Moog Moogerfooger MF 101 Lowpass Filter alternative?

TheWoodShed · #1 12-24-2009, 01:52 PM

After the acquisition of a couple of other pedal, I am thinking about starting to exploring making multiple pedal effects chains to be able to a variety of synth and nice combination for experimentation. I know very little about this, and the effects of lowpass filters, filters, ring modulators and what not so I am unsure if this is something I will be able to pursue successfully as it appears one really has to know the basics of what all of these do to be effective at it.

Listening to sound clips of various pedals, it appears the Moog Lowpass Filter is the initial direction I wish to go in sound wise, but the initial price tag of over $200.00 is imposing to a poor fellow like me. So are there any similar, less expensive pedals that would be good to learn on that have the same basic function?

gnasher1993 · #2 12-24-2009, 02:03 PM

I'd also be interested in this. Just a simple low pass filter in a smaller enclosure would be perfect.

jufros · #3 12-24-2009, 02:20 PM

If you don't mind going rack, I'd definitely recommend a used Electrix Filter Factory. Sounds great.

TheWoodShed · #4 12-24-2009, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jufros

If you don't mind going rack, I'd definitely recommend a used Electrix Filter Factory. Sounds great.

I've been considering the Electrix, since I don't gig live anymore. Seems a reasonable price.

I just wasn't sure if they had the same basic function. "Lowpass filter", "Filter" "envelope filter" and "envelope follower" are a bit confusing to me.

Op_of_Faith · #5 12-24-2009, 02:31 PM

This might be a dumb suggestion depending on your situation, but IF you have a good Laptop, try out the Saturation Plugs in Ableton Live Lite which you can get for $99 or with likely, with any good A/D converter like the Novation...

Nyarlathotep · #6 12-24-2009, 02:43 PM

Good luck.

There is the MS-20 apparently. Clones of it include the Robot Factory Brain Freeze and this, a 9volt clone:

ryognbass · #7 12-24-2009, 02:54 PM

Small, sweepable low pass filter?

Posted this thread a while ago. There's some good info in there but it looks bleek as far as simple, small enclosure, sweepable LPFs go :/

dannybuoy · #8 12-24-2009, 03:36 PM

EBS Wah One is worth a shot too.

TheWoodShed · #9 12-24-2009, 03:45 PM

How about the Electrix Filter Queen?

Proton Lenny · #10 12-24-2009, 04:34 PM

Not to toot my own pedal or anything, but the Proton Pack from Mario at Robot Factory is the best LPF I have ever played or heard. Check my thread, "Proton's Treck Through The Wide World Of Effects". It is all I could ever want in a LFP, and it is smaller than the Moog.

TheWoodShed · #11 12-24-2009, 06:27 PM

I am just reposting for emphasis, as it seems peope are recomending $450.00 LPF's to me:

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheWoodShed

Listening to sound clips of various pedals, it appears the Moog Lowpass Filter is the initial direction I wish to go in sound wise, but the initial price tag of over $200.00 is imposing to a poor fellow like me. So are there any similar, less expensive pedals that would be good to learn on that have the same basic function?

So, am I to gather that I will be stuck putting out at least the $200.00 for the Moog?

fightthepower · #12 12-24-2009, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Proton Lenny

Not to toot my own pedal or anything, but the Proton Pack from Mario at Robot Factory is the best LPF I have ever played or heard. Check my thread, "Proton's Treck Through The Wide World Of Effects". It is all I could ever want in a LFP, and it is smaller than the Moog.

Even the Brain Freeze is considerably more expensive than the Moog though unfortunately, even if you can find a used one.

For the OP's application and needs, the Moog is really the best its going to get in stompbox form unless you start going up in price, and even then its debatable. The Electrix filters seem to be a bit more accessible and sound pretty good based on the clips I've heard, as well as the added versatility. I've heard mixed reviews about the WahOne for this stuff, but RCCollins seems to like the new StanWah, I don't know much about it other than that and its advertised modes..

If I were in your shoes, I'd check out one of the Electrix filters or save for the Moog.

*Edit*

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheWoodShed

So, am I to gather that I will be stuck putting out at least the $200.00 for the Moog?

Yep, or a rack unit.

lbanks · #13 12-24-2009, 06:34 PM

Get the Moog.

Taylor Livingston · #14 12-24-2009, 06:41 PM

I will be releasing a small lowpass pedal very soon. Tentatively plan on a frequency knob, a resonance knob, and an input for an expression pedal, in a box approximately 3" x 4". Price TBA, but considerably less than the Moog.

