Moogerfooger Advice

[GregAE]

Is there a multi-mode filter you, or anyone else, can recommend?

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.

[latigid on]

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...

http://www.sequencer.de/specials/analog ... erbox.html

[mosaiclive]

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.

[GregAE]

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.

[Modularfan]

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

[GregAE]

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

Yep, that will work, too. I have an old Ibanez Flanger pedal that can dial out the modulation, leaving just the static effect. In this mode the Flanger imparts a metallic sound to the source material, especially when the feedback control is cranked. It's a different tonal effect than the static Phaser sound .

Of course, the Ibanez doesn't have the external control options of the 103 Phaser, either.

[mosaiclive]

Hmm, the more I check different forums the more it seems that almost everyone has and loves the Sherman Filterbanks. I'm wondering if I should hold off on the Filter Factory or Resonator and save up for a Sherman. I do a wide variety of musical styles and have always been worried that the Sherman 'sound' might be too aggressive overall. Now I'm wondering if all the awesome features of the unit make up for that.

[shakti]

I think the Filterfactory will be more usable at first and is a great sounding "fat" filter. A good first addition. The Sherman is ugly, in a good way, but is waaay more $ and takes quite a while to get your head wrapped around. If you want an easy to use "typical" multimode filter the FF is the way to go.

IF you want to basically learn a new crazy ugly aggressive instrument and dedicate the time to it, go for the sherman.

I have both and almost got rid of my FF 2 months ago. After being sent to my closet as purgatory, I pulled it back out and was amazed with how easy it is to use and how good it sounds so now i use both. Either way you cant go wrong.

[EricK]

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?

Heres a vaccum tube MM Filter if noone has reccomended one yet.

http://www.metasonix.com/index.php?opti ... &Itemid=62