Steady State Fate - SSG Stereo Field

The Steady State Gate Stereo Field takes the celebrated sonic character of the original Steady State Gate and expands it into the stereo domain with a completely redesigned architecture. The SSGSF is far more than a simple stereo version – every aspect has been reimagined and tuned to new specifications, resulting in a powerful stereo field manipulator that excels at both stereo processing and mono-to-stereo transformation.

Like its predecessor, the SSGSF is not equipped with a vactrol but combines a VCA with a filter to emulate the sonic characteristics of vactrols. For the filter type, the SSGSF gives you the choice between a 6dB bandpass, as well as a 6dB or 12dB lowpass. There is also a resonance parameter (Q-FACTOR), which expands the sonic variety immensely! An internal decay envelope addresses both the VCA and VCF equally, emulating Vactrol response curves, and this envelope can be tapped at a CV output for further use in your patch.

The SSGSF's timbre circuit lets you choose between wave folding and saturation, as well as an interesting chaos (QAOS) mode that addresses and modulates the filter resonance. The timbre circuits have been enhanced from the original with a new wave folder response, and the QAOS mode now features a bypass switch that works across all timbre modes – including when QAOS itself is selected – providing a clean output option when desired.

What sets the SSGSF apart is its stereo processing, achieved via a special mid-side signal chain. This M/S architecture enables stereo animation and precise positioning effects for stereo sources, while providing rich tone control and psychoacoustic panning effects when processing mono signals. Stereo manipulation is controlled via the FIELD parameter, a NEAR/FAR switch, and dedicated CV input, allowing you to sculpt the spatial characteristics of your sound in great detail.

The trig section is now more flexible too. Alongside the classic EXCITE input there’s a CV/GATE jack that happily takes gates, envelopes or triggers; use both at once to layer pings or build busier dynamics.

The SSGSF can also be used as a standalone VCF or as a standalone VCA with high-end roll-off – typical of most traditional low-pass gates – with or without timbre modifiers in play. Whether you're adding movement to stereo sources, creating width from mono signals, or using it as a traditional low-pass gate with spatial control, the SSGSF delivers rich, musical results with exceptional sonic character!

Features:

• True stereo low-pass gate design with completely redesigned internals
• Combines VCA with filter to emulate vactrol characteristics (no actual vactrol)
• 6dB bandpass, 6dB lowpass, and 12dB lowpass filter modes
• Manual frequency cutoff control and CV input
• Manual resonance control (Q-FACTOR) and CV input
• Mid-side signal processing for advanced stereo manipulation
• FIELD control with CV input for stereo width and positioning
• NEAR/FAR switch for spatial character control
• Stereo animation and positioning effects for stereo sources
• Psychoacoustic panning and tone control for mono sources
• Dual trig inputs: CV/GATE and EXCITE (can be used simultaneously)
• EXCITE input accepts gates, triggers, and external envelopes
• EXCITE detects input levels to control dynamics
• Enhanced timbre circuits: wave folding, saturation, and QAOS mode
• New wave folder response
• QAOS mode with switchable bypass for all timbre modes
• Manual and voltage-controlled decay envelope emulating Vactrol response curves
• Clean output option with QAOS bypass engaged
• Can function as standalone VCF or VCA with high-end roll-off
• Envelope output for further modulation