Moog Matriarch Paraphonic Explorations with Mike Pensini

The Moog Matriarch is an absolutely gorgeous analog synthesizer. No doubt a "future classic". I couldn't find a lot of material online of the Matriarch played in a paraphonic/polyphonic style, so wanted to showcase that somewhat in this clip - which also makes use of the stunning analog delay and very versatile arpeggiator.
Everything you hear is coming from the Moog Matriarch - no external effects or processing. Enjoy!

[@aawagga6841]

nice to actually get to hear someone play something other than sequenced techno or film score ambient for once

[@MikePensini]

Cheers! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@aawagga6841]

@@MikePensini you play great dude keep it up

[@MikePensini]

@@aawagga6841 Thank you! Will do!

[@Thekingdomwithinco]

This demo is sex for my ears 🔥

[@GeorgeCopperfield]

This is the playing style that made me fall in love with the Matriarch ! Very similar to Paris Strothers demo with this synth ❤

[@MikePensini]

It’s so good for that vibe

[@MaashuCookiemonster]

I got to play a prototype at Moogfest back in 2019 and it was everything I've ever wanted in a synth. I've had mine for a few years now but mostly use it in monophonic mode. It would be great to get some patch notes on this!

[@312dasbkilla]

awesome, you had me at those crazy runs/arps. made me realize I need a lot more practice. great playing brother

[@Shmynkellbonkenstein]

1. Now that I’ve heard how awesome the Matriarch can sound in paraphonic mode I want it even more. 2. This guy is a true underdog/hidden gem of youtube, why doesn’t he have more views? Maybe ppl don’t like good music.

[@MikePensini]

Thank you so much Shmynkell! That was my intention with creating this video - to showcase the Matriarch doing wonderfully thick paraphonic sounds - glad you enjoyed it!

[@pdotscottproductions1112]

The best musical demo of the Matriarch. Beautiful playing my brotha.

[@MikePensini]

Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed!

[@AlexG-bc7ji]

Man I love the sound of that filter. Some of those sweeps remind me a lot of my SE-02 since it has a similar filter architecture. Just a beautiful sound.

[@MikePensini]

It really is gorgeous, isn’t it?!

[@TROGULAR10000]

I like how this guy has all the best instruments, plays freakin awesome, and we get to hear these tones dry without a surplus of reverb or whatever. This is some killer shit

[@MikePensini]

Trogular 10,000 thank you so much! Glad you dig it!

[@disarmsox]

So much music out there is carried by it's gushings of reverb

[@MikePensini]

@@disarmsox It’s always nice to hear the raw sound of the instrument!

[@antonhillvall3257]

Absolutely stellar playing

[@MikePensini]

Thank you Anton!

[@melissamelz2631]

Stumbled back to this once again. Amazing playing and stellar tones all around. Super inspiring work...thank you!!!

[@MikePensini]

Thank you so much Melissa!

[@carlbowles1808]

Awesome synth Mozart would love 💘. Thanks Mike. 👍

[@MikePensini]

Yes, would dig hearing Wolfgang on the Matriarch!

[@onecupmove]

This is great - really drives home that it's a player's instrument

[@MikePensini]

Thank you, onecupmove - it certainly is! So inviting to tweak and sound design on. Super organic and constantly evolving.

[@jon_gee]

Beautiful. Best synth ever. You play with grace and ingenuity. 💛💙💚💜

[@MikePensini]

Oh thank you, Jon! It’s an instrument which allows for a lot of creative expression.

[@cherryalav]

Mike. This is So Much Good!!🔥

[@MikePensini]

Thank you!

[@crypticmoses7844]

Awesome soundscapes and melodies! Great as always! :)

[@MikePensini]

Thank you Cryptic Moses! Glad you enjoyed it mate.

[@khalid6949]

Wow! Right in time Mike!! Thanks for the video man ❤️

[@MikePensini]

My pleasure, man!

[@mackmccord3743]

Beautiful performance on a beautiful synth!🤘🏽🕶️💜

[@MikePensini]

Thank you Mack!

[@mackmccord3743]

@@MikePensini you're welcome

[@istefk]

that's just awesome. what an amazing connection and understanding of the machine at your finger tips. bravo.

[@MikePensini]

Thank you istefk! Appreciate the comment.

[@bao._____]

Woooooo!!! This is awesome Mike!

[@MikePensini]

Thank you Bao!

[@masanorimatsuda4462]

Thank you for your wonderful and lyrical performance. It is wonderful. It's really comfortable and comfortable.

[@MikePensini]

Thank you Masanori, glad you enjoyed!

[@smalltown4855]

beautifully played, great timing too. 👍

[@MikePensini]

Thank you!

[@Koopakid917543]

Boy am I glad I stumbled upon this. Excellent playing and super interesting tones. As someone who doesn't know much about my Matriarch or synthesizers in general, this is incredibly inspiring

[@MikePensini]

Thank you Knowhardfeelings, glad you dug it!

