The legendary Minimoog Model D returns to production after half a century

Words by Mixdown Staff

Remaining identical to the original 1970 model with some modern flare

More than a half-century since its invention, the legendary Minimoog Model D is back in production at the Moog factory in Asheville, North Carolina.

What you need to know:

The legendary Minimoog Model D is back in production at the Moog factory in Asheville, North Carolina.
A groundbreaking innovation, the Minimoog was quickly embraced by a diverse roster of performers.
The coveted sound engine and audio signal path remain identical to the original Model D.

Read all the latest gear news here.

The all-analog instrument gained acclaim for combining the sound of the 1960s Moog modular synthesisers with the accessibility of pre-wired modules, meaning that it could be played instantly and intuitively with no patch cables required.

A groundbreaking innovation, the Minimoog was quickly embraced by a diverse roster of performers, such as Herbie Hancock, Kraftwerk, Jan Hammer, Sun Ra, Giorgio Moroder, Parliament Funkadelic, Pink Floyd, and Gary Numan – all shaping unique sounds and forging new genres with the instrument.

Built to last a lifetime, each new Minimoog Model D delivers the revered quality, undefinable feel, and authentic sound of a pristine vintage Moog.

The coveted sound engine and audio signal path remain identical to the Model D that Bob Moog and his team engineered in the 1970s. This latest edition of the instrument also includes the series of popular functional modifications from the 2016 production run that expanded this synth’s capabilities.

These modifications include a dedicated analog LFO with triangle and square waveshapes, a premium Fatar keybed with velocity and after pressure available via top panel CV jacks with onboard trimpots, MIDI integration, improved pitch wheel calibration, and a mixer feedback modification which allows the Minimoog Model D to overdrive and scream with the turn of a knob.

Plus, for the first time in its history, the Minimoog Model D now features a spring-loaded pitch wheel that returns to centre upon release. This enhancement allows for improved playability and wild performance flourishes. This newest edition also includes updates to the MIDI functionality, allowing for improved modern studio integration.

The three-oscillator, monophonic, analog synth is securely housed in a locally-sourced Appalachian cherry cabinet with a legacy-inspired walnut stain and hand-finished aluminium chassis. Its legendary low-pass ladder filter, powerful oscillators, and rich saturating mixer retain the exact component placement and through-hole design of a 1970s-era Minimoog Model D.

“This attention to detail in materials and build allows us to connect directly to the legacy and character of this legendary instrument,” VP of Product Development at Moog Music Steve Dunnington said.

“The Minimoog Model D is more than just a collection of circuits in a box – it’s a true musical instrument that is a joy to program and play.

“Bob [Moog] always recognised the importance of an instrument’s feel, and we’ve gone to great lengths to honour his practices through the re-introduction and manufacture of this beautiful synthesiser.”