A couple of freqbox+keys questions

llamastorm · Post by **llamastorm** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:30 pm

There currently aren't a lot of keyboard specific Freqbox videos on youtube, so I was wondering if this worth looking at or not.

I heard it prefers monophonic content. What happens when you feed it chords? Is it interesting or does it just flip out?

I'm kind of pondering my options for distorted rhodes/piano stuff just for kicks (I have a Nord Stage), and wondered what it might do. Noise is fun, but I'd like to know what <i>kind</i> of noise. For instance, I kind of have an idea from videos what a Metasonix TM-1 might do, but not so much for the Freqbox.

I am probably planning on picking up a Ring Mod at some time, the phaser and murf did not end up being for me, but I dig all the input possibilities and how controllable Moog stuff is.

ColorForm2113 · Post by **ColorForm2113** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 3:08 am

llamastorm wrote: I heard it prefers monophonic content. What happens when you feed it chords? Is it interesting or does it just flip out?

.

speaking just from what ive seen, yeah it gets pretty nuts with chords. it can handle some two note stuff ok but anything else is just chaos. which if your looking for noise and not pretty things that would be the ticket. and of course the mono sound is wonderful. im hoping to get one soon as well

EricK · Post by **EricK** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 8:07 pm

I sent you a pm.

I own a Rhodes and you see the foogers in my signature. Basically I got the wild Idea of hooking the Rhodes up to the Freqbox and I was suprised at what I got.

With Chords it just gets really distorted. It doesn't do to bad with fifths like on a guitar or something.

With the Rhodes though, you know already that the RHodes has deep bass, and with the Freqbox behind it (Mix amount a bit more dry than wet) it makes for a great sounding Rhodes/Synth sound. Increadible thick bass sounds and dirty or colored mids/highs.

Ive been meaning to put together some demos for youtube because I also agree that there aren't alot of really great videos of any of the foogers. I think what people need to do is show their subtleties, especially with the freqbox because all of the wierd sci-fi noise is absolutely wonderful, however the subtle stuff is what I think is more mind blowing.

llamastorm · Post by **llamastorm** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:00 pm

Excellent, I just replied.

Sounds promising!

earsmack · Post by **earsmack** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:40 pm

Keyboard samples here: http://earsmack.com/stuff/freqbox/

At least one with Nord Electro Rhodes.

llamastorm · Post by **llamastorm** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:34 pm

EricK and zbq, both very cool, thanks!

strata189 · Post by **strata189** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:36 pm

zbq,

That clip with the Nord is fun - especially a little over a minute in....

Randall

earsmack · Post by **earsmack** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 5:22 pm

strata189 wrote:zbq,

That clip with the Nord is fun - especially a little over a minute in....

Randall

yea - that part reminds me of a tune by The Who for some reason...glad you enjoyed it.

EricK · Post by **EricK** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 3:27 pm

So whats the Verditc? Are you going to get your Freq on or what?

///OSS · Post by **///OSS** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 7:57 pm

Id imagine it would freq out...LOL

I guess its kinda like a pitch to CV converter with the single VCO and once you sync, its going to listen for pitch... preferably clean and mono so it can track. a chord is going to get it all confused and warble away...lol, but that's the beauty of it exactly... MADNESS!!! wwwoohooooo

llamastorm · Post by **llamastorm** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 9:26 am

In interest of playing devils advocate, I'll share a bit...

I picked up one of these and am probably going to return it.

While the above demos are pretty interesting, if you compare the signal from the keyboard (Nord Stage) in this case direct versus running through the Moogs, the sound from the Nord sounds a lot better unaffected. Kind of muddy perhaps. I'm thinking this stuff is really intended (and mostly tested with) for guitar.

earsmack · Post by **earsmack** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 10:03 am

Let me say this...I think subtlety is the key with the FreqBox. Yes, it can go over the top but I think it really shines when you want to add just a touch of grit to a signal. Personally, I don't like the sound of it "full on" but there are alot of sounds BEFORE it gets ugly.

EricK · Post by **EricK** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 11:20 am

There is an insane lack of videos that touch on this subtlety. When I ran the Rhodes through the Box with the signal more towards dry than wet, each note had its own characteristic. One note would warble x many times per second and the next note would shimmer y times per second.

Its very interesting. The envelope follower is a great touch with an instrument like the theremin because you can use the volume antenna to produce a voltage thats directed to the osc and its hands on (or off) control.

With a guitar it gives you a nice way to embelish notes without necessarily changing the notes when you sweep the sync with an expression pedal.

I started to regret the Freqbox until I just started seeing how subtle a difference could have a major effect.

Less is more but you won't see that on any current youtube demos that ive seen.

Eric

Moog Music Forum

A couple of freqbox+keys questions

A couple of freqbox+keys questions

Re: A couple of freqbox+keys questions