Moogers-How do you use your MP-201

[rnilson]

I know this applies to a limited group on this forum....

I love my MP-201 but I feel like I under use it's potential.
Right now I use it for the cutoff freq on my Moog LPF and BrainFreeze.
I use passive line selectors so I can have access to two channels for each cutoff control. One channel is usually expression the other is an LFO tap tempo or midi depending on if I have a drummer or processing beats. I had a bunch of presets but lost them when I updated firm ware. I am so glad they got the tap tempo thing worked out! I really just use two presets as described above. Usually the LFO is triangle the others seem to cause too many clicks and pops...although they do have their own character for sure....
So how do you use your MP-201?

[fightthepower]

You can use the new Lag Processors 'rise' and 'fall' settings to mold a little off the edges of the LFO's and eliminate the clicks&pops.

My main uses are: triangle molded into a sine into the Wave inputs of the Freqboxs for PWM (pulse/square sounds best) and into the Freq inputs for vibrato-- I could post a preset if you'd like. Im using the LFO's into the Ringmods Carrier In for tremolo, and ADSR envelopes for partial VCA functionality; been experimenting with percussion sounds with multiple envelopes into the filters and Ringmod. And to modulate the filters; I had an a/b box made a while back, but haven't been using it much as I've had the MP's outs tied up for other uses. I also use it to sweep the Frequency of one freqbox and the HOG in parallel for pitch bends with a suboctave'd Freqbox below, other 'harmodulator' etc type tones with the HOG, sweep the flanger...

I wish they made a bigger one! When i upgrade my interface, hopefully in the next couple months, I'm going to use Silent Way most likely for added MIDI/CV functionality. I'll probably use it to do the Freqbox, flanger, phaser, etc modulation, and free up the MP201 for the more 'hands on' stuff like filter modulation, something that Im a bit limited on due to the other uses (though they fit with the band better, so they take priority over the outputs).. though with the ability to draw envelopes, I could make some cool filter mod presets that go in time with Ableton for some dubstep tunes, with modulation that doesn't have to be quite so rigid. I'm really digging the MP201's HADSR section now for modulation, as with a few presets and riding the exp pedal or footswitch you can get some cool movement.

Once I've dialed my board in more, I'd like to add a midi keyboard to the rig, because it would be easy to plug one in and have some presets set up for keyboard use to loop in some pads or bleeps n bloops-- I already have two oscillators at the beginning of my chain, and the ringmod is in its own loop, so would be easy to route to the CP251 and mix with 1 or 2 freqbox's and/or lowpass filter. You could do it too in your set up, using the LPF as a Sine osc and the the Freqbox-filtered-by-BrainFreeze in parallel... (basically whats going on with the bass guitar anyway, but could be fun to try)

[rnilson]

Originally Posted by fightthepower

You can use the new Lag Processors 'rise' and 'fall' settings to mold a little off the edges of the LFO's and eliminate the clicks&pops.

Good to know

Originally Posted by fightthepower

though with the ability to draw envelopes, I could make some cool filter mod presets that go in time with Ableton for some dubstep tunes, with modulation that doesn't have to be quite so rigid. I'm really digging the MP201's HADSR section now for modulation, as with a few presets and riding the exp pedal or footswitch you can get some cool movement.

What the .... You can draw envelopes????

I need to download the manual addendum....HADSR hmmm...

I feel like a neanderthal poking a laptop with a stick right now,

[JohnDavisNYC]

wow... i need to upgrade mine, too... i still haven't even upgraded to one where the tap tempo works.... me caveman.

gonna go check all that stuff out at the moog site now....

but, basically, all i've been using it for so far as been cutoff and resonance on my LPF... gotta mod my copilot orbit for cv, then that is going to be controllable, and i am looking into a custom VCA pedal so that I can do trem and AM ringmod...

i have about 5 or 6 presets that i use, different variations on the same basic thing, expression or LFO, just variations in range, what the sweep does, etc. i am thinking that it is going to get a lot more complicated soon, though...

john

[fightthepower]

Originally Posted by rnilson

Good to know


What the .... You can draw envelopes????

I need to download the manual addendum....HADSR hmmm...

I feel like a neanderthal poking a laptop with a stick right now,

The bit about drawing envelopes was referenced to 'Silent Way', a computer program for generating CV's through a DC coupled interface... can't do it with the MP201 unfortunately, though Im holding out for a VST editor at some point in the future..

But, you can kind of draw the envelopes with the HADSR section, because they can be triggered latching or unlatching, and One-Shot-or-'Loop' essentially giving you complex LFO's.

