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Description

Meet the Moog Little Phatty Stage II, a truly distinctive monophonic analog synthesizer. Designed by the legendary Bob Moog, this 37-key marvel doesn't shy away from delivering the iconic warm Moog analog sound in a musician-friendly package. It provides a two octave transposition range and a library of 100 customizable presets. But where it truly shines is in its powerful external audio processing capabilities with MIDI in/out and MIDI over USB. Whether you're an analog purist or a digital enthusiast, the Little Phatty Stage II adapts to your setup with ease.

Key Features:

  • Monophonic analog synthesizer
  • Designed by Bob Moog
  • 37-key keyboard with a transposition range of two octaves
  • 100 customizable presets
  • MIDI in/out and MIDI over USB for versatile external audio processing
  • Adaptable to both all-analog and digital synth setups

Product specs

Brand Moog
Model Little Phatty Stage II
Finish Black
Year 2012
Made In United States
Categories Analog Synths, Keyboard Synths
Analog / Digital Analog
Key Size Full Size
Keyboard Action Synth Action
MIDI I/O MIDI Input, MIDI Output, USB MIDI
Number of Keys 37 Keys
Polyphony 1 Voice

FAQs

Is the Moog Little Phatty Stage II suitable for live performances?

Yes, the Moog Little Phatty Stage II is designed with live performance in mind, offering a robust build and intuitive interface. Its analog sound engine provides rich, dynamic tones ideal for live settings.

What type of sound can I expect from the Moog Little Phatty Stage II?

The Moog Little Phatty Stage II is known for its warm, rich analog sound, characteristic of Moog synthesizers. It excels in producing classic basses, leads, and effects suitable for a variety of genres.

Does the Moog Little Phatty Stage II have MIDI connectivity?

Yes, the Moog Little Phatty Stage II features MIDI Input, MIDI Output, and USB MIDI, allowing for seamless integration with other MIDI-compatible devices and DAWs.

How many keys does the Moog Little Phatty Stage II have, and what is the action type?

The Moog Little Phatty Stage II has 37 full-size keys with a synth action, which provides a responsive and expressive playing experience.

Is the Moog Little Phatty Stage II monophonic or polyphonic?

The Moog Little Phatty Stage II is a monophonic synthesizer, meaning it can play one note at a time, which is ideal for bass lines and lead melodies.

Sweetwater

Sweetwater

Sweetwater's Moog Little Phatty Stage II — Daniel Fisher

Video thumbnail for Sweetwater's Moog Little Phatty Stage II  — Daniel Fisher by Sweetwater

Sweetwater's Moog Little Phatty Stage II — Daniel Fisher

Sweetwater

Sweetwater

Video thumbnail for Bad Gear - Moog Little Phatty by AudioPilz

Bad Gear - Moog Little Phatty

AudioPilz

AudioPilz

Video thumbnail for MOOG LITTLE PHATTY STAGE II PURPLE w/ CV OUTS ANALOG SYNTHESIZER SYNTH by Rik Marston Official

MOOG LITTLE PHATTY STAGE II PURPLE w/ CV OUTS ANALOG SYNTHESIZER SYNTH

Rik Marston Official

Rik Marston Official

Video thumbnail for Tweaking The Moog Little Phatty - DEMO (NO TALKING) by SYNTHWAY

Tweaking The Moog Little Phatty - DEMO (NO TALKING)

SYNTHWAY

SYNTHWAY

Video thumbnail for First Impressions of the Moog Little Phatty by Sam Gutman

First Impressions of the Moog Little Phatty

Sam Gutman

Sam Gutman

Reviews

PROS

  • Rich tones with fat bass and unique sonic signature

  • Sounds amazing with distortion pedals for enhanced effects

  • Ideal for foundational basslines and cutting through mixes

  • Offers a digitally controlled, fully analog signal path

  • Software librarian for massive instant patch recall capabilities

  • Notable for its ease of tweaking and fun playability

  • Holds sentimental value as the last Bob Moog designed synth

  • Excellent value for the quality of sound produced

CONS

  • USB MIDI not supported on Windows 10, possibly affecting newer systems

  • Known issue with sticky plastics that may need replacing

  • Some models may have glitching issues and reliability concerns

  • Can be difficult to control for tight arpeggio rhythms

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Moog Little Phatty Stage II.

