The authors report the design, performance and automation of a low-noise sensitive vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) employing a novel balanced crank vibration transducer. The coupling of the transducer to variable temperature cryostats within both a 1.2 T transverse field electromagnet and a 13 T axial field superconducting solenoid is also reported. The moment sensitivity V mod m(V A^-1 m^-2) lay in the range 1<or approximately=V(x₀) mod m<or approximately=7 where the sample-coil separation x₀ was typically 30 mm. The corresponding noise level, in effective A m², lay in the range 10^-8<or approximately=m(x₀)<or approximately=10^-7. The noise was found to be primarily determined by field current ripple and the transmission of spurious vibration.