Moog Spectravox Synthesizer/Vocoder

General

Since we witnessed the same form factor in the DFAM and Subharmonicon, it's safe to say that the throwback, wooden side-panelled aesthetics of the Moog Spectravox synthesizer is a look where Moog feels most at home. The interior circuitry of this synth isn't that new either (the Moogfest edition of the Spectravox has been around for a while), and the control panel isn't exactly overloaded with features, but what you can do with all of it is something else. This is a synthesizer and vocoder combo in one - which is exactly where the magic lies.

The Moog Spectravox: Pure Potential

The Spectravox supplies multi-band-filters with adjustable loudness, which amount to a sort of filter bank for colouring in the signal. A low-pass and high-pass filter have also been included while the vocoder is nothing short of impressive when it comes to making your sound talk. Since the life of this synth is about what you put into it via the microphone input, the internal sounds have been kept fairly simple, so that, whether you're inputting vocals or an external sound, you can weave some genuinely unique synth and drum sounds.

Plug 'n Play

A pack of five patch leads comes included so you can fiddle around with the mounted patch bay at will, not just to reshape the architecture of the Spectravox but to integrate it with your existing Eurorack modules. And, when it comes to describing the sheer quality, you only need one word: Moog. Robot noises and pads interwoven with drums, drones and colourful filter effects that you just can't get anywhere else. That's what you're getting in return when you invest in this powerful chunk of a synth-vocoder.

• Please note: The Spectravox does not feature built-in phantom power supply for condenser microphones. Given the nature of this synthesizer, a condenser microphone barely offers any advantages compared to a (basic) dynamic microphone. Due to their low output and fragile design, ribbon microphones aren't recommended either. The best microphone to use in combination with the Spectravox would be any dynamic microphone.