Moogerfooger MF-108S Cluster Flux plugin is a digital recreation of Moog’s legendary MF-108 Cluster Flux analog effects pedal. Originally designed by Bob Moog in the early 2010s, the MF-108S captures the essence of its hardware predecessor while expanding its capabilities for modern digital audio workstations. At its core, the plugin features a dual-range BBD-style delay line optimized for short delay times, coupled with a multi-waveform LFO that modulates the delay to produce a wide array of chorus, flanger, and vibrato effects. The MF-108S goes beyond mere emulation, offering stereo functionality and additional features not present in the original hardware unit. It excels at adding rich, swirling textures and intense flanging to any audio source, from guitars and vocals to synthesizers and drums. The plugin’s interface retains the classic Moogerfooger aesthetic, with a layout that invites experimentation and sonic exploration.
Pros:
• Meticulous recreation of the original MF-108 Cluster Flux analog pedal
• Expanded feature set including stereo functionality and new tone-shaping options
• Flexible CV-style modulation system for interconnectivity with other Moogerfooger plugins
Cons:
• Steep learning curve for users unfamiliar with modular synthesis concepts
The MF-108S Cluster Flux plugin boasts an impressive array of features that both honor its analog heritage and push it into new sonic territory. The heart of the effect is its BBD-style delay line, which is designed to emulate the warm, organic character of bucket brigade delay chips. This delay can be modulated by a versatile LFO section, offering multiple waveforms including sine, triangle, square, sawtooth, and random. The interplay between the delay and LFO creates the plugin’s signature chorus, flanger, and vibrato effects.
The plugin’s interface is divided into several sections, each offering deep control over the effect’s parameters. The Delay section allows users to adjust the delay time, which ranges from ultra-short for subtle doubling effects to longer times for more pronounced modulation. The Feedback control determines the amount of signal fed back into the delay line, crucial for creating resonant flanger effects or thicker chorus sounds.
The LFO section is particularly powerful, with controls for Rate, Amount, and Waveform. Users can sync the LFO to their DAW’s tempo or run it freely, and the Amount knob determines how drastically the LFO affects the delay time. The Waveform selector offers classic shapes as well as a Random option for more unpredictable modulation.
One of the standout additions to the MF-108S is the Type switch, which toggles between normal stereo echo and a ping-pong delay mode, expanding the plugin’s stereo imaging capabilities. The Tone control is another new feature, offering Legacy, Analog, and Modern settings that affect the EQ, filtering, and overall character of the delayed signal.
The plugin also introduces a Timing control, allowing users to choose between tight digital timing and looser, more analog-like timing instabilities. This subtle feature can add organic variation to the effect, enhancing its vintage feel.
Perhaps the most powerful aspect of the MF-108S is its CV (Control Voltage) input system. This feature emulates the modular connectivity of the original Moogerfooger pedals, allowing users to modulate various parameters using other instances of Moogerfooger plugins within their DAW session. This creates a virtual modular environment where complex, evolving sounds can be crafted by interconnecting multiple Moogerfooger effects.
The MF-108S also includes an extensive preset management system, allowing users to save and recall their favorite settings. All parameters can be automated within the host DAW, providing dynamic control over the effect during playback.
When comparing the MF-108S Cluster Flux to similar plugins, it stands out for its authenticity and depth. While many chorus and flanger plugins aim for a more modern, pristine sound, the MF-108S embraces the quirks and character of analog hardware. Its closest competitors might include Universal Audio’s Brigade Chorus Pedal or the Eventide TriceraChorus, both of which offer high-quality modulation effects. However, the MF-108S distinguishes itself with its modular-inspired CV system and its ability to seamlessly blend between chorus, flanger, and vibrato effects. The plugin’s focus on short delay times and intense modulation also sets it apart from more traditional delay plugins. While it can create subtle chorusing, its sweet spot is in producing rich, swirling textures that can dramatically transform a sound source. This makes it particularly well-suited for electronic music production, where producers are often looking for ways to add movement and depth to synthesizer patches or drum loops.
This plugin is best for:
• Electronic music producers seeking to add analog-style modulation to their tracks
• Guitarists and vocalists looking for rich, vintage-inspired chorus and flanger effects
• Sound designers aiming to create evolving, complex textures
• Musicians interested in exploring modular-style patching within a digital environment
Moogerfooger MF-108S Cluster Flux plugin is a powerful tool for adding depth, movement, and character to audio tracks. Its meticulous recreation of the original hardware, combined with thoughtful expansions for the digital realm, make it a versatile effect that can enhance a wide range of sound sources. The plugin’s learning curve may be steep for those unfamiliar with modular synthesis concepts, but the payoff in terms of sonic possibilities is substantial. Its ability to produce everything from subtle chorusing to intense, swirling flanging effects makes it a valuable addition to any producer’s toolkit. The CV-style modulation system, in particular, opens up a world of creative patching possibilities that set it apart from more conventional modulation plugins. Whether used subtly to add dimension to a guitar track or pushed to extremes for experimental sound design, the MF-108S Cluster Flux proves to be a worthy digital incarnation of Moog’s legendary analog effects.