Moog Grandmother Patch Mapper Free Download: Save and Visualize Your Patches

Moog Grandmother patch mapper is a free utility that solves the problem of losing your Grandmother's knob settings and cable connections when you change patches. This free download gives you a visual replica of your synth on screen to save, load, and document every parameter and patch cable. It uses bidirectional MIDI to talk to your hardware, pulling current settings in and sending saved ones back out.

Key Takeaway

This is a librarian and visual documentation tool for your Moog Grandmother. You get a software copy of your synth's front panel to save complete patches, including drawn patch cables, and recall them via MIDI CC. Just know it doesn't handle sysex dumps and only controls parameters listed on page 43 of your Grandmother's manual.

Core Technology: Bidirectional MIDI CC Communication

The core function is bidirectional MIDI CC communication. When your Grandmother is connected via MIDI, the plugin can read the current positions of knobs and switches that transmit CC data and display them on its virtual interface. Conversely, loading a saved patch in the software sends out all those CC values to your physical synth, automatically resetting its parameters. This is how it bridges the gap between the software patch memory and the hardware that lacks it. Visual feedback is provided through LED ring buttons and parameter value indicators on the virtual panel.

Feature Breakdown

The Virtual Grandmother Panel

The interface has the same look as the actual synthesizer. You can switch the layout between a colored edition and a Dark edition. This visual match makes it intuitive to understand which software control corresponds to which physical knob or jack.

Patch Cable Documentation

This addresses a major limitation of the hardware: remembering cable routings. You can describe up to 9 input/output colored patch cables with different sources and destinations. You draw these cables directly on the main panel, with an adjustable transparency level, and choose to display full cables or just the cable plugs. There are also extra input/output patch points for connecting to external synths, sequencers, and FX chains.

Program Management and Metadata

Each saved program holds a name, author, save date, and description, and can be associated with a category. You can load and save programs from individual .syx files, easily rename them, and browse files on your disk. The software can also display and export all program parameters as a text file for reference.

Additional Utilities

A patch sheet tab provides a patch sheet for the Grandmother and other gear. When you click on the virtual rotary encoders, it displays the current precise parameter value. You can associate audio files (wav, aif, aac, mp3) with a patch for reference, with aif/aac/mp3 support being MacOS only. There's also a zoom function and a selection for the Grandmother OS version, which impacts the panel controls.

Technical Specifications

This is available as a VST Plugin, Audio Units Plugin, and Standalone Application for both macOS and Windows. For PC, there are VST versions (32 and 64-bits). For Mac, there are VST and AU versions. Standalone versions exist for both PC and Mac.

Who Is This For

This fits Grandmother owners who build complex patches and need to return to them later without painstakingly noting down every knob position and cable. It's useful for sound designers creating patch libraries, or for live performers who want a reliable way to recall specific sounds between sets. If you've ever lost a brilliant patch because you tweaked a knob or unplugged a cable, this addresses that problem directly.

Limitations

There are several important constraints. It does not support the load/save of programs by sysex dump exchange. It manipulates parameters via MIDI CC messages, but only for the parameters described on page 43 of the Grandmother manual; many parameters are not covered. The application/plugin doesn't generate any sound itself—it's purely a control and documentation tool. Global parameters management is noted as still under testing. Additionally, the extra MIDI CC controller numbers assigned to buttons without a Moog-assigned number have no impact on the synth.

Final Verdict

You should grab this free download if you own a Moog Grandmother and are tired of losing your intricate patches. It gives you a visual way to save every knob setting and, crucially, document your patch cable layouts, which the hardware simply cannot do. The catch is its reliance on MIDI CC, so not every front-panel parameter is recallable, and you'll need a solid MIDI connection to your synth. For a fresh air plugin that solves a specific, frustrating problem for Grandmother users, it's a practical and niche tool worth having in your utility folder.