NAMM 2024: STG (Suit & Tie Guy) The Vanilla Synthesizer is a new 5U modular analog Synthesizer and a homage to the original muSonics brand
Moog has a very long synthesizer history. Often forgotten is that another company was involved in this for a very short time. More precisely, in 1970, muSonics bought out the initial R.A. Moog company and merged both into one. Two years later, Moog branding had replaced the muSonics name for the company.
Last year, STG Soundlabs (Suit & Tie Guy) announced that he acquired the company rights of muSonics and now operates it under the name STG muSonics. At Knobcon 2023, they launched the first product, a revised version of the classic R.A Moog 902 VCA.
And the last week at NAMM 2024, they announced the first big product called MuSonics The Vanilla Synthesizer.
The Vanilla Synthesizer
TVS (The Vanilla Synthesizer) is a new 5U modular Synthesizer that is an homage to the original muSonics circuit designs. STG described it as the “American format”, aka Moog format or shorter 5U. He says The Vanilla Synthesizer is “chock-full of highly optimized 1970s circuitry and tone in a beautiful walnut cabinet.”
This is a fully modular Synthesizer that is produced in mini-batches. So, it is not mass-produced. It consists of eight different modules which can be patched with cable. Interestingly, they also offer a default patch routing, allowing you to play it without patch cables between modules.
Suit explains the idea behind the Vanilla:
“I started working on this project a year and a half ago,” Suit explains. “Originally, my thought process was to make a new American format synthesizer that could be sold as modules, kits, and bare boards.
I was concerned about the future of the format, and I felt a new line of basic modules and infrastructure at a variety of price points was important.”
Analog Circuitry
The core of synth is an original design, says STG, but takes inspiration from Tom Oberheim’s classic Two Voice Synthesizer.
It offers two independent voices, an audio noise source, sample & hold with lag, a mixer, and a sequencer. Neat, you can route the left voice output into the filter mixer of the right voice to offer additional flexibility. The mixer is basically a distortion pedal, says STG.
You can read the complete story behind the new STG muSonics Synthesizer in the linked newsletter.
First Impression
The 5U modular systems have become more rare on the market. There are only a few companies left producing them. Often, the modules are costly. STG’s idea of bringing more affordable modules to the market is excellent.
So, I hope this brings more movement and interest in the 5U (American format) market again. Great, and eight modules for $2500+ shipping is a good deal, especially for the 5U world.
The Vanilla Synthesizer by STG muSonics is available now for $2500 USD.
More information here: STG
MTG is a one hell of a salesman. I don’t need one of these but enthusiasm makes me want one of them. (That, and it sounds great, sexy as hell too.)