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MIDI

MIDI Channel

On COBALT5S the MIDI channel can be set in the on-screen settings, or with the MODALapp. 

You can also change additional MIDI settings in the on-screen settings pages or in the settings 
tab of MODALapp. 

MIDI Output

COBALT5S can sequence your DAW or any device that can send MIDI notes over USB, MIDI or 
CV clock using the keyboard, sequencer or the arpeggiator. 

The keyboard sends MIDI Channel Aftertouch messages and the Touchpad can send MIDI 
Pitch Bend messages.

All of the encoders on COBALT5S output MIDI messages (The appropriate CC message 
depending on the SHIFT or panel state). This allows COBALT5S to be used as a fully functional 
plug and play MIDI controller! 

When a change is detected on any of the parameters, a CC message is sent out. See the MIDI 
implementation chart to find which parameters send which CC numbers. The keys also send 
the appropriate MIDI notes for the Octave range that they are programmed to. 

MIDI Input

COBALT5S can be played by sending it MIDI notes. This means you can use your DAW or any 
device that can send MIDI notes over USB/MIDI to sequence COBALT5S or control any of the 
parameters featured in the CC Implementation List.

MIDI Clock

Configure your DAW and MIDI devices to send or receive MIDI clock (Sync) to or from 
COBALT5S and, when Auto is selected it will automatically configure itself to work in time 
with your track tempo. When no clock is detected, the COBALT5S will continue to use 
whatever tempo it is internally configured to. 

MIDI Soft Thru

COBALT5S has two soft thru settings configurable from the app:

• 

DIN Thru:

 Forwards Midi received on din in to din out

• 

USB Thru:

 Soft interface mode which forwards midi received on din in to USB out, and 

USB in to din out 

MIDI

Program Change

Sending a bank change (0-2) followed by a program change (0-99) to COBALT5S will load the 
relevant preset.

Sync

The analogue sync connections on COBALT5S are configured to use a 3.3v, rising edge, 1 
pulse per 16th note signal. This is used to synchronise any other gear that is CV clock enabled 
with your device. 

PLEASE DO NOT EXCEED 5V INPUT AND OUTPUT.

Any signal received by the SYNC IN connection is automatically forwarded to the SYNC OUT. 
When running off internal clock or external clock SYNC OUT sends out the received clock. 

Sync auto detects incoming clock / sync signals and will select these in priority order:
1) Sync, 2) Ext MIDI and 3) Internal.

Sync will fall back to the next available sync source in reverse priority order after a timeout of 
3 seconds. 

Din MIDI Filters

COBALT5S has app-configurable midi filters on the Din input and output:

Notes, CC, Program Change, Aftertouch, Pitchbend, Transport, Clock and Sysex. 

By default Din IN allows all message types, and Din OUT allows all message types except clock. 

MIDI In Omni

MIDI can be made omni within the Settings pages or in the Settings tab of MODALapp. 
Omni mode makes COBALT5S listen to all midi channels, for all received midi (din or usb). 
Transmitted midi is still sent out on COBALT5S’s current midi channel. 

Summary of Contents for Cobalt 5S

Page 1: ...1 Modal COBALT5S 5 voice polyphonic extended virtual analogue synthesiser User Manual OS Version 1 1...

Page 2: ...spilt onto or come into contact with the apparatus In the event this should happen remove power from the unit immediately and seek expert assistance This apparatus produces sound that could cause per...

Page 3: ...s LFOs Arpeggiator Sequencer FX Modulation Keyboard Voice Audio Output Gain Touchpad Settings 04 MIDI MIDI Implementation Chart MPE Polychain 05 Update 06 MODALapp Getting Started Main Editor Preset M...

Page 4: ...be accessed independently or all three simultaneously on board COBALT5S also boasts a hugely powerful Mod Matrix with eight assignable slots and four additional fixed routes 11 mod sources and 41 des...

Page 5: ...h 11 modulation sources and 41 modulation destinations Specification Sequencer and Arpeggiator Polyphonic Real time and Step sequencer with 512 notes and four recordable editable parameter animations...

Page 6: ...olycarbonate enclosure Monochrome OLED display for instant visual feedback at all times of playing editing Power Power DC 9 0V 1 5A centre positive or USB bus powered Editor Software Free MODALapp sof...

Page 7: ...een using the two detented encoders These two switched encoders are located either side of the screen are used for screen navigation and control and can be clicked to either switch mode or trigger mod...

Page 8: ...s the Patch or Seq switch to return to the Preset page and use the Preset Edit encoder to scroll through presets Click this encoder if Preset Auto Load is not enabled on the desired preset to load it...

Page 9: ...dd pattern notes or press the Edit switch to add a rest to the pattern Hold the Patch switch and turn the Division encoder to control Arp Gate Keyboard Voice Hold the Patch switch and press the Mix en...

Page 10: ...n is displaying the Reset option press the Edit switch and follow the confirm instructions to reset all global settings to the factory default settings Please note that this will also reset the Main V...

Page 11: ...u Arp Seq Out MIDI in Oct Offset MIDI in Monitor Settings UI Screen Brightness Screen Switch Mode Screensaver Idle Time LEDs Brightness Keyboard Local Velocity Curve Aftertouch Curve TP Global Mode TP...

Page 12: ...ormally Closed pedals must be connected before powering on the device and disconnected after powering off the device in order to work correctly If your sustain pedal has a polarity switch we recommend...

