Moog Freqbox MF-107 Versatility?

jufros · #1 10-01-2009, 02:44 AM

First off, I'm getting to be really happy and comfortable with my synth bass rig and would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone here who's helped me along the way. I think there are a lot of people here who are really on the cutting edge of bass effects use, this forum is a really important resource for information and discussion, and I'm proud to be a supporting member.

So, on topic here, I'm interested in the Moog Freqbox, but there aren't nearly enough sound samples on bass, comboed with filters, modulation, etc. to sell me on its high price. Mainly, I want to know how versatile it is and if you can get mellow as well as aggressive sounds out of it. How well does it gate? I know that it has pretty excellent tracking in the grand scheme of things.

I have to choose between the Freqbox and the Bass Microsynth. I've used the BMS before and know that nothing can really do what it does as well as it does it. But if the Freqbox can offer variety as well as the excellent quality that I know it does, I'll probably go with that since I'd have a ton of control over it with the MP-201.

OriginalCrash · #2 10-01-2009, 07:40 AM

Well, I haven't played with my FreqBox in a couple months, so I'll have to go on memory here... It's a pretty unique unit with a pretty steep learning curve to get some decent sounds out of it... but let's face it, it's one of the only "pedals" out there that does what it does. And it does it well. The hard sync is very nice for "tracking" your playing, but it's not perfect. In hard sync mode, you're going to get some distortion (even with the waveform set to a usually smooth triangle wave). Also, if you follow the manual's advice and set the frequency knob higher than what you're playing, you may hear a high pitched "whine" (depending on where the knob is set) if it's set significantly higher. I got the best sounding results by setting it around the same frequency "area" as I was playing (that said, if you have it set to square wave, it has to be set higher... else you'll get nothing). Personally, I didn't get much out the envelope and FM knobs. Anyway, if you're looking for the start to a modular bass synth, the FreqBox is the unit to have IMO... It gives you what I think of as the heart and soul of a good synth sound... analog VCO. But if you're looking for something closer to an all-in-one synth-in-a-box, the BMS is definitely the better choice.

P.S. Now if only pitch-to-CV weren't so glitchy and tracked better, then you could turn hard sync off and the FreqBox's VCO would be a dream...

gastric · #3 10-01-2009, 09:00 AM

I tried to start a Freqbox "master thread" here: MOOG FREQBOX - master thread in hopes that the handful of users on this forum could collectively provide some useful information and sound samples.

Unfortunately for me I've been in an enedless buying/selling cycle lately which is eating up a lot of my playing time. I'm trying to put a stop to that with the receipt of a new amp. Then I plan to start playing and working with whatever gear I own for a few months before changing anything for a while. At which point I'll explore the Freqbox a lot more.

jufros · #4 10-02-2009, 03:19 PM

Ok thanks guys. Where do you have this in your chain? First? After octaves? I'm thinking of running it first in parallel with my octave so I get clean tracking on both the Freqbox and Octave and have the option of layering them together.

bigchiefbc · #5 10-02-2009, 04:50 PM

Not sure how I missed this thread yesterday, but figured I'd throw in my two cents.

I found the Freqbox to be an absolutely fantastic pedal, but I'm not sure if versatile is necessarily the way I would describe it. It is a fantastic analog oscillator, and that's basically it. I mean, it has some other options (I actually found the FM to be quite musical unlike a previous poster, although I usually left the envelope knob alone as well), but you're still going to need a standalone filter. As a matter of fact, it's interesting you bring up the BMS, because I found the BMS to be the best sounding filter to use with the Freqbox.

As for subtle sounds, sure, if you turn the mix down, you'll get just a bit of synth signal along with your dry signal. And, yes it has a decently hard gate when the mix is all the way up (though it defenitely sounds harder when on the square and pulse waves).

For signal chain, I always had it first, but I know that other guys have said that they ran the Freqbox after an octaver, and this actually improved its tracking.

kevteop · #6 10-02-2009, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OriginalCrash

Anyway, if you're looking for the start to a modular bass synth, the FreqBox is the unit to have IMO... It gives you what I think of as the heart and soul of a good synth sound... analog VCO.

The other option being the Octavius Squeezer. Now the O.S. doesn't have super-stellar tracking, especially on fast passages (the ADSR envelope tends to have trouble re-triggering on fast playing, but the pitch tracking can keep up), but the oscillator sounds lovely - much cleaner than the hard-synced FreqBox to my ears. Plus you get the aforementioned option of ADSR settings on both the filter and the VCA, which make a massive difference in terms of making convincing synth noises. And of course a bunch of other stuff bundled into the box and it's all quality. There are hissy, noisy possibilities with high settings on the filter and aggressive LFO settings, but they know that. At least they're there in case you have a use for them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by OriginalCrash

P.S. Now if only pitch-to-CV weren't so glitchy and tracked better, then you could turn hard sync off and the FreqBox's VCO would be a dream...

Well in a way this is where the O.S. lets itself down, but soloing the front pup and rolling the tone off helps massively, there are still tracking improvements in the pipeline, and I've not heard a digital (tracking, the signal path is all-analogue of course) pedal track better excluding the POG range of pedals.

But I wonder if they're even tracking the note. I get the impression they might just be sampling and re-sampling on the fly. The performance seems too good to be explained any other way. And of course you'll never get that kind of performance in a pitch-to-voltage converter, but it does work for a harmoniser.

Either way EHX have spoiled us!

bigchiefbc · #7 10-02-2009, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevteop

I've not heard a digital (tracking, the signal path is all-analogue of course) pedal track better excluding the POG range of pedals.

But I wonder if they're even tracking the note. I get the impression they might just be sampling and re-sampling on the fly. The performance seems too good to be explained any other way. And of course you'll never get that kind of performance in a pitch-to-voltage converter, but it does work for a harmoniser.

Either way EHX have spoiled us!

I'm almost certain that is what the HOG/POG are doing. I can't even conceive of a way to reliably track a polyphonic signal. I always assumed they just take the entire signal, harmonics and all, and then just double/triple/halve it. That is why it is so chirpy in the upper registers, because it's shifting up all of your pick/fret/string noise as well.

kevteop · #8 10-02-2009, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigchiefbc

I'm almost certain that is what the HOG/POG are doing. I can't even conceive of a way to reliably track a polyphonic signal. I always assumed they just take the entire signal, harmonics and all, and then just double/triple/halve it. That is why it is so chirpy in the upper registers, because it's shifting up all of your pick/fret/string noise as well.

Yeah that makes sense. Actually, as I understand it, the Korg G5 doesn't "track" your playing either, it just modulates the input signal. So you get pretty unbelievably good tracking but rather fluffy-sounding results, unfortunately.