Originally Posted by JohnDavisNYC

wow... i need to upgrade mine, too... i still haven't even upgraded to one where the tap tempo works.... me caveman.

gonna go check all that stuff out at the moog site now....

but, basically, all i've been using it for so far as been cutoff and resonance on my LPF... gotta mod my copilot orbit for cv, then that is going to be controllable, and i am looking into a custom VCA pedal so that I can do trem and AM ringmod...

i have about 5 or 6 presets that i use, different variations on the same basic thing, expression or LFO, just variations in range, what the sweep does, etc. i am thinking that it is going to get a lot more complicated soon, though...

john

It worth the upload. You can save/transfer your presets with a sysex librarian, the tap-tempo seems to work great now- a vast improvement over the jumbled tap tempo in V1.

[bass.bert]

Originally Posted by rnilson

What the .... You can draw envelopes????

Originally Posted by fightthepower

The bit about drawing envelopes was referenced to 'Silent Way', a computer program for generating CV's through a DC coupled interface... can't do it with the MP201 unfortunately, though Im holding out for a VST editor at some point in the future..

...pssst! just a tremolo, but you can do that envelope thing with this pedal ("hollow earth"):
http://www.soniccrayonfx.com/

[rnilson]

Originally Posted by bass.bert

...pssst! just a tremolo, but you can do that envelope thing with this pedal ("hollow earth"):
http://www.soniccrayonfx.com/

That is an interesting pedal, but not it's not a tremolo we are talking about.

It is a envelope on a cv output 0-5 volts where the amount of the voltage output is controlled by an LFO in this case we are talking about one with an complex pattern it could control any CV input.

[bass.bert]

Originally Posted by rnilson

That is an interesting pedal, but not it's not a tremolo we are talking about.

It is a envelope on a cv output 0-5 volts where the amount of the voltage output is controlled by an LFO in this case we are talking about one with an complex pattern it could control any CV input.

...yes. A tremolo as i said, but also with an "expression out". Even if it just seems to be a potentiometer, no CV. But it's the first pedal i know, which has this envelope recording stuff. However, it should theoretically be possible to build something similar as an independent CV source to feed some foogers...
This would be more intuitive for creating complex filter sweeps.

[rnilson]

Originally Posted by bass.bert

...yes. A tremolo as i said, but also with an "expression out". Even if it just seems to be a potentiometer, no CV. But it's the first pedal i know, which has this envelope recording stuff. However, it should theoretically be possible to build something similar as an independent CV source to feed some foogers...
This would be more intuitive for creating complex filter sweeps.

Yeah it seems pretty unique.

[Proton Lenny]

Couple questions for you MP-201 owners:

I'm thinking about getting one of these bad boys. I would be using it on a Low Pass Filter in the CV in. Could I go from controlling a slow sweep, via gas pedal, then switch to beat locked LFO's? To do this would I need a line splitter (use two of the CV outs into a splitter, splitter into the CV in), or could I set it up so that the four stomp switches could turn these functions on and off on one preset through one CV out of the MP-201? Hope that made sense...

Secondly, I was reading about the firmware update and the envelopes it offers. How does it do this? Since the MP-201 doesn't have inputs, what triggers the envelope? How do you set the sensitivity, etc...? Or is it not the typical envelope? Could I use this on a LPF to turn it into a Envelope controlled LPF?

Thanks,

Proton

[Grimoire]

I use mine as a controller for my Eventide factors, Freqbox, LPF, and soon MIDI MuRF. I am controlling the Freq and FM of the Freqbox, and the cutoff and res of the LPF. I've only had it a few months, and am unlocking its potential day by day. I definitely recommend upgrading to the V2 firmware, the ADSR is very interesting, but I'm still working out the best way of making use of it. The biggest problem I have with the MP201 is the potential - it's huge, and if you have an idea, you can probably implement it, it's just a matter of spending the time to work out how...

[fightthepower]

Originally Posted by Proton Lenny

Couple questions for you MP-201 owners:

I'm thinking about getting one of these bad boys. I would be using it on a Low Pass Filter in the CV in. Could I go from controlling a slow sweep, via gas pedal, then switch to beat locked LFO's? To do this would I need a line splitter (use two of the CV outs into a splitter, splitter into the CV in), or could I set it up so that the four stomp switches could turn these functions on and off on one preset through one CV out of the MP-201? Hope that made sense...

You are correct in needing the splitter, or you could keep it in 'Single mode' and switch back and forth between presets, but the most efficient&consistent way seems to be the splitter.

