Moog Matriarch

35

4-Note Paraphonic Semi-Modular Synthesiser with Patch Option

  • Analogue sound generation
  • 256 Step-sequencer
  • Arpeggiator
  • Stereo ladder filter and stereo analog delay
  • Based on the circuits of the Moog-Modular-Synthesizer
  • 4 Analogue oscillators with selectable waveforms
  • Mixer with 6 inputs
  • 2 x Four-stage ADSR
  • 3 x Bipolar voltage controlled attenuators with ring modulation capabilities
  • 2 Discrete analogue stereo routed VCAs
  • 49-Key keyboard with aftertouch via MIDI, KBD VEL OUT and KB AT OUT connectors
  • Pitch and modulation wheels
  • 90 Patch points 3.5 mm jack on front and rear side
  • Dimensions (WxHxD): 812.8 x 139.7 x 361.9 mm
  • Weight: 10.89 kg
  • Includes patch cable and external 12 V power supply unit
  • Suitable optional case: Art.489955, or Art.479619 (both not included)
  • Suitable bag Art. 489808 (not included)

Connections:

  • 2 Line outputs: 6.3 mm Jack
  • Stereo headphone output: 6.3 mm Jack
  • 2 Outputs: 3.5 mm Mini-jack
  • Delay 2 outputs as well as sync and CV input: 3.5 mm Mini-jack
  • Arpeggiator/sequencer Clock input/on-off input/reset and clock output: 3.5 mm mini-jack
  • Instrument input: 6.3 mm Jack
  • MIDI In/Out/Thru
  • Expression Pedal to CV
  • Sustain Pedal Input
Available since October 2019
Item number 465313
Sales Unit 1 piece(s)
Number Of Keys 49
Touch-Sensitive Yes
Aftertouch Yes
Split Zones No
Modulation Wheel Yes
Number of simultaneous Voices 4
Sound Engine Analogue
MIDI interface 1x In, 1x Out, 1x Thru
Storage Medium None
USB-port Yes
Effects Delay
Arpeggiator Yes
Number of Analog Outputs 2
Digital Output No
Display No
Pedal Connections 1x Pedal, 1x Sustain
Dimensions 813 x 140 x 362 mm
Weight 10,9 kg
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£1,799
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In stock within 3-4 weeks

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What you see is what you get

The Moog Matriarch is a further enhancement of the semi-modular Moog Grandmother. In contrast to the monophonic Grandmother, however, the Matriarch has four voices. The semi-modular design has adopted almost exactly. Instead of 41 patch points, the Matriarch has 90. Incidentally, the system is compatible with the other (semi-)modular Moog products as well as other modular synthesizers. The four analogue oscillators and the classic ladder filter are based on the old Moog modular systems, as are many aspects of the design. The whole thing comes in the usual solid and very stylish housing with a high-quality 49-key Fatar keyboard. There are no digital frills on the Matriarch, and no presets either: What you see is what you get.

Moog Matriarch semi-modular synthesizer

Not a mummy's boy

In addition to the oscillators and filters mentioned above, the Moog Matriarch features an analogue stereo bucket brigade echo that mirrors the unit's retro visual aesthetic. Nevertheless, the Matriarch also has a few modern features in store. On the back, for example, there is a USB connection next to the 5-pin MIDI connections. On the front, Moog offers an arpeggiator as well as a sequencer, which offers more than enough space even for the most extensive melody featuring 256 steps. As befits a modularly designed device, the classic utilities can also be found there - a signal splitter (Mult) and an attenuator, with which control signals can be amplified or attenuated.

A purist without digital frills

One thing should be clear: Like any Moog, the sound of the Matriarch is beyond reproach. If you buy a Moog, you get a Moog sound, and if you want a Moog sound, you buy a Moog - it's as simple as that. The Matriarch is certainly no Swiss army knife, but a purist without digital frills. Thanks to its polyphony, keyboardists will get their money's worth, and those who already have a modular system will find the Moog Matriarch a control centre for all eventualities. For example, an external sequencer can be integrated with ease, and the Matriarch's keyboard virtually invites you to control a modular system via CV and gate.

Moog Matriarch synthesizer with 49 keys

About Moog

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.

