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8

9

Specification

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True 8 voice polyphonic

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120 carefully crafted wavetables split into 24 banks of 5 morphable waveform sets, 
covering virtual analogue classics through to cutting edge EDM and many from the 
original Modal 002 as well as a whole range of mathematically generated tables. 
Additional PWM bank and 3 noise/modulation banks accessible on Oscillator 2

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32 static wavetable modifiers including, de-rez, wave folders, wave shapers, phase 
shapers and rectify that can be applied to the 120 wavetables to give a mind boggling 
array of permutations and new waveshapes.

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32 high resolution wavetable oscillators, 4 per voice

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8 types of oscillator modifier including: Phase Mod (FM), Ring Mod, Amp Mod, Hard Sync 
and Windowed Sync 

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Voice Drift and Width controls that help to create massive stereo soundscapes

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Multiple keyboard modes, Mono, Poly, Unison 2, unison 4, unison 8, Stack 2 and Stack 4

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Inbuilt sophisticated programmable arpeggiator of 32 steps with rest capability with up to 
2048 steps before repeating

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Glide/Portamento with both legato and staccato modes

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4 Filter types. All filters types are 2 pole state-variable filters, the ‘Standard’ filters 
are based on the resonant filter found in other Modal products (SKULPTsynth, 
CRAFTsynth2.0). The ‘Classic’ types have a more rounded character and a softer 
resonance response.

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8 assignable modulation slots 

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4 additional fixed modulation routings for common assignments 

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11 modulation sources 

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52 modulation destinations

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4-axis joystick that can be assigned to a huge range of modulation destinations and 
virtually ‘locked’ when desired

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3 dedicated envelope generators for AMP, MOD and FILTER that can be accessed 
independently or all three simultaneously including negative (reverse) versions

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2 Audio rate LFO’s with tempo sync (one poly, one global). Polyphonic LFO can sync to 
frequency divisions

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Waveshaping distortion 

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3 incredibly powerful independent and user configurable stereo FX engines for Chorus, 
Phaser, Flanger (Pos), Flanger (Neg), Tremolo, LoFi, Rotary, Stereo Delay, Ping-Pong Delay, 
X-Over Delay and Reverb that can be arranged in any order

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32-step programmable arpeggiator

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Real time sequencer with 512 notes with input quantise and four recordable / editable 
parameter animations (Delay FX, LFO’s, sequencer and arpeggiator can be either clocked 
internally or externally)

Specification

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500 patch memories, all fully editable and ships with 300 factory programs

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200 user patch spaces. Patch upload and download through the free MODALapp

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100 sequencer presets that can be linked to any patch for quickly loading arrangements

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100 FX presets

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8 Quick Recall slots accessible from the panel for quickly loading your favourite patches 

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Analogue clock sync in and out (configured to the KORG / Teenage Engineering 
specification)

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MIDI DIN in and out

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Full size quarter inch jacks for stereo audio outs, headphones and external control such as 
sustain and expression

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3.5 mm stereo input with ability to route incoming audio through the FX

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FATAR TP9/S Full size 37 key keybed with both velocity and aftertouch

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1.54 inch large OLED display – that provides instant visual feedback to the user at all 
times of playing/editing

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Class compliant MIDI provided over USB connection to host computer or tablet

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Optional MODALapp software editor available for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android

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 MODALapp can also be run within your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), with VST3 
and AU versions available

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Power: DC-9.0V - 1.5A center-positive 

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Road ready Steel and Aluminium chassis

Dimensions

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Width: 555mm – 22 inches

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Depth: 300mm – 11-3/4 inches

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Height: 100mm – 4 inches

Summary of Contents for Argon8

Page 1: ...1 Modal Argon8 8 voice polyphonic wavetable synthesiser User Manual OS Version 1 0...

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: ...Wavetable Modifiers Filter Envelopes LFOs Arpeggiator Sequencer FX Modulation Keyboard Voice Settings 04 MIDI MIDI Implementation Chart 05 Update 06 ModalApp Getting Started Main Editor Preset Manage...

Page 4: ...ick can be assigned to a huge range of modulation destinations and can be locked in place when desired There are two Audio rate LFO s with tempo sync one poly one global Polyphonic LFO can sync to fre...

Page 5: ...imultaneously including negative reverse versions 2 Audio rate LFO s with tempo sync one poly one global Polyphonic LFO can sync to frequency divisions Waveshaping distortion 3 incredibly powerful ind...