[@nigelrogers8690]

Awesome performance 👏🏾 👌🏾

[@MikePensini]

Thank you Nigel!

[@DanYannay]

amazing bro!

[@roaldl]

Very pretty, Mike!

[@MikePensini]

Thank you Roald! Hope you're well mate!

[@daojea]

🔥🔥🔥

[@jborg3260]

Awesome!

[@MikePensini]

Cheers Jborg!

[@daguy7575]

This guy is a beast with keys!

[@MikePensini]

Cheers man!

[@philfazer]

sweet sound ;)

[@MikePensini]

Thanks Phil!

[@LordBiffMusic]

wow that first patch messed me up, I HAVE A MATRIARCH damnnn i had no idea

[@-gbogbo-]

Nice voicings !

[@MikePensini]

Thank you!

[@samadhishaq]

Wow. This is some scary good playing. 😭

[@MikePensini]

Thank you!

[@greenvelvet]

🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@station2station544]

0:53 thought I heard the end of taxi in there (Angela, Bob James).

[@MikePensini]

Wasn't intentional!

[@dondoobay4750]

Very Mellow Mike ! Quite Sub lime !

[@MikePensini]

Cheers Don!

[@joseluishernandezseptien]

Beautiful performance and synthesis! Do you have pictures the patches you have crafted? I would love to try them

[@MikePensini]

Thank you Jose! I don't have pictures - just what you can decipher from the video!

[@DJ-Lazy-Lodger]

will it be my new tune of the week?

[@stevennorton4007]

Hey Mike sounds great. Can you explain the patch you are using there in the first piece you are playing? sounds amazing.

[@MikePensini]

Thank you Steven. 4 x saw waves, little bit of resonance, not too much, slightly slowed attack and release w filter envelope. Pitch modulation on mod wheel, little bit of delay set to roughly 8th notes. Think that's pretty much it!

[@payamrahrow4108]

I wish I could see a patch sheet for this!

[@MikePensini]

So do I!

[@zaleschukmusic]

Great playing Mike. How is the keybed and aftertouch implementation on the Matriarch? What about tuning stability? Ive been wanting one for a while, but everybody always skips over these topics.

[@MikePensini]

Thank you! All excellent. Keybed feels fantastic - one of the best. Aftertouch is easily routed using patch cables and reacts as you'd expect. Tuning is solid.

[@michaelmassaro3483]

Mike - Any chance you'd be willing to share the settings to get this sound? Can't get my Matriarch to sound this good! Thanks!

[@MikePensini]

Hi Michael - I no longer have the Matriarch (was just borrowing it) - so the only "snapshot" of settings for this sound would be what we can see in the video!

[@moistpeanut5986]

bro imagine this but with at least 6 voices.

[@MikePensini]

Or 8!

[@oiiiich]

Love this performance so much. May I ask a question? When you hold a note down in paraphonic mode, say a low note with your left hand - if you then proceed to play quick notes with your right hand, while the low note is still being held, to you get the impression of a lag with the right hand notes? As if there's a delay closing the envelope? I just noticed this on my new matriarch and not sure it's meant to be this way...

[@MikePensini]

Thank you Oiiich! I don’t actually have the Matriarch in the studio any more (was just on loan) so I can’t test it, but I don’t remember there being “lag” so to speak. Paraphonic filters do behave “differently” sometimes to what one expects sometimes so could just be that.

[@palewine]

Hey there, I'm considering getting one of these. Did you find out any more about your question? It's something I'd like to know about...

[@oiiiich]

@@palewine it’s a great synth, but this issue came about with the latest firmware update - it’s been over a year and moog haven’t addressed it (despite many customers flagging it with them). Absolute nightmare. You can revert to an old version of the firmware to improve this issue, but you lose other features

[@palewine]

@@oiiiich That's a shame :( Hope Moog fixes soon.

[@pdotscottproductions1112]

Is it possible to get this patch that you are using?

[@MikePensini]

Well, it's not "saveable" as the Matriarch doesn't have patch memory - but I guess you could pause the video and copy the knob position/patching!

[@mackmccord3743]

@@MikePensini but could you please show us how to achieve this sound? You're not really showing all the knob positions in the video!

[@uriahocean6968]

Could we get this patch setup

[@MikePensini]

I don’t have the Matriarch any more so you’d have to decipher it from the video footage!

[@namenaim1560]

Wonderful synth, great playing. Pity about its cheap sharp plastic end cheeks. Otherwise a masterpiece instrument. Many thanks Mike.

[@MikePensini]

Cheers! Oh that's interesting - I don't remember this one having sharp plastic? It was very thick high quality plastic by memory? It was just on loan though so can't check - the Grandmother is definitely very smooth high quality plastic on the ends. Quite road worthy.

[@K00LD00D]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@MikePensini]

🙏🏼