The Memorymoog is legendary for its massive sound and notorious unreliability. Now, Arturia's Memory V emulator lets you enjoy the classic Moog sound without the headaches or the sky-high vintage price tag.
History of the Memorymoog
The Memorymoog was produced only between 1982 and 1985, making it the last polyphonic synth from Moog before its 1987 bankruptcy. Its sound was often described as six Minimoogs in a box, and the Memorymoog+ was among the first synths to adopt MIDI. However, it was rushed to market, leading to tuning issues, failing power supplies, and difficult serviceability.
Cost Comparison
With only about 3,500 units ever made, a vintage Memorymoog now sells for around $15,000, or about $10,000 for a fixer-upper. In contrast, Arturia's Memory V is available for just $149, with discounts for existing customers.
Features of Memory V
Memory V offers three oscillators and one iconic Moog lowpass ladder filter per voice, closely replicating the original interface. You can stack all six voices (18 oscillators) for massive leads. It includes modern amenities like MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE), a drag-and-drop modulation system with multiple envelopes, LFOs, and a function generator, plus a powerful multi-arpeggiator.
Sound Capabilities
Memory V excels at '80s brass sounds, unstable pads, and rich strings. You can adjust analog instability to mimic a broken Memorymoog if desired.
Arturia's Memory V is available now. Existing customers can log in to see their discount offer.