Anybody have any other thoughts on what they'd want to see in this?

TheWoodShed · #15 12-24-2009, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by conical johnson

I will be releasing a small lowpass pedal very soon. Tentatively plan on a frequency knob, a resonance knob, and an input for an expression pedal, in a box approximately 3" x 4". Price TBA, but considerably less than the Moog.

Anybody have any other thoughts on what they'd want to see in this?

Cool. I'll wait to see what you do. I would make recomendations, but don't know enough about them to do so.

Thanks!

bigblondeafro87 · #16 12-24-2009, 06:57 PM

^^^A drive knob like on the Moog would be nice. I'd say skip any envelope features to keep it cheap. Also make sure to have a blend knob on there.

To the OP: In the world of pedals, especially synth pedals, the Moog LPF is not too expensive and is pretty much the cheapest option for the features it has unless conical johnson is in the mood to sell you one...

Taylor Livingston · #17 12-24-2009, 07:34 PM

It was my assumption that the drive knob was there mainly for getting the proper level into the effect no matter whether you're plugging microphone level, line level, or instrument level gear into it. Is that the feature you want, or do you want some overdrive (which I have heard some people talk about with the Moog drive control)?

gastric · #18 12-24-2009, 07:58 PM

I'm in the minority for hating the Moog LPF. The bypass was embarrassing. When people talk about poor, tone-sucking bypass this would be the poster child. Really bad enveloper. Combine that with the size and it was a huge turn off, regardless of the sound. You'll need an expression to sweep it manually. To get the most out of it you really need a robust CV controller which is expensive.

Rack filters are much more versatile, though you'll need some way to sweep them manually if that's your thing - MIDI foot controller or CV control which the Electrix filters still support. But really the rack products aren't that great either. The Filter Factory has no presets so you can't pre-program it. So unless you're using it with a sequencer or other controller that can send a TON of MIDI CC data you're left to fairly basic operations live. And you can't stack the envelope follower with the LFO, and the enveloper isn't that great either (two controls - whether it's on, and how much depth it effects), though it's much more usable than the Moog enveloper since it closes fairly quickly and responds pretty well to the actual attack. But for straight manual sweeps it's good, and you can get some good, basic LFO out of it, and it's SUPER easy to use. It's stereo, too, if that's your thing.

I currently have a MAM Warp 9 that has a TON more functionality, including presets, but it's a monster PITA to understand and program. Sounds great though, you get envelope ASDR with a ton of triggering options (1st trigger, 2nd, etc., trigger computed against LFO, all sorts of goodies), plus a ton of LFO options including stepped interval waves. Tons of good stuff if you 1) find one to buy and don't mind paying $350+ for one 2) can figure out how to program it 3) figure out how to bypass it since there's no remote/MIDI controllable bypass built in, so you need to buy another piece of gear just to turn it on/off in your signal chain.

With LPF filters there's a serious lack of really great solutions in pedal or rack form. They all have a lot of cons to go along with their pros.

I'm currently researching software filters in hopes of finding something that's even better than the Warp 9. Then I'll stick a laptop in my effects loop and control it with my MIDI foot controller. Great thing about software is there's a TON more options, there's current development where full featured rack filters seem like a dead product category (you're buying products from companies that don't even exist anymore), you can stack them, save presets, get a nice visual GUI to work with instead of whatever cryptic interface hardware provides. Guitar Rig 4 actually has some seemingly EXCELLENT modulation support with envelope ASDR, input envelope, 12-step sequencer, all of which can be applied to any control in any other piece of gear - amps, effects, filters, whatever. Apply it to a volume pedal, filter cutoff, multiple things simultaneously. Really genius stuff and super easy to use thanks to a straight forward GUI.

In case you can't tell I've been disappointed my my filtering adventure.

HUMBUG!

Scatterblak · #19 12-24-2009, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lbanks

Get the Moog.

+1.

*LOVE* my fooger, and I can dial in a killer PF 'Flashlight' tone in an instant. W00t!

Bassist30 · #20 12-24-2009, 08:37 PM

I think you are making a big mistake not to buy the moogerfooger 101 because of price. The features on the pedal make this not only a well to do stand alone but as an important asset to other pedals as well. For one thing you have the capabilities to use four expression pedals. This combination gives you alot of possibilities. I love the sub qualities and the use with another pedal say an octave or another envelope filter sounds massive. But I agree its far from being a true bypass pedal. A pedal switcher with this pedal is almost a must.