Moog Music Forum

Just got my dotcom entry level synth, only has the instrument interface and one oscillator so far though, so I can't do too much with it just yet other than annoy the hell out of my wife. I've read the posts and listened to various synth samples but nothing could prepare me for the sound and more importantly the feel as I patched in for the first time. Literally, the vibrations coming out of my amp made it like I was an inch away from a fan blowing in my face, very cool. First, if I was to buy a moog rack mount kit, does it come with the "rack" or do I have to build or assemble that myself? That is to say, on the moog website, is what is shown in the picture all that comes with the kit? I just had nuerosurgery (not a bad thing, I'm on disability so I'm essentially getting paid to play with my new synth all day ) so I can't really bend down to the floor for adjustments and given the price of the foogers I don't want them on a box or something where they could fall off.

Second, given that I really want to use the synth as an extension of the guitar, would a freqbox help with that? After reading a few books what I think I'm looking to do is use the synth and it's oscillators to track the pitch of the guitar as I play it, because so far all I can do is have the oscillator respond to my playing dynamics, but not in the pitch or note I'm playing. If anyone as seen Moot Booxle's guitar dotcom videos on youtube that is EXACTLY what I'm trying to do, or as another example, on John Frusciante's album The Empyrian, the outro to the track "Unreachable", anyone know how he gets that incredible sound? Also, how do you upload pictures along with a post? Damn I'm a newb.

The rack mount hardware is what you need to put rack ears on your 'foogers. What you see, is what you get. You'll need to provide your own rack.

Or... you can do as I did. Go to Staples, and buy one of those laptop tables for about $40. Mine holds 5 'foogers (the MF type, not the CP or VX...), my MFB Step64 sequencer, and my Behringer SE-200 pedal.

It's sturdy, it's on wheels, and you can adjust the height of the table to suit your needs. It works like a charm!

I'm sorry but I can't really answer the rest of your questions, except that you might try using an envelope follower to generate a pitch CV, though I think the results are less than satisfying as generating a gate CV can be tricky. Others here will be better able to answer you questions on this.

Hope you're feeling better.

Bob

there is a dotcom synth yahoo users group, as well as a Moog users group called Knob tweak.


Since there is no dotcom forum, I suggest you go to the dotcom users group to join the many many users there who are just as friendly as we are here at answering gear related questions.


A Freqbox is nice for guitar if you want to get some distorted sounds. It will interface nicely with your dotcom unit.

You might really want to check out the ringmod, especiallyt if you like tremelo for your guitar.

The Phaser is a nice one too for all your guitar or synth related needs.

The cp251 has a lot of things that will do great wonders for your dotcom synth, multiples, lag processor, LFO's and will of corse also enhance any fooger that you buy.

The Fooger rack mount kit comes with the shelf that will hold either three Foogers of 4 cp sized units. There is a seperate rack shelf for just 2 cp sized units. The only downside when using the rackmount option is that if you happen to have 2 cp sized units or all three Foogers to fill it, you will have to sacrifice some wooden cheek pieces. But a cheap tabletop rack system or floor based stand will put the Foogers at a decent level, so they are off the floor for you.


THe filter pedal from Moog works great with a guitar, and come to think of it, this might be a nice option for you, since the dotcom synth will eventually supply you with a variable slate filter, the Moog filter will give you something to filter out those dotcom oscs with, and something to run your guitar through. This is the same type of filter as the dotcom's more expensive moog clone or transistor ladder filter.

The filter might be the way to go, but keep in mind too, you can always pay in advance for your next dotcom shipment.


Once you get a massive synth going from dotcom, you can consider the mp201 for another multi-modulation bus.


I hope that this helps you go in a direction you are looking to go.


Eric

Be carefull with the addiction! I started out with a Voyager and instantly added the cp-251. Pretty soon I HAD to have a second 251 and a VX-351.
Then a couple of Foogers. That led to a portable cabinet and a few S.Com modules. That led to this.

And now I'm starting my second cabinet with S.Com, MOTM, MFOS modules! (And a couple other home built like a VC ADSR and if I can swing it, a Zeroscillator.

wow, a year after this post I finally have what I would consider to be the bare essentials for my synth and when I patch I actually know what I'm doing. Learning the basics with a guitar was too frustrating, as soon as I got the midi cv converter and vca the basics all just clicked. Its like a baby, you have to tell it how to do everything (which I like). Until my VCA showed up I was able to use the EG out to the cutoff input on my fooger LPF, which was awesome. These foogers are like the swiss army knives of the synth world. Having the extra LFO and VCO on the ringmod and freqbox respectively is not only handy but saves a ton of money (or just diverts it into other modules). I was able to patch my guitar through the q118 with the amp out going to the VCA in #1, then the gate out to the EG and then the VCA in #2 with that output going to my ringmod to modulate the amplitude. Sounds friggin' fantastic, twas exactly what I was going for/hoping it would be. Is there anything better than executing AND understanding concepts?