AESNY11: Moog Debuts The Ladder, Dynamic Transistor Ladder Filter is the first 500 Series Module from Moog Music -Sonicstate.com

AESNY11: Moog Debuts The Ladder

Dynamic Transistor Ladder Filter is the first 500 Series Module from Moog Music 21/10/11

Moog Music has announced the release of The Ladder, a Professional 500 Series Dynamic Ladder Filter based on Bob Moog's original ladder filter design. The Ladder is Moog Music's first 500 series module for the Pro Audio market and is designed to add depth, flexibility and classic Moog vibe to sound sources.

Mike Adams, President/CEO of Moog Music, told us, "There have been a lot of firsts for Moog this year. The release of Animoog, the first professional synthesizer for the iPad has introduced us to whole new segment of customers. Now The Ladder will reacquaint Moog with the Pro Audio community that embraced Moog Modular Synthesizers in the 1960's. We are very happy to see the market embracing this exciting format and we look to developing other modules."

Moog Music tell us that the Ladder packs all the punch, fullness and analog euphoria of the original Moog Filter, but adds key component and feature upgrades required for professional studio use. They say that, from classic Moog filtering and vibe to modern sweetening and wild, exciting behavior, The Ladder is a powerful, articulate sound sculpting tool.

The Ladder features include:

Low Pass and High Pass: The Ladder has inherited the smoothest all analog filter section possible. Choose between LP and HP at the flick of a switch.
Cutoff: Simply adjust this knob to determine where The Ladder begins to sculpt the sound.
Attack and Release: These variable controls allow you to perfectly dial in the timing behavior of The Ladder's envelope section. Use them to open and close the envelope as fast as lightning, or slow as molasses.
Amount: Use in Positive or Negative mode for mild to extreme sound shaping and manipulation. The amount determines how much signal is sent to the envelope section of The Ladder. From slight timbral excitement and voicing to extreme compression-like behavior and even reversed filtering is achievable.
Resonance: Controls the amount of harmonic bump at the cutoff frequency. This is the voice of The Ladder. Create sweet, dynamic or extreme speech like behavior and beyond. Accentuate specific frequencies to excite a sound or create completely new and unique ones.

NOTE: The Ladder's Resonance control can push the unit into self-oscillation. This can be used for effect if desired.
2Pole/4Pole: Select how aggressive the 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, aggressive and most similar to a Classic Moog filter.
Bypass: Totally transparent relay bypass for routing and A/B comparison

Pricing and Availability:
The Ladder will be available at Moog Dealers worldwide in December 2011 for MSRP US$769.00.

More information:

The Ladder

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12 Comments... Post a comment original story

Mattsynth Said...

Now that is something to get worked up about. The start of a new Mood modular is great new from Moog. I can see it will be pretty pricy but so was the original Modular. This is exciting news.

21-Oct-11 12:43 PM

Robin Said...

is it Eurorack? What kind of case will this fit into?

21-Oct-11 01:23 PM

dalas v Said...

http://www.sweetwater.com/shop/studio/500-series/buying_guide.php

21-Oct-11 04:16 PM

RedWalks Said...

hmmm..is it logical to build a modular synth without having cv and gate jacks on the frontplate ???

21-Oct-11 05:06 PM

robgs Said...

looks like this is more for audio processing than a synthesizing, would be nice if they made modules for euroracks though

21-Oct-11 06:33 PM

shaft9000 Said...

guys...this NOT a Moog Modular module. It's a 500-series rack module. Nobody is going to synthesize diddly with this, and it would be redundant for Moog to enter the 5U modular market as there are already better filters available for less money, believe it or not. It's for mix-engineers that want a ladder filter in their rack, that's it. Now - how this is worth $500 more than the MF-101 is the big mystery here. A cut-down EG and pretty backlit faceplate is hardly worth the extra $500, imho. But we'll just have to wait and see(hear).

21-Oct-11 06:41 PM

Atomic Shadow Said...

What ever shaft90000 this is a Moog modular module all the way!nice try newb!

22-Oct-11 06:06 PM

Mattsynth Said...

You have to be kidding. This is not the start of a new modular synth but a module for a modular effects rack. Sometimes I wonder what Moog is thinking. I am no longer excited, I am disapointed.

23-Oct-11 07:59 PM

Colin Said...

I played with this in New York at AES. It sounds great (as you would expect), is fun to use and is fairly flexible. It is priced appropriately for a 500-series module (it isn't a guitar pedal and it's made for a smaller market). I can understand why they cut some features out since there just isn't that much space on the front panel (it's pretty cramped as it is), and it has all the necessary features for its intended use.

Talking to the rep at the convention. This is just something they are trying to test the waters out. Moog hasn't really done gear for mix engineers so this is a new market for them. If it works out he said they might release more modules.

It is NOT for synthesists or music makers. This is for mix engineers to do some funkier things than just EQ and compression. It seems like a great addition to the 500-series catalog and if I used a 500-series system I would definitely pick one up. Poo-poo it all you want, all the engineers I saw at AES were really excited about this one.

(Also as far as I could tell the panel is not backlit, though it is very attractive in person.)

23-Oct-11 10:09 PM

The Guvnor Said...

I wonder why Moog is making effects rack equipment when clearly the prospect of 'new' modular synth modules after all these years creates such a HUGE buzz in the synth community.

If they came out with a new module every couple of months(even limited editions) a lot of people would be scrambling over them.

23-Oct-11 10:23 PM

Mattsynth Said...

I agree with you Guvner, what is Moog thinking.

24-Oct-11 08:05 AM

Synth_Fan Said...

@Guvnor - I suspect their Moogerfrooger sales and sales-base points to far greater quantities selling to musicians, producers and DJs as an effect, as distinct from synthesists only module. So they are clearly NOT re-entering the modular synth market at this juncture.

That said, the price is an outrage - are Moog living on the same planet as the rest of us? This is essentially the cost of a Little Phatty! I'm a huge Moog fan but the price of their effects and now this beggars belief.

25-Oct-11 02:36 PM

AESNY11: Moog Debuts The Ladder

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