EHX Frequency Analyzer vs Moog vs. others??

CaptainKY · #1 02-02-2008, 03:57 PM

I did a search here on TB over ring modulators and I couldn't really see why the Moog costs double the money? People mentioned the Frostwave and the Frantone but they cost even more...

I'm basically looking for a good, cheap ring modulator but all the pedals I'm seeing are 130-400 dollars? Is there anything for less - with pretty good quality?

I've no experience with any of these types of pedals so any clues for what to look for (good/ bad) would be very welcomed.

jaebee · #2 02-02-2008, 04:01 PM

copilot fx is worth a look

Mitchell Royce · #3 02-03-2008, 04:37 AM

I dunno, ring mods are very finicky effects, I found that I need a lot of tweakability to get them to sound right. The moog is certainly wonderful in that regard. I found the FA to be too simple. Sounds good and if you want to find out if a ring mod is for you it's not a bad idea but in the end it's limited. The only option that sets it apart is the low-pass filter which is definitely a plus.

jesus_tequila · #4 02-03-2008, 05:18 AM

Get a DOD Gonkulator. Combines a Ring Modulator and an Overdrive in the same stompbox. Pretty sick, you should be able to pick one up from Ebay at a reasonnable pricve.

Jazz Ad · #5 02-03-2008, 05:25 AM

The Gonkulator has a fixed modulation frequency. It's fun to make noises but that's it.

speak_onion · #6 02-03-2008, 06:09 AM

And the Gonkulator is getting collector prices, now. Sad.

Amitio · #7 02-03-2008, 07:51 AM

Has anyone tried the Zvex Ringtone?

Looks interesting

Ryan Mohr · #8 02-03-2008, 09:49 AM

http://tonefactor.com/proddetail.php?prod=Ramrod
Sinister Analog Ramrod looks awesome.

Swimming Bird · #9 02-03-2008, 10:52 AM

The Ringtone is a blast to play with, but it is definitely not a standard ring mod. It's more like eight simple ring mods. You set the carrier frequency of all eight and how it steps through them. Very cool.

The reason Moogs are so cool is because of the way they can use CV add-ons to control pretty much any parameter via expression pedal or other controller devices. Very neat and worth it if you use the controller devices. It sounds fantastic though.

Check out the Snarling Dogs Mold Spore. I've heard mixed things, but it's at least interesting and different.

Terrorstorm · #10 02-03-2008, 02:14 PM

I have tried quite a few ring mods. I'm trying to make some mini reviews now

SNARLING DOGS Mold Spore

Definitely interesting because of the features (it has also a wah, and you can use wah and ring mod separately or both together), but I wasn't too impressed with the sound. I'm after a certain bell like ring mod sound and it doesn't do it that well. The ability so sweep the frequency is nice, so you don't need an extra expression pedal.

MOOG MF-102 Ring Modulator

Very versatile, very wide frequency range from very very low Tremolo pulses to crushing highs! A LFO with 2 waveforms (which I didn't need) and the ability to control every parameter via expression pedal...also a big +. I would have expected true bypass at that price, but it hasn't.

DOD Gonkulator Modulator

The bad thing is, you can't tune the frequency of it, so it's use is surely limited... But I really love the sound of this one most. It has exactly the bell tones I want from a ring mod.
The distortion on it is ok, but sucks some low end.

ELECTRO HARMONIX Frequency Analyzer

I only have it for about a week, but I really like it so far. It can't go as low as the Moog and doesn't have the Expression control features. But it has a lowpass filter, which filters out the ring modulator's high frequencies. You can fine tune the frequency, which is cool and it is True Bypass! The unnecessary big size is somewhat annoying. I wish, they would release a XO version of the Frequency Analyzer.

hope this helps a bit

greetings

CaptainKY · #11 02-03-2008, 02:20 PM

Thanks all you have been a big help, please keep it up

bongomania · #12 02-03-2008, 02:27 PM

I have used a lot of different ring modulators in modular synthesis, and monkeyed with some pedal versions as well. IMO the common/inexpensive ones where you set the frequency with a knob, and then "hope for the best" while you play, are nothing but noisemakers. Fun novelties that sound horrible after the first minute. OTOH any one that allows some "live" control over the modulation frequency, either with an expression pedal like the Moog, or with envelope control like the Studio Electronics, or with a stepped/sequenced control like the ZVex, is a killer way to make truly "musical" extreme sounds. The ZVex is actually my favorite because its tone is very fat and not necessarily harsh, and it works well with bass; the downside is that the arpeggiated or stepped modes may not be as intuitive to use or as easy to incorporate into different tunes, compared to envelope or exp. pedal controls.

