Synapse Audio

The Legend (VST/AU/Reason Rack
Extension) sees the Minimoog Model D
– widely accepted as the ‘best’ version of
Moog’s game-changing analogue synth –
brought to life onscreen by a developer with a
well-deserved reputation for excellence in
oscillator and ilter modelling, both, obviously,
key requirements in any classic synth emulation.
Indeed, Synapse Audio claim that The Legend’s
oscillators, ilter and ampliier “have been
modelled to an accuracy never seen before in
software”, even taking into account such
vagaries as temperature changes and the
inluence of the power supply on the circuitry. At
the same time, a few modern niceties have been
worked into the mix, including, as you might
expect, polyphony.
For those new to all this, the Minimoog,
launched in 1970, was the world’s irst truly
portable analogue synthesiser. A monophonic
instrument (ie, only able to play one note at a
time), it features three oscillators, a noise
generator and a resonant low-pass ilter, with
three-stage envelopes for modulation of the
amp and ilter, and the ability to use Oscillator 3
and/or the noise generator as LFOs, wobbling
the oscillator pitch and/or ilter cutof.
Comparatively simple by today’s standards,
what makes the Mini such a hardy perennial
Synapse Audio
The Legend £89
Does the world really need another virtual Minimoog? When it’s
as good as this one, the answer has to be a resounding yes…
“The GUI embodies the
spirit and vibe of the
Model D’s control
panel, but with the
layout redesigned”
SCALING
Click this button to choose
between Small, Medium
and Large GUI sizes
MODULATION BUTTONS
The Minimoog’s Oscillator
and Filter Modulation
switches are relocated here
FINE TUNING
The Legend lets you
adjust master tuning in
cents as well as semitones
STANDARDISED
OSCILLATOR
All three oscillators
can run all seven of
the Moog’s
waveforms, and
include Coarse and
Fine tune knobs
DRIVE
Boost the signal
from the oscillators
into the filter for an
overdriven sound
P OLYP H ON Y
Switch between
Mono, Unison and
Poly 4 modes
REAR PANEL
Click this button or
the main logo to
reveal the rear panel
ENVELOPE RELEASE
The Minimoog’s combined decay/
release control has been separated
for greater flexibility
in the electronic music garden is its ease of
use and incredibly full, weighty sound. Still
the irst choice of many producers for basses.
lead lines and FX, the Minimoog is a bona ide,
well… legend.
A new model
The Legend’s GUI embodies the spirit and vibe
of the Model D’s control panel, but with the
layout redesigned to be a bit more intuitive than
the real thing (the Oscillator and Filter
Modulation switches are positioned alongside
the Mod Mix knob, for example), and to make
room for its new features. Clicking the main
logo or the button at the top right lips round
to the ‘back’ of the synth, where various
global and component parameters are adjusted
(see Under the hood), and The Legend’s two
efects are housed.
In fact, the efects are as good a place as any
to get into The Legend’s hardware-transcending
2
MINUTES
WITH…
VIDEO
96 / COMPUTER MUSIC / January 2017
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