The Ladder - Moog Music’s first 500 series module!

"That thing is endlessly deep. You could use it on about every instrument to make it more interesting or give it it’s own character… I could play with it for days"  -Michael Wagener

The Ladder is a Dynamic Transistor Ladder Filter that is based on Bob Moog's original ladder filter designs. Don't be fooled by its small size, 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.

 The Envelope section of The Ladder is where things get really cool:

•  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.

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

The Ladder isn't your average filter. It's a big step up

The Ladder provides a host of controls for dynamic filtering, sweetening, sculpting and drive, and is exclusively available for the popular API 500 Lunchbox format. It can be used as a mix tool - enhancing or cutting high and low frequencies, but can do much more:
 
It can also be used as an analogue drive unit, or to de-ess vocals; it excels at smoothing overly bright acoustic guitar, or can be used to add body to snare drums, and in the example on the video below, as a dynamic filter has the remarkably useful ability to gate problem frequencies out, leaving the desired instrument to reveal itself only when audible.
 
Beyond extra controls, improved circuitry reduces noise floor and increases dynamic range. Also, balanced connectors are provided courtesy of host chassis.
 
In addition, two units can be stereo linked internally with included wire. In all, The Ladder is suited to full-bandwidth professional audio productions where low noise floor, balanced connectivity and versatile feature set are paramount.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO >>>

Technical Specs

• Audio I/O: Balanced line level via 500 rack. +19dBµ to -16dBµ input accepted.
• Filter Type: 2 and 4 pole dynamic low-pass & high-pass transistor Ladder Filter
• Envelope Type: RMS detector, bi-polar with variable attack & release
• Attack time:    Better than 250µS to 2.0 seconds depending on program material and level.
• Release time:  Better than 150mS to 2.0S depending on program material and level.
• Envelope Control: Positive and Negative Modulation
• Input Impedance: Nominally 24KΩ balanced differential, 12KΩ unbalanced single ended.
• Output Impedance: Nominally 50Ω  differential 25Ω single ended.
• Max. Output Level: Better than +22dBµ, balanced.
• Drive Gain: 36dB Range of control
• Output Gain: 36dB Range of control
• Frequency Response: Better than +/-0.5dB 20Hz – 20KHz pass band.  Better than +/- 1.5dB 5Hz – 24KHz pass band.
• Bypass: Hard Relay True Bypass
• Power Consumption: Less than 105mA +16V, less than 75mA -16V.