A love letter to the Moog DFAM (that also explains it)

Here's a demo video explaining the Moog DFAM and why I think one of the most original, interesting analogue synths to come out in years. In it I'll explain how it works, jam a little, pairing it with a TR08, and Mother-32 at the end!

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Strangely I shot this video several years ago (March 2018 according to the files) but never got round to editing it at the time. In the spirit of better late than never - here it is now. A lot has changed since then, but then a lot has not. It's still a very original take on subtractive synthesis, and it can teach us a lot about approaches we can take on a modular synth too (think - sequencers controlling VCA’s that control envelopes that are used to modulate parameters). And it's still fun as hell to jam on.

PS. Spot the error when I'm talking about the noisy VCF input (actually what's happening is the pitch sequencer CV is directly stepping the filter since whatever you put into the socket replaces the default routing).

PPS. There's some plugin reverb on this not pictured (Valhalla Vintage Verb and Eventide Blackhole, UAD Galaxy Tape Echo)

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MORE VIDEOS I MADE ABOUT DA MOOGZ

CHAPTERS
00:00 Hello and a montaaaaage
01:25 Explaining what DFAM is, and isn't.
06:36 The magic of the Kick Bass Snare Patch
08:05 Explaining the Controls/Routing
10:07 Wait, it's a melodic synth voice?
14:45 Explaining the Velocity sequencer
16:37 Patch: Electro Thump
21:00 Jams: "Just add 909" Techno
25:47 A Non Drummy Patch: Tubular Bells
29:24 Adding a TR08: What then?
31:32 Irregular Gate Pattern Fun
34:01 Mother-32 and DFAM together.
39:09 I trust you understand why I'm excited?

Edited in Davinci Resolve.

[TOMLEWS]

What I learned from the DFAM; ABR, always be recording. This thing spits out “oh, that’s an entire track!” type things on the regs and is probably the best thing I’ve ever bought.

[espacemaxim]

Still by far the best DFAM video on YT

[jjp_law]

it’s like nine inch nails in a single synth, all the ghosts and year zero sounds you could ever want! really great video!

[sliceofsparta]

The DFAM is the core of my eurorack rig. I had a custom case made, 4-tier, 120hp per row, and the left side top to bottom is DFAM, DFAM, Subharmonicon, Mother 32. I don't care what anyone says about racking semi-modulars; my case is the most fun I've ever had making music. Left side is pure Moog creativity and delicious analog tone, right side is just utility for the Moogs: VCAs, CV mangling, clocks, effects, Disting, Planar 2, mixing and the like.

Death to computers, long live analog synths!

[RussArteaga]

Machines like the DFAM make me feel like a genius. And that’s something that I personally always try for when acquiring gear.

[justingoers]

For anyone missing out on MIDI & variable step length the DFAM pairs wonderfully with the KORG SQ-1. That’ll give you MIIDI clock from a DAW over USB. You’ll also get two lanes of 8 steps just like the DFAM but with way more control to mute, randomize, reverse and alter the amount of steps quickly. You can also get polyrhythms going quickly by setting the top lane to be a different length from the bottom. It all works so well together.

[biggrime]

Pairing dfam with a drum machine advice is a golden nugget. Adds so much character to your drums

[TimSuliman]

I just got mine and I was a bit frustrated because it’s not a drum machine. I’ve come to love it and I wish I had seen this video earlier, as it perfectly captures the mind set. Everyone considering buying one should watch this. Thanks!

[rodrigolaporte]

Man this is by far the best DFAM video in the whole universe. I keep coming back to it since you've published it, even after having a dfam for a couple of years now. There's always some detail I didn't notice before or some new idea that this generates. Thank you SO MUCH for this

[HarryFullerCT]

40 minutes of Mylar on the DFAM? Yes, please, yes.

[alanb]

Just watched your talk with Vlad (fantastic) and had to revisit this again. This may be my favorite "piece of gear" focused video ever. I learn and remember to try something new every time I watch it. The narration, enthusiasm and quality of the sounds are just perfect. I liked it even more once I got my own DFAM. Thanks, mm!

[tmpressure]

Holy mother this thing sounds amazing. The way the VCAs appear to be saturating when both OSCs and the Noise especially are blasting is amazing. It almost sounds like there was a tape machine in there adding this beautiful grit and drive. Amazing showcase of the machine!

[jm]

This is the first video I've seen that adequately exposes the potential of the DFAM. I recently bought one (paired with a Subharmonicon) and have struggled to figure it out. Thanks for opening my eyes!

[vacantimaginarium]

This is probably one of the most inspirational insight into this or any other synth I've seen. Your enthusiasm and adoration for the DFAM is infectious and it makes my love for my two DFAMs grow all the more steadily.

[cybergwen]

I must have watched this video at least half a dozen times now, and it never gets old. Thanks so much for making this!

[patrikkonat]

Sir, you seem like a very humble individual and as such I will assume that I don't think that you really understand, truly how perfect this love letter is. I love this video so much.

[dionysiaex]

I'm watching this for about the 500th time. I think as an example of musical explanation with audio it is probably the best example of it ever made. PS the DFAM is simply fantastic.

[mikelazarev]

I love your comment about the danger of not being able to record the constantly discovered patches. But what's really awesome about your video, is that you're essentially capturing all of the settings here as you go along. Case and point, the absolutely banging progression at 24:28 (or so). I whipped out my DFAM and dialed in all of the settings that you have on the screen, and boom! - I've got the patch [as close as I can!]. Very exciting. My next mission is to reconstruct this particular patch on my modular - I'm going to purposely limit myself to a set of modules, but, it's going to be the Erica Synths Black System II - so, as you can imagine, I'm not going to lack for a resource here. Let's see if I learn some things along the way!

[Chasing_Thoughts]

Seeing a Mylar video in my notifications is like gold!!!🤟🏻🤟🏻😎

[lucafrancinimusic]

This is the kind of video that makes me go from “I want to sell my dfam” to “I need to buy a second one” :)