Apple iPad Pro goes full retro with Moog Model 15 Synthesizer app
Music buffs will be familiar with Moog’s Model 15 Synthesizer, first created in 1973, and re-built recently, by Moog Music, in almost every detail, from original documentation, and original circuit boards, as well as art files.
Photo courtesy of Moog Music
The original Moog Model 15, created by electronic music pioneer Dr. Robert Moog, was used by widely popular musical figure like The Monkees, Wendy Carlos(Original composer of the music score for “A Clockwork Orange”), Keith Emerson(Emerson Lake & Palmer), Tangerine Dream, Jan Hammer (Composer of the original Miami Vice theme), The Beatles, and The rolling Stones, to name a few, and was considered one of the most significant technological advances in music industry.
Those who may be looking into owning the replica of the famous synthesizer, may need to do some serious budgeting, as this accurate reproduction of true music history, comes with a $10,000 price tag.
With that said, owners of an Apple iPad, can still get a chance to experience the vintage instruments synth, by downloading the Moog Model 15 Synthesizer App, which works with any Apple iPad models newer than the iPad Air.
This is not the first inception of a Moog music app into the App Store. In 2011, the Animoog app was one of the first to demonstrate the ability of the iPad to simulate a musical synth, featuring classic analog DNA. The Model 15 app, however, isn’t pulling any punches, and offers a complete retro experience, covering all instruments supported by the original Moog synth from 1973
Just like the real thing, the app offers the ability to actually use two-finger turns, to interact with control knobs and dials, and slide-up/down/sideways gesture to flip switches.
Potentiometers featured in the app are surprisingly accurate and responsive, offering a lifelike experience. All this and more, has been programmed using Apple’s own new graphic optimization framework, Metal, which has been introduced as the next generation graphic engine for iOS apps and games.
While the app is not free, $30 is considerably less than $10,000, for an app that provides at least 90% of the experience and sound quality of the real thing.