In this month’s DIY we take a look at the most inexpensive way to add that classic Moog sound to your toolkit.
The Moog Werkstatt-01 may be the simplest DIY kit currently on the market, with the Korg NTS-1 running a close second. However, don't let the simplicity of this kit fool you into thinking that the Werkstatt-01 is somehow inferior. It is a true analog, single oscillator, semi-modular, monosynth with Moog's legendary ladder filter and signature sound.
Assembly of this kit is straightforward. Moog has provided everything you need except a screwdriver. The circuit board, rubber feet, key covers, and faceplate are held together with four screws. With a few adjustments to the circuit board to dial in the pitch range, you have an awesome-sounding synth with a built-in keyboard and a complete patchbay to interface with your other gear that uses control voltage (CV).
The Werkstatt-01 features a full-range oscillator with pulse and sawtooth waveforms, pulse width modulation, an LFO with square and triangle waveforms, filter, VCA, and a two-stage envelope. Oscillator modulation options include the envelope and LFO and can be routed to the pulse width modulation or the frequency. The VCF can be modulated by either the envelope or the LFO with adjustable polarity. The tiny built-in keyboard is quite playable and includes a glide control for added expression.
Experimenting with this synth on its own is very entertaining, but it gets really exciting when you start re-patching it with the CV patchbay. Inputs include VCA, VCF, VCO LIN FM, VCO EXP FM, LFO FM, and VCF Audio. Outputs include Keyboard, Gate, Envelope, LFO, VCF, and VCO. Re-patching parameters can generate some amazing sonic results, and when you combine it with other gear a world of possibilities emerges.
I have processed external audio through the filter, sequenced intricate bass lines with the Korg SQ-1 step sequencer, added a separate layer of sound by combining it with the Behringer Crave and so much more.
The Moog Werkstatt-01 is an amazing little synth that is easy to assemble and can introduce you to a new world of possibilities. If you have been considering the Workstatt-01, now is the time to take a closer look. As Moog has recently introduced the all-new Mavis synth, the Werkstatt-01 won't be around for much longer.
For more information visit: