Audiophile Circuits League Discrete Core Ladder VCF is a beautifully liquid sounding Moog-inspired transistor ladder design filter, with four outputs (6dB, 12dB, 18db, and 24db). We believe ours sounds fantastic, but there are many great sounding filter modules available, so we wanted to do something new, and designed a filter that addresses traditional limitations and offers new possibilities.
Our VCF features a 'BOOST' control. In most ladder VCF designs, the lower frequencies get attenuated (i.e the bass is lost), when you dial up the resonance. BOOST restores the low frequencies, boosting them at high resonance settings, allowing you to play extreme squealing basslines that are still... basslines.
Furthermore, our Discrete Core Ladder VCF features four separate buffered outputs for 6dB, 12dB, 18dB, and 24dB/octave sloped filters. This offers many many advantages over a simple switch selecting one slope setting or another.
Each of the outputs taps consecutively into the signal path as it is progressively filtered, and all of them can be routed and used separately... and simultaneously. Things get interesting then, because each stage is phase shifted by 90° from the previous. This offers very creative possibilities for combining these signals, as when you combine phase-shifted signals, some frequencies are cancelled. When combining them using a mixer that allows you to invert the waveforms of some of these, you can create fascinating bandpass filters, and everything in between low- and high-pass filters. It is similar to Oberheim's Expander Filter, but with its own unique character, since our filter is modelled on a Moog design.
We have not limited ourselves to features, of course: Signal path is key to making a filter sound fantastic. A fully discrete, low noise, low distortion audio path is used throughout the circuitry. And we designed it to saturate at exactly the point our experience has taught us responds best, and works well with other modules. When approaching 8V PP (Peak-to-Peak), the filter will create an awesome creamy and compressed sound that bends and evolves ever more as you push the input signal harder. And yet at lower signal levels, low distortion discrete buffers ensure the overall distortion of the signal is quite low, enabling a very clean sine wave when the filter is self-oscillating a little.
The end result offers the lush characteristics of a Moog filter, but with creative and practical possibilities unique to our VCF.
Current Draw:
- 65 mA +12V
- 65 mA -12V
- 0 mA 5V
Installation depth:
- 22 mm deep
Width 18 HP
How much is my shipping?
Shipping is automatically calculated before you submit your payment information. Simply add items to your cart and proceed to the checkout page, where you'll be offered shipping options and their prices. In the UK, 'next working day' shipping is free if the order value is over £150, and £5 otherwise. We can also ship on a 'next working day before 12pm' service, which costs £6 for orders over £150 and £7.50 for orders under £150.
Shipping to mainland EU typically costs between £7 and £20, depending on the shipping method and the size and weight of the order.
Do you ship to my country?
Almost certainly - the site will give you an estimate of shipping costs if you add an item to the cart and then enter your country and postcode. If you have specific requirements (such as if you prefer UPS over FedEx, for example) then let us know in advance and we'll try to work something out for you.
Shipping methods
We use a combination of DPD, Royal Mail and Parcelforce for the UK, and for international orders it's either DHL, FedEx, UPS, Royal Mail or Parcelforce depending on where you are in the world. If you have a particular preference then try to let us know BEFORE you order so we can look into it for you. Please note that there may occasionally be additional shipping charges if you live in a remote area, depending on what surcharges are applied by the shipper. We'll get in touch to discuss this with you in such cases.
Dispatch times
For UK orders, we aim to dispatch the same working day if we get the order before 16:00. If you have a really urgent situation then of course drop us an email before ordering and we'll always do our absolute best to accommodate you.
For international orders, we normally dispatch the same day if we get the order before 13:00 but again, occasionally it might be the next day before we can send it out, and sometimes the couriers may come to collect a little earlier than scheduled which would also push an order into the next day.
Saturday/Sunday shipping
If you're in the UK and you order before 16:00 on a Friday then we can send something for a Saturday or Sunday delivery with DPD. This is FREE for order values over £350, £5 for order values between £75 and £250, and £7 for order values under £75. (NB: this applies to UK mainland addresses only). Please note that any orders placed after 16:00 on a Friday will ship on the Monday.
International shipping times
Since April 2020, the couriers we use have suspended guarantees for shipping times, so even though we're paying them for priority services - 24-48 hours for most of the world - in practice it's often an extra day on top and sometimes it can be longer. There is absolutely nothing we can do about this, unfortunately. If you are outside the UK and it's a life-or-death situation where you absolutely MUST have that passive mult for the next day then... it may be better to find a local supplier.
Pre-orders
If a product is listed as a pre-order, it means we've ordered it from the supplier but it's not physically in stock yet. The product listing will include an estimated shipping date based on the best information we have from the supplier, but do bear in mind this is subject to change and is not a guaranteed date.
If you place an order containing a mixture of in-stock and pre-order items, we'll normally hold off on shipping anything until the pre-order item(s) have arrived, rather than splitting it into multiple shipments. If you need the in-stock items sooner, we'd recommend placing separate orders. As always, please get in touch if you have questions.
