The Official Sequential/Oberheim Forum
OTHER DISCUSSIONS => General Synthesis => Other Hardware/Software => Topic started by: jg666 on October 29, 2020, 08:27:04 AM
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Another new synth from Modal. At first I thought it was just a different coloured Argon8 but then saw the video
https://youtu.be/6rgr4iqofms
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Hot on the heels of the Andertons video is a First Look video from Nick Batt
https://youtu.be/jgMvuYkYvz0
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A really nice synth. Lovely sound and I'm told a really solidly built synth.
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Nick Batt has now done a full review...
https://youtu.be/2j_4kBfVMOw
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Modal always shocks me with their lack of bi timbrality. For digital synths it seems like a bit of an oversight.
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Indeed. It does seem a shame when for perhaps not a lot more money they could have done that. I suppose the reasonably low selling price of this (and the Argon) are one of the key selling points though :)
Edit - Now if they could combine the Cobalt and the Argon into one synth that has the 2 different engines able to run together to produce a bi timbral synth then that would be very interesting
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Indeed. It does seem a shame when for perhaps not a lot more money they could have done that. I suppose the reasonably low selling price of this (and the Argon) are one of the key selling points though :)
That's the key. The module is under $500 -- so it is competing in territory like the Minilogue module. Allowing more than monotimbral would increase likely increase complexity across the board... maybe only impacting price by a couple of hundred bucks but that might put it outside the projected sales sweet spot.
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Nice comparison from Starsky Carr. Much prefer the sound of the Minilogue XD personally.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvZ8giaxaJc
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Yes going on that demonstration, so do I.
I wish my first generation Minilogue sounded as good as the XD :)
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Yes going on that demonstration, so do I.
I wish my first generation Minilogue sounded as good as the XD :)
I always thought the first gen sounded good. I have to admit though, the sequencer on the XD is one reason I got one.
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Yes going on that demonstration, so do I.
I wish my first generation Minilogue sounded as good as the XD :)
I always thought the first gen sounded good. I have to admit though, the sequencer on the XD is one reason I got one.
It does sound good for certain types of sounds but really suffers when you turn up the resonance - the low end really suffers.
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Saldy it appears that Modal Electronics has filed for insolvency and Administrators called in.
I don't own any Modal gear but always followed them with interest so I hope that something can be done.
https://synthanatomy.com/2023/09/british-synth-company-modal-electronics-is-insolvent.html
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Saldy it appears that Modal Electronics has filed for insolvency and Administrators called in.
I don't own any Modal gear but always followed them with interest so I hope that something can be done.
https://synthanatomy.com/2023/09/british-synth-company-modal-electronics-is-insolvent.html (https://synthanatomy.com/2023/09/british-synth-company-modal-electronics-is-insolvent.html)
I’m surprised they’ve lasted this long.
It’s hard to take a company known for behemoth synths like the 002 and 008, and release the Argon and Cobalt. You could hear the collective “Meh…” from Superbooth. One you produce a synth at a certain a level of quality and capability, your customer base will expect you to maintain that level. Anything less will be perceived as, well… less.
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Saldy it appears that Modal Electronics has filed for insolvency and Administrators called in.
I don't own any Modal gear but always followed them with interest so I hope that something can be done.
https://synthanatomy.com/2023/09/british-synth-company-modal-electronics-is-insolvent.html (https://synthanatomy.com/2023/09/british-synth-company-modal-electronics-is-insolvent.html)
I’m surprised they’ve lasted this long.
It’s hard to take a company known for behemoth synths like the 002 and 008, and release the Argon and Cobalt. You could hear the collective “Meh…” from Superbooth. One you produce a synth at a certain a level of quality and capability, your customer base will expect you to maintain that level. Anything less will be perceived as, well… less.
Yes very true. I suppose also, when you are selling at their current price-points you have to sell in big numbers to balance the books and they obviously aren’t doing that. Probably a lot of people like myself who were tempted by the Argon and Cobalt but there just wasn’t that something special to make me buy it.
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Modal have said that they are undergoing a restructuring and that all employees will remain with the company and all current synths will remain within their portfolio, with new ones to come.
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Saldy it appears that Modal Electronics has filed for insolvency and Administrators called in.
I don't own any Modal gear but always followed them with interest so I hope that something can be done.
https://synthanatomy.com/2023/09/british-synth-company-modal-electronics-is-insolvent.html (https://synthanatomy.com/2023/09/british-synth-company-modal-electronics-is-insolvent.html)
I’m surprised they’ve lasted this long.
It’s hard to take a company known for behemoth synths like the 002 and 008, and release the Argon and Cobalt. You could hear the collective “Meh…” from Superbooth. One you produce a synth at a certain a level of quality and capability, your customer base will expect you to maintain that level. Anything less will be perceived as, well… less.
I think the Cobalt 8 is very high quality, and extremely capable
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Saldy it appears that Modal Electronics has filed for insolvency and Administrators called in.
I don't own any Modal gear but always followed them with interest so I hope that something can be done.
https://synthanatomy.com/2023/09/british-synth-company-modal-electronics-is-insolvent.html (https://synthanatomy.com/2023/09/british-synth-company-modal-electronics-is-insolvent.html)
I’m surprised they’ve lasted this long.
It’s hard to take a company known for behemoth synths like the 002 and 008, and release the Argon and Cobalt. You could hear the collective “Meh…” from Superbooth. One you produce a synth at a certain a level of quality and capability, your customer base will expect you to maintain that level. Anything less will be perceived as, well… less.
I think it was also not a great idea to do a Wavetable synth or virtual analog synth around the time actually analog synths and more versatile Wavetable synths were coming to the market. Modal’s seem to lack a distinctive voice.
The Carbon 8 actually feels like something they should have brought right out of the gate given that Phase distortion and other synthesis forms weren’t being explored by other brands.
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Sadly, in my post yesterday I spelled “sadly” wrong and it’s annoying me that I can’t edit it ;D
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I think it was also not a great idea to do a Wavetable synth or virtual analog synth around the time actually analog synths and more versatile Wavetable synths were coming to the market. Modal’s seem to lack a distinctive voice.
A much more precise way to express my summation... "Meh" ;D