Modal Cobalt 8

jg666

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Modal Cobalt 8
« on: October 29, 2020, 08:27:04 AM »
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

DSI Prophet Rev2, DSI Pro 2, Moog Sub37, Korg Minilogue, Yamaha MOXF6, Yamaha MODX6, Yamaha Montage6

jg666

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Re: Modal Cobalt 8
« Reply #1 on: October 29, 2020, 08:47:20 AM »
Hot on the heels of the Andertons  video is a First Look video from Nick Batt

https://youtu.be/jgMvuYkYvz0



DSI Prophet Rev2, DSI Pro 2, Moog Sub37, Korg Minilogue, Yamaha MOXF6, Yamaha MODX6, Yamaha Montage6

Re: Modal Cobalt 8
« Reply #2 on: November 18, 2020, 05:54:37 PM »
A really nice synth. Lovely sound and I'm told a really solidly built synth.

jg666

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Re: Modal Cobalt 8
« Reply #3 on: November 18, 2020, 11:17:05 PM »
Nick Batt has now done a full review...

https://youtu.be/2j_4kBfVMOw
DSI Prophet Rev2, DSI Pro 2, Moog Sub37, Korg Minilogue, Yamaha MOXF6, Yamaha MODX6, Yamaha Montage6

LoboLives

Re: Modal Cobalt 8
« Reply #4 on: November 18, 2020, 11:42:44 PM »
Modal always shocks me with their lack of bi timbrality. For digital synths it seems like a bit of an oversight.

jg666

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Re: Modal Cobalt 8
« Reply #5 on: November 18, 2020, 11:52:01 PM »
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
« Last Edit: November 19, 2020, 12:10:52 AM by jg666 »
DSI Prophet Rev2, DSI Pro 2, Moog Sub37, Korg Minilogue, Yamaha MOXF6, Yamaha MODX6, Yamaha Montage6

LPF83

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Re: Modal Cobalt 8
« Reply #6 on: November 19, 2020, 07:27:38 AM »
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.
Prophet 10, OB-X8m, Prophet 6, OB-6, 3rd Wave, Prophet 12m, Prophet Rev2-16, Toraiz AS-1, Pro 2, Virus TI2, Moog SlimPhatty, Hydrasynth desktop, Korg Minilogue XDm, Roland JP-8080, Roland System-8, Roland SPD-SX SE / Octapad, Maschine, Cubase/Ableton/Akai MPC

LPF83

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Re: Modal Cobalt 8
« Reply #7 on: December 06, 2020, 09:55:35 AM »
Nice comparison from Starsky Carr.  Much prefer the sound of the Minilogue XD personally.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvZ8giaxaJc
Prophet 10, OB-X8m, Prophet 6, OB-6, 3rd Wave, Prophet 12m, Prophet Rev2-16, Toraiz AS-1, Pro 2, Virus TI2, Moog SlimPhatty, Hydrasynth desktop, Korg Minilogue XDm, Roland JP-8080, Roland System-8, Roland SPD-SX SE / Octapad, Maschine, Cubase/Ableton/Akai MPC

jg666

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Re: Modal Cobalt 8
« Reply #8 on: December 06, 2020, 10:24:52 AM »
Yes going on that demonstration, so do I.

I wish my first generation Minilogue sounded as good as the XD :)
DSI Prophet Rev2, DSI Pro 2, Moog Sub37, Korg Minilogue, Yamaha MOXF6, Yamaha MODX6, Yamaha Montage6

LPF83

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Re: Modal Cobalt 8
« Reply #9 on: December 06, 2020, 03:00:10 PM »
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.
Prophet 10, OB-X8m, Prophet 6, OB-6, 3rd Wave, Prophet 12m, Prophet Rev2-16, Toraiz AS-1, Pro 2, Virus TI2, Moog SlimPhatty, Hydrasynth desktop, Korg Minilogue XDm, Roland JP-8080, Roland System-8, Roland SPD-SX SE / Octapad, Maschine, Cubase/Ableton/Akai MPC

jg666

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Re: Modal Cobalt 8
« Reply #10 on: December 06, 2020, 03:15:05 PM »
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.

DSI Prophet Rev2, DSI Pro 2, Moog Sub37, Korg Minilogue, Yamaha MOXF6, Yamaha MODX6, Yamaha Montage6

jg666

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Re: Modal Cobalt 8
« Reply #11 on: September 20, 2023, 12:46:55 AM »
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

DSI Prophet Rev2, DSI Pro 2, Moog Sub37, Korg Minilogue, Yamaha MOXF6, Yamaha MODX6, Yamaha Montage6

Shaw

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Re: Modal Cobalt 8
« Reply #12 on: September 20, 2023, 04:26:51 AM »
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

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.
"Classical musicians go to the conservatories, rock´n roll musicians go to the garages." --- Frank Zappa
| Linnstrument | Suhr Custom Modern | Mayones Jaba Custom | Godin Multiac Nylon | Roland TD-50 | Synergy Guitar Amps | Eventide Effects Galore |

jg666

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Re: Modal Cobalt 8
« Reply #13 on: September 20, 2023, 04:33:08 AM »
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

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.
DSI Prophet Rev2, DSI Pro 2, Moog Sub37, Korg Minilogue, Yamaha MOXF6, Yamaha MODX6, Yamaha Montage6

jg666

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Re: Modal Cobalt 8
« Reply #14 on: September 20, 2023, 09:05:10 AM »
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.

DSI Prophet Rev2, DSI Pro 2, Moog Sub37, Korg Minilogue, Yamaha MOXF6, Yamaha MODX6, Yamaha Montage6

Re: Modal Cobalt 8
« Reply #15 on: September 20, 2023, 09:51:56 AM »
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

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

Re: Modal Cobalt 8
« Reply #16 on: September 20, 2023, 02:05:43 PM »
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

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.

jg666

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Re: Modal Cobalt 8
« Reply #17 on: September 21, 2023, 08:42:47 AM »
Sadly, in my post yesterday I spelled “sadly” wrong and it’s annoying me that I can’t edit it  ;D



DSI Prophet Rev2, DSI Pro 2, Moog Sub37, Korg Minilogue, Yamaha MOXF6, Yamaha MODX6, Yamaha Montage6

Shaw

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Re: Modal Cobalt 8
« Reply #18 on: September 21, 2023, 08:55:16 AM »

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
"Classical musicians go to the conservatories, rock´n roll musicians go to the garages." --- Frank Zappa
| Linnstrument | Suhr Custom Modern | Mayones Jaba Custom | Godin Multiac Nylon | Roland TD-50 | Synergy Guitar Amps | Eventide Effects Galore |