BMF Re-Configures Norlander’s “Wall of Doom” Custom Moog Modular
Bob Moog Foundation and Erik Norlander Make Modular Synthesis Accessible for Fans and Students
Erik Norlander, synth guru and ardent supporter of the Bob Moog Foundation, is known for his Moog-laden symphonic rock. At the heart of Erik’s music is his massive custom Moog modular synthesizer, affectionally referred to as the Wall of Doom by his roadies. You can get a glimpse of the WOD, situated behind Erik, below.
Erik Norlander with his custom modular synthesizer in the background
Here’s how Erik sums up the synths unique attributes:” My modular synthesizer is a unique creation that started out life as a Moog IIC in 1967, grew to a IV-C in the late 90s and then was repackaged as the first “Wall of Doom” in 2001. All of the audio modules are original Moog modules from 1967 – 1972 except for three custom 16x2x1 oscillator mixes that use the identical circuit topology as the original 1967 (pre-CP3) Bob Moog design to mix the system’s 22 oscillators. Many other custom control modules have been added including 8 channels of MIDI to Gate/CV along with additional processor modules from Roger Arrick’s Synthesizers.com in Texas. The control elements are extremely modern and offer state of the art flexibility; The sound is pure Moog.”
Recently, Erik and the Bob Moog Foundation joined forces to make this historical synthesizer more accessible to fans and students alike. The idea was to reconfigure the massive instrument in to six large rack mount cases that Erik could take on tour and expose his audiences to modular synthesis, and to bring in to schools in his area to teach the science behind synthesis to kids, thus helping the Foundation fulfill its mission and extend its MoogLab reach.
With the generous help of a few crucial supporters, we are delighted to announce that the re-configuration was completed on the eve of Bob’s 76th birthday. We couldn’t have accommplished this without:
In-Kind Donation of Gear
- OSP Worlwide – OSP Worldwide is a distributor of all kinds of super high quality audio gear. They donated six 16-Space ATA Shock Mount Flight Case Effects Racks to the Bob Moog Foundation for this project. We simply couldn’t have done this without their generosity. The quality of the cases they provided has well exceeded our expectation;they are extremely well-made. The six OSP cases provide an ideal home to this unique modular synthesizer.
Rockstar Engineering Volunteers
- Amos Gaynes and August Worley- To many of you, Amos Gaynes from Moog Music needs no introduction. He is well-known in the synth community for his clear and insightful articulation of all things that involve a Moog tech. Amos understands the contemporary Moog gear inside and out as a tech and as a creator of firmware for some of the newer products. A student of mechatronics at UNC-A, he is well on his way to becoming an engineering force at Moog Music, Inc.
August Worley is an electrical engineer who shares a unique qualification with Bob Moog. August is the only person to have worked at Moog Music Buffalo, Big Briar, Inc. and Moog Music Asheville. He was part of the engineering team who helped Bob develop the Voyager. August was uniquely qualified to work on this modular project, as he formerly toured with ELP as the keyboard tech for Keith Emerson’s Monster Moog Modular. He also developed the pyrotechnics for Keith’s Moog ribbon controller.
Between the two, Amos and August have donated over 60 hours of time to the completely reconfiguration of the Wall of Doom in to its new home. They have planned, inquired and researched in order to re-wire Erik’s system. Working well into the wee hours of the morning on more than one occasion, this highly skilled team has completed the transition of this extraordinary synth just in time for it’s first appearance at Moogus Operandi on May 27th.
Many, many thanks to Amos and August — we couldn’t have done this without you! Your generous donation of talent and spirit is a tribute to the Moog legacy itself.
Musician Open to the Possibilities
- Erik Norlander – Not only does this guy rock musically, but he rocks as an open, creative spirit who is excited by new possibilities. Not every owner of a priceless custom synthesizer would agree to submit their musical centerpiece to be shipped across the country for a complete metamorphosis. Erik agreed to take the project on and he was an invaluable source of information, guidance and encouragement.
We cannot go without thanking Lana Lane, Erik’s lovely wife and musical partner. With Erik away on a consulting trip, it fell upon Lana to pack and ship over 300 pounds of modules with a considerable time constraint thrown into the mix.
