Moog sound with Lead A1

[DJKeys]

I cannot speak for the OB6, but I did have a Prophet 6 which is the same basic architecture. Filters, oscillators are different, but the basic features of the board are the same. I sold the Prophet which had a much better keybed with after touch and bought the A1 ($1000 less) because the A1:

1. Is multi-timbral. Needed this for the music I was playing. Up to four sounds at once, each with their own morphs and effects. P6/OB6 are mono-timbral
2. Can split the keyboard anywhere and layer two sounds in each split. P6/OB6 cannot split.
3. Very simple to program. Easy to get great sounds out of it.
4. Huge sweet spot, very hard to make it sound bad
5. Weighs 11 pounds, this is amazing.

-dj

[Venatt]

I cannot speak for the OB6, but I did have a Prophet 6 which is the same basic architecture. Filters, oscillators are different, but the basic features of the board are the same. I sold the Prophet which had a much better keybed with after touch and bought the A1 ($1000 less) because the A1:

1. Is multi-timbral. Needed this for the music I was playing. Up to four sounds at once, each with their own morphs and effects. P6/OB6 are mono-timbral
2. Can split the keyboard anywhere and layer two sounds in each split. P6/OB6 cannot split.
3. Very simple to program. Easy to get great sounds out of it.
4. Huge sweet spot, very hard to make it sound bad
5. Weighs 11 pounds, this is amazing.

-dj

I guess like you say you can't do splits on the OB6 but it sounds FAT as hell, just listen to the synth bass at minute 2:52 on the first video:





I've been trying to sell my NL4 to buy the A1 but it seems to be hard to sell it.

[Subtraction]

How would the Lead A1 compare vs Dave Smith-Tom Oberheim OB6 ?

Firstly, you can do (a Nord version of) that OB6 bass patch on the A1 and you won’t be too disappointed.

How do they compare?
Sound wise I’ll say it’s like comparing the same song on an audiophiles ridiculously expensive hi-fi system, to his A&K320 playing an AIFF file through B&W MM1’s. (sadly, I am that victim.) Both “sound” amazing, but there’s just something extra visceral behind the OB6 that you’ll notice if you’re listening to it critically and on its own, but in the mix you’d never notice unless it was soloing; probably.
And listening to them on the car radio, a Casio would sound just as good.

Another thing, if you’re purely a multi-keyboard player like myself, the OB6 has decent sequencing capabilities, and transitions between patch/patterns is glitchless to perform songs or just extending the seq length. On the panel it’s a bit simple, so I use SoundTower to nitpick the details and that stores it all in the OB6.

OB6 after touch options are gold, especially on filter mode. And that’s where they differ, in the seamless modulation of the filter mode. That is a sound dimension of its own, but it’s down to you if you can live without it.

Operationally, the A1 does a lot my OB6 can’t (as comments above listed) and it does all the quirky FM and digital synth patches too. A1’s “shape mod” OSC config on 4 slots on unison 3 is synth pad anaesthesia; an Fmaj9 chord could put me in a coma. The OB6 requires good knowledge of patch building and specifically with the OB way, with the A1 is a no-brainer and the Mutate button is genius.

So, why do I have an A1? Because it gets that Model D sound to an exceptional level and makes it polyphonic (although the miniMoog D sounds amazing, it’s a very simple architecture).

So the “A1 model D substitute” accompanies my OB6 and Prophet Rev2 quiet nicely. It’s a perfect trio.
If I absolutely needed an OB6, Prophet6 and Model D, but could only buy one, I’d buy the A1. And compared to the OB6 alone you’d save almost 2/3rd’s the $.

[Duplobaustein]

If you're no purist, the A1 will fit your needs perfectly.

[Nordlicht]

... and of course I had to do the comparison as a new Lead A1 owner



A quick comparison of a typical lead sound to show how similar the analog Moog Voyager and the virtual analog Nord Lead A1 are sounding.
- Sounds: two-oscillator sawtooth, low pass filter fully opened
- Effects: pingpong delay and reverb (Moog external, Nord internal FX section)

Clavia did a great job and among my various synths, the A1 is definitely the one with which I have the most fun and which inspires me the most.

[Mr_-G-]

Thanks for posting it, although to be fair, I think that the filter "fully open" leaves one of the most important parts of the synth out of the equation.

[Nordlicht]

Thanks for posting it, although to be fair, I think that the filter "fully open" leaves one of the most important parts of the synth out of the equation.

You’re right and I didn’t have the intention to do a "serious" and detailed comparison, only to show what power and "balls" the A1 has compared with the real deal (I couldn’t get this with my 2X).

On the other hand, the "M" filter of the A1 actually sounds incredibly good and "original", only with higher resonances there are digital artifacts and "steps".