Moog Music MF-107 Moogerfooger Freqbox

The MF-107 FreqBox is different from other effects - the effected sound is not a processed version of your input signal - but the sound of the input signal modulating an internal oscillator. It contains a VCO with continuously variable waveshape - and the capacity to modulate that Oscillator in the following ways:

- the VCO can be hard synced by the input signal
- The VCO can be frequency modulated (FM) by the input signal
- The VCO frequency can be modulated by an envelope follower which tracks the dynamics of the input signal
- The Amplitude of the VCO also tracks the dynamics of the input signal

Hard sync is a classic analog synthesis technique where the start of an oscillator's cycle can be reset by another. The oscillator being synced takes on the frequency characteristics of the other oscillator - and when its frequency is swept - it reinforces the harmonics of the fundamental frequency. In the case of the FreqBox - the input signal is used to reset the FreqBox's VCO.

FM is a technique used to get really rich sounds from simple waveforms. The type of FM used in the FreqBox is linear FM. Sounds range from gong or bell-like tones to sizzly sweeps.

The FreqBox - like all moogerfoogers - works with any instrument to line-level input. In addition to the panel controls there are control inputs for use with expression pedals or control voltages and control outputs for interconnecting moogerfoogers like you would a modular synth.

The demo was recorded with an electric guitar - the FreqBox - a Moog EP-1 expression pedal - and recording software on a laptop. That's it!

The FreqBox can provide some really unusual processing to all types of signals - guitars - synths - drum sounds - vocals or wind instruments allowing you to enter previously unexplored sonic territory.

MF-107 Specifications
MF-107 FreqBox Preliminary Specs (1/12/07)

The MF-107 Freq Box contains an analog VCO with continuously variable waveform which can be modulated by the audio input signal. Modulation of the VCO includes: hard sync - Frequency Modulation - and modulation of the VCO frequency by an envelope follower. The amplitude of the VCO is controlled by the amplitude of the input signal.

Front Panel Controls:

Frequency: sets the frequency of the VCO.

Wave: Morphs the VCO waveform from Triangle to Sawtooth to Square to skinny pulse.

Sync On/Off: Enables/ Disables Hard sync of the VCO by the audio input signal.

Env. Amount: Sets the amount of modulation of the VCO frequency by the Envelope
Follower.

FM Amount: Sets the amount of frequency modulation of the VCO by the audio input signal.

Mix: Sets the blend of input signal and VCO signal

Drive: Sets the input sensitivity and gain of the effect when active. Half to full drive amount adds overdrive.

Output level: Sets the output level of the effect when active.

Bypass Switch: Bypass LED is red when effect is off - and green when effect is on. The MF-107 uses a high quality buffered bypass when in bypass - the input is disconnected from the effects electronics.

I/O

Input and output connections are on jacks.

Audio Input: accepts instrument level to line level inputs.

Freq: Accepts EP-1 expression pedal - or -5 to +5V Control Voltage to set the frequency of the VCO. Input voltage is added to position of the front panel Frequency control.

Wave: Accepts EP-1 expression pedal - or -5 to +5V Control Voltage to set the waveform of the VCO. Input voltage is added to position of the front panel Wave control.

Env. Amt: Accepts EP-1 expression pedal - or 0 to +5V Control Voltage to set the amount of envelope follower modulation of the VCO frequency. Input voltage is added to position of the front panel Env. Amount control.
FM Amt: Accepts EP-1 expression pedal - or 0 to +5V Control Voltage to set the amount of frequency modulation of the VCO by the audio input. Input voltage is added to position of the front panel FM Amount control.

Mix: Accepts EP-1 expression pedal - or 0 to +5V Control Voltage to set the waveform of the VCO. Input voltage is added to position of the front panel Mix control.

Audio Out: Supplies the output signal. 

Env Out: Outputs the unconditioned Envelope Follower Control Voltage signal.

Osc Out: Outputs the wave-shaped VCO signal as a +/-2.5V Control Voltage signal.