Modal Argon 8X 61 Key 8 Voice Wavetable Synthesizer

Full Description

Unlock the true power of the Argon8 – firmware v3 has arrived!

Welcome to the future. Building on the success of the now iconic Argon8 wavetable synthesizer, Modal have been busy crafting the newest update, providing a wide variety of exciting new features, upgrades and enhancements. One of the most prominent new features is the free-running oscillator and vintage controls. Emulating the behaviour of classic synthesizers, Argon8’s free-running oscillators can be used for a variety of applications from creating long drone-style sounds to creating atmospheric melodies.

The new ‘Vintage’ parameter introduces variation between the voices, emulating the effect of aging components to give them a truly analog sound and feel. The sound shaping capabilities have also been expanded with the introduction of four new filter types: Ladder, Ladder Hybrid, Notch, Ladder Phase and Sallen-Key. There are also 15 new effects including a compressor, phaser, chorus, three-band EQ and a variety of new reverb algorithms. If that wasn’t enough, the factory preset bank has been heavily updated, allowing you to explore all the new features and upgrades included within the firmware v3 update.

Wavetable synthesizer

The 120 wavetables onboard the Argon 8X provide a huge range of audio potential. Split into 24 banks of 5 morphable waveform sets, the wavetables cover a range of sounds from virtual analog classics to cutting edge EDM. These include many of the sounds available with the original Modal 002 as well as a whole range of mathematically generated tables.

Static wavetable modifiers

32 static wavetable modifiers can be applied to the 120 wavetables to give a huge array of permutations and waveshapes. These include de-rez, wave folders, wave shapers, phase shapers and rectify. As well as this, 32 high-resolution wavetable oscillators, four per voice, ensure you’ll never run out of sound processing options. These oscillators can then be modulated using one of eight onboard modifiers including Phase Mod (FM), Ring Mod, Amp Mod, Hard Sync and Windowed Sync.

61 full size keys

The Argon 8X features 61 full-size keys with both velocity and aftertouch. The key bed is combined with a 1.54” OLED display, providing immediate visual feedback of playing and editing parameters. The keyboard can be placed in various modes including mono, poly, unison 2, unison 4, unison 8, stack 2 and stack 4. The keyboard helps allow the user to make full use of the built-in programmable arpeggiator. The arpeggiator offers 32 steps, with rest capability up to 2048 steps, before repeating. Other features include glide/portamento with both legato and staccato modes.

State-variable filters

The Argon 8X features four, 2-pole state-variable filters. The ‘Standard’ filters are based on the resonant filter found across various Modal products ((SKULPTsynthesiser, CRAFTsynth2.0). The ‘Classic’ type filters have a more rounded character and softer resonance response.

Huge array of effects

The Argon 8X features three powerful independent and user configurable stereo FX engines. These can be utilised for chorus, phaser, flanger (pos), flanger (neg), Tremolo, lo-fi, rotary, stereo delay, ping-pong delay, X-over delay and reverb that can be arranged in any order. A 32-step programmable arpeggiator also allows for rhythmic synth sounds. The Argon 8X contains 100 FX and sequencer presets that can be quickly accessed to help streamline your creative workflow. The Argon 8X features four dedicated quick recall slots, providing accessibility to your favourite settings.

A range of connectivity options

A huge range of connectivity options ensure that the Argon 8X seamlessly integrates into your current studio setup. Quarter inch jacks are used for stereo audio outputs, headphones and to provide access for external control expression and sustain. A 3.5mm stereo input has the ability to route incoming audio through the FX. The Argon 8X can also be synced with an external analog clock for control over delay, LFO’s, sequencer and arpeggiator effects.

Features

• Vintage Parameter
• Oscillator free run
• New factory preset bank
• Four new filter types
  • Ladder - 4 pole resonant ladder filter with pre-filter drive, morphing through: LP > BP > HP
  • Ladder Hybrid - 1 pole resonant ladder filter with pre-filter drive, morphing through: LP + Notch > Notch > HP + Notch
  • Ladder Phaser - Resonant ladder filter with pre-filter drive, morphing through: Notch >> Phaser
  • Sallen-Key - 2 pole resonant Sallen-Key Filter with pre-filter drive, morphing through: LP > BP
• 15 new effects (including new reverb algorithm)
  • Reverb V2
  • Phaser V2
  • Chorus V2
  • Unisoniser
  • Compressor
  • Three Band EQ
  • Mono Drive (Hard Clip)
  • Mono Drive (Soft Clip)
  • Mono Drive (Rectify)
  • Mono Drive (Fold)
  • Stereo Drive (Hard Clip)
  • Stereo Drive (Soft Clip)
  • Stereo Drive (Rectify)
  • Stereo Drive (Fold)
  • Utility
• Seven new arpeggiator directions:
  • Chord
  • Pendulum 2 - Repeats the last note when reversing direction
  • N-Pendulum 2 - Pendulum 2 in note number order
  • Reverse Pendulum - A reverse version of Pendulum
  • N-Reverse Pendulum - A reverse version of N-Pendulum
  • Reverse Pendulum 2 - A reverse version of Pendulum 2
  • N-Reverse Pendulum 2 - A reverse version of N-Pendulum 2

• True 8 voice polyphonic
• 120 carefully crafted wavetables split into 24 banks of 5 morphable waveform sets, covering virtual analog classics through to cutting edge EDM
• 32 static wavetable modifiers including de-rez, wave folders, wave shapers, phase shapers and rectify that can be applies to the 120 wavetables to give new waveshapes
• 32 high resolution wavetable oscillators, 4 per voice
• 8 types of oscillator modifier
• Voice drift and width controls
• Multiple keyboard modes
• 4 filter types

Specifications

• Polyphony: true 8 voice polyphonic, mono-timbral
• Filter: two pole morphing resonant filter with multiple filter types
• Effects: chorus, phaser, flanger (positive or negative), lo-fi, tremolo, rotary, 3 x delay types (stereo, ping-pong, crossover) and reverb
• Keyboard: 61-key with aftertouch and velocity
• Connectivity:
  • Analogue clock sync in and out (configured to the KORG / Teenage Engineering specification)
  • MIDI DIN in and out
  • Full size quarter inch jacks for stereo audio outs, headphones and external control such as sustain and expression
  • 3.5 mm stereo input with ability to route incoming audio through the FX
  • Class compliant MIDI provided over USB connection to host computer or tablet
• Power: DC-9.0V-1.5A
• Physical (width x depth x height): 885mm x 300mm x 10mm
• Product code: ARGON8X