Alright, so originally my plan was to purchase a used Moog Voyager Old School. This is still an option, however I am wondering if the Matriarch would be worth considering. My needs are for a great live performance synth. I play jazz fusion, funk, etc. I have owned the Subsequent37 and it sounded great but always felt like something was missing compared to Voyagers, Minimoogs etc...
Now some questions, as I know nothing about modular stuff.
1. As far as assigning the controllers, I know that velocity, aftertouch, and pedal are not assigned to anything by default. Now, if I connect, say, aftertouch to control vibrato, how would I dial in the maximum amount to keep it controlable?
2. Is there some sort of device that stores preset CV values? For example, (more appropriate to the VOS since no octave shift, but) say I wanted to have an instant octave up and down button, so I would tune the oscillators and then be able to toggle the pitch without needing to change all the octave selectors. Obviously there are other uses for such a device too, just an easy one to explain. Anything like this out there?
3. How's the build quality? I mean, it's Moog, so I am sure it feels solid but I know the Sub37 had some issues and apparently the Grandmother did too.
4. Lastly, anyone compare this to a Voyager (especially VOS) yet?
Any input is welcome.
Matriarch: Completely new to modular stuff...questions
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anthonyfranco
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sun May 08, 2016 9:02 pm
Re: Matriarch: Completely new to modular stuff...questions
I have a voyager select series and a matriarch.
1. You can control the amount with the modulation amount knob. A better option is to go through one of the utilities, which include attenuators.
2. There is an octave up/down which involves engaging the shift key.
3. It feels and sounds great but my unit is defective and had to be exchanged. I don’t know if it was a hardware or firmware issue.
I only had the matriarch for a few days and have not yet received the replacement. I didn’t do a side by side but, having said that, the oscillators on both sound great and I can’t say I hear any real difference or have a preference. I felt that the amp and filters in the matriarch have a certain color to them which reminds me of modular moogs as heard in early prog bands and movies. Again, both the voyager and minimoog sound awesome. I won’t keep both and am leaning toward the matriarch. Not for sound, but because I can sell the voyager for a lot more than I paid for the matriarch. Either serves my purpose which is part of the synths I use in a recording studio. Which brings me to your mission statement; I think the old school would be a lot easier to work with as a live synth, especially regarding the after touch etc., but overall as well. I would further recommend a programmable voyager as the ultimate moog for live. You may be a synth wizard but I know for live, I personally would need a programmable synth.
1. You can control the amount with the modulation amount knob. A better option is to go through one of the utilities, which include attenuators.
2. There is an octave up/down which involves engaging the shift key.
3. It feels and sounds great but my unit is defective and had to be exchanged. I don’t know if it was a hardware or firmware issue.
I only had the matriarch for a few days and have not yet received the replacement. I didn’t do a side by side but, having said that, the oscillators on both sound great and I can’t say I hear any real difference or have a preference. I felt that the amp and filters in the matriarch have a certain color to them which reminds me of modular moogs as heard in early prog bands and movies. Again, both the voyager and minimoog sound awesome. I won’t keep both and am leaning toward the matriarch. Not for sound, but because I can sell the voyager for a lot more than I paid for the matriarch. Either serves my purpose which is part of the synths I use in a recording studio. Which brings me to your mission statement; I think the old school would be a lot easier to work with as a live synth, especially regarding the after touch etc., but overall as well. I would further recommend a programmable voyager as the ultimate moog for live. You may be a synth wizard but I know for live, I personally would need a programmable synth.
Re: Matriarch: Completely new to modular stuff...questions
Hi,
Thanks for the reply!
1. I thought the mod amount knob was specifically for the mod wheel? Or were you implying connect the mod wheel to aftertouch and then use the knobs to adjust it? If I did that, then the mod wheel couldn't be used for anything else. So it seems one of the attenuators is the way to go. Thing is, if I use one for aftertouch and one for velocity...I only have one left for other purposes. Really wish velocity and aftertouch had dedicated knobs to control their effect, but that can't really be changed now!
2. Yes on the Matriarch this is true. The octave was just an example, I would use it for other purposes too...just wanting something that can store a few CV values and let me toggle between them. And the Voyager Old School does not have octave shift buttons so if I ended up with that, then it'd be nice to have that option in some other device.
3. What was wrong with your unit? I would think if you had to send it back that would be a hardware issue, but you never know.
The Matriarch does seem to have a very nice vintage tone to it from clips I've heard, plus it has the delay which sounds awesome. I believe the oscillators are actually the same ones in the Voyager, but the rest of the modules are different. But I think you are right, VOS would be a lot easier to work with for live performance. I don't need to change patches too often -- it's a lead and bass synth and often I can simply lower or raise the octaves of the patch I am playing to alternate between those roles.
But then again the Matriarch is easier to find, costs less, has a delay, is supported, has legato glide (nice performance feature for me,) etc...still a hard choice! If I did get the Matriarch, my plan would be to leave aftertouch, pedal, etc connected all the time so that there would not be a lot of patching necessary when changing the sound. I don't know how practical that would be though.
I have disregarded the other Voyagers because: 1 I am blind so can't see the menus anyway, and 2 the apparent limitations with the mod buses when mapping aftertouch.
Thanks for the reply!
1. I thought the mod amount knob was specifically for the mod wheel? Or were you implying connect the mod wheel to aftertouch and then use the knobs to adjust it? If I did that, then the mod wheel couldn't be used for anything else. So it seems one of the attenuators is the way to go. Thing is, if I use one for aftertouch and one for velocity...I only have one left for other purposes. Really wish velocity and aftertouch had dedicated knobs to control their effect, but that can't really be changed now!
2. Yes on the Matriarch this is true. The octave was just an example, I would use it for other purposes too...just wanting something that can store a few CV values and let me toggle between them. And the Voyager Old School does not have octave shift buttons so if I ended up with that, then it'd be nice to have that option in some other device.
3. What was wrong with your unit? I would think if you had to send it back that would be a hardware issue, but you never know.
The Matriarch does seem to have a very nice vintage tone to it from clips I've heard, plus it has the delay which sounds awesome. I believe the oscillators are actually the same ones in the Voyager, but the rest of the modules are different. But I think you are right, VOS would be a lot easier to work with for live performance. I don't need to change patches too often -- it's a lead and bass synth and often I can simply lower or raise the octaves of the patch I am playing to alternate between those roles.
But then again the Matriarch is easier to find, costs less, has a delay, is supported, has legato glide (nice performance feature for me,) etc...still a hard choice! If I did get the Matriarch, my plan would be to leave aftertouch, pedal, etc connected all the time so that there would not be a lot of patching necessary when changing the sound. I don't know how practical that would be though.
I have disregarded the other Voyagers because: 1 I am blind so can't see the menus anyway, and 2 the apparent limitations with the mod buses when mapping aftertouch.