EMEAPP Institute Project:

Distortion as a Positive Element in Vintage Synthesizers?

Description: In terms of its impact on the evolution of music over the past fifty years, the Minimoog Synthesizer is perhaps the most important vintage synthesizer in existence.  This project began as an investigation into the characteristics of distortion in the Minimoog’s voltage controlled amplifier, an effect which we believe playes a significant role in the characteristic sound of the instrument, and hence in its overall impact on music.

Project Leaders: Jim Scott, Ben Luce, and Tim Warneck

Additional Participants: Tom Rhea, Brian Kehew, EMEAPP Staff.

Project Status: An exhaustive initial study of the distortion in the Minimoog has been completed, including circuit modeling and mathematical analysis, and listening tests. Click here project