I’m looking to expand my Voyager setup with some Moogerfoogers. I have a small rack with the VX-351 and CP-251 in it and I want to mount three foogers above that. I know I want the Phaser but am having a hard time deciding on the other two. I’m torn between the Ring Mod, Murf, and Freqbox. I’d be using them in a wide range of styles of music and also as external processing for other instruments. Adding additional filters with the Murf seems like a good idea but a lot of people seem to think the Murf sounds gets old quick. Or would adding another lowpass filter, the MF101, into my system be of more use? Any recommendations or advice would be appreciated.
To my taste, the two best MFs for processing a wide variety of sounds are the Ring Mod and the Low Pass Filter. But with two filters already in the Voyager, that might be overkill. So I’d say get the Ring Mod as one of them for sure.
As for the second, the Freq Box (in my experience) is only moderately useful as a processor of sounds, but it’s very useful for expanding a synthesizer. With the CV out on the Voyager it gives you a fully functional fourth oscillator, along with more sync and FM possibilities.
So if it were me, I’d go with the Ring Mod and the Freq Box.
You didn’t mention it, but the Analog Delay is wonderful. I could imagine it really working well with the Voyager due to the signal routing options, not to mention the CV. I second the Ring Mod recommendation.
Bryan
Should I get a Ring Mod for my Little Phatty?
I’m not sure if it is quite as useful with the LP. Can you send a CV note out from the Phatty? If so, then you could use the Ring Mod to track the LP, which could be very cool. Even if you can’t, the Ring Mod is great for processing post-LP - great tremolo and ring mod sounds, plus you’d have another LFO for controlling the LP.
EDIT - And not to be the guy that says, ‘do a search,’ but there are a number of helpful threads in the Little Phatty forum that detail how folks use Moogerfoogers with their LP synths.
Bryan
No I can’t
Ext. Audio In (accepts +4dBu line level signal)
Pitch CV In (1 V/Oct)
Filter CV In
Volume CV In
Keyboard Gate In
MIDI In
MIDI Out
Check out the article called ‘Lord of the Ring Mod’. It offers some good info and suggestions on how to make the best use of the Ring Modulator with the Voyager. It might help you decide.
Find it here: https://www.moogmusic.com/members/?section=files&file_section=4&cat_id=32&file_id=41
Well My first FOoger was the RingMod. I bought it speciffically for the Fender Rhodes, whose tremelo pot had gone out. I ended up buying the ones you see below in my signature and Im scheduled to receive the 107 and the cp251 from Fed Ex today.
I really was interested in the Phaser but my goal was to expand my MicroMoog’s single Oscillator. So I think that what you will find is that once you get one, you will eventually want them all, especially since you already have the Cp-251.
Im also sure that if you purchased one and didn’t like it for some reason then you could get rid of it quickly on ebay or on here.
If you are looking to expand your voyager then consider what the other modules have to offer, the Freq has its VCO and an Envelope Follower, the Ring Mod has its Carrier Osc and another LFO. THe Phaser has its LFO.
I think the Murf is probably cooler than everyone who doesn’t have one expects, its just that the demos on youtube tend to go to the extremes and they don’t test it out with different instruments and they also don’t get on the subtleties of its use.
Whichever Fooger you end up purchasing, you will wonder how you survived this long without it. Plus, when you have a second panel on your tabletop or rack that begins to grow, you will definately want them all.
EricK
Thanks for all the great advice. I’m leaning toward the “All in One” package deal #3 that includes the Ring Mod, Phaser, and MuRF. That seems like a great set of ‘modules’ to expand the Voyager. I just wonder if another dedicated filter of some kind might be more useful than three FX boxes? I know I’ve already got LP filters in the Voyager, but I wonder if having the MF-101 at the end of the chain of foogers might be more interesting?
Im sure it woudl be neat hehe.
Youll probably want to mount the Cp-251 and the VX 351 above the foogers though for a few reasons.
- CHeaper to have shorter cables
- Cables will be hanging in front of the panel controls
- The Foogers have their patchpoints on the top…closer to the CP/VX
- Less tangles with shorter cables
Not everyone does it like that though, its just what you think will look cooler hehehe.
I think fedex changed their delivery date back to tomorrow. My foogers are just sitting in a warehouse in little rock…i could just drive there and get them in like 2 hours.
EricK
On the Voyager you can always run stuff back into it using the mix in to get to the Voyager filter. Although the LPF is definitely a nice MF to have as well I really like the sound of the Voyager going through the Frostwave Resonator (MS-20 clone) filter. It contains both a high and low pass and has CV inputs. Samples on my web site below on the main page and also under the freqbox demo area.
If you’re considering another filter, you might want to look at a multi-mode filter. A multi-mode filter would give you many more sound options, since these types of filters have LP, HP, BP and possibly other filter types (Notch?).
But a multi-mode filter won’t do what a Ring Modulator will do for your sound (FWIW, I consider a Ring Mod to be an essential addition to the Voyager). Ditto for the MuRF and Phaser. And don’t forget that all 'Foogers have CV connections which greatly enhance their capabilities when used in a CV system.
