Moog Grandmother Analog Synthesizer Video Demos

Ahead of Moogfest, Moog Music has introduced the Moog Grandmother analog synthesizer – a semi-modular synth design with retro 70’s styling.

Grandmother features a fully-analog sound engine. It features dual oscillators, based on the Minimoog, classic Moog 4-Pole ladder filter, an extensive modulation section and on-board spring reverb.

Here are the first video overview and demo videos for the Moog Grandmother. The first video, via Guitar Center, features Moog’s Eric Church and Mark Crowley, offering a tour odf the build process and a demonstration of the features, including interconnectivity with the Mother 32 and DFAM.

The second video, via Musician’s Friend, offers an overview and demo of the Grandmother with producter Justin Meldal-Johnsen.

Features:

  • 100% analog synthesizer with 32-note Fatar keybed
  • Semi-modular design, requires no patching to play
  • All normalized connections can be interrupted for full modularity
  • Hardware Spring Reverb can be used to process external sounds
  • 1/4” External audio input for guitars, drum machines, and more
  • Easy to use Arpeggiator and Sequencer
  • Store up to 3 sequences with up to 256 notes each
  • 2 Analog Oscillators with selectable waveshape and hard sync
  • Classic 4-Pole 10Hz-20kHz Ladder filter
  • Patchable 1-Pole High Pass filter
  • Analog ADSR Envelope Generator
  • Analog LFO with audio-rate capabilities
  • DIN MIDI In/Out/Thru and USB MIDI
  • Patchable bipolar attenuator
  • Works with Mother-32, DFAM, Eurorack modular systems and more
  • 41 patch points with 21 inputs, 16 outputs and a Parallel-Wired 4-jack Mult

Pricing and Availability

The Moog Grandmother is available to pre-order now (Musician’s Friend, Guitar Center), priced at US $899. It’s expected to ship in late May.

54 thoughts on “Moog Grandmother Analog Synthesizer Video Demos”

  1. Now that I see this in action, I’m even more impressed.

    While the colorful look has grown on me, I think they’d sell twice as many if they also offered a standard black face.

    Also – have they explained the difference between the Moogfest version and the standard version?

    And what about that denim jacket?

    1. Someone commented that there will be an all-black version as well. Didn’t provide a source for that claim though.
      However, Musician’s Friend and Guitar Center, both offer it as the “Moogfest 2018 Edition”. Which could mean that the difference is the color theme and the regular version will be, in fact, black.
      I truly hope that this color theme is not limited to 500 units, I’d love to get one of these rather than a boring black one.

  2. I find the different color idea very good in terms of “jamming overview” . I don`t need the catholic “Oh so many colors . It should be black” approach on each and every product. Pricing is also relatively ok. Nice instrument

      1. No im talking about hitting it with your hand or something else while its on – it makes a spring reverb do funny things because it shakes the elements inside the box

  4. I sold my beautiful Subphatty because of the horrible noisy keybed. I am affraid they use the same keybed for this one as well. It’s a pitty they don’t invest in good keybed action.

      1. It’s not only the standard Fatar TP9, it’s the version with the little weights for extra good playability. This keybed is in the Model D, Voyager, Prophet 6, OB-6, NI Kontrol. People love it!

    2. Specs say it’s a Fatar keybed. They’re very nice. The Subsequent 37’s kb is nicer than my original sub 37 as well.

    3. awwww.. damn.. thats too bad about the keys on your beautiful subphatty there… maybe you can find another synth to make you happy? gee wiz, i bet you can do it if you just think positive! wouldnt that be swell? yay!

        1. To each his own, of course. I like to have a low E at the bottom to match/substitute the bass guitar range. Notes lower than the C below low E tend to not be used that often in most music.

          1. Yeah, I think it’s pretty arbitrary. I mean, 5 string basses go down to B. Having F on the bottom inspires more playing in Bb, acting as the 5th, and working well with jazzier instrumentations.

  5. With all the patch cables plugged in the colors don’t look so bad anymore to me, looks like a little eurorack synth. So to my inderstanding there are only 500 of these being made to be sold only at Moogfest?

      1. First 500 have a badge on the left side and denim jacket, this color and black will be standard, black maybe little later.

    1. I like the look of this. No joke, but It would be interesting to see a comparison with the Neutron, they do seem to have broadly similar feature sets.

  9. I really mean no disrespect to anyone with this comment, but I found it funny how Justin was so enthused about every aspect of this synth; folks, this is a VERY basic meat-and-potatoes synthesizer! There’s nothing amazing or unique going on here. 2 oscillators, a filter, a VCA and an LFO. Even a Pro One has two envelopes. This is nice, and it’s great that Moog are making synths and all, but I just don’t understand the gushing over this extremely pedestrian version of a mono synth – can someone explain?

    I would love to see Justin sell and orange, or a cashew or something – it would be fun to see how excited he would get about all the features!

    Anyhow, flame me if you must – it just struck me as odd…

    1. @ Roman – no you’re quite right, this is unfortunately a pretty basic, spartan monosynth. I’m sure it sounds fine, but for those of us who may already own a prodigy, rogue, mg-1, mini, voyager or just about any other moog monosynth, there’s very little reason to get excited.

      I sometimes wish moog’s moogerfooger division would make a weird synth. something with an analog delay or murf-type capabilities but also still a synth. but I, and most of you, probably already own this synth, just under a different name.

    2. Well Roman there are a lot of different types of potatoes and not all meats are yummy! I can see and hear why Justin loves this. My kinds of meat and potatoes.

    3. You have good points, but 2 things should not be overlooked, supposedly the circuitry is based on 70’s Moog Modules and synths usually don’t have patchable access on the front panel.

    4. Affordable but complete Moog monosynth with patch points, plus fun name and look and an included spring reverb.

    6. I met Justin many years ago…. and he’s a pretty excitable fella for sure. So he would sell the heck outta some cashews and oranges if he really wanted to! Also, he’s a fantastic producer.

  10. Yep Roman!! Meat and potatoe synth! But then on the other side I love the color job!! Moog will sell a bunch of these!

    So…maybe Justin really enjoyd demoing this monosynth! Why not??

  12. @XJ7 Sorry for my negative comment about the keybed. It was just my experience you see? From now on I will onlly post positive comments…

    1. You don’t have to apologize in any way. Moog is using cheap pot-meters in even very expensive synths. Which give the repair shops a good income.

  13. Do they sit around and smoke weed in a group setting when they come up with product names?

    “I know I know (toke)! How about Little Phatty?”

    “Hey (toke), how about Mother 32?”

    “(Big toke) Let’s call it Grandmother.”

    “Pass the Doritos.”

  17. Excellent name. Today’s grandmothers were born around the time of this 60/70’s technology. so the next one to complement will be a Grandfather. Hopefully we will see something exiting with state of the art technology in the form of a Grandchild.

  18. Sound is boring and nothing special, i´m sure you will get more out of buying a few normal modular units and put into a case.

  19. Just a thought after watching the 1st video: all Moog products that we buy “brand new” are actually technically “B-stock” already… 🙂

  24. Does anyone every touch the keyboard? Sorry, I skimmed through the video since it sounded pretty uninspiring with a spring reverb. Would love to have heard something not sequenced since that implies music and I’m not sure what those sounds were trying to convey.

  25. I am not sure if I would pick this unit up but it does sound GREAT, even through little speakers. I have 4 Moogs and they are all built like tanks and all present sonic possibilites way beyond the cliche “analog” sounds. It will be interesting to see what some creative souls can come up with using this synth.

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