Moog Grandmother User Manual
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Moog Grandmother User Manual

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  • Page 3 Ever ything has some consciousness, “ and we tap into that. It is about energy most basic level. ” - Dr. Robert Moog -...
  • Page 4 —Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. CAUTION: Please note that any changes or modifications made to this product not expressly approved by Moog Music Inc. could void the user’s authority granted by the FCC to operate the equipment.

  • Page 5: Table Of Contents

    TABLE OF CONTENTS UNPACKING & INSPECTION SETUP & CONNECTIONS INTRODUCTION GRANDMOTHER OVERVIEW SIGNAL FLOW FEATURES & CONTROLS KEYBOARD LEFT-HAND CONTROLLER OSCILLATORS MIXER FILTER ENVELOPE (ADSR) OUTPUT MODULATION UTILITIES ARP / SEQ SEQUENCER – GETTING STARTED REAR PANEL FINE TUNE AUDIO...

  • Page 6: Unpacking & Inspection

    Check the contents of the shipping carton. Be careful when unpacking your new Moog Grandmother® so that nothing is lost or damaged. Moog recommends saving the carton and all packing materials in case you ever need to ship the instrument for any reason.

  • Page 7: Grandmother Overview

    GRANDMOTHER OVERVIEW Grandmother is a sonic playground that harkens back to Moog’s modular roots, where synthesis is not only about the end result, but also the journey of discovery and experimentation. While capable of highly complex sounds and modulation, Grandmother’s semi-modular design requires absolutely no patching, ensuring that human beings of any skill level can easily explore and experience the joys and magic of analog synthesis.

  • Page 8: Signal Flow

    OSC 1 OSC 2 FEATURES & CONTROLS Grandmother groups panel controls together by module. Each module is also equipped with a set of modular patch points which greatly extend the capabilities of this expansive analog instrument. KEYBOARD Grandmother is equipped with a 32-note velocity-sensitive keyboard.

  • Page 9: Left-Hand Controller

    (TIE), (REST), and (ACCENT) buttons. To learn more about the Arpeggiator and Sequencer, go to page 27. OCTAVE TRANSPOSE Grandmother is designed to behave and function like a traditional analog instrument, but changing keyboard octaves is a useful function for live performance and interfacing with other MIDI equipped devices.

  • Page 10: Oscillators

    GLIDE knob to the left. The Default is Off. OSCILLATORS This is where the sound of the synthesizer is born. Grandmother provides two oscillators of almost identical design, each with its own Octave and Waveform settings. Oscillator 2 is equipped with a FREQUENCY knob to detune it from Oscillator 1.
  • Page 11 OSCILLATORS (Continued) OSCILLATOR 1 OCTAVE 16’ 8’ This four-position switch is used to select the fundamental Octave setting 32’ 4’ for Oscillator 1. The choices are 32’, 16’, 8’, and 4’. SYNC When this button is lit, the phase of Oscillator 2 is hard Sync’d to the phase of Oscillator 1.
  • Page 12 OSCILLATOR 1 (Continued) PITCH IN A control signal connected to this input will modulate the Pitch (Frequency) of Oscillator 1. This input voltage is added to the voltage from the note played on the keyboard. PWM IN A control signal connected to this input will modulate the pulse width of the Square or Narrow Pulse waveform selected by Oscillator 1.
  • Page 13 OSCILLATOR 2 (Continued) WAVE OUT The audio signal coming from this output is determined by the settings of the Oscillator 2 OCTAVE, FREQUENCY, and WAVEFORM knobs, as well as the state of the SYNC button. PITCH IN A control signal connected to this input will modulate the Pitch (Frequency) of Oscillator 2.

  • Page 14: Mixer

    MIXER The Mixer is where all of the sound sources within Grandmother are blended together before being passed on to the Filter. Patch points in the Mixer allow each hardwired source (Oscillator 1, Oscillator 2, Noise) to be replaced with an external audio signal.
  • Page 15 NOISE The NOISE knob sets the level of Grandmother’s white noise generator as it enters the mixer. Settings above 1 O’clock will begin to impart gentle distortion, while higher settings will result in more overdriven tones. Noise is...

  • Page 16: Filter

    FILTER Grandmother relies on a classic -24dB/octave Moog Low Pass Ladder Filter. The term “Ladder” stems from the hardware design of the original filter, which has transistors wired in a type of ladder configuration. Low Pass indicates that the Filter is selectively removing...
  • Page 17 KBD TRACKING (Continued) In the 1:1 position, the value of the note played on the keyboard will affect the Cutoff frequency at full value. This means that playing a note two octaves above another will raise the Cutoff frequency by a full two octaves. TECH NOTE: The Keyboard Tracking value in the 1:1 selection is 1 Volt-per-Octave.

