This plugin spotlight features the Moog Multimode Filter Collection by Universal Audio, a set of truly authentic, analog-sounding Moog filter emulations.
Overview
The legendary sound of Moog analog filters have long reigned supreme as the most influential and musical‑sounding filter circuits ever designed. In a successful effort, Moog and Universal Audio have combined their renowned talents to design a new Moog Multimode Filter Collection for UAD-2 hardware and Apollo interfaces.
Capturing the incredibly rich presence and sought after filter characteristics, the Moog Multimode Filter Collection comes bundled with the new Moog Multimode Filter XL plus the previously available Moog Multimode Filter, and the low DSP Moog Multimode Filter SE. These three plugins offer truly authentic, analog-sounding Moog filter emulation, coupled with powerful modulation and control functions that can be used as a tone-shaping secret weapon in a mix or a source of creative madness in a live performance.
Moog Multimode Filter XL
Built for the modern music producer or audio engineer, the Moog Multimode Filter XL combines various incarnations of Moog designs with expanded modulation and envelope capabilities, improved filter design, and a full-featured, 16-step multi-lane step sequencer for modulating the plugin’s control parameter values over time.
Designed in collaboration with Moog Music Chief Scientist Cyril Lance, the Moog Multimode Filter XL is a more advanced version of UAD’s original Moog Multimode Filter plugin. The new design offers separate filters that can be modulated separately, more filter modes, a variety of filter slopes, a wider range of cutoff frequencies, an envelope follower circuit with a selection of sound shaping parameters and control destinations, endless LFO modulation possibilities, and an intuitive, full-featured, four-lane 16-step sequencer.
Key Features
- Based on the Moog Sub 37, the improved nonlinear filter design includes four different filter slopes, a full 20Hz to 20kHz frequency range, plus Lowpass, Highpass, Bandpass, and Notch filtering with self-oscillation.
- Drive control for increasing the amount of saturation gain before the filter, plus a Boost (+20) button that increases the gain range of the Drive circuit.
- Independent Envelope Attack and Release controls borrowed from The Moog Ladder 500, plus four assignable Envelope destination selections for Filter Cutoff, Resonance, Modulation Amount, and Rate. Also, a Sensitivity control for setting the level of the input signal as it passes into the envelope follower and an Amount control for setting the degree to which the envelope destination is affected by the dynamics of the input signal.
- Borrowed from the Moog Sonic Six, the LFO Modulation section features two fully independent, Tempo Sync/Tap Tempo controlled LFO Rate controls plus seven independent LFO Wave selections including Slewed Random from the Sub 37. This section also has global LFO Amount, Balance, and Width controls that affect the behavior of both LFOs simultaneously.
- Borrowed from the Moog Voyager, the Spacing control detunes two separate hard-panned filters for creating stereo spatial effects.
- 16-step Sequencer with four assignable lanes that feature Sequence Length, Amount, Glide, plus global Direction, Sync, and Swing controls.
- Output section controls for setting final output volume, wet/dry mix, stereo/mono operation, and left/right balance.
- The collection includes Moog Multimode Filter XL, Original Moog Multimode Filter, and DSP-lite “SE” version.
- Comes loaded with artist presets from The Glitch Mob, The Crystal Method, Benno de Goeij, Christoffer Berg, and more.
The Moog Ladder Filter
Turning electricity into music, the late electronic music pioneer and inventor of the Moog Synthesizer Bob Moog is famously known for developing legendary analog synthesizers that have inspired generations of musicians and audio engineers. What makes Moog synthesizers so unique is the Voltage Controlled Filter circuitry used in all Moog Synthesizers to this day. Moog’s Ladder Filter is the heart and soul of his instruments and is an essential element of the lush, thick sound that make Moog synthesizers so renowned.
On October 10, 1966, Bob Moog filed the patent #3,475,623 titled “Electronic High Pass and Low Pass Filters Employing the Base to Emitter Diode Resistance of Bipolar Transistors,” which became one of the most influential elements in the Moog sound. Interestingly, Moog’s design gained its name ‘The Ladder Filter’ from the original filter circuit schematic which shows two symmetrical cascades of four transistors and a capacitor between each pair of transistors that does indeed look like a ladder.
The Ladder Filter was the first voltage controlled filter design. By using voltage control such as keyboards and envelopes to steer the harmonic content of music over time, the Ladder Filter allowed new ways of manipulating sound which massively advanced musical expression. The Ladder Filter became so revolutionary that it was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2013 for being a great technological achievement that has changed the world.
Nearly 50 years later, Moog’s Ladder Filter remains one of the most musical‑sounding filters heard on countless hit records and used by some of the biggest names in the music industry since its inception. The illustrious sound of the filter was so well received that it quickly become the design reference and sonic benchmark for nearly every synthesizer that has followed.
The great achievements of Bob Moog’s innovative designs and legendary sound has placed him in history as the founding father of synthesizers and the original inspiration for so much of today’s electronic music.
Take Away
The Moog Multimode XL plugin is truly an impressive emulation of the most musical audio filtering circuits ever devised. It delivers that classic Moog richness and personality of the original hardware while also offering modern functionality for sequencer-based music production. What makes this filter stand out from the pack other than its amazing sound and rhythmic precision is that it combines several classic and modern Moog instrument features into one simple, creative control set.
The Moog Multimode Filter Collection is a great set of tools perfect for sculpting and manipulating sounds like the pros. Enhance your music by adding subtle to extreme textures to synths, drums, and other sources or create various styles of expression across the stereo field with independent LFOs. The Drive circuit alone adds musical warmth that will push your sounds harder in the mix. Even better, is that the new plugin design offers modern features such independent control and an intuitive, four-lane step sequencer loaded with options for creating some filter madness.
Moog and UAD have done a stellar job with this plugin. It’s also inspiring to have the opportunity to work with a legendary processor that has been a major recording studio staple for so many decades. This set is remarkably one of the finest “character” filter plugins available today, and at an affordable price. Another great achievement for Universal Audio!
