Moogerfooger

Moogerfooger is the trademark for a series of analog effects pedals manufactured by Moog Music. There are currently eight different pedals produced; however, one of these models is designed for processing control voltages rather than audio signal. A sixth model, the Analog Delay, was released in a limited edition of 1000 units and has become a collector's item. Moog Music announced on August 28, 2018, that the Moogerfooger, CP-251, Minifooger, Voyager synthesizers, and some other product lines were being built using the remaining parts on hand and discontinued thereafter.

Audio moogerfoogers consist of a black wedge-shaped box, approximately 5 by 9 inches (13 by 23 cm), with walnut edges. The face contains an array of knobs, switches and LEDs. There is also a foot switch that allows the user to toggle the effect on and off and a knob that controls the gain. True to the nature of modular synthesizers, all parameters on the pedals are variable using control voltages which may be plugged into the rear of the pedal using 1/4" jacks.

The MF-101 is an independent analog low-pass filter. Based on the amplitude of the dry audio signal, an envelope is generated. This envelope alters the filter's cutoff frequency and its amount is variable. Knobs also allow controlling of the filter's frequency (from 20 Hz to 12 kHz) and resonance. The resonance can be increased to the point of self-feedback producing a pitch that follows the filter cutoff frequency. The MF-101 was released by Big Briar (now Moog Music) in 1998.

The MF-102 is an analog ring modulator. This moogerfooger heterodynes the dry audio signal with a carrier wave that is generated by an internal oscillator. The user can vary the frequency of the carrier oscillator from 0.6 Hz to 80 Hz on the Lo setting and from 30 Hz to 4 kHz on the Hi setting. The MF-102 also features an independent low frequency oscillator (LFO) that changes the frequency of the carrier oscillator. The user can select between two LFO waveshapes, either a square or sine-like (really a triangle) wave. The frequency range of the LFO was continuously variable from 0.1 Hz (one cycle every ten seconds) to 25 Hz. The user can also vary the amount, if any at all, which the LFO affects the carrier frequency. Like the MF-101, the MF-102 was released in 1998.

The MF-103 is an analog twelve stage phaser. The user can control the "sweep" which moves the phaser's frequency response, yielding the classic phaser "whooshing" sound. The user can switch to 6-stage mode to produce a subtle change in harmonic response. The user can also control the phaser's resonance, changing the height and sharpness of the phaser's frequency response peaks. Like the MF-102, the MF-103 has an independent LFO, however in this instance it is used to vary the "sweep" parameter. In addition to a normal audio output, the MF-103 had 2nd Auxiliary output that was fed by an inverted instance of the Phase shifted signal. By utilizing both outputs in Stereo, some parts of the sound spectrum would be coming from one speaker and other parts would be coming from the other speaker. As the LFO modulates the phaser, the sound takes on a swirling spacial effect. The MF-103 was released in 1999.

The MF-104 is a completely analog delay. The effect allows the musician a delay time between 40 milliseconds and .8 seconds. However the most remarkable feature is the use of an internal/external feedback loop. The feedback loop from the MF-104 can be routed through another effects processor and back into the delay unit, allowing processing of the echos as they are being generated. As with most analog delay processors, a desirable warmth of sound is created by the increasing natural decay of the original audio signal through the continuation of echoes.

Released in 2000, the MF-104 was manufactured in a limited edition of 1000 units. A special "bucket brigade delay chip" was employed to allow the effect to be completely analog; however, the supply of these chips was limited. The final units were sold in 2001 and the MF-104 Analog Delay remains the most sought-after of the moogerfoogers. In 2005, Moog Music announced the planned re-release of the MF-104, dubbed the MF-104Z. The new pedal will have the same functions as the original, but will feature a longer possible delay time (slightly longer than 1 second). At the same time, the MF-104SD was released in a limited edition of 250 units. The MF-104SD had a maximum delay time of 1.4 seconds, slightly longer than the MF-104Z.

In June 2012, Moog Music Inc. released the fourth and final version of their Moogerfooger Analog Delay, the MF-104M. The new MF-104M Analog Delay utilizes the same vintage Bucket Brigade chips found in the Classic MF-104. In addition, the MF-104M includes a number of customer requested feature and function upgrades. “We’re very excited about this limited release of the MF-104M,” said Moog Music CEO, Mike Adams. “Many of the parts we use to create these amazing delays are completely original and incredibly hard to find. Since this will be the last of its kind, we have gone to great lengths to incorporate features and functions requested by customers over the last 12 years. The MF-104M delivers those rich, creamy, classic delays Moog is renowned for, but also has the ability to modulate the delay time and create effects not found in any other analog delay."