Modal ARGON8X User Manual
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Modal ARGON8X User Manual

8 voice polyphonic wavetable synthesiser
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Modal ARGON8X
8 voice polyphonic wavetable synthesiser
User Manual
OS Version -
2.3
1

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Summary of Contents for Modal ARGON8X

  • Page 1 Modal ARGON8X 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 Index 00. Introduction Specification 01. Getting Started Basic Functions UI Combinations Screen Map 02. Connections 03. Synthesis Engine Oscillators Oscillator Modifiers Wavetable Modifiers Filter Envelopes LFOs Arpeggiator Sequencer Modulation Keyboard/Voice Joystick + Audio Input Audio Output + Gain Settings 04. MIDI MIDI Implementation Chart Polychain 05.
  • Page 4 There are two Audio rate LFO’s with tempo sync (one poly, one global). Polyphonic LFO can sync to frequency divisions. ARGON8X 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

    8 Quick Recall slots accessible from the panel for quickly loading your favourite patches • 2-pole state variable filters, 4 Filter types – ‘Standard’ filters are based on the resonant filter found in other Modal synthesisers and ‘Classic’ with a more rounded character and Controls and Performance a softer resonance response.
  • Page 6 Specification Inputs and Outputs • 6.35 mm / 1/4” TS dual-mono line outputs • 6.35 mm / 1/4” TRS headphone output • 3.5 mm / 1/8” TRS stereo audio input • MIDI DIN In and Out • 3.5 mm / 1/8” TS Analogue clock sync In and Out •...

  • Page 7: Getting Started

    Screen Control The Modal ARGON8X interface is designed to be extremely intuitive and easy to use, so that all the most important parameters are easily accessible and tweakable directly from the top panel, however, all functions are also accessible and tweakable on-screen using the two detented encoders.
  • Page 8 Secondary functions Randomise Preset ARGON8X is a comprehensive and fully featured synthesiser. Therefore there are a number of Either when in ’Shift’ mode or while momentarily holding ‘Shift’ press and hold the ‘Rand’ user interface combinations that are required to access some of the deeper functions of the button, a confirmation message will appear on-screen however the preset will not be synth.
  • Page 9 UI Combinations UI Combinations Quick Recalls ARGON8X has 8 Quick Recall slots for quickly loading presets. Quick Recalls are controlled • Hold the ‘Arp’ button and press keys on the internal or an external keyboard to add using the following button combos: pattern notes or press the ‘Rest’...
  • Page 10 UI Combinations • Press FX1 / FX2 / FX3 button repeatedly to change the FX type of the slot • Hold FX1 / FX2 / FX3 button to reset the FX type of the slot to ‘None’ • Turn the ‘B’ encoder into the negative range for the slot with a Delay FX assigned to access synced delay times •...

  • Page 11: Screen Map

    Screen Map Screen Map Patch Preset Osc (General) LFO2 Mod Slot 6 FX (General) Arpeggiator Audio Settings - Sequencer Load Patch Shape Status Distortion Status Main Volume Metronome Save Patch Mode Rate Source Level Division Patch Gain Pre-Roll Init Patch OscMod Depth Destination...
  • Page 12 ARGON8X is a class compliant USB cable. These outputs can be used MIDI device and connects to a USB host ARGON8X works best with expression pedals that use to communicate with any other via USB B Connection for MODALapp the TRS polarity and have a resistance of 10k or above.

  • Page 13: Synthesis Engine

    Synthesis engine...
  • Page 14 Oscillators Oscillators ARGON8X features 28 banks of unique morphable waveform sets located on either Wave 1 • Glide: Holding the ‘Shift’ button and (or when latched in shift mode) turning this (first 24) or Wave 2 (first 24 plus an additional 4). It has a total of 32 oscillators inside.

  • Page 15: Oscillator Modifiers

    Oscillators Modifiers Oscillator Modifiers ARGON8X 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 16 Wavetable Modifiers Wavetable Modifiers ARGON8X 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 17 Filter ARGON8X has 4 state variable 2-pole resonant filters to choose from: Standard, Standard Notch, Classic and Classic Notch (all capable of morphing from low pass, through band pass / notch, to high pass). • Cutoff: This parameter controls the low-pass filter cutoff frequency. This affects the cutoff frequency of the filter, from 0Hz up to 22kHz.
  • Page 18 Envelopes Envelopes ARGON8X provides 3 updated separate 4-stage Envelope Generators (i.e. envelopes), one for • FILT-EG, AMP-EG, MOD-EG: These buttons selects which envelope generator the above the filter (FILT-EG), one for the amplifier (AMP-EG) and one for modulations (MOD-EG). With controls are representing.
  • Page 19 LFOs Arpeggiator ARGON8X features two individual low frequency oscillators. LFO1 is global and LFO2 is ARGON8X 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 ARGON8X.

  • Page 20: Real-Time Mode

    Sequencer Sequencer ARGON8X has an extremely powerful sequencer on board, that can be configured in either • Linked Sequences: This is a screen only parameter that allows you to link a sequence real-time or step modes. Both modes feature four recordable / editable parameter animation to a specific patch.

