OT Re: [sdiy] Bob Moog

[Magnus Danielson]

Graham Atkins wrote:
> I'm not sure that anyone does regard Bob Moog as the "best" designer or
> builder of synthesiser circuitry, but more that he opened the "ears" of
> musicians to what was possible with electronics and sound generation in
> a practical way that they could use, much like people associating motor
> vehicles with Henry Ford.
> 
> There are plenty of other good synth designers from Buchla and Oberheim
> to Dave Smith and Wolfgang Palm (And plenty more....)

I think few people mention Bobs ability to communicate with his users, 
draw from their experience, learn and adapt. Anyone who spent a little 
more time than a handshake and a little chat with him would probably 
recognice what I am talking about.

The MiniMoog development is just one of those stories. Experience 
drawned from his modular customers, their favorite patches and combining 
it stepwise into a practical new monophonic instrument.

It's not just the ability to design and design well. Many of his designs 
also had drawbacks and compromises which in hinsight seems bad, but 
that's how we learned several of these things. It's also about shaping 
the technology and find solutions which people like. Some of those 
things have been developed further, such as the ribbon controller.

He did some nice work on Theremins as well. I keep getting reminded of 
that for some reason.

Cheers,
Magnus