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How do you pronounce Moog?

Jamvan

Jamvan

The Bassist Formerly Known As Meh
Gold Supporting Member
Nov 11, 2014
4,586
20,754
Minnesota
www.bandmix.com
#1
So I was watching a documentary the other night called "I Dream of Wires" about the origination of the synthesizer and I heard the name Moog pronounced for the first time. As you likely know, Robert Moog was instrumental in the original research that led to the development of the electronic modular synthesizer. I had always pronounced it as the sound a cow makes; /mo͞og/. Little did I know that it's actually pronounced /moʊɡ/ or mohg. This now makes me question how the heck they came up with Moogerfooger as it doesn't work with the pronunciation at all.

Anyway, I just thought you should know in case you didn't.

Here's the documentary. I feel asleep as it's fairly slow but it was interesting.

Invalid Link Removed
 
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#2
I really enjoyed the film. I was already getting into analog synths but the documentary pushed me over the edge. As soon as a certain piece of gear sells, I'm ordering a Korg MS-20 Mini as a jumping off point.

And yes, it's pronounced 'moge,' m-oh-g.
 
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#4
I was told how to pronounce it a long time ago by someone who had spoken directly with Robert Moog. I always found it strange how stubborn some people would be about not wanting to hear the proper pronunciation. There's actually a music store in Montreal where even the employees (and probably owners) pronounce the name wrong.
 
#6
bass12 said:
I was told how to pronounce it a long time ago by someone who had spoken directly with Robert Moog. I always found it strange how stubborn some people would be about not wanting to hear the proper pronunciation. There's actually a music store in Montreal where even the employees (and probably owners) pronounce the name wrong.
Click to expand...

Most players (and all the dealers and employees I have dealt with) pronounce Epifani as epiphany, I used to as well. One day I spoke with Nick Ep-a-fawn-ee and I realized I had been saying it wrong.

I am just now finding out about Moog...
 
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#8
Matt O said:
There's a mini synth made by Robert called the Moog Rogue.

If it rhymes when you say it, you said it right.
Click to expand...

How many synth players could I give a stroke to if I pronounced it the "M-ew-g R-ew-g"?
 
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#15
Harris: Everybody has such weird names now. It's like Tiffany with a p-h-i, and instead of Nancy, it's Nancine.
SanDeE*: Big "S," small "a," small "n," big "D," small "e," big "E."
Harris: What?
SanDeE*: Big "S," small "a," small "n," big "D," small "e," big "E." Big "S," small "a," small "n," big "D," small "e," big "E." And there's a little star at the end.
 
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#17
I think I read somewhere that Bob Moog was once asked this question, and he said that there were members of his family who pronounced it like "moon" instead of "moan" or something to that effect, so it didn't really bother him.

I also recall a compilation album of electronic music called "Dark Side of the Moog" years ago which was obviously using the "wrong" pronunciation. In the years before youtube, who would've known? Moog was never a celebrity you'd see on TV; we all knew his name only from magazine articles and the logos on his gear, and it never came with a pronunciation guide.

Neil Peart's another one. Here I am, a gi-mongous Rush fan for how many years, but until I saw the 2007 documentary I never knew for sure how to say his name right.

Now with the internet at everyone's fingertips, wikipedia pages for everything and youtube interviews and documentaries, it's not like the old days where you just wallowed along in ignorance for years reading your Guitar Player magazines and making up pronunciation as you went along.
 
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#18
as an owner of the MF-102, and in the revelation of Spectrum's post above mine.. and not knowing the proper pronunciation beforehand. I think "Mooger Fooger" sounds more appealing than Mohger Fohger.

So here's to you Bob Moog, and your family, for being cool with me saying "Moog". Like Oooh. Not oh. Crazy Mooger Foogers.
 

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