Bass Murf to Midi Murf...... worth it?

behndy · #1 10-24-2009, 10:45 PM

hello there. i just picked up my first ever piece of Moog equipment....... a Moogerfooger Bass Murf.

thing is NEAT. the only thing i was a little leery about was whether or not it would start to feel stale with a limited amount of patterns. but then browsing through Moog's site i came across the Midi Murf. which, looks like a combination of the Murf and Bass Murf with a software sweet that lets you edit the patterns.

anybody have/had/played extensively with both? think it's a big difference going from the Bass Murf to the Midi Murf?

the store i bought it from does 7 days for exchange, and i just bought the Bass Murf yesterday, so i would only have to pay the around $80 in difference to upgrade if i do it soon.

thanks much!

-0behn desu0-

grovest · #2 10-24-2009, 10:50 PM

Do you have any experience with MIDI or interest in programming your own patterns? (or switching them live with MIDI messages?)

For me, it's a no-brainer. The MIDI MuRF would be a must upgrade. With it available, I wouldn't pay more than half-off for the legacy Murfs... and that would be a maybe.

bassbmx · #3 10-24-2009, 10:56 PM

Tap tempo or MIDI sync seems a must for any rhythmic effects. You can do everything that the original version can do with the MIDI version. I reckon go for it.

behndy · #4 10-24-2009, 11:10 PM

grovest - i have a fair bit of experience with MIDI. i took a break from bass for about 4 years (was a little burnt out) and focused on more synth, drum machine and sequencer (soft and hard) interactions with the musics.

bassbmx - there IS a tap tempo in the Bass Murf too...... i'm really excited about the MIDI switching/programming aspects.

thanks both! i think i've decided to jump to the MIDI Murf. i was curious about people's thoughts that have (more than a day like me) experience with the Bass version.

thanks!

-0behn desu0-

fightthepower · #5 10-25-2009, 12:32 AM

I sold my Bass Murf and will be upgrading to the MIDI murf at some point; I never really felt limited by the patterns, as you can create patterns in a sense out of the 12 Animations by changing the speed and putting certain sliders to 0.. but the MIDI Murf not only has programmable patterns, but also the regular Murf's set of filters! Im using a MP201 in my rig, which gave me some of the MIDI Murf's functionality, but the integrated MIDI control is a big plus and even without the extra set of filters, it should be significantly more versatile and a must-buy for anyone with a MIDI clock to sync to in their rig... especially if you're buying new! I plan on buying the first used one I find.. assuming I have the money at the given time

Enjoy that Murf, if you get the MIDI(i would)-- make some cool clips!

behndy · #6 10-25-2009, 02:55 AM

the store i got it from opens tomorrow at noon and i already re-wired my board to fit in the Bass Murf...... so i am looking forward to getting home and making some noise with it.

thanks!

-0behn desu0-

MakiSupaStar · #7 10-25-2009, 03:18 AM

behndy · #8 10-25-2009, 03:26 AM

yeah..... they're ridiculously musical little beasts. at least the Bass Murf is..... i've yet to play with the Midi Murf yet.

there's a guy named Roth Handle ( http://www.youtube.com/user/RothHandle ) that has a couple of noise things running into a Bass Murf in different videos...... and always ends up with a neat actual listenable thing. i love the noise stuff too.... but musical it isn't sometimes.

-0behn desu0-

fightthepower · #9 10-25-2009, 03:38 AM

I remember seeing that guys stuff when I was first hearing about Moogerfoogers, and exploring them on the internets... lots of killer gear he has there!

Here's some...thing, one of the last things I did with my Bass Murf before selling it; Im just using the Bass Murf in the standard bouncy-pattern style you hear in most clips, though with the envelope set to just under 4, or just over 6, the Murf can be used for phaser tones, tremolo tones heard in the EBS TremoLo, use as a poor-mans fixed filter bank when the animation turned off, etc... quite a versatile pedal.

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7663642

behndy · #10 10-25-2009, 03:41 AM

that's some very cool textures! what delay are you using?

i like the sort of swell effect that comes through around the 50 second mark.

neat!

-0behn desu0-

fightthepower · #11 10-25-2009, 04:04 AM

Thanks

I was using the Polychorus->DM-2 after the BassMurf with the Polychorus set to chorus while turning its knobs; a lot of the delay came from playing its resonance/delay time/and lfo controls. The DM-2 stayed on most of the time, though with controls set to 0 during some parts, and playing its knobs more towards the end of 2min - on.

It was something random done late one night, but I think the swell you're hearing is from the HOG which I was using in hold/gliss mode with an exp pedal, blending/bleeding notes into each other for off-key erie sounds; a slow blend and bring the heel all the way down can accentuate the decay/swell if timed right, and the HOG's envelope controls can also shape the sound very effectively, and there's a dedicated switch for it so you can turn the envelope (ability to control the swell and decay of high and low harmonies separately or in unison) at will at the stomp of a switch! It also frees up both of my hands when holding a note with the exp toe-down... if there's ever a Pitchfactor firmware release adding a hold/gliss mode, I'd probably make the switch, but until then the HOG is king in my eyes because of that mode.. so much fun!

behndy · #12 10-25-2009, 09:21 AM

i've always had a pretty "set it and forget it" attitude towards pedals. so much stuff goes on live that i want to keep my hands on the bass as much as possible. and i'm afraid i'll forget to switch settings in between songs.

the MuRF is gonna be the first thing i'll have on my board that i want to play with an expression pedal i think. there's a CoPilotFX Android on there that's tempted me..... but the MuRF is a convincer. i'm looking forward to it!

-0behn desu0-

behndy · #13 10-26-2009, 12:32 AM

just swapped the Bass MuRF for the MIDI MuRF. haven't had a chance to play with the editing software, but just the different voices that you get from switching from the MID (original MuRF) to the BASS (Bass MuRF) settings is worth it. super happy.

thanks everybody!

FIGHTthePOWer -

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/defa...&content=music

i put up 2 quick clips of playing around with the MIDI MuRF. thing is NEAT. the bass playing is sloppy.... but that's kinda how i roll.

later!

-0behn desu0-