEND RANGE : (+/-) Perfect 5th
- AFTER PRESSURE CV OUTPUT (¼”TS) : 0 to +5 volts with user adjustable trimpot
- PITCH CV OUTPUT (¼”TS) : -3 volts to +7 volts (C=0 volts)
- GATE OUTPUT (¼”TS) : 0 to +5 volts
- VELOCITY OUTPUT (¼”TS) : Selectable 0 to +5 volts or 0 to +10 volts with user adjustable trimpot.
- LOUDNESS INPUT (¼”TRS) : 0 to +5 volts; +5 volts = Unity Gain (Works with Moog EP-3 Expression Pedal)
- FILTER CUTOFF INPUT (¼”TRS) : 1 volt per octave of change (Works with Moog EP-3 Expression Pedal)
- OSCILLATOR PITCH INPUT (¼”TRS) : 1 volt per octave of change (Works with Moog EP-3 Expression Pedal)
- MODULATION SOURCE INPUT (¼”TRS) : Ring=Noise Send; Tip=Modulation Receive (This jack makes a normalled connection with no cable present.)
- TRIGGER INPUT (¼:TS) : +5 volt V-Trigger Activates both Contour Generators
- MIDI INPUT (5-PIN DIN) : Note On, Note #, Pitch Wheel, Mod Wheel
- MIDI OUTPUT (5-PIN DIN) : Note On, Note #, Pitch Wheel, Mod Wheel, Velocity, Aftertouch
- MIDI THRU (5-PIN DIN) : Mirror of the MIDI In signal
- EXTERNAL POWER SUPPLY : Self-switching; 100–240 volts; 50/60 Hz; <12 Watt nominal consumption. (Locking XLR-4 connector.)
- DIMENSIONS : (with panel lowered): Width: 28.625” / 727 mm, Depth: 17.125” / 435 mm, Height: 5.75” / 146 mm.
- NET WEIGHT : 32 lbs. / 14.5 kg.
- STORAGE TEMPERATURE : 5F to 140F (2C to 60C)
- NOMINAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE : 10 – 35 C (50 – 95 F)
- OPERATING TEMPERATURE : 10 – 50 C (50 – 122 F)
Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice