Moog Liberation

Liberation
ManufacturerMoog Music
Dates1980
Technical specifications
PolyphonyMonophonic (Osc1&2)
Paraphonic (Poly)
Oscillator2
LFO1
Synthesis typeAnalog subtractive
Filter1 low-pass
AttenuatorASD
Storage memorynone
EffectsRing modulation
Input/output
Keyboard44 keys
Left-hand controlRibbon controller
External controlCV/Gate

The Moog Liberation was one of the first commercially produced "keytar" synthesizers, released in 1980 by Moog Music. The instrument is comparable to the Moog Concertmate MG-1 and the Moog Rogue, but it is most closely related to the Moog Prodigy; however, as a keytar, the Liberation was designed to be played in the same posture as one would play a guitar.

The Liberation features two monophonic voltage-controlled oscillators and a polyphonic section that can play organ sounds. Both oscillators can be set to triangle, sawtooth, or square waveforms and switched over a 3-octave range. The keyboard is aftertouch-sensitive and the neck features spring-loaded wheels for filter cutoff, modulation, and volume, as well as a ribbon-controlled pitch bend. The Liberation has a single voltage-controlled filter and 2 ADSR envelope generators. A 40-foot cable connects the Liberation to its rackmounted half which houses the power supply and CV/Gate output sockets.