  • Page 18: Envelope (Adsr)

    Some sounds begin abruptly, like the strike of a drum. Some sounds end just as quickly, and some linger like a held chord on a piano. We call this the envelope of a sound. Grandmother uses an Envelope generator to create a control voltage that will change over time.
  • Page 19 ENVELOPE (ADSR) (Continued) ATTACK The ATTACK knob determines the amount of time required for the control signal to rise from zero to its maximum level once a key is pressed. Fast attacks are useful for creating plucked sounds, while slow attacks are more useful for creating bowed string sounds and swells.

  • Page 20: Output

    ENVELOPE (ADSR) (Continued) TRIGGER IN A gate or trigger signal applied here will cause the Envelope to re-trigger and advance through the ADSR stages as defined by their respective settings. TECH NOTE: Any signal > 1.2 Volts will be read as a trigger. + ENV OUT A control signal that reflects the shape created by the current Envelope generator settings is available at this output.
  • Page 21 Release setting to determine how long it takes for the sound to fade from its maximum level to zero. This is particularly useful when paired with exaggerated filter modulation. NOTE: KB RLS was inspired by the classic Moog KB GATE function, but has been modified for greater musical flexibility.
  • Page 22 NOTE: With the VCA MODE switch set to DRONE and an external CV patched into the VCA AMT IN jack, Grandmother’s output VCA will behave as a standard VCA whose level is set entirely by an external control voltage. A voltage of 0V, or a negative voltage, will result in silence. As the voltage to this input is increased, the output volume will also increase (+8V maximum).

  • Page 23: Modulation

    Modulation is an important aspect of programming and playing synthesizers. In short, whenever one signal is used to change the value of another – it is known as modulation. Grandmother has a dedicated Modulation section that can apply modulation to multiple destinations at once, and in varying amounts.
  • Page 24 MODULATION (Continued) PULSE WIDTH AMT (AMOUNT) The PULSE WIDTH AMT knob determines the maximum depth of modulation that will be applied to the Pulse Width of the Square and Narrow Pulse waves of Oscillators 1 and 2 when the MOD wheel is at its maximum position. NOTE: Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) can only be applied to an oscillator when a square or narrow pulse wave is selected as the current waveform.

  • Page 25: Utilities

    UTILITIES The Utilities section imbues Grandmother with a series of tools that are key to the exploration of modular analog synthesis. A four-point mult, high pass filter, and bipolar attenuator are included as non-wired, patchable resources. MULT The MULT consists of four jacks wired together in parallel as a way of sharing and distributing control signals.
  • Page 26 UTILITIES (Continued) INPUT An audio signal connected here will be processed by the High Pass Filter. OUTPUT The audio signal available here is the output of the High Pass Filter. ATTENUATOR (BIPOLAR) An Attenuator is used to reduce the strength of a control signal to provide more accuracy when modulating a specific parameter value.

  • Page 27: Arp / Seq

    This is useful for creating swooping cascades of notes, building a rhythmic base, or for generating new and fun musical ideas. Grandmother allows you to select the order in which the notes are played, and also provides the option of repeating the pattern in different octaves.
  • Page 28 ARP / SEQ (Continued) DIRECTION The function of this switch applies to both the Arpeggiator and the Sequencer. It selects the order in which the notes are played. ORDR (ORDER) ARPEGGIATOR (ORDR) The arpeggiated notes will play in the same order as they were originally played on the keyboard.
  • Page 29 ARP / SEQ (Continued) GATE OUT Pressing a note on the keyboard initiates a gate signal that is sent via this jack for as long as the note is held. During arpeggiator or sequencer playback, the GATE OUT signal is instead based on the notes being output by the arpeggiator or sequencer.
  • Page 30 KB VEL OUT jack (ARP/SEQ module) when the Sequencer is playing only. NOTE: In order to for Grandmother to reflect this dynamic change, you will need to connect a patch cable from the KB VEL OUT jack (ARP / SEQ module) to the CUTOFF IN jack on the Filter module. You...

  • Page 31: Sequencer - Getting Started

    SEQUENCER - GETTING STARTED Grandmother’s sequencer can store and play back three independent sequences, each containing up to 256 notes. CREATE A SEQUENCE ARM THE SEQUENCER To arm the Sequencer for recording, set the MODE switch to the REC position, and set the OCT / SEQ switch to 1.
  • Page 32 CREATE A SEQUENCE (Continued) ADD A REST Press the REST button. NOTE: During playback, this step will be silent. ADD AN ACCENT Finally, play one last note and then press the ACCENT button. NOTE: During playback, this step will output an Accent voltage from the KB VEL OUT jack that can be patched into other modules.
  • Page 33 EDITING A SEQUENCE Sequences can only be edited in real time during live playback. To edit a sequence: ENTER SEQUENCE EDIT MODE Set the MODE switch to the SEQ position and push PLAY. EDIT YOUR SEQUENCE While your sequence is playing back, set the MODE switch to the REC position. NOTE: Now any rest, tie, accent, or note that is played will overwrite the current data for that step as it is played, without deleting the other notes of the sequence.