I've asked about a potential 'quad mono' mode of some sort on multiple occasions at the Moog forum, but received no reply-- I have received feedback about other idea's, so Im assuming that this type of functionality is not possible... Unfortunately the 4 footswitches are essentially hardwired to the adjacent output.. You can't use the 4 switches as presets-within-a-preset routed to one output, or use footswitch 1 to trigger output 3, and so on.

Originally Posted by Proton Lenny

Secondly, I was reading about the firmware update and the envelopes it offers. How does it do this? Since the MP-201 doesn't have inputs, what triggers the envelope? How do you set the sensitivity, etc...? Or is it not the typical envelope? Could I use this on a LPF to turn it into a Envelope controlled LPF?

Thanks,

Proton

The new firmware includes an HADSR envelope section, so you have 5 parameters in which to shape the envelope (hold, attack, decay, sustain, release). The Envelopes can be set to One-shot or a loop, with the loop being a custom LFO basically. The Envelopes can be triggered by the Footswitches, rocking the Treadle, or MIDI notes if using a controller (or now that I think about it--- I could make an extra track in ableton with notes triggering the envelopes at specific times relative to the position of the beat.. hmmm). They can all be set to latching or unlatching (ie latching would allow you to turn a Loop on/off like an LFO; unlatching only triggers for as long as you hold it down).

Originally Posted by Grimoire

I use mine as a controller for my Eventide factors, Freqbox, LPF, and soon MIDI MuRF. I am controlling the Freq and FM of the Freqbox, and the cutoff and res of the LPF. I've only had it a few months, and am unlocking its potential day by day. I definitely recommend upgrading to the V2 firmware, the ADSR is very interesting, but I'm still working out the best way of making use of it. The biggest problem I have with the MP201 is the potential - it's huge, and if you have an idea, you can probably implement it, it's just a matter of spending the time to work out how...

Yep.. I basically feel this way about my whole rig, but I definitely agree about the MP201. Its fairly intuitive to navigate, but with so many options and making adjustments via menu, it can take a while for things to come to fruition. I spend a lot of time just looking at it and thinking of ways to maximize it's outputs while keeping necessary cv-cable-changes to a minimum, for seamless(as possible) live-friendly preset changes.

A VST editor will be released at some point, and will be well received. I've put in enough time with the MP that I know many of the rough numerical values need for various applications, so I think I'd be comfortable building banks of rough presets in an editor, loading them up and making adjustments from there, with some success and increased efficiency. Programming a full 4-channel patch consists of 50-100+ parameters, interfaced with 4 footswitches and a knob.

[rnilson]

Originally Posted by fightthepower

MIDI notes if using a controller (or now that I think about it--- I could make an extra track in ableton with notes triggering the envelopes at specific times relative to the position of the beat.. hmmm).

I know I was thinking about this last night also. Midi
tracks in ableton sending signals back to the MP-201 at specific loop points. I also wandered if there was a way to use midi envelope to dram out how much CV the filter gets.... God if that worked you could do INSANE filter stuff I mean you could have a evelope line that runs the full lenth of a track and never repeats and is complex as any studio bassline. If it is doable this would be a game changer for me as far as what I though was possible with live bass...

[rnilson]

Originally Posted by Proton Lenny

Secondly, I was reading about the firmware update and the envelopes it offers. How does it do this? Since the MP-201 doesn't have inputs, what triggers the envelope? How do you set the sensitivity, etc...? Or is it not the typical envelope? Could I use this on a LPF to turn it into a Envelope controlled LPF?

Thanks,

Proton

This is not the evelope this refers to is not a "evelope follower" which tracks the dynamic evelope of your playing.

The evelope in this case is the amount of cv the MP-201 is producing over time. So with an LFO the envelope is the rise and fall the the LFO it is usually regular and forms a wave (triangle,square,saw....) With the HASDR you and mold the wave to take on more complex shapes other than simple waves.

Is this what you were asking???

[Proton Lenny]

Is this what you were asking???

Yep.

You are correct in needing the splitter, or you could keep it in 'Single mode' and switch back and forth between presets, but the most efficient&consistent way seems to be the splitter.

This is kind of dumb to me. I understand that Moog built this thing primarily to be a control hub for multiple devices, but come on! It has four damn stomp switches and you can't assign them to different functions for the same device without more gear! Classic moog. Oh well, doesn't change my want for this thing TOO much. So in this mono mode, how does the interface funtion? What do the stomp switches do in this mode? What is the process to switch from one preset to another? How do you switch back to quad mode? For splitting the CV signal, are you guys just using passive line splitters, or do they need buffers?

