Review: Moog Subsequent CV 37

It might look outwardly similar to the Sub 37 but Moog's latest special edition - limited to 2000 units worldwide - has a lot more going on under the hood than meets the eye.

At Moogfest 2016, we saw a limited run reproduction of the classic Minimoog. This year Moogfest attendees witnessed production of the Subsequent CV 37, a limited-edition redesign of the Sub 37 Tribute Edition. Similar to the Minimoog this is limited to 2000 pieces worldwide. So get yours while its still available, or should you?

The Updates

The Subsequent CV 37 is identical in design to the Sub 37. The main difference being the visually striking silver faceplate and the addition of CV & Gate outs. All the features otherwise are identical. Internally a lot has changed. Moog has updated the mixer section adding more headroom. The multi-drive on the Ladder Filter has been updated to boost harmonic saturation and analog compression. The headphone output it a lot hotter than the sub 37 and finally the keybed is updated for improved playability. I’m not much of a keyboard player so I was quite happy with the sub37’s keybed.

 

CV Ins And Outs

The addition of 4 assignable CV outs and 2 gate outs is probably the most significant improvement when compared to the Sub37. These outs are all on 1/4 inch jacks so if you plan on using the Subsequent 37 with Eurorack gear you will be needing patch cables with 1/4 inch connectors on one end and 1/8 inch on the other. I personally don’t have too many of those so it was impossible to try out all the CV and Gate outs simultaneously. 

Moog wants you to use the Subsequent 37 as the controller for all your voltage controlled devices. It definitely can work pretty well as a controller with its 37 keys (velocity & aftertouch enabled), mod and pitch wheels,  built-in arpeggiator/sequencer and all the knobs that could work as continuous control sources. Since the Subsequence 37 (as well as the Sub 37) also has CV ins, you can use other controllers to modulate parameters on the synth itself. This way the Subsequence 37 can truly become the heart of your analog setup.  

  

The Moog Sound

The Subsequent 37 is also a great standalone synth. The Sub37 itself is a testament to that. If you like the Sub37, then you will definitely love the Subsequent 37. The Ladder filter has been updated but still retains the highly sought after Moog sound. The overall tonality seems to be a bit cleaner compared to the Sub 37 and this might be attributed to the extra headroom on the Subsequent 37. The old Sub 37 editor works great with this synth and is a great tool to backup or transfer presets. You do need to register your Moog to get the download link to the editor. 

Conclusion

 

Now if you already own the Sub37, it is hard for me to recommend getting the Subsequent 37. The updates to the synth are just not enough to warrant a purchase, especially considering this synth is significantly more expensive than the Sub 37. If you have never owned a Moog synth from the Phatty line, this might be an excellent buy, but if you don’t really need the 1/4 inch CV outs, then the Sub 37 might be an even better buy as it's cheaper and pretty much the same synth. 

Pros: Excellent tonality. More distortion possibilities with the Multi-drive, CV & Gate outs.

Cons: Expensive, not significantly different from the Sub 37

Price: $1799

Web: https://www.moogmusic.com/products/phattys/subsequent-37-cv

 Learn more about using Moog synths in the Ask.Audio Academy here.
Synthesis 101
The Filter
by Bob Moog Foundation

"Rishabh Rajan is an award winning music producer & educator currently based in New York. He produces electronic music under the name code:MONO & hosts a YouTube channel featuring music and live mashup videos using performance controllers like the Ableton Push. He is also a sample library developer having worked with companies like Bela..." Read More

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