Moog Grandmother Semi-Modular Analog Synthesizer and Step Sequencer Reviews

Moog and it's classic sounds!! The Grandmother can be all things.... a Gentle Grandma offering her cookies in a creamy rich classical Moog sound or She can rant and rave in a hellbent Acid type style playing with the Spring Reverb.... but one thing is for sure, you keep finding hidden treasures with this synth. Experimented with a few patches and found a richness that other synths take a lot more fiddling to achieve. The Grandmother can be for the beginner or seasoned synthesist. It really is a very versatile synth. I own various synths groove boxes and drum machines but my favorite have always been the Moog I have a Sound Studio 3 and the Grandmother just patches in so easy with the DFAM, Mother-32 or the Subharmonicon.... In general, the Grandmother is one synth I like spending a lot of exploration with..... a very well built sturdy workhorse.....

This model is kind of old school. But the weight, material, power cord super solid. Great "mono" synth. - djb

I took advantage of the sale Sweetwater had and snagged one, there are so many different things you can do with this synth and I'm looking forward to learning everything there is to learn about it. The sound and versatility are amazing.

If you know and like what Moogs are then this one will come of no surprise other than all the unique sounds you can create with the Grandmother. Though I haven't had it for that long, It certainly doesn't disappoint. What you can do with it is endless. It kind of reminds me of the Realistic Concertmate MG-1 by moog music that I used to have a long time ago only this is 1000 times better than that. I used to call that one the "Poor Man's Moog" However that didn't disappoint as well. But this definitely blows that one away. I am very satisfied with it.

I watched YouTube videos and reviews all summer 2020. Finally purchased the Grandmother and literally had tears of joy when playing for the first time. It's pricey but the quality is great. Seems like synths are becoming more affordable. This is a great learning synth and so much fun.

I adore my GM Moog, its so much fun, i learn something new or make a new tone every time I sit down it. it was worth the wait.
Service at Sweetwater is fantastic as well, I may bet a mother 32 or model D to use with it, I also think this is a great way to get into modular :)

I'm 35 and I have been wanting a Moog since I was 15. This was the one I picked. I was expecting alot and even still, the Grandmother has vastly exceeded expectations! I am having a blast making patches and doing one-off recordings, the possibilities with this synth are endless.

Shout out to my sales engineer Stephen Oppenheim for making the whole process a breeze! I will only but music gear from Sweetwater.

The Moog Grandmother is a LOT of fun to use! If you are sitting on the fence because you have never used modular gear-or a synthesizer with patch cords-I know where you are coming from. I too was a bit intimidated to enter the world of patch cables. However, rest assured: you will have a lot of fun patching and creating different sounds! It's not hard--in fact it is very easy and there are a LOT of great videos online (see YouTube, as well as posts here on Sweetwater by Daniel Fisher) to help you to find the sounds you wish to create. You'll be creating your own patch cord diagrams for our own "unique" sounds yourself in no time!
In addition to all of this--the Grandmother has an arp and sequencer that are easy to use and present a huge addition to this Moog synthesizer. If you don't have a MOOG yet--this is the one: it'll serve as the "gateway drug" to modular, it'll give you lots of great options for arpeggiator and sequencer styles/tunes, it is a solidly built synthesizer, and it has that fabulous MOOG sound you just cant duplicate.
Last but not least--this synthesizer has a unique sound that differs from the MOOG subphatty. When I purchased this I had thought I'd sell my subphatty--but now I realize each has a place in my studio. The Subphatty still "growls" out a house-shaking bass line the best--but lacks all the bells and whistles that make the Grandmother a creative powerhouse for sequences. Many thanks to my sales engineer, Sam Hillman, for recommending both beasts! You can't beat a MOOG!!

As the title says. This beast is unreal value for money. You are getting classic Moog Modular Modules in an "All in One" synth. The High and Low end on this synth is incredible! The sound is just amazing, creamy smooth or raw as hell, depending on your settings.