[rnilson]

Originally Posted by Proton Lenny

Yep.



This is kind of dumb to me. I understand that Moog built this thing primarily to be a control hub for multiple devices, but come on! It has four damn stomp switches and you can't assign them to different functions for the same device without more gear! Classic moog. Oh well, doesn't change my want for this thing TOO much. So in this mono mode, how does the interface funtion? What do the stomp switches do in this mode? What is the process to switch from one preset to another? How do you switch back to quad mode? For splitting the CV signal, are you guys just using passive line splitters, or do they need buffers?

Passive line splitters work...I use the EHX Switch Blade and I am getting a Loop Master A/B/C.

In mode one two buttons scroll up and down thru pre-sets, one scrolles through the four cv ouputs, one turns the selected out put on and off or does tap temp.

There is a one for one switch to cv output. You have to use the knob to scroll thur presets.

[Proton Lenny]

I use the EHX Switch Blade and I am getting a Loop Master A/B/C.

The switchblade's don't have LED's right? Is it pretty easy for you to keep track which one you have selected currently? The reason I ask is Loopmaster has these tiny A/B boxes, but they don't have LED's. If I have to get a splitter I'd like it to be as small as possible. My pedal board space is a prized asset. Loopmaster also makes a splitter that is a little bigger but has LED's, not sure which would be better for me.

[rnilson]

Originally Posted by Proton Lenny

The switchblade's don't have LED's right? Is it pretty easy for you to keep track which one you have selected currently? The reason I ask is Loopmaster has these tiny A/B boxes, but they don't have LED's. If I have to get a splitter I'd like it to be as small as possible. My pedal board space is a prized asset. Loopmaster also makes a splitter that is a little bigger but has LED's, not sure which would be better for me.

Yes live it can be hard to remember which you have switched on....The A/B/C loop master I am getting has LEDs just for that reason.

[fightthepower]

Originally Posted by rnilson

I know I was thinking about this last night also. Midi
tracks in ableton sending signals back to the MP-201 at specific loop points. I also wandered if there was a way to use midi envelope to dram out how much CV the filter gets.... God if that worked you could do INSANE filter stuff I mean you could have a evelope line that runs the full lenth of a track and never repeats and is complex as any studio bassline. If it is doable this would be a game changer for me as far as what I though was possible with live bass...

This is essentially what I'm looking to integrate Silent Way for, but its a program that generates CV's through DC coupled interfaces. I've heard talk of MIDI sequencers being used with a MIDI/CV converter and 'foogers, so 'in theory' it might work? I recently figured out the automation (instead of making lots and lots of individual tracks for certain sounds..hah) in Ableton, so I'm going to try and tinker with MIDI controlled MP-201 and see if I can make anything happen.

Originally Posted by Proton Lenny

The switchblade's don't have LED's right? Is it pretty easy for you to keep track which one you have selected currently? The reason I ask is Loopmaster has these tiny A/B boxes, but they don't have LED's. If I have to get a splitter I'd like it to be as small as possible. My pedal board space is a prized asset. Loopmaster also makes a splitter that is a little bigger but has LED's, not sure which would be better for me.

I had one made by a TB member, 'Pharaoh Amps' for a very reasonable price. Choice of box, I/O layout, LED color and placement, etc. I wanted 2 of the 3 jacks on the top so I had to go with a larger box, but it still the same size as a boss pedal. He had it made and shipped in a couple days and it is well made-- recommended

[Proton Lenny]

So I have an inquiry to you fellow MP-201 users. Currently I'm using my MP-201 just to control the cutoff of my LPF in various ways. Eventually I'm going to control a tremolo and probably my PitchFactor as well. But that's another story.

I'm having trouble getting my MP-201 to give me a full sweep. It seems to cutoff the top 5-10% of my spectrum. When I use the expression pedal Mario scaled for me it works fine, but when I switch to using CV the problem occurs. I have the CV knob cranked on the filter. I have the MP-201 setup up for Unipolar (0-5v). So am I doing something wrong? It seems weird to have to crank the CV knob anyway. Mario told me that is SHOULD just need about 2 volts for a full sweep. So I'm thinking something is wrong with my filter.

Secondly, the MP-201 causes a high pitch whine when I turn my filter on. My filter alone does not cause this whine. It is only when I have the MP-201 plugged into the filter's CV in and the filter and MP-201 are on. So is this a power thing you think? I'm using the supplied power supply. I've tried different outlets. Anybody have any ideas. I really hope I can figure out these two little conundrums. I love this controller.

Proton