  • Page 21: Step Mode

    Sequencer Sequencer Step Mode Overdub The step sequencer is a 64-step, 8 note-per-step sequencer giving you full step-by-step control • While the sequencer is playing, press Record to allow notes to be overdubbed into the of your melodies and ideas. It also features a number of Step Modes that add powerful sequencer.
  • Page 22 Sequencer Gate Thru - The same as ‘Gate’ but all MIDI notes are sent to the voices. Great for re-harmonising a sequence - record chords into the sequence, then play it back using a single finger to add a bassline. Also useful for polyrhythms e.g.
  • Page 23 FX2: This button allows to select 2nd FX slot for control with encoders A-F with a single ARGON8X can store up to 100 FX presets on board and comes loaded with 60 factory FX click. With multiple clicks it will cycle through the effect type used in that slot.
  • Page 24 Modulation Modulation ARGON8X has a comprehensive Modulation Matrix with 11 Modulation Sources and 52 • Velo: Pressing this button enters and exits the assign mode for velocity. Modulation destinations. These Mod slots can be used to assign a combination of modulation sources to destinations, 8 modulation sources can be assigned to a single destination, or •...
  • Page 25 Modulation Modulation Valid combinations are listed here, combinations marked “•” are possible and marked ‘X’ are not possible: Parameter LFO1 LFO2 NOTE VELO EXPR AFTT Parameter LFO1 LFO2 NOTE VELO EXPR AFTT Spread • • • • • • • •...
  • Page 26 Keyboard/Voice Keyboard/Voice • Oct -/+: These buttons control the key range available along the keyboard. • Chord Invert: Holding the ‘Patch’ button and turning the ‘Drift’ encoder controls Chord invert. Chord invert looks at the notes that are being played across the voices on the Tip: You can use this while holding notes to access unavailable notes.

  • Page 27: Audio Output + Gain

    The X axis controls pitch bend as standard, but this can also be turned off (on-screen: Joystick: Because ARGON8X employs a limiter as the final stage before output in its audio signal path, Pitchbend status or on MODALapp) it also sends MIDI pitch bend messages which can also be headroom for dynamics might be reduced as a result of higher gain levels.
  • Page 28 DIN Out: A set of MIDI filter settings for enabling / disabling the ARGON8X from • Global Tune: Sets the global tuning of the ARGON8X with a range of +/- 1 semitone. transmitting certain types of MIDI-in messages from the MIDI DIN-out port.
  • Page 29 Mod Wheel Out: Enables / disables the joystick Y+ axis from transmitting MIDI engine. If you are using ARGON8X with an external sequencer you may need to set the Modulation Wheel messages (MIDI CC 1) to MIDI-out. You may want to disable this Local setting to ‘Off’...
  • Page 30 ARGON8X isn’t responding to your pedal correctly previous page after two seconds, where the ‘previous’ page will be the page accessed via (e.g.
  • Page 31 Simply plug in ARGON8X 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 32: Midi Channel

    Notes, CC, Program Change, Aftertouch, Pitchbend, Transport, Clock and Sysex. ARGON8X can be played by sending it MIDI notes. This means you can use your DAW or any device that can send MIDI notes over USB/MIDI to sequence ARGON8X or control any of the By default Din IN allows all message types, and Din OUT allows all message types except clock.
  • Page 33 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 34 Set ‘MPE Number of Channels’ to match that of your MPE instrument. It is recommended note will have control of these parameters. to set this value as high as possible (on both your MPE instrument and ARGON8X) to • MPE is not available in Polychain mode take full advantage of ARGON8X’s polyphony.
  • Page 35 When In Polychain mode, the slave ARGON8 panel is disabled along with the keyboard (for ARGON8 & ARGON8X). Polychain mode can be exited by turning off the ‘Settings (General) > Polychain Master’ setting on the master ARGON8 or by rebooting the synthesisers.
  • Page 36 Update Update The firmware on ARGON8X can be updated remotely. This means that you will be able to update your ARGON8X to the latest version each time an update is released. You can update ARGON8X using the MODALapp. MODALapp is available for macOS, iOS, Windows, and Android.
  • Page 37 • Sequence page for live sequence controls and editing the 4 parameter animation rows • Keyboard page for playing ARGON8X 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 macOS, iOS, Windows, and Android.

  • Page 38: Main Editor

    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 ARGON8X has been the new preset with the - / + buttons. You can change the name of the preset by clicking on detected, at which point you will see the Editor page appear.
  • Page 39 Right clicking on a selected preset allows renaming and exposes the exporting or importing There is also an XY pad that will emulate the movements of the Joystick on ARGON8X as well options. Exporting will copy and send all of the selected presets to the selected folder.
  • Page 40 Sequencer Tab Sequencer Tab In the Sequencer Tab you can choose sequence type, load, initialise and save any of the Seq Edit Mode: To edit notes, ensure the draw button on the top bar is highlighted. presets as well access the live sequence controls such as Length, Hold, Loop and Quantise. It’s a lot like you’d expect from any old piano roll, clicking on an untoggled note or dragging When in Step Seq you can also scroll through steps displayed in groups of 16.
  • Page 41 Finally, there is access to the 3 stereo FX engines that show the currently selected FX in each slot and their respective controls. In the Keyboard Tab there is a MIDI controller that can be used to play notes on ARGON8X from your device. There are pitchbend and modwheels as well as 3 buttons to determine how many octaves are shown on the screen at one time.

  • Page 42: Warranty Information

    What is meant by a Manufacturing Defect? • The Modal warranty period for any product purchased is 12 months from the date of the • We define this as a defect in the performance or specification of the product as described original purchase.

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