The Modular part of this synth is also incredible and the patches and sounds are limitless.

I still can't believe that I paid $... for this synth on sale and if I had to do it again, I would even pay $1000.00 or more. You are getting incredible value and vintage sounds for an amazing price!

If you are on the fence and thinking about buying this synth, just do it! You will not regret it at all. I also think that this is going to be a classic in the future, so I also think that this is going to be a great investment for any synth fan.

This is my first Moog synth and I LOVE IT!!!

Thank you again Sweetwater for your excellent products and service once again, oh! And thanks for the "Candy Surprise" too!

Highly Recommended!

The Grandmother is, hands-down, one of the finest monophonic synthesizers currently on the market. Its patch-ability, depth & quality of sound capability are simply fantastic. It is also a great front-end controller for my Eurorack gear. I picked up the Grandmother during the Moogfest special pricing period, which made this somewhat-expensive synth a bit more affordable.

I was eager to open the box when it arrived. The Grandmother was easy to operate and I couldn't believe it's ability to produce really beautiful sounds. I am using it to produce a new album using Logic Pro X on my computer. It works well with Logic. I'm very happy with my Grandmother!

I was close to buying the Model D reissue when the Grandmother was announced. I decided to wait and try one out, and I'm so glad I did. This little thing is destined to be a new classic. Moog has taken components from their vintage modulars and distilled them down into a mono synth that retains the experimental nature of those behemoth systems. The Granny has a surprisingly wide sound pallete for such a small package. If the Model D is a luxury sports car, then the Grandmother is a motorcross dirt bike, ready to go beyond those paved roads.

Previous Moog synths I've owned include the Mother-32 and Little Phatty. And even though they sounded great, I felt like both were designed with some compromises in order to meet a lower price point. The Grandmother doesn't seem like a compromise at all to me. I'm very impressed with all the features they packed in here for a sub-$1K Moog: an excellent knob-per-function interface, plenty of patch points, mult and attenuator (very important), high pass filter, arp/sequencer, and of course the spring reverb.

The basic tone is familiar Moog territory. It's easy to produce thick, vintage-sounding lines that recall old Wendy Carlos or Isao Tomita records. The filter is a big part of that sound of course. Keep the resonance turned down and you've got bone-shaking low end for bass lines. The bottom end thins out as the resonance turns up, but I think this also helps contribute to the vocal-like nature of the filter that can make it sound like it is singing sometimes. The mixer is another key component of the sound. As the manual says, keep the mixer controls below half way if you want a cleaner sound. As you increase the levels further, overdrive and wave-shaping occurs for a dirtier sound.

MIDI features are included where it counts, for example the arp/sequencer will send notes out via MIDI too, both the USB and DIN connections. Speaking of the arpeggiator, it does everything the "right" way in my opinion. When you press keys off the beat, it waits until the next beat to play the note instead of messing up the rhythm. And with the Hold button turned on, pressing a new key will transpose your arp pattern or sequence.

It's hard to find much to complain about with this synth if you're looking for a fun, great sounding analog mono. A 3-octave keybed would have been nice, but 2 1/2 is still much better than the SubPhatty's 2-octaves. Also, the +/- Octave buttons are shared with the Arp Play/Hold/Tap functions. You have to hold the middle button (Shift) and then press + or - to change them, plus there isn't any indicator showing the current octave setting. Those are minor inconveniences though, and easy to overlook considering everything else the Grandmother offers.

This synth is not for everyone, and that is a great thing because I would prefer if only a select few know about it - :()

That said I'm writing this review for people who are on the fence.

This is a serious instrument - this Grandma sounds and feels amazing. I'd been looking for a great sounding mono synth to learn more about the basics of synthesis, and be my central keyboard controller for my little Ableton setup. And finally, this is the one.

