Hopefully you guys will be able to help me out with a few questions I’ve got concerning the mf 101 low pass filter and whether or not I should get one.
My studio (sadly) consists of analogue modelling digital synthesisers, and frankly I’m getting a bit tired of the lack of warmth in the sound compared with analogue. I’ve been after an analogue synth for a while now, especially a moog …I looked into the little phatty, but it’s just too expensive for my modest means.
So…I’ve been thinking about getting the 101 to run my synths through, hoping that this will help me to get a warmer sound on a budget.
Do you think this will cut the mustard or am I just being cheap ? Also, how hard can you drive it…as well as a nice smooth low filter I would like something that could sound really overdriven as well. Is it a noisy pedal? Do you think the fact it’s mono is going to be a problem?
Questions questions…basically I just need some encouragement to help me on my way to building a modular synth out of moogerfoogers!
My first Moog was a 101 I bought to make my Alesis Ion sound better. It was probably the best thing I’ve ever invested in (the 101 not the Ion.) Now, I run a completely analog studio as far as hardware is concerned.
In short, get it. You will wonder how you lived without analog after you get it.
Drive it as hard or as soft as you want, the 101 can take it. Just be sure you’re using a line level signal. You’re only limited by how you want it to sound.
To get around the stereo issue, if you’re running your synth’s outputs into a mixing board or a multitrack recorder, you might explore running the 101 through the effects loop of either. Doing this should also enable you to take full advantage of the 101’s envelope follower using your synths’ VCA envelopes!
You really can’t go wrong incorporating something as high quality as a mf 101, or any other Moog pedal, into your set up. There’s nothing wrong with using soft synths if thats what you like and/or can afford. We do the best we can with what we have. The 101 is a great and inexpensive way to get into analog synthesis. Just add more pedals as you can afford them. In the mean time you’ll enjoy the learning experience as well as the satisfaction of owning a nice piece of gear that is a joy to use and remember, it’s only an addiction when you try to stop.
Well, I am biased and have a foogers and a Voyager. At first, I was like you and just had soft synths but getting into analogue electronics has been a positive experience for me and yes, there is a difference in the sound.
On the flip side of that I was fooling around with Absynth 5 last night as well as a few sottware effects and getting some great bird like sounds which is something I have been looking for. Could I get that from my foogers and Voyager? Perhaps but I could not get to the variety of sounds I got as easily.
What I am saying is don’t discount diminish you soft synths but yes, a 101 would be a nice additiion and give you the anlogue sound you may be looking for. As for building a modular, in a sense foogers do this but realize there are not true envelopes other than the followers in some of the foogers. Foogers don’t have trigger inputs so in a sense they can’t really be combined to make a modular. But if you are so inclined you can always add a cheap cabinet and power supply and a few basic modules but the price of a few 101s or save up for a decent system. I am thinking about doing this myself.
As for driving moogers hard and getting distortion, yes, they will do that. Noise is not as high as with some other pedals and yes, the sound is great.
So I don’t really think you can go wrong getting a 101 but as I said, I am biased.
I use my 101 to filter my casio cz5000 and my korg poly800 all the time and works beautifully. And if you get a cp251 control processor you can make it even more versitile by inverting the envelope, running it through the lag procssor to drag it out, and much much more. I don’t think you will regret the mf101 in the slightest bit
OK, I lied but I did not know it at the time. By what you have said probably out of your price range for now but foogers can now be combined with MIDI devices to make a true modular. Moog updated the firmware for their MP-201 Mult-Pedal. In a word - sweet!
The MP-201 now has 4 types of envelopes. This is a very sophisticated piece of equipment. I don’t think there is anthing like it on the market now with the additions Moog has made.
It definitely sounds like what I’m looking for…and with the possibility of expanding the modules as well, could lead to a fun and interesting setup. It looks like the best way to incorporate the filter is as an auxiliary send on the mixer…I just hope that I don’t go crazy and overuse it on everything which is what happened when i got my talkbox
Just out of interest, has anyone had any experience with the Sherman Filterbank? It’s a bit pricier, but seems to have loads of features for a filter. But then again, its not a moog.
? Also, how hard can you drive it…as well as a nice smooth low filter I would like something that could sound really overdriven as well. Is it a noisy pedal? Do you think the fact it’s mono is going to be a problem?
