My Moog Mother-32 Synthesizer Review
About Moog
Company Details
Based in Trumansburg, New York, Robert Moog’s original company was founded as R.A. Moog Co. in 1953.
Through Bob Moog’s professional work, Moog Music produced some of the most popular synthesizers of all time.
My Initial Thoughts
If you are interested in modular systems, the Mother-32 semi-modular analog synthesizer and step sequencer is definitely a great place to start.
Its exceptional interconnectivity allows it to be easily fitted into any electronic or modular ecosystem where it will bring a raw analog sound along with an array of inspiring tools for music creation.
Furthermore, since it includes both oscillators and a filter, Mother-32 is a useful instrument even on its own.
You’ll definitely love how easy it is to set up this synthesizer.
Moog has even included a few cables to get you started with experimenting!
Check the Price on Amazon
- Semi-modular design requires no patching for...
- Voltage controlled 32 step sequencer with 64...
- Low Pass & High Pass Moog Ladder Filter...
Feel, Specifications, Dimensions, and Integrations
Moog Mother-32 is housed in a beautifully designed case made of extruded aluminum with wooden sides.
It takes only one look to see that every part of this piece of equipment is well-built with great attention to detail, from the retro case to the knobs and toggle switches.
The MIDI jack is located in the front, while the audio out and 12V DC power jacks are conveniently placed on the back side.
The front panel consists of three parts.
The oscillator and sound modifier controls take up the most space.
Below them, there are the mini single-octave keyboard and the step sequencer.
The 32-point patch bay is placed on the right which is very convenient as you won’t have problems with tangled cables getting in the way.
Advanced Features and Performance
The Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) can be with three knobs, controlling the Frequency, Pulse Width and VCO amount.
You can also toggle between Saw and Pulse waveform options.
Furthermore, you can choose either a square or a triangle wave to be applied to your signal from the Low Frequency Oscillator (LFO).
Mother-32 also features a white noise generator and you can control the blend of the VCO and white noise with the Mix knob.
Together, these options will allow you to always create a perfect sound right on point.
The Voltage Controlled Filter (VCF) features both a low-pass and a high-pass mode.
There is a toggle switch that lets you choose which one to use, as well as a Cutoff and a Resonance knob to control the filter.
The VCF can be modulated both by the filter and the Envelope Generator which comes with very useful Attack and Decay controls.
The pattern sequencer will probably take some time to get used to, but thankfully the manual provides detailed instructions.
You can use the mini keyboard to play simple tunes, but you can also easily attach a MIDI controller.
After that, you can transpose your sequence into any key and create repeats, patterns swings, and accents.
Pros & Cons of Mother-32
Benefits |
|---|
|
Amazing sound quality |
|
Well built and portable |
|
Expandable via Eurorack system |
Drawbacks |
|---|
|
The sequencer could be better |
|
No On/Off switch if you use it stand-alone |
|
No Midi Out for specific applications |
My Final Thoughts
Whether you are a synthesizer rookie or an experienced musician, you’ll definitely enjoy Mother-32.
It’s a high-quality instrument that is both reasonably easy to use and affordable.
The sound quality you get is what one would expect from Moog – just perfect.
Considering that you can use it both as a stand-alone synth (possibly with the addition of a MIDI controller) and as a building block for your modular system; the Mother-32 is definitely one of the best deals on the synthesizer market today.
Check the Price on Amazon
- Semi-modular design requires no patching for...
- Voltage controlled 32 step sequencer with 64...
- Low Pass & High Pass Moog Ladder Filter...
Want to Learn More?
More Links
More Links
More Links