The reviews and videos I had read and seen before purchasing showed it's sonic possibilities for, how do I say, crazy etherial vintage space sounds (if that makes any sense) - but what I didn't hear from them is that it has INSANE low end (I think possibly better than the SubPhatty and Sub37 - I tried those and returned them last year) and mid-range punch, as well as smooth clean and fuzzy high-end.

The sonic possibilities this synth has are incredible. For $... this Grandmother is a thing of beauty.

I"ve been wanting to get a moog product for quite some time but I"ve been preoccupied with building my eurorack modular synth. Now I"ve add grandma to the mix and I"m sure glad I did. It"s nice to have the quality built keys and the modular patch points from this beast. Thanks to sweetwater for the great customer service as always.

I think this is the shortest turnaround between synth purchases for me, having gotten a Prophet Rev2 a few months ago. But, I fell in love with this Moog after seeing and hearing it online...which a little beast! Bleeps, blorps, fat leads and basses...can't wait to do some studio work with it! If you've never had a Moog, check this out...it's a blast! Thanks to Mason Moss at Sweetwater for the assistance!

This is such a well thought out powerful semi modular that is loaded with endless noises and usefulness. My favorite Monosynth that reminds me of a Buchla Music Easle in how well thought out the interface is . Moog should get a major award for this must have powerhouse. Peace Christo

Even the "rest" patch that basically consisted of the random places the dials landed in packaging sounded so creamy and lovely.

I think an hour has passed with me just latching an arpeggio and twiddling. I"m in heaven. You can be too.

Thank you Aaron Cieslikowski for being the best, most patient salesperson in existence!

You know that feeling, when you picked up an instrument, play a couple notes and you're feeling the inspiration bursting out?

It's how this synth made me feel. My music training never included synthesizers and sound design, and as a matter of fact, this is my first synth. But after I plugged it in and started playing around with it, I can't seem to make it sound bad. Every sound has its place, every sound inspires me in different ways, push me to write different music. And I haven't even touched the patch bay yet.

Grandmother delivers layers and layers of inspiration, what else can you ask for from instruments as a musician?

I have a decent collection of synths, both digital and analog DCO. The sound on this blows them all out of the water. They all have their place, some of them are 'do everything' synths that can be pad, bass or lead alike, and the Grandmother is not that synth, but if this is the type of synth you're looking for, get it

I sold some synths to get this, and now I am neglecting the others I kept (Moog Sub 37 and Novation Peak), because the Grandmother is now the first synth I turn on when I sit down to play or write. The oscillators are much brighter than the Sub 37, but also manage to be heavier in the bass range at times. They're more musical and have a wider sound possibility. The filter is great, and I don't miss the extra envelope generator because the Amp section switch has 3 useful settings: a hard attack envelope that incorporates the release of the envelope module, an ADSR directly from the envelope module, or a drone.

It's the patch points makes this synth really shine. Adding a 3rd oscillator for Minimoog style leads is as simple as patching the LFO at audio rate into the mixer. I like that some of the LFO's functions like PWM and filter cutoff have dedicated knobs. The hi pass filter adds a nice touch of versatility to the sound, and the onboard Spring Reverb is great at bringing out little nuances in your sounds. I haven't even dug deep into the attenuator and the mult jacks, but it is awesome to know that I I'm only scraping the surface of what this synth can do.

Build quality is spectacular, the keyboard and knobs are all top quality, and the synth itself feels really solid for having plastic sides. Even if you don't own a single piece of modular gear (like me), I highly recommend the Grandmother.

I made the "mistake" of playing this at GearFest and couldn"t stop thinking about it, so I recently made the leap and purchased this. So glad I did.

Like all Moog stuff, it has the cool factor, but more importantly it sounds absolutely killer. Definitely one of the most musical and inspiring pieces of music hardware I"ve ever had the pleasure of owning. The "recipes" in the back of the manual are great. It"s fun to play, the tones are unbelievable, and it feels both timeless and limitless. Moog hit it out of the park with this one.

