Little Phatty or Voyager rackmount?

[ctrlshft]

I've owned a Voyager RME (+both vx units), and currently own a Little Phatty SEII.

I can tell you right off the bat that the RME is really really cool, and you will love it, it's immediate and responsive. You really should find room for the VX units in your rack if you do want to get it though, especially if you own other analog gear for cv connectivity.

I ended up selling my Voyager+vx units to finance a Future Retro XS, and a Little Phatty, and honestly I don't every plan to go back. I also have a MF-107, which, by utilitizing the XS, Acts as a 3rd oscillator for the LP, so the only thing I'm really missing is the voyager's extra modulation features, and stereo spacing. All that stuff is great, but really, if I want an overly complex modular-type patch, I'm going to reach for my TI, or think about buying a full fledged modular. The Voyager is definitely pretty close to being one, but it's not nearly as comprehensive as say a Doepfer w/ equivalent features.

Anywho, I'm really really enjoying the Little Phatty. It's elegant, versatile, and fat as hell. Big bass only really needs two oscs max, it's all about the filter and the waveform, when you start adding more and more oscs and detune them against each other you introduce phasing which actually thins the bass to some extent. Mono means bigger, too. The stereo filtering of the voyager (and highpass filter option) can get you really cool fx and leads etc w/ panning but it's not necessary for the bread and butter sounds one tends to expect out of your typical monosynth.

The LP by the way can do tons of crazy fx type patches, as current firmware allows for 2 mod sources and destinations, albeit at the same rate of the lfo, but it's still quite useful!

Long post, short:

Get the Voyager if you're hurting for complex sounds and options for experimentation, as well as meaty analog bass/leads.

Get the LP if you need an analog synth to get you meaty bass and leads, but don't need something for experimentation quite as much.

[annikk.exe]

I'm really just hoping to use it for meaty, saturated/overdriven sounding bass. Sounds like the LP might be the better option, due to the huge price difference..


-Annikk

[ctrlshft]

Originally Posted by annikk.exe

I'm really just hoping to use it for meaty, saturated/overdriven sounding bass. Sounds like the LP might be the better option, due to the huge price difference..


-Annikk

I think so, really w/ the Voyagers, particularly the RME, you're paying for knobs per function, more I/Os, and obviously a few additional functions, but that's about where the buck stops. The LCD screens are not as nice on the Voyagers, and also another thing to consider is that the Voyager knobs are digitally encoded, whereas the LP employs RAC (Real Analog Control) technology, proprietary to Moog, which kicks the LP's knobs into full analog control when you turn them, meaning you get real analog sweeps that do not step. When you stop turning, the RAC turns off, and the LP stores the closest value to where the knob stopped at. It's brilliant really, and considering the LP costs less, I think it makes choosing what to get a lot simpler.

I wouldn't be suprised if in the next couple of years we see a brand new incarnation of the Voyager which uses all the new tech that the LP has been using, and hopefully a LCD akin to what the TIs are using (cuz they're like the friggin best!)

Also: If you're looking to get it second hand you can find them for really good prices on ebay. Mind you the only diff between Stage I and Stage II is a Midi over USB option and a new paint job. Stage Is are usually priced like 200 bucks lower, so they're a steal if you can find one, esp if the warranty is still good for a few months.

[LivePsy]

A Voyager is a handcrafted instrument built for a lifetime. You will either agree or disagree that the money justifies the sounds of one note. But before you think it must be to ultimate, please consider the following.

The waveforms are somewhat rounded. There's no fast edge on the saw or square waves. You can however process the raw waves before going to the filter so there's a chance to brighten them up if you wish.

The stepping with the knobs is slight but sometimes noticeable. I wouldn't sweep the filter knob while self oscillating. Mind you its far better than digital synths because it is 256 steps instead of the usual 128. The Virus is superb in its smoothing so that you hear none.

If you are looking for that original moog sound, heaps of fanboys are distainful because its not a 30 year old pile of unstable transistors. I say the Voyager is how Moog would have made the minimoog D today: its the best technology can achieve today as was the model D in the '70s.

Sorry, can't comment on the LP. I love my Voyager though. The filter is still the moog filter.

B

[7G]

Voyager all the way...