Moog FreqBox for non-noisy applications?

kevteop · #1 12-09-2008, 02:54 PM

Has anyone here used a FreqBox as a tone generator for "musical" synth noises? I've heard a lot of scratchy-attack, tinny-sounding guitar demos and frequency modulated noise, but nothing from bassists using it just for the waveforms.

Can anyone tell me if it's practical? And if so could anybody provide me with clips of a hard-synced FreqBox and how it sounds when tracking a finger-picked bass?

I'd go try one out but they're like hens teeth over here.

kevteop · #2 12-09-2008, 08:03 PM

Are there no bassists using this pedal as a tone generator to actually play bass parts rather than produce noise?

bigchiefbc · #3 12-09-2008, 08:18 PM

I used the Freqbox for its pure oscillator quite a few times. If you turn the envelope and fm amounts all the way down and keep the freq knob in the lower part of the the travel, it is a great analog synth tone. I usually applied some sort of filter to it later in the chain, though.

I don't have any other clips than the super long one I posted earlier this year, and that probably isn't what you are looking for. That was mostly to show how many different sounds you could get out of it, rather than using it for basic synth sounds in a song.

kevteop · #4 12-09-2008, 09:23 PM

Ah, so it is useful after all?

I'm thinking about replacing my G5 with it, because all I want from the G5 is the waveforms and they actually sound a bit cheesy from the G5, but I haven't a hope in hell of finding a Moog box I can evaluate in a shop around here.

I feel a bit bad paying for all the mad frequency modulation stuff that I'll probably never use, but it would give me an excuse to order an LFO Mod Box from Robot Factory.

Grimoire · #5 12-10-2008, 03:36 AM

I use one for that purpose. I don't have any samples readily available, but on the Esoteric album 'The Maniacal Vale' I use it for the line in the song 'Quickening'. Strangely enough I initially recorded it using my G5, but than replaced it with the Freqbox. It is a bit wild, but certainly musical. I use both it and the G5 in my set-up...never found the G5 cheesy, not for thunderous droney type lines, particularly with some chorus and delay. The Freqbox is an excellent tool, I would certainly recommend it, and with an expression pedal or two it becomes a monster.

Ely · #6 12-10-2008, 04:27 AM

I use my FreqBox for subtractive synthesis. In fact, I plan on buying another soon. I find I use it more for the pure oscillator tones than I do with the wacky envelope-controlled frequency-modulated noise (though I love it very much). It tracks great, unless you set the Frequency knob too low. In fact, sending a clean (think POG) octave down into it gets some incredible results.

funkyzebulon · #7 12-10-2008, 04:51 AM

I did a complete review (in french, sorry, but clips still there) here :
http://forum.onlybass.com/index.php?showtopic=32532

I hope you'll find something good for your ears.

kevteop · #8 12-10-2008, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkyzebulon

I did a complete review (in french, sorry, but clips still there) here :
http://forum.onlybass.com/index.php?showtopic=32532

I hope you'll find something good for your ears.

That's awesome, thanks! Sadly though, it seems it can't produce a regular tone when hard-synced to the bass input. It sounds like there's always lots of glitchy noise.

Have you found any way to avoid that?

funkyzebulon · #9 12-10-2008, 10:34 AM

The FM modulation is good to reduce this noise.
It's a bit noisy, you're right, but there's always a way to reduce it.
The enveloppe can help too.
The hard sync is not the best option of this pedal.

I use it with the lowpass filter or the moog phaser, it smoothes the noise, for sure.
I prefer not to use the hard sync.

kevteop · #10 12-10-2008, 01:32 PM

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the hard sync was the only way to get it to produce the same notes you play into it?

Grimoire · #11 12-10-2008, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevteop

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the hard sync was the only way to get it to produce the same notes you play into it?

That's correct.

Ely · #12 12-11-2008, 01:09 AM

A tiny bit of Envelope will smooth out the glitchy stuff. I also run my Mix either full wet or between 20-40%.

kevteop · #13 12-11-2008, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ely

A tiny bit of Envelope will smooth out the glitchy stuff. I also run my Mix either full wet or between 20-40%.

What does the Env. knob do when it's in hard-sync mode? I figured that knob and the FM amount only did anything when the hard-sync was off.

Could you possibly record a short clip of a non-glitchy-sounding FreqBox tracking your bass notes? That's the thing - if it can do that I'm having one, that's what I'd want it for.

Ely · #14 12-11-2008, 01:53 AM

Unfortunately no way to record, but the envelope simply sweeps the harmonics of the waveform. If you have it set very low it smooths out the glitch, but if you set it high it starts making crazy wah-fuzz sounds.

Grimoire · #15 12-11-2008, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevteop

What does the Env. knob do when it's in hard-sync mode? I figured that knob and the FM amount only did anything when the hard-sync was off.

Could you possibly record a short clip of a non-glitchy-sounding FreqBox tracking your bass notes? That's the thing - if it can do that I'm having one, that's what I'd want it for.

If I get the time I will do some samples this weekend...

kevteop · #16 12-11-2008, 03:07 AM

That'd be great if you could but I'm in no big rush or anything - I don't think I'm allowed any more pedal purchases until christmas is out of the way.