Moog Premiers The Ladder – 500 Series Dynamic Transistor Ladder Filter

Moog Music and premiered The Ladder, a 500 series, Dynamic Transistor Ladder Filter that is based on Bob Moog’s original ladder filter designs. The Ladder is a powerful and fantastic sound sculpting tool that allows for creative and unique sound shifting and shaping. By design, The Ladder sports the smoothest all analog Low Pass and High Pass filter section. Simply adjust the Cutoff knob to add vibe, warmth or tonal adjustment. Choose LP to add analog vibe and warmth to a sound or select HP for sweetening and relieving the heft of a sound. We got a demo of The Ladder, as well as a beer caddy, at the recent AES show and even in the noisy din of the floor, it showcased some impressive filter action.

The Envelope section of The Ladder is where all the action in and features:
» Variable Attack and Release controls allow you to perfectly dial in the behavior of The Ladder’s envelope section. Use these controls to open and close the envelope as fast as lightning, or slow as molasses.
» Use the Amount control in Positive or Negative mode for mild to extreme sound shaping and manipulation. From slight timbral excitement and voicing to extreme compression-like behavior. Even reversed filter action is achievable!
» The Resonance control used with The Ladder’s other features allows for the creation of sweet, dynamic and even speech like behavior. Use it to tune The Ladder to a sound source… or not. You can excite or accentuate specific frequencies as well as create completely new unique and wild sounds.

Specifications:
» Audio I/O: XLR (Via 500 rack) Balanced line level
» Level Controls: Input and Output level
» Bypass: Hard Bypass
» Filter Type: Dynamic Low Pass and High Pass
» Envelope Type: Variable Attack/Release
» Envelope Control: Positive and Negative Modulation
» Input Impedance: 20K?, balanced
» Output Impedance: less than 50?
» Max. Output Level: +24dBu, balanced
» Drive Gain: -15 to +15 dB
» Output Gain: -15 to +15 dB
» Noise Level: better than 73dB below +4dBu, 0-30kHz
» Power Consumption: max 88 mA

NOTE: The Ladder’s Resonance control will push the unit into self-oscillation. This can be used for effect if desired. The 2Pole/4Pole switch allows you to select how aggressive your filter slope is. 2 pole is equal to 12db per octave which is smooth and sweet, while 4 pole is 24db per octave which is hard and aggressive. You also have a hard wire Bypass for totally transparent routing and A/B comparison

Moog’s Ladder costs $849 and is available now.

Moog

Author: FutureMusic

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