Page 6: ...sible and tweakable directly from the top panel however all functions are also accessible and tweakable on screen using the two indented encoders These two switched encoders are located either side of...

Page 7: ...a button hold Navigating and Loading Preset To navigate through and load patches first press the Patch Seq button to return to the Patch page and use the Preset Edit encoder to scroll through presets...

Page 8: ...fferent unison modes press Stack repeatedly to cycle through the different stack modes Press Chord whilst holding a chord on the internal or an external keyboard to set the chord mode chord Hold Trans...

Page 9: ...o TRS jack from an external expression source Argon8 works best with expression pedals that use the TRS polarity and have a resistance of 10k or above However ARGON8 has a software configuration optio...

Page 10: ...18 19 03 Synthesis engine...

Page 11: ...d to the PWM or noise banks Spread This introduces additional oscillators to achieve unison or stacked octaves and intervals In the first half of the dial Wave 1 and Wave 2 are split into individual o...

Page 12: ...are playing back in relation to the master counter Tip This style of Sync is the version found on many synthesisers and works best on harmonically rich waves for classic kinds of synced sounds try usi...

Page 13: ...ifferent wave shaping effect Shaper 3 Applies another different wave shaping effect Wavetable Modifiers Cubic Phaseshaper cubes the read curve of the wavetable creating a different variation of its sh...

Page 14: ...rator represented on the encoders can be selected using the 3 dedicated buttons to the right of the envelope depth encoder Attack This parameter controls the time passing from the moment you press a k...

Page 15: ...ntrols the depth of the given LFOs modulation Mode Holding the Shift button and or when latched in shift mode turning this encoder selects the Retrigger Mode The modes are Retrigger in this mode each...

Page 16: ...comes the loop end point When a loop is active pressing the button again will disable the loop Seq Hold Holds the current sequencer step and repeats it like a beat repeater When the button is released...

Page 17: ...slot for control with encoders A F with a single click With multiple clicks it will cycle through the effect type used in that slot FX2 This button allows to select 2nd FX slot for control with encod...

Page 18: ...late that parameter Holding this button while turning an encoder series of encoders allows momentary assignment of expression to those destinations Upon letting go the assign mode will be exited X Hol...

Page 19: ...VELO EXPR AFTT X X Y Y Spread Glide X Osc2 Pitch FX Amount X X X X FX 1 A X X X X FX 1 B X X X X FX 1 C X X X X FX 1 D X X X X FX 1 E X X X X FX 1 F X X X X FX 2 A X X X X FX 2 B X X X X FX 2 C X X X...

Page 20: ...the way to the stereo FX engine input Unison This button selects Unison voice mode Cycle through to choose between Unison 2 Unison 4 or Unison 8 These are monophonic voice modes where multiple voices...

Page 21: ...transmit notes to the MIDI out ports When arp out is enabled the internal keyboard notes will not be transmitted to MIDI out Please note that MIDI in notes that are being arpeggiated will also be tra...

Page 22: ...n or both Saver Sets the idle time for the screen s screensaver A smaller time will increase the lifetime of the screen LEDs Brightness Sets the brightness of the panel LEDs Settings Expression Pedal...

Page 23: ...hesiser 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 Mac OSX Argon8 will show up in Midi Studio found in Applications Util...

Page 24: ...ock is detected the Argon8 will continue to use whatever tempo it is internally configured to MIDI Soft Thru Argon8 has two soft thru settings configurable from the app DIN Thru Forwards Midi received...

Page 25: ...Division 62 Osc1 Bank 63 Osc2 Bank 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 FX Amount 74 75 Transpose 76 77 78 Swing 79 Seq Q...

Page 26: ...the latest version each time an update is released MODALapp will provide the most user friendly way to update firmware however it is also possible to update the firmware using MIDI sysex messages mean...

Page 27: ...ort Modulation page to quickly view and edit the current patch modulation settings FX page for selecting and editing the 3 stereo FX engines on Argon8 Sequence page for live sequence controls and edit...

Page 28: ...itor 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 pr...

Page 29: ...enu allowing exporting or importing patches 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 w...

Page 30: ...stereo FX engines that show the currently selected FX in each slot and their respective controls Sequencer Tab In the FX Tab you can load initialise and save any of the Seq presets as well access the...

Page 31: ...so access to the Arpeggiator controls and transpose chord options Settings Tab In the Settings Tab there are options for updating your Argon8 to the latest versions ModalApp will notify you when a new...

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