Moog Music has added the Spectravox analogue spectral processor to its semi-modular family, offering a 10-band filter bank, analogue oscillator and a dynamic white noise generator.
‘Spectravox enhances Moog’s modular synthesis legacy by integrating a sophisticated vocoder alongside powerful analogue synthesis capabilities,’ says Product Strategist, Max Ravitz. ‘This instrument is designed to give musicians comprehensive control over their sound, enabling detailed texture shaping and a broad spectrum of sonic experimentation.’
In 1928, Homer Dudley developed the Vocoder at Bell Labs, fundamentally changing sound transmission. His insights into speech synthesis paved the way for the Voder, introduced at the 1939 New York World’s Fair, captivating audiences and inspiring future innovations in sound processing. Spectravox builds on this legacy, allowing users to sculpt sounds with historical depth and modern precision.
The collaboration between Wendy Carlos and Bob Moog, which began at the 1964 New York World’s Fair, also significantly influenced the Spectravox design. Their exploration of vocoders led to new ways of merging electronic tones with human expressiveness, epitomised in the soundtrack of Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange. Spectravox promises to be a powerful tool for live performance and studio recording, able to transform simple sounds into complex sonic landscapes for anyone looking to explore new musical dimensions.
Presented in 60HP format, Spectravox can be used both as a standalone synthesiser and an integrative component in expansive Eurorack set-ups. With its dual-mode functionality, it is able to transform from a powerful synthesiser voice into a fully-featured 10-band vocoder. The integrated secondary filter bank analyses the spectral makeup of incoming sounds, allowing users to imprint the timbral characteristics of external sources onto the Spectravox’s analogue generated tones – whether voice, guitar or a drum machine. The combo XLR/jack programme input accommodates both a microphones and connection of other sound modules.
The semi-modular design of Spectravox means that no patching is required in order to operate it, with the dynamic 10-band filter bank able to shift and shape frequencies to create everything from rich basses to ethereal pads. Extensive connectivity supports integration with other Moog semi-modular instruments, Eurorack modules and external sound sources. Among the modulation options are an internal triangle wave LFO and external CV for real-time control over filter movement and sonic texture.
Spectravox is now shipping to authorised dealers globally at a price of US$599.
More: www.moogmusic.com