This project is a tribute to the historical, musical and technical legacy of Bob Moog. Many thanks to all involved!
Over the coming months, we will be asking Amos, August and Erik to write blog posts from their unique perspectives about the Wall of Doom reconfiguration. Keep your eye out for those insights into this project.
April 2010 – Minute with the Moog Foundation
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Check out the photo galleries [1, 2] on our Facebook page.
Sean McDonald, one of the BMF Board Members, put together this first in our new series, “A Minute with The Moog Foundation”. Features content from:
- Erik Norlander and THE WALL OF DOOM Synthesizer
- HATCH Asheville
- Laura Escudé
- Ben Mason / NEB.cinema
- photos Jen Lepkowski Photography
- music by Your Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band (available for purchase at our store)
A few quick notes from Sean (me):
It was truly an honor to install select pieces from Bob Moog’s Archives at the HATCH Design & Technology Gallery. We were able to use the fantastic space at the Asheville Area Arts Council, and had lots of help from Rockstar Volunteers Alex Hornbake*, Greg Bliss and Allen Davis. (We named Allen the honorary curator of the installation after his game-changing volunteer work the night before opening.)
Laura Escudé rocked my world, again, at HATCH Asheville 2010. We met her at HATCH Asheville 2009, where she performed with Scott Pagano, who was a HATCH mentor. This year, Laura came back to Asheville and performed on her own, in collaboration with Ben Mason’s NEB.cinema project and along with Scott, again, but this time with a recorded video he animated. All of it was…extraordinary.
Ben Mason rocked it all over HATCH this year, just like last year. Ben sees the world through a different set of lenses than most of us, and his unique worldview results in an intensely creative, innovative set of interactive audio / video experiences. Freakin’ rad.
We were also lucky enough to share the gallery space with Rajeev Kulkarni from 3D Systems who brought extraordinary three-dimensional print out’s from his company’s technology. Inspiration! As was the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus, which we got to tour.
HUGE thanks to HATCH Asheville and HATCH Bozeman for hosting the Bob Moog Foundation. HATCH is a platform — the more you put into it, the more you get out of it — and the BMF has put a lot into, and built a network of world-class contacts who inspire, guide & empower our growing organization. It’s an honor to be a sponsor — to be part of the team.
We’ll be back in May with another Minute with The Moog Foundation!
Thanks!
Sean McDonald [email me]
*You’ll be hearing more about Alex soon…check back for details on a new project!
Sponsor a Student – Bob Moog Foundation Student Outreach Program
For over a year, our super volunteer Dave Hamilton has been going in to the public schools and bringing Theremins, Moog signal processors (moogerfoogers), microphones and oscilloscopes in to elementary school classes. Dave’s sessions with the kids has engaged and enchanted their sense of curiosity and understanding as he exposes them to electronic music, and some of the simple science behind the sounds they are hearing. The children react with great enthusiasm, some later writing “Mr. Dave” about how much they enjoyed the sonic playground that he created for them.
Dave Hamilton's got a Theremin some moogerfoogers -- and all the kid's attention
Part of the mission of the Bob Moog Foundation is to educate and inspire children through the power and possibilities of electronic music. We want to make sure that the Moog legacy lives on in a very special way through the children — by inspiring them to explore, create and innovate the realm of electronic music. As such, we aim to amp up our Student Outreach Program by exposing children to electronic music all year long.
Kindergarten boy explores the Theremin
Please support us in our efforts to engage kids in music and science in a time when funding is being cut from our schools. Sponsor a student for $5. Sponsor five students for $25. Sponsor a class of 20 for $100. Donate here.
Area Festivals Feature MoogLab
MoogLab at Tron-a-Thon – April 10 and 11, 2009
Tron-A-Thon, Asheville’s Electronic Music Summit will be a two day event in downtown Asheville combining Club Nashwa and Hookah Joe’s with two stages of hip music from today’s electronic music scene.
Headlining the event will be: Pnuma Trio, Future Rock, Eliot Lipp, DJ Rootz, and Kap10
Along with regional acts:
DJ Ginza, Sci Fi, Freepeoples Freequency, DJ Bowie, Random Rabbit, Two Fresh, Agobi Project, Par D, EP3, Midnight Ace, Mindelixer, Darth Brown, Tropa, Auquarium, and Somni Suit. To see Tron-a-Thon’s official webiste, click here.
