October 12, 2014 marks the 50 Year anniversary of the unveiling of the Moog modular synthesizer at the Audio Engineering Society’s New York convention. Unlike today, there were no robotic assembly lines. These were completely analog instruments. Each one was hand crafted, with every electrical component soldered to a circuit board. Modules were fitted into wooden cabinets with screws. But more important were the new sounds, which could be combined in infinite variations. In many ways, Moog defined the sound of late 60s and early 70s rock.
This mini documentary follows the company’s reproduction of the modular system built for Keith Emerson, of Emerson, Lake and Palmer and delivered in 1969. It includes interviews with a Moog engineer, Moog historian and Bob Moog himself.
Below that, take a listen to Emerson, Lake and Palmer’s Welcome Back My Friends, which holds up surprisingly well over time.
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