Moog Spectravox – A Semi-Modular Analog Spectral Synth

Moog Music, the legendary synthesizer company, has announced the release of their latest innovative instrument – the Spectravox. This unique analog spectral processor pushes the boundaries of sound design and creative expression.

The Spectravox is a semi-modular synthesizer, meaning it can function on its own or integrate seamlessly into a larger modular synth setup. At its core is a powerful 10-band analog filter bank paired with a robust oscillator and white noise generator.

The Spectravox is great for making droning and sweeping sounds. The Spectravox works really well for ambient or experimental styles of music production. But it can also add unique animated, changing sounds to more normal, traditional songs. It has a flexible design that allows it to work for different musical uses. But the Spectravox is more than just a synthesizer voice – it can also transform into a fully-fledged 10-band vocoder. This allows any external audio signal (vocals, instruments, samples, etc.) to be spectrally analyzed and imprinted onto the Spectravox’s rich analog tones in real-time.

The semi-modular design provides immense flexibility in how it is used. It can operate self-contained with no patching required, but also integrates seamlessly into existing Eurorack modular rigs via the extensive rear connections. Envelope, filter, and oscillator parameters can be controlled via CVs for deep modulation possibilities. Despite its innovative design, the Spectravox builds upon a rich heritage of groundbreaking vocal synthesis and spectral processing technology. It draws inspiration from early vocoders like the Voder demonstrated at the 1939 World’s Fair, as well as the iconic Wendy Carlos/Bob Moog vocoder collaborations used on Clockwork Orange and other pioneering works.

In a new video, artist Jamie Lidell provides a glimpse into the creative potential of the Spectravox by sharing his track “Awake and Alive.” We see him using the instrument to mangle and transform basic sounds like vocals and percussion into strange and beautiful new timbres.

The Spectravox is available now for $599 at authorized Moog dealers worldwide.