Creative Effect of the Year

Moog Multimode Filter XL £189

Web www.uaudio.com Format Mac/PC, UAD-2/Apollo Introduced as the main event in the Moog Multimode Filter Collection, MMF XL draws on “various incarnations of Moog designs” – most notably the Sub 37 synth – to improve immensely on its predecessor in every conceivable way.

First, the algorithms are ‘eight years better’, resulting in a filter that sounds absolutely phenomenal – high resonance sweeps scream like they really mean it, and the analogue saturation modelling is so warm you can almost feel the heat. Then there’s the addition of Notch and three-pole options, upping the versatility.

The envelopes and LFOs are much more capable now, the former offering a choice of targets plus Attack and Release controls, the latter now numbering two for mad mixed waveforms and stereo effects, and running at up to 1kHz (although still unable to modulate anything but cutoff). However, it’s the new four-track step sequencer that lands UA’s frequency-carving beast the prize. This amazing in-built automation system is used to fling four of the plugin’s controls around at a time, with the number of steps set independently for each track up to 16, a choice of six playback directions including two Random options, and adjustable Swing.

Even when it’s not moving, Moog Multimode Filter XL captures the creaminess and squelch of the real thing – indeed, we described it as “the best virtual Moog filter ever” in our review – but the step sequencer and LFOs elevate it beyond being ‘just’ a fantastic analogue filter emulation into a far deeper inspirational sound design tool.