Modal Argon8 Updated With New Waveforms & More

Modal Electronics has updated the Argon8, adding 12 new Wavetable Banks, featuring 60 new Waveforms.

Argon8 Firmware 2.6 features 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 link OSC2 tuning to be linked to OSC1 frequency via a handy OSC2 Tune Mode control.

New Firmware v2.6 Wavetables:

  • Chew – This wavetable starts as a fuzzy square-derived waveshape and takes on a more sinister identity as position value increases. Expect good results when used for bass texture or wobbles.
  • Grit – A highly versatile table for making anything from hybrid keys to swirling pads. At position 0, this table can be used as a smoother substitute for a sawtooth. From there, you’ll hear a frequency sweep upwards as detain and grit steadily increase to form an energized and highly detailed waveform with its own distinct personality.
  • Gnar – We took a trusty sawtooth and gave it a healthy dose of acupuncture therapy. Pins and needles might not be for everyone, but when this table gets a solid injection of phase mod from oscillator 2 (try running feedback on Osc 2!), it’s unstoppable for all things gnarly. Find a low key of choice and push/pull that joystick.
  • Wicked – Things can get pretty intense using wicked. This particular wavetable carries a lot of mid frequencies, with noticeable overtones and harmonies. Wicked needs to be modulated to sound its best. Inject some phase mod or sync, along with movements in wavetable positions from either LFO’s or the Mod envelope, and you’ll be off-planet in no time.
  • Transient – Created for the sole purpose of making distinct transient hits. You do this with the mod envelope, altering the position with a quick decay time. The far end of the wavetable has punchy highs and mids, while the other side contains much more subdued tones. This is another highly versatile preset, as it also makes an excellent modulation oscillator when used in oscillator 2.
  • Feedback – Starts out with a high amount of overtones over what could arguably be a sin wave, and gradually picks up in the mids and highs. Eventually it becomes sort of a cross between an FM infused sin wave and a sawtooth. On its own you can use this without much modulation and still pull off stuff like bells, mallet instruments, or even a mangled lead or bass. The real magic of Feedback is when you use it in conjunction with the Oscillator Mod, particularly phase mod, to shape oscillator 1 into aggressive crunchy wobbles and punches.
  • FM Organ – This one’s pretty self explanatory. If you like organs, set this one up on oscillator 1 or 2 and use a little wind sync for another layer of organ overtones.
  • Metal – Exactly as named, this one’s full of metalic ting tang texture. Much like Feedback, this one can also do wonders when used as an Oscillator Mod, Especially Phase Modulation.
  • Fat – Oscillator shapes sampled from an analogue synthesizer. For classic analogue sounds, this table does well as an alternative to the standard VA table. Expect pleasant results when used with filter envelope stabs and rises.
  • Filter – Filter is a saw wave sampled through an analogue filter sweep
  • Vsync – is sampled from CRAFTsynth 2.0 Vocaloid Sync modifier.
  • Retro2 – Samples from a famous Japanese polysynth.
  • Metal – Metalic overtones and tons of texture. If chrome was a sound, this might be what it sounds like. Great for Drum&Bass leads and basses.
  • FM Organ – Sourced from organ tones manipulated with FM synthesis.

Argon8 Firmware v2.6 is available now as a free download.

14 thoughts on “Modal Argon8 Updated With New Waveforms & More

  1. cam anyone who owns or has played both give me a comparison between this and the Hydrasynth? they seema bit similar and im thinking about getting a new keyboard

    1. Absolutely not. I have an Argon8X that’s constructed of metal, has a great Fatar keybed with aftertouch, and high quality Bourns encoders. I’ve seen complaints about the lack of quality in the Hydrasynth, cheap feeling buttons, LCD dying, for example (Google “Hydrasynth problems”). And personally, I like the sound of the Argon8X over the Hydrasynth.

    2. Have you used an Argon? Or are you basing yourself on a Skulpt or something like that? The Argon is a heavy synth because it’s built in metal. The Fatar keyboard is as good as anything I tried. You can say many things about the Argon, both positive and negative, but not that it feels cheap.

      Anyway, looking forward to this update. The wavetables in the Argon are very good and, when used wel, are quite dramatic.

    1. I saw a Modal Electronics video a while ago that explained that that wouldn’t be possible, there’s not enough processing power to implement both. They had to decide what filter would be most beneficial for the type of synth it’s used with. I think they made the right choice with the two-pole filter in the Argon8, since it’s a wavetable synth that IMO is best for pads.

      1. Thanks Limey! Since Argon and Cobalt are very similar externally, I biased thinking that they were surely so in their sw.
        They’re heterozygous twins, then.

  2. ive watched a bunch of videos and made a decision

    and i think they are only appearing to be similar on the very surface… but beyond that they are both quite different from each other

  3. I just went to Modal’s website to check out some info and they just annouced a new synth today, the COBALT5s

    Small form, 37-key, USB/9v powered, 5 voice polyphonic, 4pole filter, same arp/seq system, and two FX slots that can use all the efx their other models use. I am going to have to get one of these, I need something small for onstage and in my studio that has NO MORE ROOM IN IT. My Matriarch is takes up all the space these days.

    https://www.modalelectronics.com/cobalt5s-available-now-from-your-favourite-music-store/

  4. I always like it when they come out with some new waves-
    it helps with the surreality- to achieve good results, the random function is best served with a tweaking of a blindfolded mystery chord.
    IS

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