If you are unsure how to operate this apparatus in a safe manner, please seek appropriate advice on its safe use. Please ensure you read this manual and the Modal 008 ‘Quick Start Guide’ before attempting to operate this apparatus.
Index 00. Introduction 01. I just want to play this thing... Power on Screen Controls Patch Screen Load Patch Patch storage 02. Connections 03. Synthesis Engine Oscillators Mixer Filter Filter Envelope Amplitude Envelope LFO’s Modulation 04. Keyboard and Quick Recall Key Modes Keyboard Quick Recall...
4.3” LCD screen. Among the many connections, Modal 008 features an ethernet port to connect your synth to your network and enable updates via the internet (no need for MIDI sysex dumps) and also access to the Modal cloud features and HTML Web User Interface.
Power on I just want to play Connect the power lead to your 008 then connect the output of the 008 to your mixer, or if this thing... you prefer connect your headphones. Also connect an ethernet cable from your router to the 008.
Page 6
For example typing 0, 2, 4 would make -24. Datawheel TIP: A clever usage of the 008 interface is to select a parameter by touching the related encoder, then type the exact value with the keypad. This is very useful for either putting many Large rotary encoder for data selection and entry.
C with octave and transpose applied. Midi Channel - the current midi channel 008 recieves and sends on. This can be changed in the Settings > MIDI menu.
Page 8
Patch storage Now feel free to have some fun with your 008: find a patch that you like and tweak some knobs to modify the sound characteristics. Then if you would like to save that sound: • Press the 4th ‘menu button’ (D) - the LCD will display the storage page. You can save many different types of data (including Performances, Sequences, etc.), but since you are...
Page 9
With the standard version of the Modal internet features. The USB port is to 60 Hz. Connect the cord included 008, four voices are hard-wired to the currently not operational. with your 008, then press the power left, four voices to the right. The option switch to turn the synth on.
Page 10
In this section we are going to have an in-depth look at every section related to the sound engine of the 008. Each section of the synthesiser has a dedicated area on the front panel, defined by printed Synthesis engine grey lines.
Page 11
Oscillators 008 features two 100% analogue oscillators per voice (Voltage Controlled Oscillators - VCO) identified by VCO-1 and VCO-2 labels, each one with its own Squarewave Sub-Oscillator. 008’s VCOs are a traditional sawtooth integrator circuit using carefully selected components for stability and accurate temperature compensation. Analogue wave shaping provides triangle and variable pulse waveforms simultaneously.
Ext In Left/Right: These two parameters control the volume of the incoming external audio signals, if there are external sources connected to the 008’s Audio Input. You can process any instrument producing a ‘line’ signal (e.g. a drum machine, another synth or DAW output) with our VCF and VCA, through a pure analogue signal path.
Page 13
Filter Modal 008 uses a unique and novel 15 multi-mode analogue filter design providing extreme flexibillity in terms of filter types and responses. The VCF processes the signal coming from the oscillators (or from an external source). The resonance network is carefully designed to allow smooth and predictable sine wave tones on demand.
Filter Envelope Modal 008 envelopes have true exponential slopes on all curves. All envelope parameters are ‘voltage controlled’ allowing dynamic modulation of the curves and levels by any of the internal modulation sources. The deep modulation capabilities of the envelopes allow multiple sources to modulate the curves by unique and independent amounts and even recursive modulation.
Amplitude Envelope Modal 008 provides a classic 4-stage ADSR contour generator for the amplifier, whose parameters can be controlled in the VCA-EG front panel section. This envelope modulates the amplitude level of the voice, if a value different from zero is set for the filter Amount parameter.
Page 16
LFOs The two LFOs provided on the Modal 008 are extremely flexible providing both envelope and LFO functions, both with identical parameters. The LFOs have individually adjustable delay and release controls allowing the fade in and fade out of modulation to be musically controlled. In single shot mode, this allows the LFOs to be a true exponential Attack-Release envelope generator with the wave set to square, and an Attack-Decay envelope generator with the wave set to saw.
Page 17
Modulation The Modal 008 has extremely comprehensive and flexible modulation capabilities. A total of 11 modulation sources are available to modulate every variable parameter on the synth by its own unique depth at a super smooth sample rate of 10 kHz.
Page 18
In order to quickly see what modulation is routed where, we have made a Modulation Matrix Select Destination page that allows you to quickly navigate, visualise and edit all the modulation for 008. Once you have selected a source you can scroll down a list desitinations. The available The Modulation Matrix page is split into two main sections.
Page 19
Stack: special ‘poly/unison’ mode, where you can decide how many notes you can play together (polyphonic keyboard) and also how many voices the Modal 008 uses for each note. E.g. with a Size of 4 voices, you can play up to 2 notes simultaneously, with each note using 4 voices, because you have 8 voices available.
