Moog mf 107 owner manual

Page 1

2 Welcome to the world of moogerfooger® Analog Effects Modules. Your Model MF-107 FreqBox-„¢ is a rugged, professional-quality instrument, designed to be equally at home on stage or in the studio. Its great sound comes from the state-of-the- art analog circuitry, designed and built by the folks at Moog Music in Asheville, NC. Your MF-107 FreqBox is a direct descendent of the original modular Moog® synthesizers. It contains several complete modular synth functions: a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) with variable waveshape, capable of being hard synced and frequency modulated by the audio input, and an envelope follower which allows the dynamics of the input signal to modulate the frequency of the VCO. In addition the amplitude of the VCO is controlled by the dynamics of the input signal, and the VCO can be mixed with the audio input. All performance parameters are voltage-controllable, which means that you can use expression pedals, MIDI-to-CV converter, or any other source of control voltages to 'play' your MF-107. Control voltage outputs mean that the MF-107 can be used with other moogerfoogers or voltage controlled devices like the Minimoog Voyager® or Little Phatty® synthesizers. While you can use it on the floor as a conventional effects box, your MF-107 FreqBox is much more versatile and its sound quality is higher than the single fixed function "stomp boxes" that you may be accustomed to. You will find that your FreqBox is a deep musical resource. It will give you an amazing variety of new sounds and will become your creative companion as you explore its functions. This manual begins with a "quick start" section that will get you started without reading the whole manual -“ certainly a new device must be used right away! Keep in mind that the MF-107 FreqBox is a complex device, so we recommend you read and understand

Page 2

3 the complete users manual to unlock its fullest potential. Included in this manual is a section describing the theory of operation, a tour and explanation of the front panel controls and rear panel connections, and tips on usage both basic and advanced. A section describing the products technical specifications and information about your limited warranty is at the end of the manual. The Story Behind the FreqBox Back in 2004, I had an idea for an oscillator that could hard sync to any input signal. Thinking that this might be a really cool and unique idea, I sketched it up and brought it to Bob Moog. I asked him if such an idea would be feasible. He looked me in the eye and produced one of his famous belly-laughs. He pointed over to our engineering technician at the time, Mark Kline. Mark had brought him this same idea a week or so earlier and had already begun building a feasibility prototype. I compared my sketch to the plans for the prototype. Lo and behold they were the same except for a few minor differences -“ all without either of us discussing this idea with each other! Bob loved this kind of occurrence, as he felt it revealed the interconnectedness of all things. He said the idea "must be in the air". Mark soon left Moog Music to pursue a career in architecture, and we put aside "The Big Sync", as we called it then, to work on other projects. In 2006 it was time to revisit the design and add a few things, like the dynamic control of the oscillator volume, envelope follower modulation of the VCO and frequency modulation from the input signal, and the FreqBox was born. In Bobs honor, I recommend connecting with your new Moogerfooger and exploring the outer regions of its sonic space. Enjoy! Steve Dunnington, Moog Music Inc.