How did the Buchla synthesizer differ from Moog synthesizers?

The primary difference between the synthesizers developed by Donald Buchla and Robert Moog in 1964 lay in their control interfaces.1

• Buchla Synthesizers: These instruments did not feature traditional keyboards with movable keys. Instead, they utilized touch-sensitive contact pads to initiate sounds and patterns, a design approach often compared to a violin fingerboard. Because of this unique interface, Buchla’s instruments were favored by experimental composers, most notably Morton Subotnick, for creating original electronic compositions.123
• Moog Synthesizers: These instruments incorporated conventional piano-style keyboards alongside other manual control devices. This design made them more accessible for performing traditional music, leading to significant commercial success with recordings such as Wendy Carlos’s Switched-on Bach.123

While both designers utilized voltage-controlled technology to offer new possibilities for sound manipulation, their differing interfaces directed the instruments toward distinct musical applications—with Moog’s designs becoming widely adopted by keyboard musicians in popular music idioms, while Buchla’s remained a staple of experimental electronic music.123