To celebrate Asheville’s electronic music heritage, Tron-a-Thon will feature Bob Moog Foundation’s interactive MoogLab . MoogLab will offer theremin stations at which attendees can play this early electronic instrument through various Moogerfoogers (signal processing pedals). Moog synthesizers and a Moogerfooger Remix Station will be available for attendees to explore. Participants are encouraged to bring their iPod or other playback device, which they can hook up to the Moogerfoogers and remix tracks of their choice through these sonically rich devices. The resulting sounds will be recorded, and available for a small donation to the Bob Moog Foundation.
Tickets are available on tronathon.com
Club Nashwa and Hookah Joe’s, 38 B N. French Broad Street, Asheville, NC
MoogLab + Video Mixing at HATCHfest Asheville – April 15-19, 2009
HATCH is an international non-profit organization committed to mentoring in the creative and media arts. The mission of HATCH is to provide mentorship, education, inspiration and recognition to the next generation of creative innovators. You can find out much more about HATCHfest Asheville here.
For HATCHfest Asheville, MoogLab will be present on Friday night, April 17th at the Design & Technology Exhibit Reception from 6-8pm with a setup including interactive theremins, Moog synthesizers and Moogerfoogers, all being used as innovative interfaces for video mixing. Our Board member Sean McDonald is the driving force, guiding MoogLab to explore video manipulation through our electronic gear.
HATCHfest Asheville’s official website is www.hatchasheville.org.
Lake Eden Arts Festival Gets “Mooged-Out” – May 8 and 9, 2009
LEAF continues to be a strong supporter of The Bob Moog Foundation. This year will see an interactive setup on Friday, May 8 in the barn exhibit are which will include Theremins, Moog synthesizers, and Moogerfooger effects, in addition to performances by Bob Moog Foundation volunteers.
On Saturday, May 9, LEAF will be getting “Mooged-Out”. The Bob Moog Foundation will be featuring the “Mooged-Out” sound in a late night showcase. Creative Director Dave Hamilton will set up an array of Moog equipment on stage and will be mixing in different performers from the festival into the Moog rig. The resulting live remix will be pumped into a surround sound system for dancing pleasure.
Check out LEAF’swebsite: www.theleaf.org.
MoogLab at Big Ears Festival February 6-8, 2009
The Bob Moog Foundation will be bringing its Interactive Sonic Experience, or MoogLab, to the Big Ears ’09 festival in Knoxville, TN this weekend (February 6-8). Our setup will include a slew of theremins and synthesizers, all hooked up to various Moogerfooger® effect pedals, with each station providing a different sonic experience. To add to the fun, we are also
Moogin' Out - Photo by Jon Leidel (www.jonleidelphotography.com)
providing a Moogerfooger® Remix Station at which attendees can mix tracks downloaded from their iPod or other playback device. The results will be recorded and avaiable for a small donation to the Bob Moog Foundation. Come byMoog Lab at Big Ears and get your fill of analog goodness!
Big Ears celebrates its inaugural year with a fantastic lineup of music, seminars and movies. The mission of Big EARs is to offer an exciting and dynamic platform of musical and artistic discovery, presenting a variety of adventurous, exploratory concerts and performances, installations, discussions, and interactive experiences by artists possessed of singular and unique visions that stand apart from the mainstream. This multi-venue festival is a must for any serious music enthusiast. See you there!
Virtuality Video Part 1
The first of many podcasts to come features the Bob Moog legacy and talks about how Amin Bhatia came to dedicate the album to him. Interviewed guests include Steve Porcaro, Patrick Moraz, Michelle Moog-Koussa as well as producers, engineers and musicians from “Virtuality”
The podcast series was written and directed by Saul Pincus with contributions from cinematographers and journalists all over the world. Special thanks to the crew at Full Sail University, as well as the Bob Moog Foundation and the offices of Steve Porcaro, Patrick Moraz, Bhatia Music and Splice Heist.
Please visit aminbhatia.com for more on the album and artist.
