Behringer BM-17 Frequency Box

The crazy squeaky box for weird and atonal sounds

With the BM-17 Frequency Box, Behringer presents a clone of the Moog MF-107 FreqBox from the popular MoogerFooger series. Behringer has succeeded in faithfully reproducing the special sound of the classic in all its details.

The BM-17 is a fully analog effect like no other, because it is basically an oscillator that wants to attach itself to any input signal. The oscillator itself has a wide frequency range and is equipped with the rare feature of a continuously fadeable waveform. The waveform can be adjusted from triangle to sawtooth and square to needle pulse. If Hardsync is activated, the oscillator attempts to synchronize itself to the frequency of the input signal. The ENV & FM AMOUNT controls bring a certain amount of control to the chaos. FM AMOUNT determines how strongly the input signal affects the frequency of the oscillator. The envelope follower calculates a control voltage from the level differences of the input signal and uses it to modulate the oscillator frequency.

Despite the small number of controls, the effect pedal takes a little getting used to. The results vary between wild squeals, rhythmized drones, electronic percussions, classic sync sounds and popping basslines between the peaks of a Drum machine. But the BM-17 is also extremely useful as an additional oscillator for a synthesizer or as a modulation oscillator for filter FM. The input stage is designed for line and guitar levels and can be overdriven, which in most cases sounds very musical and has a harmonic character.