Moog synthesizers are electronic musical instruments that can simulate the sounds of a wide range of traditional instruments, including guitars, keyboards, horns, and drums. The term “Moog synthesizer” is used to describe both analog and digital synthesizers. The Moog synthesizer, which was invented in the early 1960s and is still manufactured several companies today, went from a powerful studio tool to a performance instrument in a very short period of time.
The original Moog synthesizer, designed and perfected Robert Moog in 1964, used a keyboard to allow the user to simulate a variety of sounds. Adapting the device for each type of sound desired the user was a painstaking process in the early models. The process of programming the Moog synthesizer for a wide range of sounds became easier as technology advanced.
The Moog synthesizer was used several musical groups in 1967 who wanted to experiment with their sound. The Monkees were perhaps one of the most famous users of the Moog synthesizer. On their number one album Pisces Aquarius Capricorn and Jones, Ltd, released in November 1967, the group used the Moog synthesizer on two songs. The songs “Daily Nightly” and “Star Collector” received a lot of FM airplay, which was unusual for a band whose target demographic was pre-teens.
Several other popular music acts began to use the Moog synthesizer in their studio recordings throughout the rest of the decade. The synthesizer was used bands like the Byrds and the Zodiac on albums that received a lot of critical acclaim. The albums Switched-On Bach and The Well Tempered Synthesizer were released in 1969, and they were the first major releases of Moog music. The Beatles got in on the act as well, employing the Moog synthesizer on several tracks from their Abbey Road album.
The Moog synthesizer was extremely popular among recording artists during the early to mid 1970s. Songs featuring the Moog synthesizer were huge hits for artists like Stevie Wonder and the band Emerson Lake and Palmer. The trend continued into the late 1970s disco craze, with producer Giorgio Moroder employing the Moog synthesizer on a number of popular Donna Summer songs.
During the 1970s, several models of the Moog synthesizer were developed that could be used in concert halls. A number of entertainers began to incorporate synthesizers into their personal appearances, which helped to improve the instrument’s overall public perception.
In terms of business, Robert Moog’s first company went bankrupt in 1986. Other companies continued to make variations of the synthesizer. By 2001, Moog had reclaimed the rights to the Moog name and relaunched Moog Music, which has since produced the Minimoog Voyager as a studio and performance instrument.