The 'Plantasia Moog' Modular Synth - An Untold Story

In 2023, Anthony Marinelli aquired a 1969 Moog IIIc modular synthesizer that has a very interesting history. In this video, we tell that story for the first time.

Huge thanks to Anthony and team for collaborating with me to make this film and thanks also to my Patrons on Patreon.

One small correction: Mark was indeed at UCLA, but was a math/computer science major rather than electronic music major as I mistakenly said in the video. He discovered the EM lab whilst studying there and then bothered Jim Cooper " till he couldn't stand me anymore".

Please look out for related videos on Anthony's channel:

[anthonymarinellimusic]

Got a chance to learn from the master, thank you and love to you Alex!

[AaronFoltz]

That ending jam... That's how it's done, people.

[kaitlyn__L]

Haha, "that old thing? It was too big, and my daughter bought me a Casio!" killed me. Clearly very un-sentimental :)

[evanglicanism]

This video serves as a perfect proof of how electronic music has evolved using the same instruments. Tastes and styles may change, but the instruments can keep up with us. In short, you and Marinelli are making the case for why vintage pieces will continue to belong in modern productions.

[brianedgin]

Just make an album already... That last track was fire. Great colab!

[Waldemar_la_Tendresse]

This endsong is a completely awesome sounding piece of music! 💚

[daviddalby]

Adore the fact he's running a priceless 70s Moog through a DS-1 at the end.

Beautiful

[RCAvhstape]

That last jam... Somewhere up above Bob Moog is feeling that and smiling.

[Moonfacedman]

Alex AND Anthony! The best synth history guys 🙌

[bibirecords]

It's unreal for me to comprehend there are people like Anthony, Mark and you who love vintage analog synthesizers so much and have pure, indestructible heart !. I was born in 1982 in ex Yugoslavia and my earliest memories are deeply connected with analog synthesizers and music and sounds it created . I was 2 years old when my parents got the "Merge" album by artist Laza Ristovski on tape cassette and my mom used to say I was so hypnotized by this music and synthesizers that I disappeared in that world :). Highlight for me was a track called" Beyond the Horizon" . Such a beautiful piece and that . From that moment I feel the enormous gratitude to people who built synthesizers, love them and use them and I do my best to learn about them .Ive learned about Plantasia about 10 years ago by accident (actually I was looking for L'aventure les plantes by Joël Fajerman ) . It's great album, almost has Tomita feel about it . You- Alex are indeed the beacon of light in this dark and troubled times . God bless you!

[happygeek]

Mort’s work is what got me into synthesizers. THANK YOU a hundred times for covering this important chapter of synth history ❤

[marcoaraujo]

Mister Alex, Mr. Marinelli, thank you sooo much! Your channel is a firestarter for a young generation. I recommend it to all my students

[compfox]

The second one on the list, ordered by the Beatles, was soon returned and bought by the German musician and conductor Eberhard Schoener, who took it as the first synthesizer to Germany. Recently it was selled to the Deutsches Museum in München. (Interview with Eberhard Schoener here on YT)

[gophercrow]

I wish I could give one thumbs up for the story and a second for the musical collaborations between you and Anthony. What a great video!

[FrancisMaxino]

That piece of music at the end was absolutely frickin' amazing...

[FrootyRecords]

Best ending track by far Alex. Great video. Thanks for your efforts in putting this together.

[Vim-Wolf]

Thanks to everyone involved in this, especially you, Alex, for telling the story in your own inimitable way. What a beautiful synth, and the jam at the end was spectacular.

[waa-art]

I was brought up with The Zodiac Cosmic Sounds in the 70's. And I loved it ever since.But for decades there was next to no info on Garson to be found, and nobody knew the record. Glad to see it's changing!

[mrknoch]

That outro was absolutely fantastic! You guys are so great.

[MakeSomething]

So awesome for you and Anthony to work together!