Modal Electronics Cobalt8 Extended Virtual Analog Synthesizer

Shake the walls of any venue with eight polyphonic voices and 64 oscillators. Building on the tradition of warm and punchy analogue-style synth sounds, conceived by legendary synthesizers from the past, the Modal Electronics Limited COBALT8 unlocks the full creative potential of analogue waveforms. This powerful, inspiring instrument reinvents the aesthetics of analogue sounds and invites musicians, producers and sound designers to explore a new era of virtual-analog synthesizer textures, far beyond the limits of its analogue forefathers.

On top of the innovative oscillator engine of COBALT8, Modal Electronics added a new morphable 4-Pole Ladder Filter. Combined with Modal’s unparalleled modulation options, an inspiring real-time/step sequencer, the energizing arpeggiator, the Premium FATAR 37-note keyboard, MPE, studio-quality effects and MODAL app integration, COBALT 8 is the perfect synth for everyone who wants a versatile electronic music instrument to play vintage synth sounds and is eager to enter new sound dimensions.

Eight true polyphonic voices tempt players to lay out a wide string or rich synth pad chords, while a monophonic bass or lead patch, played with 64 oscillators, can shake the walls of every stadium. And with the avant-garde sound forming features, every synth enthusiast can refine his performance with sounds that no other synthesiser is able to generate.

Two independent oscillator groups with up to 4 oscillators each generate not only powerful virtual-analogue goodness, but like no other synthesiser before, 34 unique complex algorithms like Sync, Ring Modulation, Waveform Morphing, and many more are available to increase the creative options for new-generation synth sounds. Each Algorithm has a simple-to-use pair of controls selected to suit the particular algorithm or character, providing musicians the power of traditionally complex oscillator modulations or processes spontaneously.

COBALT 8’s newly designed, self-oscillating 4-Pole Morphable Ladder Filter with Resonance injects more warmth and bite. Switch between the four different filter modes, get creative with the Notch filter and form unusual synth textures with the Phasor. Two different characteristics allow to instill a more subtle behaviour or process the sound with sheer raw power.

Three flexible audio-rate (2 x polyphonic) LFOs can be routed to a massive amount of destinations using the modulation matrix and sync to internal or external tempo. Three dedicated envelopes for the filter, amp and modulation allow excessive control over dynamics and expression. Switchable envelope types provide greater options to tailor the envelopes for specific sound purposes. COBALT 8s sophisticated 12-slot modulation matrix supports easy assignments of complex modulation routes to keep the sound evolving. Four common modulation routings are pre-set here to free up space for more exciting ideas.

The integrated 512-note Realtime / Step Sequencer with four powerful Animation Lanes invites to compose massive and complex melodic patterns. The polyphonic 64-note step sequencer mode enables easy step input for note and animation values. Multiple sequencer trigger modes coupled with the powerful onboard arpeggiator (programmable up to 32 steps) and performance features such as Chord Hold, Inversions, Transpose, Sustain Latch.

Professional keyboard players will love COBALT 8’s rugged steel and aluminum chassis and the premium FATAR 37-note full-size key bed. The keys support channel aftertouch and deliver smooth action to express powerful playing performances. For direct access of the parameters, COBALT 8 features 29 endless knobs, 24 buttons and an X/Y joystick for pitch or modulation, and MPE support offers new ways of creative expression for sophisticated performers.

Reshape your sounds completely with the onboard stereo effects engine. COBALT 8 comes with a 3-slot FX engine with in-depth FX programming. To polish the sound, a total of 11 FX algorithms add character and depth, including Chorus, Phaser, Flanger (Pos), Flanger (Neg), Tremolo, LoFi, Rotary, Stereo Delay, Ping-Pong Delay, X-Over Delay and Reverb.

Set to be played in any synth environment, COBALT 8 comes with all physical connections required. Control the synth using USB, monitor with headphones or using the dedicated line outputs, sync with external gear using the full-size MIDI in and out or the 3.5 mm Sync in or outputs and take control of your sound using the built-in Sustain and Expression inputs. By poly-chaining any two COBALT 8 devices, the amount of voices is easily doubled to 16 voices and 128 oscillators.

