Modal Electronics Argon8

Modal Electronics again sets the standard in polyphonic wavetable synthesizers with the Argon8. It features true eight voice polyphony and 120 wavetables split into twenty-four banks of five morphable waveform sets. A full-sized 37 key keybed includes aftertouch and velocity response. Keyboard modes include mono, poly, unison, and stack. 28 static wavetable processors that include wavefolders, wave shapers, de-rez, rectification, and phase shapers are used to shape and affect the already wide variety of wavetables available. Thirty-two high-resolution wavetable oscillators (four per voice) each provide eight types of modifiers including ring mod, amp mod, hard sync, windowed sync, and phase mod. Oscillator two adds an additional PWM bank and four noise/modulation banks. An internal patch memory includes 500 slots: 300 factory programs and 200 user patches. These can be uploaded and downloaded with the free MODALapp. A 1.54″ OLED provides clear visualization while editing and playing.

A two-pole morphing resonant filter with waveshaping distortion shapes and further morphs the wavetables for complex new sounds. It also features a full-fledged and powerful FX section with three stereo FX engines capable of flanging, phasing, chorusing, reverb, and delay. There are three envelope generators for amp, mod, and filters that can be independent or simultaneous and include a negative shaped version of the envelopes. Two powerful LFOs can be synced to the tempo or frequency divisions, and range in frequency from slow moving fluctuations well into the audio range. A four-axis joystick can be assigned to a slew of modulation destinations and can be locked if necessary. A Mod Matrix features eight assignable slots and four addition fixed routings. Eleven mod sources and fifty-two destinations provide for superior design of sound and playability.

The Argon8 includes an arpeggiator with 32 steps with rests and up to 2048 steps before repeating. It also features a real time sequencer with up to 512 steps with quantization and four animations that can be recorded and edited for sequenced modulation. LFOs, effects, and sequencer can be clocked internally or externally via sync in/out on 3.5mm jack. It features MIDI in and out, as well as USB MIDI. Expression, sustain pedal, and external audio inputs are also available. Outputs can be mono or stereo, and of course, the Argon8 also features a headphone jack.

As of the release of Argon8 firmware V2.0, the Argon8 hosts a number of new features—including EG curve shape control, polyphonic step sequencing, chord inversion, and even MPE support. That’s right, you can now control your Argon8 via the MPE controller of your choice!