If you are new 500 Series, Moog's The Ladder should hands-down be your first module! This filter will work miracles on nearly every instrument in your mix - it's practically a ribbon microphone in a box. In my studio, it adds grit to my flat drum track, tone to my muddy guitar, and body to nearly any vocal I use it on. The Ladder is an absolute must for anyone who's interested in the 500 Series format.

WOW!!!! I am absolutley blown away. The Ladder filter can be used on much more than synths, I have used it on nearly every source I can think of while mixing and the results are dramatic and instant. On guitar tracks, it makes a weak dynamic mic come alive like it was tracked with a high end ribbon; it gives punch and clarity to a flabby kick drum (you can also get a "subkick" sound if needed); on bass guitars, it can give a growl and edge or take out the high end "slap"; a pair of them on the mix buss makes it sound like it was tracked on a high end analog console! I can't say enough good things about The Ladder and how necessary it is as a mixing tool. The Ladder makes EVERYTHING sit where it needs to in the mix with NO effort!!!

If you take a hands-on approach to sound manipulation, you HAVE to have The Ladder by in your rack. When I got a couple into my studio I was able to channel Bob Moog's energy as I mashed my drum buss into oblivion. Next I moved over to the bass and added some sweetening with a deft touch. I think I tried it on every instrument on the record I'm currently working on and some of the sounds just defy description!