Personally, I’d go for the ‘All-in one’.
Thanks Greg, I think I will start with the All-in-one package. When I do want to look into another filter to add to my setup, is there a multi-mode filter you, or anyone else, can recommend? I can’t wait to put my order in!
Try a Sherman Filterbank 
For my preferences, I would start with package 1 and add the murf later. Its a great pedal, but having the 101 first can make the MURF even better.
I think All-in-one package 1 or 3 would be the way to go.
It boils down to Murf vs 101LPF.
Multi-mode filters:
Cheaper: Electrix Flterfactory, great sound and usability several modes!
More $$: The Sherman Filterbank II: Awesome multi-mode monster with so much more to offer…
Latigid on and shakti’s suggestions echo my own. I have and use both the Sherman FB II and the Electrix Filter factory with the Voyager.
Electrix went out of business a while back. The company has been re-launched several times, but I don’t know if they are currently producing any hardware (they do [or did] have a software product available). You can pick up a Filter Factory used for maybe $100 or so. It has two, 2-pole multi-mode filters in stereo or a single 4-pole multi-mode filter in mono. There are two CV inputs to control the cutoff of each filter, but no other CV control is possible. It’s built like a tank and the operation is pretty straightforward.
The Sherman FB is a beast. It offers similar filters like the Electrix, but has WAY more CV control options, and includes ADSR and AD envelope generators and a VCA. You can use the LFO and ADSR outputs as separate CVs for outboard control of other devices like the Voyager. The Sherman filters aren’t isn’t as clean as the Electrix (in fact, they’re noisier and quirkier), and the Sherman is a good bit more expensive, but it’s a nice piece.
There also the Frostwave Resonator. Check out Frostwave.com for more info on this one.
Other possibilities:
A few years ago, Alesis had a product line called Mod Effects that included a box called a Philtre. This was a digital Multi-Mode filter (LP. HP, BP, and Notch) that offered some unique modulation options. That product line went nowhere, and dealers blew out the remaining stock for $25 each.
Akai made a filter called the MFC-42. You can check it out under the ‘Legacy’ Products tab on the Akaipro.com web site.
Either of these two products might show up on eBay periodically.
And then, of course, there are the modules from MOTM, Wiard, Synthesizers.com, etc., but these aren’t stand-alone products.
I can vouch for the MFC-42 and the FilterQueen; the little sister of the Filter Factory.
The MFC is truly a great filter. It really is “poles” 
apart from the Sherman (I have both I and II). You get a stereo AND a mono filter H/B/LP and notch, 2 and 4 pole stereo and 2, 4 or 8 pole mono. The BP and notch filters are so lush and clean compared with the aforementioned Sherman. There’s also a separate phaser with independent rate and depth. The mod section has a tap tempo/MIDI sync’able LFO and an ADSR env. gen. This can be routed to cutoff or resonance or both of either the mono or stereo filter. Sadly, the envelope can only be triggered by a push button or over MIDI, so perhaps a future mod would add a comparator circuit to trigger via audio.
The FilterQueen is a decent envelope controlled filter, and while not sounding quite as good as the others, still has some great options for cheap!
There’s also the Filtered Coffee, Mutronics Mutator, EHX Bi-filter, Schippmann Ebbe und Flut…
Thanks so much for the great ideas for an additional filter. I think I’m interested in either the MFC, Filter Factory, or the Frostwave Resonator. The Sherman Filterbank seems to be one of almost everyone’s favorite filters but I just don’t think I want to spend that much. Maybe some day I’ll pick one up.
Speaking of filters, one of my favorite Voyager/Phaser tricks is to use the Phaser as a filter substitute. Basically, the idea is to place the Phaser in the Voyager’s Mix/Out loop and control the Phaser Sweep from the Filter Envelope (of course, you’ll need a VX-351 to access the Filter Envelope).
In the envelope CV routing, be sure to include an attenuator for some control:
351 Filt Env out → Attenuator in
Atten out → Phaser SWEEP in
On the Voyager, set the Filter CUTOFF all the way open and set the Filter Env AMOUNT control to 0. This will allow you to focus on the sound of the Phaser.
On the Phaser, set the LFO AMOUNT control to 0, and adjust the remaining controls (DRIVE, SWEEP and RESONANCE) as desired. For a sound with more emphasis, select 12-STAGE.
In this configuration, all of the ‘filtering effect’ comes from the Phaser. Adjust the Voyager’s Filter Envelope parameters as you play some keys to get sweeps, long attacks, etc. Once you find something you like, try adjusting the Voyager’s Filter CUTOFF and other controls for more tonal variation.
Finally, don’t forget that the Phaser doesn’t have to be modulated to provide an effect here. You can get a wide variety of sounds simply by manually adjusting the Phaser SWEEP control with no modulation applied (no LFO, no envelope). Used this way, you can really sculpt the tonality of a sound.
Actually, you can do this with any Phaser or Flanger device that will allow you to stop the modulation.
A good tip, though.
- MF