Product Overview
Audiophile Circuits League Discrete Core Ladder VCF is a beautifully liquid sounding Moog-inspired transistor ladder design filter, with four outputs (6dB, 12dB, 18db, and 24db). We believe ours sounds fantastic, but there are many great sounding filter modules available, so we wanted to do something new, and designed a filter that addresses traditional limitations and offers new possibilities.
Our VCF features a 'BOOST' control. In most ladder VCF designs, the lower frequencies get attenuated (i.e the bass is lost), when you dial up the resonance. BOOST restores the low frequencies, boosting them at high resonance settings, allowing you to play extreme squealing basslines that are still... basslines.
Furthermore, our Discrete Core Ladder VCF features four separate buffered outputs for 6dB, 12dB, 18dB, and 24dB/octave sloped filters. This offers many many advantages over a simple switch selecting one slope setting or another.
Each of the outputs taps consecutively into the signal path as it is progressively filtered, and all of them can be routed and used separately... and simultaneously. Things get interesting then, because each stage is phase shifted by 90° from the previous. This offers very creative possibilities for combining these signals, as when you combine phase-shifted signals, some frequencies are cancelled. When combining them using a mixer that allows you to invert the waveforms of some of these, you can create fascinating bandpass filters, and everything in between low- and high-pass filters. It is similar to Oberheim's Expander Filter, but with its own unique character, since our filter is modelled on a Moog design.
We have not limited ourselves to features, of course: Signal path is key to making a filter sound fantastic. A fully discrete, low noise, low distortion audio path is used throughout the circuitry. And we designed it to saturate at exactly the point our experience has taught us responds best, and works well with other modules. When approaching 8V PP (Peak-to-Peak), the filter will create an awesome creamy and compressed sound that bends and evolves ever more as you push the input signal harder. And yet at lower signal levels, low distortion discrete buffers ensure the overall distortion of the signal is quite low, enabling a very clean sine wave when the filter is self-oscillating a little.
The end result offers the lush characteristics of a Moog filter, but with creative and practical possibilities unique to our VCF.
Technical Specs
Shipping Details
How much is my shipping?
Shipping is automatically calculated before you submit your payment information. Simply add items to your cart and proceed to the checkout page, where you'll be offered shipping options and their prices. In the UK, 'next working day' shipping is free if the order value is over £150, and £5 otherwise. We can also ship on a 'next working day before 12pm' service, which costs £6 for orders over £150 and £7.50 for orders under £150.
Shipping to mainland EU typically costs between £7 and £20, depending on the shipping method and the size and weight of the order.
Do you ship to my country?
Almost certainly - the site will give you an estimate of shipping costs if you add an item to the cart and then enter your country and postcode. If you have specific requirements (such as if you prefer UPS over FedEx, for example) then let us know in advance and we'll try to work something out for you.
Shipping methods
We use a combination of DPD, Royal Mail and Parcelforce for the UK, and for international orders it's either DHL, FedEx, UPS, Royal Mail or Parcelforce depending on where you are in the world. If you have a particular preference then try to let us know BEFORE you order so we can look into it for you. Please note that there may occasionally be additional shipping charges if you live in a remote area, depending on what surcharges are applied by the shipper. We'll get in touch to discuss this with you in such cases.
Dispatch times
For UK orders, we aim to dispatch the same working day if we get the order before 16:00. If you have a really urgent situation then of course drop us an email before ordering and we'll always do our absolute best to accommodate you.
For international orders, we normally dispatch the same day if we get the order before 13:00 but again, occasionally it might be the next day before we can send it out, and sometimes the couriers may come to collect a little earlier than scheduled which would also push an order into the next day.
Saturday/Sunday shipping
If you're in the UK and you order before 16:00 on a Friday then we can send something for a Saturday or Sunday delivery with DPD. This is FREE for order values over £350, £5 for order values between £75 and £250, and £7 for order values under £75. (NB: this applies to UK mainland addresses only). Please note that any orders placed after 16:00 on a Friday will ship on the Monday.
International shipping times
Since April 2020, the couriers we use have suspended guarantees for shipping times, so even though we're paying them for priority services - 24-48 hours for most of the world - in practice it's often an extra day on top and sometimes it can be longer. There is absolutely nothing we can do about this, unfortunately. If you are outside the UK and it's a life-or-death situation where you absolutely MUST have that passive mult for the next day then... it may be better to find a local supplier.
Pre-orders
If a product is listed as a pre-order, it means we've ordered it from the supplier but it's not physically in stock yet. The product listing will include an estimated shipping date based on the best information we have from the supplier, but do bear in mind this is subject to change and is not a guaranteed date.
If you place an order containing a mixture of in-stock and pre-order items, we'll normally hold off on shipping anything until the pre-order item(s) have arrived, rather than splitting it into multiple shipments. If you need the in-stock items sooner, we'd recommend placing separate orders. As always, please get in touch if you have questions.
