Modal Argon8 User Manual
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Modal Argon8 User Manual

8 voice polyphonic wavetable synthesiser
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Modal Argon8
8 voice polyphonic wavetable synthesiser
User Manual
OS Version -
1.0
1

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Summary of Contents for Modal Argon8

  • Page 1 Modal Argon8 8 voice polyphonic wavetable synthesiser User Manual OS Version -...

  • Page 2: Important Safety Information

    Important Safety Information WARNING – AS WITH ALL ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS, care and general precautions must be observed in order to operate this equipment safely. If you are unsure how to operate this apparatus in a safe manner, please seek appropriate advice on its safe use. ENSURE CORRECT PSU POLARITY - FAILURE TO DO SO MAY CAUSE PERMANENT DAMAGE - RECOMMENDED USE WITH PROVIDED POWER SUPPLY This apparatus MUST NOT BE OPERATED NEAR WATER or where there is risk of the...

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Index 00. Introduction Specification 01. Getting Started Basic Functions UI Combinations 02. Connections 03. Synthesis Engine Oscillators Oscillator Modifiers Wavetable Modifiers Filter Envelopes LFOs Arpeggiator Sequencer Modulation Keyboard/Voice Settings 04. MIDI MIDI Implementation Chart 05. Update 06. ModalApp Getting Started Main Editor Preset Manager Tab Modulation Tab...

  • Page 4: Introduction

    There are two Audio rate LFO’s with tempo sync (one poly, one global). Polyphonic LFO can sync to frequency divisions. Argon8 has 12 on board FX; a waveshaping distortion that is followed by three incredibly powerful, independent and user configurable stereo FX engines that can create sophisticated Delays, lush Reverbs, Flanging, Phasing, and Rich Choruses to name a few.

  • Page 5: Specification

    EDM and many from the • 100 sequencer presets that can be linked to any patch for quickly loading arrangements original Modal 002 as well as a whole range of mathematically generated tables. • 100 FX presets Additional PWM bank and 3 noise/modulation banks accessible on Oscillator 2 •...

  • Page 6: Getting Started

    Getting Started Powering on Connect the power lead to your Argon8 then connect the outputs of the Argon8 to your mixer, or if you prefer, connect your headphones. Optionally connect a USB cable from your computer or tablet device to the Argon8 for MODALapp communication.
  • Page 7 Secondary functions Randomise Preset Argon8 is a comprehensive and fully featured synthesiser despite its small size. Therefore there Either when in ’Shift’ mode or while momentarily holding ‘Shift’ press and hold the ‘Rand’ are a number of user interface combinations that are required to access some of the deeper button, a confirmation message will appear on-screen however the preset will not be functions of the synth.

  • Page 8: Ui Combinations

    UI Combinations UI Combinations Quick Recalls Keyboard/Voice Argon8 has 8 Quick Recall slots for quickly loading presets. Quick Recalls are controlled using • Press ‘Unison’ repeatedly to cycle through the different unison modes; press ‘Stack’ the following button combos: repeatedly to cycle through the different stack modes •...

  • Page 9: Connections

    Argon8 is a class compliant USB MIDI cable. These outputs can be used device and connects to a USB host Argon8 works best with expression pedals that use the TRS to communicate with any other via USB B Connection for MODALapp polarity and have a resistance of 10k or above.

  • Page 10: Synthesis Engine

    Synthesis engine...

  • Page 11: Oscillators

    Oscillators Oscillators Argon8 features 28 banks of unique morphable waveform sets located on either Wave 1 (first • Glide: Holding the Shift button and (or when latched in shift mode) turning this encoder 24) or Wave 2 (first 24 plus an additional 4). It has a total of 32 oscillators inside.

  • Page 12: Oscillator Modifiers

    Oscillators Modifiers Oscillator Modifiers Argon8 features 8 oscillator modifiers to change how the oscillators cross modulate each • Wind Sync: other. In all of the modifiers Wave 1 is the carrier and Wave 2 is the modulator. Effect: Oscillator sync is performed on Wave 1, with an amplitude window applied over the waveform to smooth the jump at the phase reset.

  • Page 13: Wavetable Modifiers

    Wavetable Modifiers Wavetable Modifiers Argon8 has 32 static wavetable modifiers that can be applied to both Wavetables • Cubic Phaseshaper: cubes the read curve of the wavetable creating a different variation independently. These are applied offline and effectively redraw the waveforms by applying a of its shape process to them.

  • Page 14: Filter

    Filter Envelopes Argon8 has 4 state variable 2-pole resonant filters to choose from: Standard, Standard Notch, Argon8 provides 3 separate 4-stage Envelope Generators (i.e. envelopes), one for the filter Classic and Classic Notch (all capable of morphing from low pass, through band pass / notch, (FILT-EG), one for the amplifier (AMP-EG) and one for modulations (MOD-EG).