Page 20
‘slide’ The 008 glide unit has a rich feature set allowing both linear and exponential glide curves in both ‘normal’ and ‘auto’ modes. The glide circuit can be modulated by any of the internal sources allowing velocity, note, LFO or other sources to dynamically adjust the glide rate for natural sounding variations in the portamento time.
Page 21
Quick Recall Quick Recall Slot Eight Quick Recall buttons can be enabled to build lists of patches, sequences and animations The Quick Recall Slot page shows what is currently on the slot as well as providing options to etc. that can be quickly accessed or stored. load or edit the slot.
Page 22
In this section we are going to explain three very important features of the Modal 008: first of all, our very powerful 12 row, 32 step Sequencer; secondly, a unique tool called Animator, a note-triggered sequencer for parameters that allow you to create complex modulations;...
Page 23
Sequencer Sequencer rows The Modal 008 Sequencer allows you to create up to 12 simultaneous sequences of up In the top menu after the page title ‘SEQUENCER’ the current step position of the screen and to 32 Steps, each of which allows you to create up to 12 rows of notes or parameter/CC front panel is shown.
Please note that patches and sequences are totally independent of each other. This means that when you save/load a new patch, 008 will not save/load a sequence together with it: to do These step values can be edited by tapping the front panel push-dials and/or by using screen that, you need to save both in a Performance (see ‘Performance Storage’...
Page 25
Relative/Absolute mode: Also, exactly as in the normal Sequencer, you can have 12 rows running simultaneously and they can control almost any parameter available in the 008. This makes the Animator a very powerful and flexible modulation source.
Page 26
Backward2 (‘bck2’): like Back1, but in note-order holding the keys down and then remove them by pressing the same keys again. This is a unique feature of the 008, and allows you to easily access other parameters of the synth i.e. B-G-E-C-B-G-E-C-B...
Page 27
Sequencer/Animator/Arpeggiator Shortcuts Legato Input Global Legato Input As the Sequencer and Animator pages are very complex we have implemented a number of useful shortcuts that can be used as an alternative to using the options on the screen. A full Mode Mode list of these shortcuts are below:...
Page 28
Dual and Split Dual and Split Coming soon.
Page 29
Snapshot Snapshot Snapshot is a feature that allows you to compare your edited sound with the sound that is saved in the currently loaded patch. When a sound has been edited an asterisk (*) will appear at the beginning of the name to let you know that there are unsaved changes.
Page 30
Settings Settings In this section we are going to have a look at the settings page of the Modal 008. You can access this page by pressing the sixth ‘menu button’ (F). You can access the eight available sub-menus by pressing the corresponding number on the...
Page 31
The update procedure of the Modal 008 operating system is very easy. To enter the Update Before turning the Modal 008 on, be sure to connect it to your local router via ethernet cable: section from the settings page, just press number ‘1’ on the keypad: the main area in the as soon as you turn the synth on, the OS will automatically establish an internet connection.
Page 32
When this option is on, the keyboard will send messages to both the 008 and an external MIDI receiver. When this option is off, the keyboard AfterTouch: this option enables / disables processing MIDI Aftertouch messages...
In this page you can individually enable or disable 6 different categories of internal MIDI Coming soon. messages sent from the MIDI Out port on the back of 008. Notes: this parameter enables / disables processing MIDI Note messages (Note On, Note...
BEGINNING AUTOTUNE as loud noises will be made from the synthesiser during the whole tuning process. Tune: This parameter allows you to tune your 008 in fractions of a semi tone, where the max value (+63) equals a one semi tone offset above the standard tune and min value (-63) equals a one semi tone offset below the standard tune.
Reboot Reset If you experience any odd behavior on your 008 (see Troubleshooting section), you can reboot If you experience any odd behavior on your 008 (see Troubleshooting section), you can reset the machine with this command: if the rest of the front panel stops responding, you should parts of the operating system with the 3 options in this page.
Page 39
Troubleshooting FAQ’s Appendix My synth doesn’t boot If your synth doesn’t boot, please leave it off for few minutes, then try again: if the issue persists after 3-4 attempts, please contact support@modalelectronics.com. I can’t hear any sound First of all, please check the volume knob is fully open, then try to load a new patch. If this doesn’t help, you may want to check MIDI Settings and especially MIDI Local option, which should always be ON.
If in the Network Settings you can’t get any IP address, please press ‘5’ to re-‘Apply’: you might need more than a couple of attempts before getting a result. If this doesn’t help, try to disconnect and re-connect the Ethernet cable to the 008 socket, then go to Settings and trigger a soft Reboot.
Need help?
Do you have a question about the 008 and is the answer not in the manual?
Questions and answers