Features and functionality

  • The "Bin Shaker" preset is highlighted for its perfect sub-bass setting, making it a standout feature for bass enthusiasts.

    Source
  • The LED indicators around the four knobs are praised for their ease of use, making preset navigation visually intuitive.

    Source
  • Some users report oscillators exhibit motion in the high harmonics, which becomes more noticeable over time.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • Concern is raised about potential humidity damage from storing the synth in a garage, which could affect electronics over time.

    Source

User experience

  • Owners occasionally find the knob layout irritating compared to synths with a one-knob-per-function design, but still praise its sound quality.

    Source
  • Custom modifications like walnut side panels can enhance the aesthetic appeal, even if the instrument isn't frequently used.

    Source
  • Owners appreciate the Little Phatty's ability to sound aggressive, particularly suited for those seeking a gritty, raw Moog tone.

    Source

Comparisons

  • The Little Phatty's aggressive growl, especially with filter drive and FM, is preferred by some over the Sub 37 and Grandmother for a more aggressive sound.

    Source
  • While the Grandmother is often compared, some believe the Little Phatty’s filter is dirtier, offering a unique tone.

    Source

Software and compatibility

  • The Moog Editor/Librarian software is a paid app ($50) that can restore the original 100 factory presets, requiring a registration key for use.

    Source
  • Firmware updates from Moog may help in restoring lost presets, offering a potential solution for those who accidentally reset their Little Phatty Stage II.

    Source

Critic Reviews

Review: Moog Little Phatty Stage II | WIRED

wired.com

The Moog Little Phatty Stage II is a delightful throwback to analog synthesis, offering simplicity and rich sound quality in a compact form. Ideal for newcomers and gigging musicians, it shines with classic Moog tones and user-friendly features. The Stage II's modern updates, like MIDI-over-USB and a new arpeggiator, enhance its versatility in contemporary music setups. However, its stripped-down design can feel limiting, and the price point remains steep. The small LCD menus can be cumbersome, and some may miss the classic wood side panels. Overall, its charm and authenticity make it a must-try for synth enthusiasts.

positive

Moog Little Phatty Stage II review | MusicRadar

musicradar.com

The Moog Little Phatty Stage II is a delightful blend of juicy, dirty analog sounds at a competitive price point, making it a staple for both stage and studio use. The addition of a USB port and new OS features like an arpeggiator and LFO sync enhance its functionality, while retaining its signature creamy 'Ladder' filter. The synth is praised for its quick and easy usability, though it doesn't break new ground in terms of innovation. With impressive live playability and MIDI integration, it offers excellent value without increasing its price.

positive
Add

4.5 out of 5

Based on 6 Reviews and 50 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
kyla_vejas

Gnarly analog fart

Dirtiest synth I ever tried. I've got it when I wanted a subphatty with an arpeggio. Apperantely it was discontinued so I bought it used so it has some glitching issues and is sometimes not that reliable. Pretty hard to control when you want a tight arpeggio rhythm (might be because it's pretty old) and it doesn't sound clear at all. Best use for cutting through basslines and definitely doesn't sound little at all haha. Sounds even better through a Fender blues deluxe!

shaunwinston

Bass that fills your speakers to the brim!

Turn your little phatty on, and brace yourself for impact. There is a fat tone on this synth that simply needs no EQ, and will quickly become your go-to synth for the foundational basslines and mix cutting leads you've dreamed about. The little phatty is an icon for analog warmth, heavy sounds, and signature modulations. A digitally controlled, fully analog signal path with a software librarian for massive instant patch recall capabilities... Yes, this synth beyond meets modern producer needs, and provides you with the proper sound for crushing any speaker.

joe_m_bettencourt

Amazing vintage sound

What an incredible sounding keyboard, sounds can not be matched especially the bass sounds and really fun to tweak and fiddle with. Good value for such a powerhouse.

xaqary

What more can be said?

There's tons out there. This guy rules. Go try one

jimmarchi1

I held off buying one of these until they were replaced by the sub-phatty which truly blew me away. Just slightly a notch above to my ear, dirtier, deeper.... but some will disagree

if you are looking for an affordable model D sound with proper MIDI implementation check out the Studio Electronics SE1, I got one recently on the cheap hoping it would be like their old MIDI Moog with some added features and it did not disappoint. Its bummer to have to deal with a rack unit if you wanna gig with it, but otherwise its built like a tank and delivers a ton of Model D sounds as well as a lot more because of tis Oberheim filter modes. Totally a different sound than the Phatties side by side, cleaner, wetter, still Moog... the new Moogs and the SE1 double really well for sequenced bass lines.

xaqary

You smack this across the Furman yet?

