Brand: Oberheim and Moog (allegedly)
Model: The mythical “OberMoog” Pro-type *Modular* Synth made by Moog and Oberheim
Link: NO LINKS EXIST.

BLURB:
I bought this in an auction after we lost the bid on a MiniMoog (the Obermoog started our modular addiction!!). The guy we bought if from told me he bought it in Germany in the early 80s.

This machine causes A LOT of arguments because no-one can agree if it’s a home made kit synth with DIY labels or THE REAL THING. I’ve only seen one other version on eBay, and Miss Reznor reportedly used one on “Mr Self Destruct” from The Downward Spiral.
So according to legend, there are only 3 in the entire Universe. If they are bought together they will make the UBER SYNTH that will bring THE PHAT to the force….or something…
It’s got a BIG sound – it really thumps. Amongst other tracks, we used this to make the bass sound on the Angelspit track “Nurse Grenade“.

RUNDOWN:
It has a soft tone typical of many late 70s modulars. It can scream, but not the same extent that modern modulars can make hellish noise. The Obermoog sounds like a very fat SH101 or SH2 through a Moog Filter.

  • 1 Low Pass Filter which claims to be a “Moog 24dB VCF”…and it sounds like a Moog! I’ve heard a lot of analogue copies of the Moog, but sounds just like the Mooger Fooger. Only bummer is that it’s missing a DRIVE knob….but we often patch it through our little preamp or Sonic Alienator first
  • 1 Low Pass Filter (second filter). This one does NOT sound like a Moog. It actually sounds like an Oberheim 4 Voice. I’m pretty sure it’s a 24dB Low Pass. It’s very useable and very smooth sounding.
  • 2 VCOs : They both stay in tune beautifully. Individual outs for Saw, Triangle and Square. FM, SYNC and PWM inputs.
  • Envelope Generator : Reasonably accurate with ENV and TRIGGER outs
  • 2 Mixers : Both have 3 inputs
  • 2 VCAs
  • 1 Bin Divider : sub osc generator witch outputs a Square wave
  • LFO : Up Ramp, Triangle, Square
  • Slew Limiter
  • 2 ADSR
  • Noise Generator : not sure which type of noise
  • Ring Mod : it’s knob is scratchy, which is easy to fix, but I actually like the scratchy knob because it makes a great Ring Mod sound.
  • Heaps of multiples

PROS:
This is a really smooth and gentle modular. It makes the regular “fat analogue basses” but also produces some glassy and detailed glitchy percussion when you start modulating the Oscillators or the Filters.
We always patch the Obermoog’s Oscillators into the main modular or run the main modular though the OberMoog’s Filters.

CONS:
Pitty there’s not more documentation on it.

Regardless of whether it’s genuine or not, the Obermoog modular sounds really awesome.