  • Page 34: Rear Panel

    REAR PANEL Grandmother’s rear panel is populated by jacks and connectors that relate to the instrument as a whole. Here is where you will find audio and MIDI connections, additional CV I/O, a FINE TUNE knob, the connection for the AC adapter with stress relief hook, and a Kensington security slot.

  • Page 35: Arp / Seq Cv

    CLOCK OUT This output allows Grandmother to transmit clock sync to other instruments based on the ARP / SEQ RATE knob setting , and the Global CLOCK OUTPUT PPQN setting (see p. 38). Grandmother can also send Clock information via MIDI.

  • Page 36: Midi

    USB. TIP: If you get any stuck MIDI notes, hold all three LHC buttons down together for about 1 second. Grandmother will clear its note stack and also send a MIDI “All Notes Off” message. MIDI IN The MIDI IN port can receive MIDI messages sent from another synthesizer or module.

  • Page 37: Global Settings

    CHANGING THE MIDI CHANNEL Grandmother can send and receive data on any MIDI channel. To select the MIDI channel, press the (F#0) key, and then press one of the first 16 white keys (F0 to G2) to select the corresponding MIDI channel (1-16).

  • Page 38: Local On / Off

    KB OUT RANGE The voltage range of Grandmother’s KB OUT (pitch CV) jack can be either -5 to +5 Volts, or 0 to 10 Volts. To adjust the KB OUT Range setting, press the (C#2) key, and then use the first two white keys to select -5V to +5V (F0), or 0V to 10V (G0).

  • Page 39: Patch Point Index

    PATCH POINT INDEX FRONT PANEL ARP / SEQ MODULE GATE OUT: This jack produces a Gate with each new note played on the keyboard, played by the Arpeggiator, or played by the Sequencer. 5 Ohms; +8 Volt Gate. KB OUT: This jack delivers a Control Voltage (CV) based on the key played by the Keyboard, Arpeggiator, or Sequencer.
  • Page 40 PATCH POINT INDEX FRONT PANEL (Continued) OSCILLATORS MODULE (Continued) OSCILLATOR 2 PITCH IN: The control signal received here is summed with the internal Pitch CV to modulate the pitch of Oscillator 2. 90K Ohms; -5 to +5 Volts. OSCILLATOR 2 LIN FM IN: The control signal received here is summed with the internal Pitch CV to introduce linear FM (Frequency Modulation) to Oscillator 2.
  • Page 41 5 Ohms; 10 Volts Peak-to-Peak (DC Coupled). OUTPUT MODULE VCA AMT IN: The control signal received here will affect Grandmother’s output Volume. When the VCA TYPE switch is set to DRONE, connecting a control signal here will instantly set the VCA CV to zero. The value of the control signal alone will be used to control the output volume.

  • Page 42: Rear Panel

    100K Ohms; -5 to +5 Volts. ON / OFF IN: A control signal connected to this jack can turn the Grandmother Arpeggiator and/or Sequencer on and off. A voltage of > 2.5 Volts will turn the ARP / SEQ module on. An incoming voltage of <2.5 Volts will turn the ARP / SEQ module off.

  • Page 43: Midi Documentation

    CC 89 0 = -2, 26 = -1, 51 = 0, 77 = +1, 102 = +2 ARP/SEQ CLOCK DIVISION CC 90 (See Grandmother Clock Divisions table) CC 91 ARP/SEQ MODE 0 = ARP, 43 = SEQ, 85 = REC...
  • Page 44 MIDI DOCUMENTATION (Continued) TABLE 2 TABLE 3 BEND RANGE CC 107 / CC108 KEYBOARD CC 119 (SEMITONES) VALUE TRANSPOSE VALUE (SEMITONES) 0 (OFF) 12 (ONE OCTAVE) 0 (OFF) 24 (TWO OCTAVES)

  • Page 54: Specifications

    SOUND SOURCES: 2 Oscillators with selectable Waveforms (Oscillator 2 supports Sync to Oscillator 1 plus linear FM), 1 White Noise Generator, External Input jack VCF FILTER (LOW PASS): -24dB/Octave Moog Ladder Filter with Resonance (Self-Oscillating) STATIC FILTER (HIGH PASS): -6dB/Octave...

  • Page 55: Service & Support Information

    Moog’s determination, it has been more than five years since the product shipped from our factory, it will be at Moog’s discretion whether or not to honor the warranty without regard to the date of the purchase. During the Warranty Period, any defective products will be repaired or replaced, at Moog’s option, on a return-to-factory basis.
  • Page 56 Moog Music Is An Employee-Owned Company Located In Asheville, NC...

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