The Moog Grandmother is a semi-modular synth with a nice retro touch. In this case, semi-modular means that the Grandmother has 41 patch points, but can also be played without plugging in. The system is also compatible with other (semi-)modular Moog products and other modular synthesizers. Like many aspects of the design, the two analogue oscillators and the classic ladder filter are based on the old Moog modular systems. The whole thing is housed in the usual solid and very attractive casing with a high-quality 32-key Fatar keyboard. There are no digital flourishes on the Grandmother, nor any presets: What you see is what you get.
In addition to the oscillators and filters already mentioned, the Moog Grandmother has a spring tank, which fits the optical retro touch and provides wonderful spring reverb if required. However, the Grandmother also has a few modern features on board. Besides the five-pin MIDI connections, there is also a USB connection on the rear side. On the front, Moog has provided an arpeggiator and a sequencer, which with 256 steps offers more than enough space for any melody, no matter how extensive. As you would expect from a modularly designed device, it also contains the classic utilities such as a signal splitter (mult) and an attenuator, which helps with amplifying or attenuating the control signal.
One thing should be clear: Like every Moog, the Grandmother's sound is sublime beyond any doubt. If you buy a Moog, you get the Moog sound and if you want Moog sound, you buy a Moog. It's as simple as that. The Grandmother is certainly not a Swiss army knife, but a purist with no digital frills. Whether as an additional device for bassists, to make the walls shake with synth sounds, or as a control centre for modular enthusiasts: Thanks to its well thought-out interface and ease of connection, the Grandmother will make your heart beat faster.
The US manufacturer of synthesizers, based in Asheville, North Carolina, is one of the pioneers in this field and has legendary status. Robert Moog had been involved with electronic sound generation since the 1950s and his first experience was with the manufacture of theremins. The breakthrough came in 1968 with the Grammy-winning album "Switched-On Bach" by musician Wendy Carlos (then know as Walter Carlos), recorded in multitrack with a mono synthesizer. The Minimoog, released in 1971, became the most popular synthesizer of the 1970s and is still considered the benchmark for the quality of synthesised sounds. It and the following devices, like the Memorymoog, Polymoog, and Prodigy, shaped the sound of numerous albums, from Stevie Wonder to The Police and from Saga to Kraftwerk.
The Grandmother's sound generation section has two oscillators, a filter, an ADSR, and an LFO on board - that's it. However, the Grandmother's real strengths lie in the experimental area. The 41 patch points invite you to plug into the sound lab at whim. Especially in connection with a modular synthesizer there are no limits for your creativity, since almost every module of the Grandmother can be accessed at any point. It is a great companion for the Moog Mother-32, for example, and all that at a price that really is impressive.