Modal Electronics Argon8X 61-key 8-Voice Polyphonic Wavetable Synthesizer

UK synth trailblazers Modal Electronics have expanded their widely-lauded Argon line-up; introducing the Argon8X. It features an identical sound engine and feature set, but rather than a 37-note keybed, you get 61 keys for an even more immersive playing experience. Mind-bending functionality and near-infinite tonal possibilities meets an attractive price tag; Modal have once again raised the bar in the desktop synth category.

Key features

• Road ready Steel and Aluminium chassis
• 120 carefully-crafted morphable wavetables with 28 static wavetable processors for further tweaking
• True 8-voice polyphony with 32 wavetable oscillators; 4 per voice, with 8 types of oscillator modifiers
• Fatar TP9/S Full-size 61-key keybed with velocity and aftertouch
• 1.54” OLED display for real-time visual accompaniment
• An assignable 4-axis joystick for ultimate hands-on modulation
• Three dedicated envelope generators for Amp, Mod and Filter, plus 2- pole morphing resonant filter
• Three powerful independent/user-configurable stereo FX engines with delays, lush Reverbs and heaps of modulation
• Glide/portamento with both legato and staccato modes
• Hugely powerful “Mod Matrix” with eight assignable slots with four additional fixed routes, 11 mod sources and 52 destinations
• 500 patch memories, all fully editable and ships with 300 factory programs and 200 user patch spaces. Patch upload and download through the free MODALapp
• 512-step sequencer with input quantise

New in Firmware v2.6

Firmware v2.6 adds 12 new Wavetable Banks containing 60 all-new Waveforms. Now, producers, performers and sound designers can experience immediate access to two independent wave-groups each containing 180 carefully crafted wavetables split into 36 banks of 5 morphable waveform sets; there’s even an additional PWM bank and 3 noise/modulation banks accessible on wave-group 2. In addition, users can now effortlessly link OSC2 tuning to be linked to OSC1 frequency via a handy OSC2 Tune Mode control. Fuse all of this with 32 static wavetable modifiers including, de-rez, wave folders, waveshapers, phase shapers and rectify, all of which can be applied to the 180 wavetables - not to mention 8 types of oscillator modifier - and the sonic possibilities are virtually limitless. 

In tandem with the release of the ARGON-Series’ v2.6 firmware, MODALapp has also been updated to v2.7.6, catering for the 60 new waveforms and OSC2 Tune Mode control the new firmware update provides.

Unlocking Wavetable Potential

Modal Electronics know a thing or two about wavetable synthesis. By taking the wavetable concept a step further, they’ve unlocked a broader tonal palette than ever before.

Many people associate digital synths with sterile, artificial sound; Modal’s approach with the Argon8 range ensures that it has more sound on offer, and a warmer, more organic response than previously possible. Combine wavetables with extensive processors, stereo effects, 3 x envelope generators and a 2-pole morphing resonant filter, and a digital synthesizer becomes a sound designer’s dream.

Bigger Is Sometimes Better

While the first Argon8 and the Argon8M are built to be compact, the Argon8X's extended range makes it an even-more formidable sound design tool. You get the same dynamic, responsive keybed type as the original Argon8, but with almost double the range - this makes it an absolute dream both in the studio and on the stage.

Not only that, but it comes with all the connectivity you’ll ever need. Pedal inputs, audio input, sync in/out, MIDI in/out, USB connectivity – this is a fully-fledged workstation that’s bound to inspire.

ModalApp Editor

As if the mind-boggling built-in functionality of the Argon8 wasn’t enough, it’s also compatible with Modal’s free ModalApp editor. This allows you to tap even further into the real-time tweaking of your synth, including manipulating filters, wavetables, effects and much more.

Specifications

• Polyphony: 8-voice
• Wavetables: 120 (split into 24 banks of 5 morphable waveform sets)
• Additional PWM bank and 4 noise/modulation banks accessible on Oscillator 2
• Wavetable processors: 28 static (including de-rez, wave folders, wave shapers, phase shapers and rectify)
• Oscillators: 32, 4 per voice, with 8 types of oscillator modifier including: Phase Mod (FM), Ring Mod, Amp Mod, Hard Sync and Windowed Sync
• Fatar TP9/S Full size 61-key keybed with both velocity and aftertouch
• 1.54 inch large OLED display
• Bourns continuous rotary encoders throughout as standard
• A 4-axis joystick that can be assigned to a huge range of modulation destinations and virtually ‘locked’ when desired
• Three dedicated envelope generators for AMP, MOD and FILTER that can be accessed independently or all three simultaneously including negative (reverse) versions.
• Two pole morphing resonant filter
• Waveshaping distortion
• Effects: 3 user-configurable stereo FX engines that can create sophisticated Delays, lush Reverbs, Flanging, Phasing, and Rich Choruses
• Glide/Portamento with both legato and staccato modes
• Hugely powerful “Mod Matrix” with eight assignable slots with four additional fixed routes, 11 mod sources and 52 destinations
• 500 patch memories, all fully editable and ships with 300 factory programs and 200 user patch spaces. Patch upload and download through the free MODALapp
• Two Audio rate LFO’s with tempo sync (one poly, one global). Polyphonic LFO can sync to frequency divisions
• Inbuilt sophisticated programmable arpeggiator of 32 steps with rest capability with up to 2048 steps before repeating
• Real time sequencer with number 512 steps with input quantise and four recordable /editable animations
• Multiple keyboard modes, Mono, Poly, Unison 2, unison 4, unison 8, Stack 2 and Stack 4
• All time-based FX, LFO’s and sequencer arpeggio can be either clocked internally or externally
• Sync in/out
• Full size MIDI five pin din sockets
• Full size quarter inch jacks for both audio and external control such as sustain and expression.
• 5 mm stereo input with ability to route incoming audio through the FX
• Free dedicated app that works on Mac, PC, iOS, Android and works under VST3 and AU.