A new exciting entry-level semi-modular Moog for everyone!

Moog just released a brand new, entry-level synthesizer, called Mavis. It is a (super simple) DIY semi-modular monophonic synth that can be used as a standalone synth or in Eurorack format.

Mavis is one of the cheapest Moog synths you can get but it doesn’t hold back in features and, as expected, sound. Building the synth is extremely easy since you don’t need to solder anything, you connect the components included and you’re done in less than 10 minutes.

So let’s dive into the architecture of Mavis and see its strengths and weaknesses. Mavis has a typical subtractive synthesis architecture with a single oscillator, a filter section, a VCA, an ADSR envelope, an LFO, and a Utility section with an attenuator and an exciting wavefolder!

It also has a knob for keyboard scaling, another one for Glide, and a one-octave button keyboard like the one on Mother-32. Lastly on the left side, it has 24 input and output patchbay to self-patch or use with modular gear. In case you’re wondering, Mavis, takes up 44HP if you want to plug it in your Eurorack case.

Mavis certainly has the classic Moog sound. The oscillator sounds great, and the filter is, well, a Moog Filter. It’s warm with an aggressive resonance so you can get amazing bass and gnarly leads in a heartbeat. If you need some extra VCO action, the LFO can also be used as an audio source which comes in handy sometimes.

The analog wavefolder is the very first wavefolder on any Moog synth and it’s a great way to get some unique tones, and the keyboard scale is also a very cool feature since it spreads your notes and leads you to unexpected results.

Since it’s a semi-modular synth, Mavis has its own patchbay, strangely on the opposite side of its bigger brothers - Mother 32, DFAM, and Subharmonicon. Despite that, it has 24 inputs and outputs to control almost anything on the unit, a sample and hold, and a mult which is always appreciated.

On the con side, the tiny keyboard is more of a sound-auditioning tool rather than an actual keyboard you can play with. It’s good it’s there, but you will certainly need an external controller to actually play the synth. And since it’s a cheap synth, the knobs are those tiny knobs you get on the DFAM’s sequencer that are not the best ones.

Conculsion

Mavis is a great little synth that comes at a great price (for a Moog synthesizer). It’s simple, sounds amazing, and since it’s semi-modular you can always expand it with more modules or accompany the other semi-modular synth by Moog. As a standalone unit, I believe it’s a very entry-level synth. You can certainly get some other semi-modular synths that will have way more features at a similar price if you are planning to use it as it is. If you consider it as a Eurorack module, the price and features are amazing since you are getting a full Moog voice for the price of a single oscillator module. I think Mavis will be much more appreciated in a modular context than as a standalone synthesizer.

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