MOOG WERKSTATT-01 // Tiny synth BIG sound (Patreon)

Hello hello

it's been a bit quiet around here and over on Discord where our community is and that's really been down to some hiccups with the house (nothing too major, just time consuming) and some changing deadlines with various projects that have kept the midnight oil burning. I'll be honest, if I never hear another hammer, drill, saw or other power tool again I'll be a happy bunny ... a happy DivBunny - quick someone make a DivBunny in photoshop! 

Today sees the re-release of the MOOG WERKSTATT-01 + CV EXPANDER. This was a DIY product aimed at education that then had a couple of tweaks before a wider release. It's not been available for sometime but is re-released at half it's original price (now $199) with the CV expander added in for free. It's an easy unit to dismiss, small, cheap, basic features ... meh (I hear some of you mumble). But it's a truly deep and rich sounding synth with a great low end all wrapped up in that Moog character. So without sounding like a marketing machine it really is big rich Moog tone in a small affordable package. Throw in the patch points for two way communication with Eurorack or other gear and it's an exciting little synth that's been a total pleasure to work with. I really hope the quality of tone comes across in the video, that's the reason I made it. 

Links and all the video information is below, I'm going to go eat, drink, play Barbies or whatever DivBaby (not so much a baby anymore) fancies and get some sleep. Back soon and let's chat in the Discord! 

VIDEO DETAILS

Here’s the WERKSTATT-01 an analogue subtractive mono synth (with patch points) from Moog Music. It’s a slim, tiny little analogue synth with a big rich analogue tone that definitely belies it’s size. The WERKSTATT was originally released in 2014 as an educational project which saw a limited release follow but it’s re-released in 2020 at half the price ($199!) and it comes with the CV expander that was previously sold separately. With the onboard jumpers of CV expander patch points we’ve got a simple but effective semi modular mono synth with a rich Moog tone in a simple package to get sounds and music happening quickly. It’s a fun addition synth tone to a Eurorack system with patching too and from other gear. I fondly remember the 2014 release and at the time I was surprised by the low end weight of the instrument, so I was excited to get to try it and deep dive for this video.

Although this is a simple enough synth I wanted to get LOTS of examples in the video both to show case some of the less obvious synthesis options such as AM synthesis & audio rate filter modulation but also to show a wider musical range both with and without FX.

This is a DIY project but it’s a super simple one that just involves a screwdriver and cutting a washer. I’ll take you through how to do that in the video.

Check out the WERKSTATT-01 with more demos, build instructions, advice on circuit bending / modifying & more - http://bit.ly/werkstatt-01

Here’s the passive attenuator used in the AM synthesis and drone section of the video - https://youtu.be/TxdaFoNv8FQ

MERCH MERCH MERCH!T shirts, jumpers and more at https://bit.ly/divkidmerch

TIMING INDEX // SECTIONS

** note, sections in ALL CAPS are no talking musical interludes.

00:00 Hello & patch previews

02:10 Werkstatt feature run down and raw sound demo

04:58 THE SPACE RUN

05:17 DIY build guide - it’s really easy!

06:58 RESONANT LADDER

07:12 Pulse width modulation (PWM) and new harmonic overtones

09:17 METALLIC PWM

09:41 Werkstatt acid & transposing sequences

10:20 STRANGER TAPE-STATT THINGS

10:37 How to patch tremolo & modulate your modulation

11:55 WERK-VERB SPRING-STATT

12:10 Glottal throaty vocal tones with audio rate filter modulation

13:14 DAFT PUNKS IN SPAAAAAAACE

13:28 Patching percussion - BIG analogue kicks

14:58 THICK BASS WOBBLES

15:18 Spooky vibrato lead lines

16:19 FUZZ IS ALL YOU NEED

16:35 AM synthesis and super thick drones

17:54 AMBIENT LEAD LINES

18:19 Rolling bass patterns

19:33 GENIE IN THE LAMP

19:55 Clangorous robotic alien zaps