QUICK START
GUIDE
Modal Argon8M is an 8 voice polyphonic wavetable synthesiser. It features 120 crafted wavetables split
into 24 banks of 5 morphable waveform sets, 32 oscillators in total (4 per voice) and a huge range of
wavetable and oscillator modifiers.
Beyond the oscillators there is a multi-mode filter, 3 envelope generators, 2 audio-rate LFOs, 3 powerful
independent and user configurable stereo FX engines, a real-time sequencer, a programmable arpeggiator
and an extensive modulation matrix.
Shift functions - parameters in light blue can be accessed by entering ‘Shift’ mode using the button to the
right of the screen with a light blue ring. Shift can be momentary by holding the button and changing a
parameter or latched by pressing the shift button.
Alt functions - parameters in light grey can be accessed by holding the button with the light grey ring in
the same section (Velo). ‘Alt’ mode is always momentary and you will exit ‘Alt’ mode on release of the
button.
Connections
Headphones - 1/4” stereo jack socket
Right - Audio Out for right stereo channel. 1/4” unbalance TS jack socket
Left/Mono - Audio Out for left stereo channel. If there is no cable plugged into Right socket then summed
to Mono. 1/4” unbalance TS jack socket
Expression - user configurable pedal input, 1/4” TRS jack socket
Sustain - works with any standard, open momentary foot switch, 1/4” TS jack socket
Audio In - stereo audio input, to process your audio source with Argon FX engines, 3.5mm TRS jack
socket
Sync In - analogue clock in. 3.3v, rising edge, 1 pulse per 16th note signal, 3.5mm TS jack socket
Sync Out - analogue clock out, same configuration as clock in, 3.5mm TS jack socket
MIDI Out - used to control other MIDI hardware, 5-pin DIN MIDI socket
MIDI In - used to be controlled from other MIDI hardware, 5-pin DIN MIDI socket
USB MIDI - MIDI in/out to a USB MIDI host, connect Argon8M to a laptop/tablet/mobile device for the
optional software editor, ModalApp, full size USB-B socket
Power - 9.0V, 1.5A, centre-positive barrel power supply
Screen Navigation
The two switched-encoders either side of the screen are used for
screen navigation and control:
Page/Param - When this encoder is in ‘Page’ mode it cycles
through the parameter pages (e.g. Osc1, Osc2, Filter); when it’s
in ‘Param’ mode it cycles through the parameters on that page.
Use the switch to toggle between the two modes, the mode is
displayed on the screen with a line at top for ‘Page’ mode and at
the bottom for ‘Param’ mode.
Preset/Edit/Bank - This encoder/switch is used to adjust the value
or ‘trigger’ the currently displayed parameter. When on the ‘Load
Patch’ parameter when the panel is in ‘Shift’ mode this encoder is
used to select the patch bank number.
Presets
Patch/Seq - this button is primarily used to switch the screen to
either the ‘Load Patch’ or ‘Load Seq’ param for loading patches
or sequences, however this button also puts the panel into either
‘Patch’ mode or ‘Seq’ mode. This changes the ‘Save’ and ‘Init’
buttons to either effect Patch preset management in ‘Patch’ mode
or Sequencer preset management in ‘Seq’ mode.
‘Init / Rand’ - this button/function only responds on a button hold.
Argon8M can have a large dynamic range so there is a Patch
Gain control that can be used to equalise patch volumes. Hold
the ‘Patch’ button and turn the ‘Volume’ encoder to control the
‘Patch Gain’ parameter.