Mitchell Royce · #13 02-04-2008, 04:12 AM

Oh, one more thing on the Mold Spore. I have one and the Ring mod part of it just stopped working after a few months. Very strange but apparently that is something that Snarling Dogs pedals sometimes do.

iualum · #14 02-04-2008, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaebee

copilot fx is worth a look

...yep, the Android is defintely a very good choice & reasonably priced as well...but I DO LOVE my RINGTONE!...

TaySte_2000 · #15 02-04-2008, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitchell Royce

Oh, one more thing on the Mold Spore. I have one and the Ring mod part of it just stopped working after a few months. Very strange but apparently that is something that Snarling Dogs pedals sometimes do.

They are official the easiest pedals to break, mine went odd as well. They sound great, look awesome but just can't last

HenfieldJ · #16 02-04-2008, 07:13 AM

I actually have ordered the Moog MF-102, which should be here tomorrow! I have liked some of the sounds that I have heard from the EH Frequency Analyzer in the past, especially when used by Devo, but they mostly used with guitar and synth. I do not remember them using the effect on bass. I ordered the Moog because of its connectivity with expression pedals, other moogers (I already have the Bass Murf and Low Pass Filter), and with Analog synths (I also have an ARP Solus). The Moog actually has another function, as it has an LFO with separate out that I can use to sweep the frequency of the Low Pass Filter (MF-101) as well.

I may have thought about pedals from other manufacturers if they had some of the same connectivity. I have been looking a lot at the Zvex pedals, I am just not sure which one to start with!

liquid-dream-ex · #17 02-04-2008, 08:00 AM

I have the Mold Spore, and i don't like the ring-Mod on it. The pitch of the ring-mod doesn't change with the notes you play, which is annoying for me. However, it's quite cool as a wah.

Mitchell Royce · #18 02-04-2008, 10:55 AM

The carrier frequency of pretty much any ring mod is not controlled by the envelope of your playing. There's some that have the capability, such as the moogerfooger. The Mold Spore can at least be controlled by foot.

Some day I am going to get mine repaired, as it's probably just a bad pod or a cold solder joint. It did sound great and very unique. Oh well.

Swimming Bird · #19 02-04-2008, 01:27 PM

I might as well plug my favorite unit -- the Korg KP3 as it does have a ring modulator. It's good, but not great -- it's pretty similar to the frequency analyzer, but without the envelope control. The neat thing is using the pad motion to sequence patterns. Of course the KP3 does so much more, but it is in the same price range as the Moog and has a ring mod.

Does anyone know if the AdrenaLinn III has a ring mod?

Taylor Livingston · #20 02-04-2008, 06:51 PM

Quote:

I have the Mold Spore, and i don't like the ring-Mod on it. The pitch of the ring-mod doesn't change with the notes you play, which is annoying for me. However, it's quite cool as a wah.

There is no hardware ring mod in existence that changes the carrier frequency according to what notes you play, except maybe the new Pigtronix Mothership. I'm only saying that it's a possibility because it has a feature called "smart ring mod" - whether that actually tracks your notes, or does something else, I'm not sure yet. If you really wanted this capability, you would need to use software.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitchell Royce

The carrier frequency of pretty much any ring mod is not controlled by the envelope of your playing. There's some that have the capability, such as the moogerfooger.

You would need the Moog Low Pass filter in addition to the ring mod in order to do this, as the RM doesn't have a built-in envelope follower.

Personally, I think the envelope-swept or expression pedal-swept ring mod sounds are really played out. It's cool the first time you hear it, but it gets old quickly (Squarepusher's Ultravisitor did it in). The Ringtone has a cool scheme for getting diverse ring mod sounds without just sounding gimmicky. I haven't played one, but the demo video led me to believe that the carrier frequency is not at all canceled - you can hearing it blooping its sine wave sequence even if you are not playing. Not a good quality in a ring mod if you ask me, but maybe ZVex has worked that out.