Moog Music Forum

I only recently became aware of the Moogerfooger ("MF") line of products and have some questions:

1) If I were to build up a collection of MF boxes, would this in effect allow me to have a guitar-driven analog synthesizer?

2) Would this synthesizer have roughly the breadth of sonic palette generally associated with "real" analog synthesizers?

3) If I were to start accumulating MF boxes, what would be a good way to sequence my purchases? I'd like recommendations such as "buy an MF-1 first, then the MF-5 plus a CP-251, then get a..."

I have listened to some of the mp3's posted on the forum and liked the sounds (and the compositions) but am wondering just how versatile an MF-based synth. could get.

Thanks!

1. Yes, in a general sense. This depends on your definition of a guitar-driven analog synthesizer. Things you can do with the current variety of MF's

A. Change the timbre of your guitar by filtering out frequencies (MF101, MF103, MF105).

B. Change the timbre of your guitar by adding sidebands (MF102)

C. A combination of A & B.

While your guitar's pitch will not drive anything (without a third party pitch to CV converter), the combination of a MF101 and any other MF will allow you're guitar's volume and articulation to drive a function.


2. Again, this depends on your definition of a "real" analog synthsizer. If this means driving an oscillator to be used as a principle sound source without an external pitch/cv convertor and oscillator, no.

3. Start with an MF101 and a CP-251. Then add an MF102- and another CP-251. Then decide for yourself whether the phaser or the MuRF comes next, each with a dedicated CP-251. A theremin is also handy thing to include in this setup.

The MF's may not do everything you think you want them to do, but used with some creativity, will not let you get bored.

to s16016wb
you wrote:
Start with an MF101 and a CP-251. Then add an MF102- and another CP-251.
and you wrote:
each with a dedicated CP-251.
why do need a cp-251 for every MF effect?
what can you do with more than one or two cp-251???
mind me asking...
or let me rephrase the question, why invest in a cp-251 before you have two MF effects?
i have a 101 and a 102 but no cp-251 yet, am i missing that much?
thanks,
simon.

It might be a matter of personal preference, but for me, adding the 251 to any mf (although I don't yet own/haven't tried a MuRF) made them like a whole new module to me.

For example... start with a 101. By itself, its a great module that you can use as a static filter, as a manually manipulated filter (ie., you turn the knob with your fingers), as a sine wave generator, as a envelope to cv convertor, as an envelope follower hard-wired to the filter's frequency cutoff. You can go a little further by adding an expression pedal (a variation on the manually manipulated filter or as a volume pedal) and by just patching stuff on the back of the pedal (I haven't found a whole lot of useful stuff here - anybody?).

Now add a 251.

You can now modulate the 101's frequency, resonance, or mix:

-with noise
-with a triangle lfo
-with a square lfo
-with either of the above shaped with the lag
-with noise sampled s/h
-with smooth noise sampled s/h
-with the output of the 101's envelope follower attenuated or offset
-with the output of the envelope follower as the source for the s/h
-with either shape lfo or the s/h with the lfo rate modulated by the env follower

or a combination of these, using the mixer.

With a 101 and two 251's you can get into even more complex modulation:

-combining multiple lfo's
-using one lfo to modulate the rate of the other
-using the second lfo as the source for the s/h - this one is particularly cool, as it sets up strange scales and apreggios in the result
-cross modulation of the s/h's (I'll let you work our the possible permutations there!)

also - with expression pedals - a 251 is excellent for tuning the pedal to the effect you want it to have on the mf, mostly with attenuation/offset and lag. and using an expression pedal as a source for the s/h is pretty interesting:)

you can use an expression pedal to control the rate of the lfo - even push it beyond the frequency that turning the know all the way up will get you!

this is not to say the a 101 and 102 are not a formidible pair - allowing you to do stuff like env followed ring mods, routing the 102's lfo to the 101 and so on - there's a similarly long list of amazing things these two together will do as well.

but to me, for a new user, picking up a 251 instead of a second mf right away:

1 is less expensive
2 goes farther teaching you about how CV works and what you can do with it
3 helps you explore the limits of what your mf can do and get the the most out of it
5 when you eventually get that second mf, you'll already have 251 you can explore it with and make you want another 251

if anyone feels like talking moogerfoogers and related stuff - i'm usually on IM - s16016wb is my screenname

Will

i can't possibly thank you enough, you opened my mind to many things i looked for from my 101 and 102 but didn't know how to achieve them!
well, now i do...
only now i know how complex each and every MF is and that there is no way to get everything out of it in a short period of time, i guess up untill now i looked at my MF as too static but i'll buy a 251 and learn to master the 101 and 102 much better!
thanks again,
simon.

I could not agree more. Thank you so much, Will for taking the time to write up these ideas. I have saved them off and will use them to explore my "synth system" as I build it up.

Thank you also, Simon, for being willing to ask the questions you did. I am such a neophyte that I do not even know what questions to ask.

Regards,