Page 13: ...24 25 03 Synthesis engine...

Page 14: ...to cycle through the different Voice Modes Algorithms The available algorithms on COBALT5S include a variety of complex analogue synthesis techniques built in cross modulation SYNC RM and many more PW...

Page 15: ...in musical intervals Algorithms Fractal Saw Complex sync with un quantised control over ratio A and and an asymmetry control B that allows every second cycle of the wave to have a different sync rati...

Page 16: ...and turning the Cutoff encoder selects the current type of the filter The filter types available are Resonant Low Pass Morphs 4 pole lowpass through bandpass to 1 pole lowpass Balanced Low Pass Morphs...

Page 17: ...elease the key The envelope then enters the release phase Release Holding the Shift button or when latched in shift mode and turning this encoder controls the time passing from the moment you leave a...

Page 18: ...s an intuitive programmable arpeggiator The speed of the arpeggiator is controlled by the current clock which can either be received from the sync in port external MIDI or from the internal clock in C...

Page 19: ...e current sequencer step and repeats it like a beat repeater When the Preset Edit switch is released the sequencer carries on from the location it should have been before the step was repeated so it w...

Page 20: ...ed value When the cursor is over an animator value parameter changes panel or MIDI will assign an animation lane and or set the highlighted value Sequencer Overdub While the sequencer is playing press...

Page 21: ...tedly will play back the sequence as programmed playing note 61 will play the sequence back 1 semitone higher than programmed Great when used in conjunction with the Arp Arp octave controls playing ba...

Page 22: ...engine s audio output with the pre FX signal When set to minimum only the dry signal will be heard When set to maximum only the FX engine s signal will be heard Delay A Delay Time This parameter cont...

Page 23: ...Mod button is pressed a second time Note An LED flashing is used to indicate that the panel is in assign mode for the related function to that LED Press the Mod button repeatedly without selecting a...

Page 24: ...q LFO1 Rate X X X X X LFO2 Rate X LFO1 Shape X X X X X LFO2 Shape X LFO1 Depth X X X X X LFO2 Depth X Cutoff X Reso Morpth FEG Attack X FEG Sustain X FEG Release X FEG Amount X AEG Attack X AEG Decay...

Page 25: ...Polyphonic voice mode for the current patch 5 voice true polyphonic path into a stereo FX engine input Unison Monophonic voice modes where multiple voices are stacked and detuned the number reflects...

Page 26: ...s If you always want to start from a central 0 value this behaviour means you don t have to worry about pressing on the centre of the touchpad If you only want to control one side of the X or Y axis w...

Page 27: ...range in semitones for both MIDI in Pitch Bend messages and the Touchpad X axes Note If MPE Mode is enabled then this sets the pitch bend range MPE master channel messages only where the MPE Pitch Ben...

Page 28: ...r the upper range of values of the aftertouch response or select Heavy or Very Heavy if you want more control over the lower range of values of the aftertouch response Settings Sequencer Metronome Ena...

Page 29: ...nsmitting MIDI Expression messages MIDI CC 11 to the MIDI outputs You may want to disable this behaviour if the COBALT5S is connected to other synthesisers that responds to MIDI Expression messages To...

Page 30: ...thesiser to a USB port and it will show up as a MIDI input and output device in any software that supports external MIDI devices On macOS COBALT5S will show up in Midi Studio found in Applications Uti...

Page 31: ...detected the COBALT5S will continue to use whatever tempo it is internally configured to MIDI Soft Thru COBALT5S has two soft thru settings configurable from the app DIN Thru Forwards Midi received o...

Page 32: ...Osc2 Algorithm MIDI CC Implemention Chart CC Function 64 Sustain Pedal 65 66 67 Seq Length 68 Seq Mute 69 Seq Clear 70 Seq Hold 71 Seq Loop 72 Seq Record 73 74 75 Transpose 76 77 78 Swing 79 Seq Quan...

Page 33: ...e MPE instruments may not specify a Number of Channels in this case the most likely value to use here is 15 Please refer to the MPE instruments settings or documentation for more information 5 Set MPE...

Page 34: ...Settings General Polychain Master and turn this on The slave device should now be showing all voice mode LEDs lit and Polychain Slave on screen When In Polychain mode the slave COBALT5S panel is disab...

Page 35: ...to the latest version each time an update is released You can update COBALT5S using the MODALapp MODALapp is available for macOS iOS Windows and Android To find the app on your platform visit www moda...

Page 36: ...ation page to quickly view and edit the current patch modulation settings FX page for selecting and editing Chorus and Delay FX on COBALT5S Sequence page for live sequence controls and editing the 4 p...

Page 37: ...Editor This is the main section for patch design editing You will find keyboard voice oscillator filter and envelopes here The currently selected preset is shown at the top There are also options for...

Page 38: ...the exporting or importing options Exporting will copy and send all of the selected presets to the selected folder Importing will overwrite all of the selected presets in the preset manager with the p...

Page 39: ...zontal can be changed by clicking the controls on the top bar or scrolling left right Draw Mode To create some notes ensure the draw button on the top bar is highlighted this will be by default and cl...

Page 40: ...rd can be scrolled using the top scroll bar There is also access to the Arpeggiator controls and transpose chord options In the Settings Tab there are options for updating your COBALT5S to the latest...

Page 41: ...e necessary to provide a copy of the original invoice or Dealer purchase receipt to the Distributor In the event that you are unable to provide proof of purchase directly then you should contact the D...

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