There is plenty of room to store patch, effects and sequence creations. Out of the box, 300 of the total 500 patches are filled with factory patch banks, carefully programmed by some of the most accomplished sound designers of the world. One hundred customized effects configurations and sequences can be stored as well to be applied to any sound while performing.

MODALapp. The free MODALapp brings the comfort of screen-based editing on your computer or mobile device. Available as a standalone app for macOS, Windows, iOS, iPadOS or Android systems, and in VST3 and AU plug-in formats, it is the perfect companion for synth enthusiasts looking to deep dive to all sound forming and performance parameters to create their own signature sounds, and to backup and manage patches and sequences.

Unlock the full potential of your Modal Electronics instrument with MODALapp, a multi-platform application that’s the central command of your Modal synthesiser ecosystem. Available as a free download from the Modal Electronics website and all mainstream app stores, MODALapp conquers the dividing line between hardware control and screen-based patch editing, preset management and must-have product-specific resources. Unique, full-featured and above all, inspiring—joining the creative revolution and discovering hardware synth editing at its finest has never been easier.

Features

Polyphony

• True 8-voice polyphonic

Oscillators

• 64 high-resolution virtual-analog oscillators, up to 8 per voice
• Two independent and self-contained oscillator groups with sine, pulse, triangle, sawtooth waveforms, 34 different algorithms including: complex analog synthesis techniques, built-in cross modulation (SYNC, RM, and many more), PWM, smooth morphing between VA waves, bit crushing, filtered noise
• Extended Oscillator Drift

Filter

• Four-Pole Morphable Ladder Filter with Resonance and four switchable configurations
• Resonance and Balanced Filter Modes

Modulation

• Three dedicated envelope generators for AMP, MOD and FILTER that can be accessed independently or all three simultaneously including negative (reverse) versions for MOD and
• FILTER ENVs
• Three audio-rate LFO’s with tempo sync (two poly, one global) with seven different shapes
• Eight assignable modulation slots and four additional fixed modulation routings for common assignments with 12 modulation sources and 55 modulation destinations

Sequencer and Arpeggiator

• Real-time sequencer with 512 notes with polyphonic mode and four recordable/editable parameter animations (Delay FX, LFO’s, sequencer and arpeggiator can be either clocked internally or externally)
• Built-In sophisticated programmable arpeggiator of 32 steps with rest capability with up to 2,048 steps before repeating FX
• Three 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

User Memory

• Patches: 500, all fully editable and ships with 300 factory programs
• Sequencer: 100 sequences that can be linked to any patch for quickly loading arrangements
• FX: 100 presets
• Eight Quick Recall slots accessible from the panel for quickly loading your favorite patches

Controls and Performance

• Premium Fatar TP/9S 37-note keyboard with velocity and channel aftertouch
• 29 endless encoders, 24 buttons
• Four-axis joystick that can be assigned to a huge range of modulation destinations and virtually ‘locked’ when desired
• Multiple keyboard modes (Mono, Poly, Unison 2, Unison 4, Unison 8, Stack 2 and Stack 4)
• Glide/Portamento with both legato and staccato modes

Specifications

• Enclosure and Display
• Road-ready steel and aluminum enclosure
• 1.54" large OLED display for instant visual feedback at all times of playing/editingInputs and Outputs
• 2 x unbalanced 6.3 mm (1/4”) TS outputs (L/R)
• Stereo 6.3 mm (1/4”) stereo headphone output
• Stereo 3.5 mm (1/4”) input with ability to route incoming audio through the FX
• 6.3 mm (1/4”) sustain pedal jack
• 6.3 mm (1/4”) expression pedal jack
• 3.5 mm (1/4”) Analogue clock sync in and out (configured to the KORG / Teenage Engineering specification)MIDI DIN in and out
• Class-compliant MIDI over USB connection to host computer or tablet
• Power: DC-9.0V—1.5A center-positive
• Free MODAL app software editor for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android
• MODAL plugin to access COBALT8 within your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), with VST3 and AU versions available
• Dimensions (LxWxH): 55.5 x 30 x 10 cm (21.9" x 11.8" x 3.9")
• Weight: 5.6 kg (12.35 lb.)