D

A synth that replaces all my softsynths

My favorite part of my studio. This synth basically replaces all of my softsynths. (Although I still use softsynths)

rymort

How could you go wrong?

Turn on, play, sound amazing.

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Jack White uses Moog Little Phatty Stage II

Jack White

Singer, Guitarist

The Raconteurs

...
Verified via YouTube

Jack White can be seen with a Moog Little Phatty at 1:12 and 2:14 in this live performance of "Icky Thump" by The White Stripes.

See how Deadmau5 uses Moog Little Phatty Stage II

Deadmau5

Music Producer

BSOD

...
Verified via YouTube

The Little Phatty can be seen in Deadmau5 studio at 1:01 in this video.

See how Afrojack uses Moog Little Phatty Stage II

Afrojack

Music Producer

AJXJS

...
Verified via Image-line

From his interview with Image-Line: "Right now my production environment is mostly my laptop and Beyerdynamic DT pro 880 headphones but in my studio i have... Moog Lil Phatty..."

See how Nicky Romero uses Moog Little Phatty Stage II

Nicky Romero

Music Producer, DJ

...
Verified via YouTube

In the YouTube video "Protocol LIVE: Studio Session with Nicky Romero #01," Nicky Romero is seen using the Moog Little Phatty Stage II, showcasing his preference for this synthesizer when stepping away from software synths.

See how Alesso uses Moog Little Phatty Stage II

Alesso

Music Producer

...
Verified via YouTube

In the music video for "Years" by Alesso featuring Matthew Koma, Alesso can be seen using a Moog Little Phatty Stage II synthesizer at the 1:01 mark.

See how Geddy Lee uses Moog Little Phatty Stage II

Geddy Lee

Singer, Bassist

Rush

...
Verified via Photo

In this article there is a picture of Rush's current keyboard rig. The Little Phatty is on the top.

See how Thomas DeLonge uses Moog Little Phatty Stage II

Thomas DeLonge

Singer, Guitarist

Blink-182

...
Verified via Photo

A Moog Little Phatty Stage II is seen to the right of Tom (above for the viewer). The 4 knobs give it away as a Little Phatty of one version or another.

See how Disclosure uses Moog Little Phatty Stage II

Disclosure

Music Producer

...
Verified via Wfu

"For live we use Ableton on one laptop to run stuff we can’t play, but we try to play as much as we can. We play loads of synthesizers. One runs on main stage for sounds we can’t re-create. Howard has a Moog Little Phatty, I’ve got drum pads."

See how Stu Mackenzie uses Moog Little Phatty Stage II

Stu Mackenzie

Singer, Guitarist

King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard

...
Verified via Photo

In an Instagram post by user "kinggizzard," the Moog Little Phatty is visible in the left front of the picture. The caption references "Moogas," indicating the presence of the Moog synthesizer. This particular model appears to be a special edition with a white back panel, confirming Stu Mackenzie’s use of this gear.

See how Alex Lifeson uses Moog Little Phatty Stage II

Alex Lifeson

Guitarist

Rush

...
Verified via YouTube

At 10:50 in this "Rig Rundown" with Premier Guitar, Rush's Alex Lifeson's tech Scott Appleton mentions that Alex uses some synthesizers and we're shown a still frame of the Moog Little Phatty Stage II.

See how Flux Pavilion uses Moog Little Phatty Stage II

Flux Pavilion

Music Producer

...
Verified via YouTube

"I've got a Moog Little Phatty which is kind of like a digital rendition of the majority of Moog synths... pretty handy"

See how Metro Boomin uses Moog Little Phatty Stage II

Metro Boomin

Music Producer

So Icey Boyz

...
Verified

Metro Boomin uses the Moog Little Phatty Stage II synthesizer, as highlighted in a tweet from Skoobsmashin.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Moog Little Phatty Stage II, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Community setups

Show yours
matiasdapena

matiasdapena

Gear IQ 166

oxygenartstudio

oxygenartstudio

Gear IQ 112

beaudamion

beaudamion

Gear IQ 189

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