  • Page 15: Lfos

    LFOs Arpeggiator Argon8 features two individual low frequency oscillators. LFO1 is global and LFO2 is Argon8 features an intuitive programmable arpeggiator. The speed of the arpeggiator is polyphonic. controlled by the current clock which can either be received from the sync in port, external MIDI or from the internal clock in Argon8.

  • Page 16: Arpeggiator

    Sequencer Argon8 has an extremely powerful real-time sequencer on board boasting 512 notes with input quantise and four recordable / editable parameter animations (Delay FX, LFO’s, sequencer and arpeggiator can be either clocked internally or externally) • Play: This button starts and stops the sequencer.
  • Page 17 Argon8 can store up to 100 FX presets on board and comes loaded with 60 factory FX presets for you to instantly switch up your sound. FX presets range from simple single-FX presets to •...
  • Page 18 • Expr: Pressing this button enters and exits the assign mode for expression. Turn an Argon8 has a comprehensive Modulation Matrix with 11 Modulation Sources and 52 encoder to assign expression to modulate that parameter. Holding this button while Modulation destinations.
  • Page 19 Modulation Modulation Valid combinations are listed here: Parameter LFO1 LFO2 NOTE VELO EXPR AFTT Parameter LFO1 LFO2 NOTE VELO EXPR AFTT Wave 1 Spread Wave 2 Glide Osc2 Pitch Global Pitch FX Amount Osc2 Pitch FX-1 A Osc-Mod FX-1 B LFO1 Rate FX-1 C LFO2 Rate...
  • Page 20 Keyboard/Voice Keyboard/Voice Joystick • Oct -/+: These buttons control the key range available along the keyboard. Tip: You can use this while holding notes to access unavailable notes. Particularly handy The joystick can be assigned to up to 11 destinations at once. You can assign things to any of the X or Y directions.

  • Page 21: Sequencer

    Internal, MIDI, Sync-In, Auto. If ‘Auto’ is selected then the Argon8 will automatically use engine. If you are using Argon8 with an external sequencer you may need to set the Local any detected clock source (prioritising Sync-In over MIDI) else it will use the internal clock.
  • Page 22 If your pedal does not contain a polarity switch and communication. you are unsure of it’s polarity, if the Argon8 isn’t responding to your pedal correctly (e.g. full modulation range can’t be obtained, modulation curve is skewed), it is likely that you Screen need to switch the Argon8 polarity mode.
  • Page 23 Simply plug in Argon8 synthesiser to a USB port and it will show up as a MIDI input and output device in any software that supports external MIDI devices.
  • Page 24 16th note signal. This is used to syncopate any other gear that is CV clock enabled with Argon8 can sequence your DAW or any device that can send MIDI notes over USB, MIDI or CV your device. PLEASE DO NOT EXCEED 5V INPUT AND OUTPUT.
  • Page 25 MIDI CC Implemention Chart Function Function Function Function Bank Change FEG Amount Sustain Pedal Chord Mode Mod Wheel Morph Cutoff WavMod 1 Resonance Seq Length LFO1 Rate Seq Mute ModSlot 1 Source Glide LFO1 Depth Seq Clear ModSlot 2 Source Seq Hold ModSlot 3 Source Main Volume...
  • Page 26 Update Update The firmware on Argon8 can be updated remotely. This means that you will be able to update your Argon8 to the latest version each time an update is released. MODALapp will provide the most user-friendly way to update firmware, however it is also possible to update the firmware using MIDI sysex messages, meaning you won’t need the app.

  • Page 27: Modulation

    • Sequence page for live sequence controls and editing the 4 parameter animation rows • Keyboard page for playing Argon8 directly from your device as well as access to other keyboard settings • Settings page to configure MIDI settings and update the firmware MODALapp is available for OSX, iOS, Windows, and Android.

  • Page 28: Keyboard/Voice

    To save a preset first click the save button. You can then select the slot you would like to save Install and open MODALapp. You will see a splash screen until a Argon8 has been detected, the new preset with the - / + buttons. You can change the name of the preset by clicking on at which point you will see the Editor page appear.
  • Page 29 Presets can loaded with a double click and they can be renamed with two slow clicks. To move There is also an XY pad that will emulate the movements of the Joystick on Argon8 as well as a preset simply click and drag it into a the desired location. Dragging the preset to either edge options for pitch bend and XYLock so that the XY pad will not return to zero on release.
  • Page 30 Finally there is access to the 3 stereo FX engines that show the currently selected FX in each parameter that name is effecting. slot and their respective controls. Animation lanes cannot be altered while the Argon8 is recording. It is also not possible to alter a lane without a parameter selected.

  • Page 31: Settings

    Keyboard Tab Settings Tab In the Keyboard Tab there is a MIDI controller that can be used to play notes on Argon8 from In the Settings Tab there are options for updating your Argon8 to the latest versions. your device. There are pitchbend and modwheels as well as 3 buttons to determine how many ModalApp will notify you when a new update is available.

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