Moog Music Forum

I've been driving myself nuts the last couple of days trying to decide which units will best compliment the MuRF. I've read most of posts on this forum relating to my question but I guess I'm still looking for a response that I can run with.

I understand the exponential effect of using these pedals and I would like to get one other moogerfooger and possibly the CP-251. Or, would the CP-251 be an adequate sole companion for the MuRF for the time being OR would I greatly benefit from the sole addition of another pedal? If the answer is "get a pedal", which one will give me the biggest number of options / largest range?

I'll be using these units primarily for processing programmed drums and a variety of natural instruments (piano, guitar, organ, hammer dulcimer, voice, etc). I'm hoping to use these units to create sounds that are more on the ethereal side (as opposed to hard-edged/whacked-out sounds these fine units are capable of).

Anyhow, I appreciate any and all recommendations. Best, j

With just one MuRF pedal, the CP-251 is a bit much. You almost need 2 different CV pedals to pull a large potential.

I personally think the Moog Ring Mod is plain awasome sounding. Adding that will add a great sound palate.

They're all really useful in many different ways. But for the most inter-Mooger interaction pick the Ring Mod, just because it probably does the most. It's great for drum processing because alot of analog drum sounds are made using ring-mods. It will make every sort of bell-like, metallic, kling-klang sounds, but it also sounds good in a mix for making electronic snares or toms. Besides a filter, it's probably the most dramatic sound modifier on a synth.
I've compared the Mooger Ring Mod to the ring mod on an Arp Odyssey and I'd say it's as good or better. It's way better than the ring mod on an MS20, for instance, and I won't even mention other guitar pedal ring mods cause they don't come close.
Plus, on the Mooger 102 you get a voltage controlled square/triangle LFO, and a voltage controlled Triangle-wave audio oscillator which can also be switched to LFO. So, it's like two OSCs, and the Ring-Mod in one.

The 101 LPF is also great for drum filtering because of the Envelope Filter which animates the filter to the volume peaks on your drum signal input. I would try the 101 next, after the Ring Mod. It's not the best stand-alone filter I've ever used (not that it's bad either), but the actual ENV Follower is extremely useful because you can export the ENV to any other synth or module that excepts control voltages. So you can control a synth, for instance, from your drums or guitar signal via the input of the 101.

Once you have those you'll want the CP251 even more because then you'll have alot more controlls to interact with one another.

The 103 is the best phaser I've ever heard, so eventually you should try it also. It's much cleaner and more powerful than a Small Stone, or any other guitar pedal phaser. Plus you can control the sweep with a pedal, ENV follower, or anything. It also has an LFO.
Nearly all the classic 70s recordings with phasers were made using a MU-Tron Bi-Phase (in was one of very few available then) and it's regarded as probably the best phaser ever made; but I think the Mooger sounds better.

Thanks for your responses. This is a big help.

The 101 was a contender primarily for the envelope follower but I'm thinking I'll go with each of your recommendations and try out the 102. I do like the thought of more sonic options and the square/triangle LFO.

If anyone else has a differing opinion it would be much appreciated.

Thanks again. j

jonbrown wrote:I'm hoping to use these units to create sounds that are more on the ethereal side (as opposed to hard-edged/whacked-out sounds these fine units are capable of).

I'll also recommend the ring mod, BUT it produces a lot of sounds that you might consider to be on the dissonant/out-there end of the spectrum instead of the ethereal side. Depends on your taste and how you use it though.

I like the lpf, but I got a lot more out of it when I paired it with the 251 to have the cv versatility.

Get the 102 just so we can hear ring mod on a hammer dulcimer, I say.

Crap...now I have to dig out and restring my dulcimer, too. Hmmm...is it at my sister's house, or in my mother's barn...

don't forget the delay!
that's awesome for any kind of music
i can imagine the cp 251 would work great with the 104

ah just get them all!

>ah just get them all!

That's certainly what I intend I'm doing the baby steps thing though and want to know the ins and outs of each of these units before adding more.

There's a spot cleared on my fx desk for the Ring Mod which arrives Monday...good times.