I had been reading and watching videos about the Grandmother since it was first unveiled. So my anticipation was extremely high. This doesn't disappoint! It is a genuine Moog - with all of the cool sound we all know and love. The value (features/dollar) is huge. Moog thought of everything - the sound, the controls, the patching flexibility, the build quality, the convenience.. . . and the list goes on - the user experience is well conceived. I'm just barely scratching the surface on what it can do. PLus you get to say cool double entendres like "I got to spend some quality time with my Grandmother today" . . .or "my Grandmother was making this really unique sound" . . . My only wish . . . a second Grandmother!

The Grandmother interfaces well with Moogerfoogers: all you need are converter plugs which are readily available. If you wish to use expression pedals for pitch bends etc., converter plugs alone do not work. I'd recommend a cp-251 processor- it exponentially increases the posssibilities.

Deceptively simple at first glance, the over 40 patch points takes this new synth into new territory not seen in the other small keyboard line of Moog synths. The oscillators and filter are smooth, and the spring reverb is an old school treat bringing in rich harmonics. My new favorite little Moog.

This is my favorite synthesizer now. The lush spring reverb makes it sound unique, and the oscillators are really different than my sub phatty or voyager. They are smoother and have more of a warm glow.

I first got into Moog with the minifooger line, and then graduated to the moogerfoogers and now this. Some constants I've noticed so far throughout are: thick sounds, very wide and interactive range of values for each control which makes for relatively limitless expressivity but also a challenge for recalling settings (controls are very sensitive), "hidden" functions that are very fun and useful. For the Grandmother, I've found all of the functions to be useful. There's a lot to discover. Overall, punchy and aggressive. The arpeggiator is actually useful in a live context. Minor problems: power supply not exactly a snug fit in the synth; pots needed to be recalibrated. Moog service helped with the pot issue. Thanks Will Crisp for the help over the years.

I think it's already clear users love this instrument & for good reason - it's great semi modular synth.
Truth be told, I did not need this synth at all but as soon as I demo'd one I knew it had to be added to my studio. It's well made, has the logical Moog layout and simply sounds fantastic.. it's like 1968 all over again.
If you want that classic Moog sound..this delivers. I would have given it 5 stars if they had stuck with a more traditional visual aesthetic...(but that is truly a matter of taste) GET IT

What this synth is really good at:
Having lots of vintage, buzzy, electronic character
Hyper-stable digitally-controlled oscillators (analog signal, though, don't fret)
Sounding just like a Moog synthesizer (because it is!)
Fueling late night bedroom studio sessions
Rewarding patience and creative thinking

What this synth is not:
Modern or refined
A huge eurorack system
Ideal for live performance
A toy (make sure your foundation is up to code)

I bought this instrument (and a Korg SQ-1) as a first step towards building a modular system. The Grandmother is a blast to play, and sounds great. It plays well with a cv sequencer, beckons the operator to follow rabbit holes, and rewards experimentation. It does everything you'd want it to do, provided you want it to be a feisty little Moog synthesizer. It gets a little disappointing, though, when you want to really bust it apart and go full scientist.

Features that I've, at various times, wished the Grandmother had:
Voltage control over more parameters (attenuverter, HP filter, LFO PW, others)
Ability to run the onboard sequencer or use oscillators independently of keyboard control
A noise source outside of the mixer panel
A source for the external input signal outside of the mixer panel

All things considered, this is a phenomenal instrument made with high-quality components. It is a joy to play, and it is astonishingly capable and full-featured, considering the price. Some flexibility is sacrificed for the sake of friendliness and ease of use, but most of its shortcomings are merely felt as a nagging motivation to pick up a few external modules to patch into the signal path. In short, because there are a few small gaps in this synthesizer's abilities, it is doing precisely what I bought it to do: convince me to buy a Make Noise Maths, and a clock divider, and a quantizer, and an extra ADSR and VCA...

Burn all your sensible shoes! You're an artist now!