MOOG WERKSTATT-01 (Basics and Patching)

The Moog Werkstatt-01 is a relatively inexpensive analog synth with some nice patching options. In this tutorial I take a look at the basic layout and functionality of the Werkstatt and then delve into some patching that can yield different sounds. Some of the clips show the Werkstatt's CV Expander in action with the synth being controlled by the Korg SQ-1 sequencer, enhanced by reverb and delay fx from the Nux Atlantic pedal. This video assumes you aren't that familiar with modular synthesis, but you might find the latter parts interesting even if you are. NOTE: Getting the volumes right on this has been challenging. Some synth sounds, particularly with filtering, tend to fake out the vu meters in editing software - making the synth sounds higher than intended, possibly distorting on a phone speaker (possibly making it harder to hear my voice track). Anyway, I've done some things to mitigate, but it may require shifting the volume up/down for certain sections. Let me know. TIMELINE 00:00 STARTER A straightforward SQ-1 sequence controlling the Werkstatt, audio going out the Atlantic reverb. 00:20 INTRO I went to Asheville, North Carolina (USA). I got the Werkstatt in the Moog Store there. 01:45 UNBOX AND BUILD It was very straightforward to put the Werkstatt together. 03:01 SOUNDS, FILTER, AND ENVELOPE A look at the overall design of the Werkstatt. 20:25 LOW FREQUENCY OSCILLATOR Using panel settings to control synthesis parameters with the LFO. 31:03 PATCH 1: WARM-UP Envelope-Controlled LFO Rate NOTES: wire 1(env_out -- lfo_in); vco_freq(10:00, vary), vco_wave(saw), vco_pwm(min), vcf_cutoff(1:00), vcf_res(12:00), vca(eg), vcomod_source(lfo), vcomod_amount(min), vcomod_dest(freq), vcfmod_source(lfo), vcfmod_amount(2:00), vcfmod_polarity(+), lfo_rate(10:00), lfo_wave(tri), env_sus(off), env_att(min), env_dec(2:20), glide(min) 35:08 PATCH 2: A NEW SOUND LFO as Audio Frequency Oscillator NOTES: wire 1(lfo_out -- vcf_audio_in), wire 2(kb_cv_out -- lfo_in); vco_freq(min), vco_wave(pwm), vco_pwm(max, this mutes vco), vcf_cutoff(max), vcf_res(min), vca(eg), vcomod_source(lfo), vcomod_amount(min), vcomod_dest(freq), vcfmod_source(explore), vcfmod_amount(explore), vcfmod_polarity(explore), lfo_rate(10:00-2:00?), lfo_wave(square, tri is low volume but nice), env_sus(on), env_att(min), env_dec(12:00), glide(min). You might be able to find a nice lfo rate range that gives 2 octaves of a whole-tone scale. The square wave sound is somewhat different than the native pulse wave. 39:51 PATCH 3: TINY BUBBLES Bubbles from Filter Pinging NOTES: wire 1(lfo_out -- vcf_audio_in), wire 2(eg_out -- lfo_in); vco_freq(min), vco_wave(pwm), vco_pwm(max, this mutes vco), vcf_cutoff(10:00), vcf_res(2:30), vca(eg), vcomod_source(lfo), vcomod_amount(min), vcomod_dest(freq), vcfmod_source(eg), vcfmod_amount(2:00-max), vcfmod_polarity(+, but - is nice too), lfo_rate(9:30), lfo_wave(square), env_sus(on), env_att(explore), env_dec(12:30), glide(min). Some reverb added later in Audacity on the last part of this clip. 43:27 PATCH 4: FILTER SEQUENCE Audio LFO with Playable Filter NOTES: wire 1(lfo_out -- vcf_audio_in), wire 2(kb_cv_out -- vcf_in); vco_freq(min), vco_wave(pwm), vco_pwm(max, this mutes vco), vcf_cutoff(9:30), vcf_res(3:00), vca(eg), vcomod_source(lfo), vcomod_amount(min), vcomod_dest(freq), vcfmod_source(LFO), vcfmod_amount(min), vcfmod_polarity(+), lfo_rate(3:00), lfo_wave(square), env_sus(on), env_att(min), env_dec(12:30), glide(min). Some reverb added later in Audacity on the last part of this clip. 46:23 OUTRO Closing thoughts about the Werkstatt-01 48:41 ENDER Generative Patch with SQ-1 I've had Krell patches on the brain this year (0Coast, Volca Modular, Kastles), and I had an idea about how to do it with the SQ-1 sequencer the Werkstatt-01 (with CV Expander attached). The Werkstatt-01 doesn't have any sort of random voltage module, BUT the SQ-1 has a random sequencing mode. So, a basic Krell starting point is setting up randomly pitched notes, having the duration of the note depend on the pitch (commonly high notes are fast), and then of course reverb (I'm using both reverb and delay from the Nux Pedals Atlantic here). I'm sending a gate from the SQ-1 to gate_in on the Werkstatt[cable 1]. Then, the SQ-1 has two cv out ports - so one goes to the vco_exp_in, for pitch[cable 2], and then the other goes to the lfo_in, for duration[cable 3]. Then, the way to make this work is to send the Werkstatt's LFO signal(square) back out to the SQ-1's Sync In port, letting the LFO control how quickly the sequence advances. Tuning the individual sequence pitches can take a while and is where something like this becomes very much a matter of personal preference. I used a minor tuning. The weighting of high notes vs. low notes within the 16 steps is one of the main factors in how this generative setup progresses. 50:59 BONUS I just thought this was pretty, sort of a nostalgic vibe. LINKS https://www.moogmusic.com