Moog Rogue
The Moog Rogue is a monophonic analog synthesizer produced by Moog Music in the early 1980s. Very basic in its design and use, the Rogue featured a 32-note keyboard and two VCOs. VCO number 2 is tunable between a half-step below to an octave above VCO number 1. This allows the Rogue to play atonal sounds like the Moog Prodigy. The Rogue did not have features to allow the user full flexibility to program the patch settings. However, the VCF and the VCA were simple to operate. The design of the hard-wired patch system was well thought out (considering its size and cost) and a wide variety of sounds and modulation effects are possible. The Rogue also includes a Sample-and-Hold feature that the Prodigy does not. The synthesizer is most commonly used for its powerful bass. The Rogue is similar in some respects to the famous ARP Odyssey, though smaller and less versatile.
Rogue | |
---|---|
Manufacturer | Moog Music |
Dates | 1981 |
Technical specifications | |
Polyphony | Monophonic |
Timbrality | Monotimbral |
Oscillator | 2 |
LFO | 1 |
Synthesis type | Analog subtractive |
Filter | low-pass |
Attenuator | ASR |
Storage memory | none |
Input/output | |
Keyboard | 32 keys |
Left-hand control | none |
External control | CV/Gate |
Moog Music was criticized for repackaging the Rogue as the Taurus II, changing the design to a pedal-operated synthesizer with little difference in sound quality.
The Rogue is very similar in design and sound to the less-expensive Moog Concertmate MG-1, also made by Moog Music, but re-branded for Realistic around the same time for home use. This was perhaps the first example of a keyboard designed for the home musician.
Notable users
- Tina Weymouth of Talking Heads
- Saint Etienne
- Six Finger Satellite
- Add N to (X)
- Greg Anderson of Sunn O)))
- Will Butler of Arcade Fire
- Vince Clarke
- Jeff DeCuir of Hyperbubble
- Electrosexual
- Peter Gabriel
- Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead
- Howard Jones
- Julian Koster of Neutral Milk Hotel
- Jimmy LaValle of The Album Leaf
- Ronnie Martin of Joy Electric
- John McEntire of Tortoise
- Merzbow
- Mr. Oizo
- Anni Rossi
- Mike Rutherford of Genesis
- Cevin Soling of The Neanderthal Spongecake
- David Swanson of Whirlwind Heat
- Nancy Whang of LCD Soundsystem
- Christoph Heemann
- The Juan MacLean