Description
Just like our Big Block: Clavinet / Pianet sample pack, there’s an interesting story behind the Moog Source Logic Sampler/EXS sample pack. One of my work colleagues found this in a closet he was cleaning out. Being a guitarist, he had no interest in what was (then) a non-working synthesizer.
I took it to the local Moog repair source in the Bay Area – This Old Synth. Chris did a great job. He found several issues and got this baby back up and running. He:
- Replaced the factory sounds
- Replaced the battery
- Performed the “Crazy Fox” 5V regulator fix – I didn’t know such a thing existed
- Replaced a bad CD5051 CV chip
- Replaced a bad 100 ohm resistor to re-enable keyboard scaling. Also changed the keyboard current source 4558 chip in case it was strained as cheap part
- Did a burn-in-test
Once I got it home, I sampled it on minor thirds at 48Khz, 24-bit through a PreSonus Studio Live 32 console over Firewire directly into my Mac. From there, I used a number of editors to get you the samples you hear today, including SoundForge Mac, DSP Quattro, and Wavelab.
Demo:
The Source was Moog’s first synthesizer to offer patch memory storage. The design was also the first (and only) Moog synthesizer to feature a flat-panel membrane keyboard in place of the standard buttons, knobs, and sliders, along with multicolored panel graphics that were very different from anything Moog had offered at the time. Sound-wise, it is considered to sound more like the original Moog Minimoog than any other Moog synthesizer, and it was introduced as its replacement.
In addition to the memory capable of holding 16 presets, the Source features a 37-note keyboard and two VCOs that can be selected among three waveforms and three octaves. Programmed presets can be saved to an audio cassette interface to free up the onboard memory for additional new patches. The 24dB/octave VCF has parameters for keyboard tracking, cutoff frequency, resonance, and envelope amount. There are two ADSR envelope generators that can be set in single- or multi-trigger modes, one for the VCF and one for the VCA. For modulation, the Source features an LFO and a sample-and-hold. The unit also features a rudimentary sequencer. The Source was made in at least 2 versions, the latter offering more voltage control options.
The instrument was used extensively by the band Devo on their 1981 album New Traditionalists, and the band also appeared in early print ads for the keyboard.
The Source was also used by Toby Smith, keyboard player from the band Jamiroquai, Depeche Mode, and most notably by New Order, especially on the track “Blue Monday”. (Wikipedia)
In this library, you will receive at least 525 samples and at least 50 presets – I’m programming more all the time, as these samples are really good.
If you want to know about the Source – you should know that I sold it about a year ago to a vintage keyboard enthusiast in Switzerland. After purchase, reconditioning, and shipment, I sold it at a profit – but I don’t regret it. The lack of pulse-width modulation was a non-starter for me. I took a great instrument, improved it, and sold it to a very happy user.
Once I got The Source back from the shop, it had a set of factory programs in it. I sampled the best sounds to my ears, and I was after mapped synth sounds.
Each of the 11 Factory sounds is offered in both Mono and Polyphonic versions – either with no or very few effects. These sounds will get you the sound of Moog’s The Source as if you purchased it in 1981.
The remaining 28 presets are my “inventions” – using the sampler engine to create news sounds based on those original sampled keymaps.
Each instrument’s presets have been tuned to equal temperament tuning using a Strobotuner.
Included programs:
| 000 Lead 1 – Factory #1 (M) | Factory Program 1 – Classic Minimoog Sound |
| 001 Lead 2 – Factory #2 (M) | Factory Program 2 – Square Wave + High Rez |
| 002 Horn – Factory #3 (M) | Factory Program 3 – Tuba to Trumpet |
| 003 Flute – Factory #4 (M) | Factory Program 4 – Sine Wave w/ Hint of Noise |
| 004 Clav Bass – Factory #5 (M) | Factory Program 5 – Classic Synthesizer Clavinet |
| 005 Vibes – Factory #6 (M) | Factory Program 6 – Vibraphone |
| 006 Harpsichord – Factory #8 (M) | Factory Program 8 – 8va 2nd Oscillator for full stop |
| 007 Organ – Factory #9 (M) | Factory Program 9 – Percussive Filter |
| 008 Trill Voice – Factory #10 (M) | Factory Program 10 – Fat Resonant Filter |
| 009 Taurus – Factory #11 (M) | Factory Program 11 – Full Taurus Pedal – fat |
| 010 Synthe Vox – Factory #12 (M) | Factory Program 12 – Metal-like vocal sound |
| 011 Lead 1 (P) | Factory Program 1 – Polyphonic Version |
| 012 Lead 2 (P) | Factory Program 2 – Polyphonic Version |
| 013 Horn (P) | Factory Program 3 – Polyphonic Version |
| 014 Flute (P) | Factory Program 4 – Polyphonic Version |
| 015 Clav Bass (P) | Factory Program 5 – Polyphonic Version |
| 016 Vibes (P) | Factory Program 6 – Polyphonic Version |
| 017 Harpsichord (P) | Factory Program 8 – Polyphonic Version |
| 018 Organ (P) | Factory Program 9 – Polyphonic Version |
| 019 Trill Voice (P) | Factory Program 10 – Polyphonic Version |
| 020 Taurus (P) | Factory Program 11 – Polyphonic Version |
| 021 Synthe Vox (P) | Factory Program 12 – Polyphonic Version |
| 022 Poly Filter Comp | Poly synth with a nice rezzy filter spank |
| 023 Rezzo Metallic | Metallic square patch – also a keyboard comp |
| 024 Dyn. Saw Brass | Dynamic Vel > Filter programming |
| 025 Gater Pad | Gater effect up front in this thematic poly synth |
| 026 Plucky Clav-like | Short, sweet, clavinet |
| 027 Fat Filter Mod | Distorted filter sweep solo synth |
| 028 Filter Pad | Warm, soft brass-like filter and pad |
| 029 Metal Trem | Metal Pad. Mod Wheel > Tremolo |
| 030 Rectified | Broken rectifier solo distorted synth |
| 031 Thipper Bass | Octave fast filter swept solo bass |
| 032 Plunk Sub Bass | Sub bass with a hint of filter attack |
| 033 Powa Bass | Power distorted bass |
| 034 Solstice Strings | Metallic, mid-rangie Film Score strings |
| 035 Digital Impersonator | Dynamic FM-like keys |
| 036 MKS 7D | MKS-70 like pad. Twin Peaks! |
| 037 Sizzle Pad | Pad with high frequency “sizzle” filter elements |
| 038 Big Saw Pad | Classic Polymoog sound |
| 039 Large Squares | Resonant Squares poly synth |
| 040 Sync Sweep + Tube Amp | Sampled through a tube amp |
| 041 70’s Solo Synth | Solo synth with delay |
| 042 Buzzy Solo Synth | High frequency buzz on a solo synth |
| 043 Source does PPG | A keyboard comp that sounds like a PPG |
| 044 Van Trellis | Blade Runner synthesizer |
| 045 Fat and Wide | Wide panned Toto-like brass synth |
| 046 Not Certain | Breathy brass with distortion |
| 047 It’s a Sign | Sine-wave synthesizer |
| 048 Wet P5 | P5 filter mod with Chorus and Reverb |
| 049 + Sub Bass | Almost invisible sub-bass. Layer with another |
Delivery:
This sample pack for Logic Pro X or higher is delivered via the Pulse Downloader App.
