Moogerfoogers Effects Pedals Return As 7 Plugins

Moog’s Moogerfoogers analogue effects pedals – originally designed by Bob Moog himself – have returned in the form of seven effects plugins, each designed to mirror the distinctive tones of the original analogue circuits, while offering extended and refined feature sets.

With this announcement, Moog makes its debut in the universal software space.

The new Moogerfooger Effects Plug-ins are compatible with all major DAWs across Windows and macOS in AUv2, VST3, or AAX formats.

This new software version of Moog’s retired effects pedal collection – used by guitarists and artists ranging from Lou Reed to Thom Yorke, Kim Gordon, Daft Punk and Thundercat – makes the Moog sound more accessible than ever.

Moogerfooger effects plugins are a re-invention of Moog’s analogue effects pedals, designed to bring the tone, musicality and interconnectivity of the original hardware effects to a digital music production environment.

Designed by Bob Moog and his engineering team in the late '90s and '00s, Moogerfooger effects pedals were direct descendants of the original Moog modular synthesisers, adapted to process, modulate and play with inputs ranging from guitar, voice and synthesiser to any imaginable audio source.

From the MF-104's warm analogue delay circuit to the swirling phaser effects of the MF-103 and resonant ladder lowpass filter in the MF-101, Moogerfoogers became renowned for their sound and were adopted by studios and performers around the world.

With all parameters ready to be automated as well as the ability to save and manage presets, Moogerfooger Effects Plug-ins have been optimised to mutate and re-shape themselves around audio tracks. 

The plugins allow each instance of a Moogerfooger to modulate the parameters of any other across a project in any major DAW. With digital attenuverters added to every CV input, side-chain capabilities and DC offset capabilities, Moogerfooger Effects Plug-ins allow for control over every aspect of sound. 

The effects family range from clean filtering to wildly experimental modulation designed to manipulate, enhance and fully transform any sound. Each with its own distinct identity, these effects are designed to work perfectly alongside one another in an audio chain.

The complete collection of Moogerfooger Effects Plug-ins includes all seven reimagined Moogerfooger pedals in software form:

1. MF-101S Lowpass Filter: the classic Moog ladder filter with an envelope follower for dynamic control.

2. MF-102S Ring Modulator: a wide-range carrier oscillator paired with an LFO for effects from soft tremolo through clangorous ring modulation tones

3. MF-103S 12-Stage Phaser: a descendant of the ‘70s rack-mounted Moog phaser with an on-board LFO.

4. MF-104S Analog Delay: a full-bodied delay and modulation circuit that has remained highly sought after to this day.

5. MF-105S MuRF: a groundbreaking effect combining a resonant filter bank with a pattern generator and skewing envelope for vibrant animation of an incoming sound.

6. MF-107S FreqBox: a box of synced VCO sounds with envelope and FM modulation. 

7. MF-108S Cluster Flux: a flexible processor that can modulate between chorus, flanging and vibrato.

Steve Dunnington, the company’s current VP of engineering, and former apprentice of Bob Moog, shares more on this evolution and the importance of paying tribute to Moog's heritage:

“Bob liked to describe himself as a toolmaker for musicians,” he said. “He felt that technology should not drive the needs of musicians, but that engineers and toolmakers should use the needs of musicians to harness the power of technologies that serve those needs. He was never dogmatic about whether analogue or digital was better; he saw both technologies as different means to serve the musicians that he respected and admired.”

The Moog veteran of 28 years and counting has worked on the development of dozens of hardware and software instruments, including both the classic analogue Moogerfoogers and new plugin emulations.

“As we began the development of the Moogerfooger Effects Plug-ins, it was of paramount importance not just to clone the devices, but to look for opportunities where digital technology could improve some of their characteristics,” added Dunnington.

“This is in alignment with Bob Moog’s philosophies – he was reluctant to copy his old designs but preferred to continue to refine and improve them based on the needs of musicians. Thus, the envelope follower controls on the new MF-101S become more flexible for a wider variety of program material than the original MF-101, thanks to the possibilities provided by digital technology.

“Other examples abound in the Moogerfooger Effects Plug-ins, where inspiration was taken from the original with the addition of useful improvements. They sound great, like the classic Moog circuits we know and love.”

Ty Segall Creates Original Song with Moogerfooger Effects Plug-ins

In the video below from Moog Music, Ty Segall builds an original composition, piece by piece, using guitar, bass, electric piano, synthesiser, a mix of percussion – and Moog’s new software effects plugins.

In the making of Frog Meets Fly, Segall demonstrates the sonic range and transformative potential of these effects.

Using the MF-107S FreqBox to morph metallic percussion into synth voices and imitate ‘60s-style fuzz tones on the track’s bass line, adding depth to his Rhodes with multiple instances of the MF-108S Cluster Flux, transforming clean electric guitar into lead lines via the MF-102S Ring Modulator, and adding vintage-toned delay to his Minimoog Model D with the MF-104S Delay, he utilises the processing power of these effects over the 15 separate tracks in this arrangement.

Moogerfooger Effects Plug-ins are available for a limited-time introductory price of $149 USD (usually $249). This offer includes all seven Moogerfooger effects in one convenient collection that is compatible with all major DAWs.

These professional audio effects are now available through Moog’s website and select partners around the world.