Moog Matriarch stereo analog delay

The sound lab

In contrast to "modern" models, Moog follows a purist approach - as exemplified by the Grandmother and Matriarch - in which digital flourishes are largely avoided. The Matriarch is the no-nonsense version of a polyphonic Moog. If you are looking for a versatile sound laboratory for tinkering and interconnecting, you will find it here. With the Matriarch, Moog has expanded the functional range of the Grandmother by several dimensions and presents a work of art with character in an appealing retro design. If you didn't know that this was a synthesizer from a well-known company, you might get the impression that you were looking at a sinfully expensive boutique synth.

35 Customer ratings

4.8 / 5

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26 Reviews

i
I absolutely love this synthesiser!
ivoi.iovi 18.01.2022
Really, it is an incredible instrument.
I was looking to getting a Subsequent 37 for a long time and, although I was very attracted to the idea of the Matriarch, I felt like I may regret having a synth without presets. With something like the Matriarch it is especially easy to end up with very complex patches that you'll never find again without writing all of the specifics every time, and that can be prohibitive to creativity if you want to keep experimenting during play rather than taking constant notes.
In reality, though, I haven't cared about this at all and the way this synth lends to experimentation is just endlessly rewarding, even if surely the results may often be lost or forgotten.
The core sounds are beautiful and with a little patching it can get really, really nasty in the best ways! The simple oscillators can be made very complex via the various ways that modulation can be routed to the FM and pulse width ins on each one, and the overall architecture just allows for so many possibilities!
I am very pleased that a sample & hold was included in the modulation section, and the slewed waveform there allows for very interesting textural movement in the filters and oscillators, and for some of the most beautiful "tape" delay sounds I have ever heard when patched to the delay time.

When I first got this I had no experience of modular synthesis and I had no idea what I was doing with the patch points, but it is set up in a clear and intuitive manner and just a little experimenting blew my mind open in realising what could be done, and it was like the excitement of a child in some vast candy store when thinking about what flavours I could try next!

naturally, Matriarch led me quickly toward building a small modular system. Due to space constraints and a wish to learn the individual modules and their own small groups, my focus for several weeks was away from Matriarch and just on the Make Noise and MI stuff that I ended up with.. I got so carried away with all of that and discovered so many complex and interesting sounds, that I felt maybe I should have gone straight to fully modular and that I'd regret having bought the Matriarch, but then last week I got it set up again and instantly knew there was no regret at all! I had figured thing out a little better and now had so many new ideas of how to patch the Matriarch and bring the new modular family into play, but even the nights I spend with just Matriarch are constantly inspiring and have me never wanting to turn it off and sleep.

What a wonderful instrument, and what an expansive sonic playground. I would certainly recommend it to anyone who wants an analogue synth capable of going that way extra, and offering the possibility of expansion as part of a larger system. It's not cheap, but for the price I think this is a seriously good deal considering how much you can do once you learn how to really dig in. 100% one of the best investments I have made for music gear
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Moog Matriarch
Sky jH 13.01.2022
Fantastic instrument. Every time I'm using it on a different arrangements. something new and fresh comes out.
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What a Moooooog
melam77 01.03.2023
I've had the Matriarch for a year now, so It's time to conclude

As an old Moog fan and previous oner of the Voyager RME I was expecting to be happy with the Matriarch, I'm actually more happy than I could expect, every time I switch her on and start noodling and fiddling I end up with a huge smile, it's so easy to get creative and results are always so good its almost a mystical experience.
both as a composer of ambient tracks and as a producer of prog music the Matriarch is the solid part in your composition that you can always be sure it will bring the deep and unique but still classic tone to your track.

Unlocking it's full potential takes time and exploring but the process is always educating and fun.

Overloading the VCA creates such a rich saturated tone that feels much more organic than anything I could squeeze out from the Voyager, and the filter can be as polite or as nasty as you'd like, modulation is a bliss (though I would gladly have a bit more patch points (mostly for the filter spacing and LFO intensity) but you can't have it all, can you? and lastly the analog delay is the cherry on the top, a tad noisy but if you tame it a bit you can find the sweet spot and let the charm of a BBD take your matriarch to her throne.

I didn't have any issues with the instrument except for the bad midi clock lock on that has been now addressed with firmware update v1.2.3

So, If you are an explorer and a Moog fan there is no way you can say no to this.
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Delivery
kelfar 04.12.2021
The product arrived as expected and on time.
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