Modal ARGON8M User Manual
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Modal ARGON8M User Manual

8 voice polyphonic wavetable synthesiser
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Modal ARGON8M
8 voice polyphonic wavetable synthesiser
User Manual
OS Version -
2.0
1

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Summary of Contents for Modal ARGON8M

  • Page 1 Modal ARGON8M 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 How to mount ARGON8M in a 19” rack Screen Map 02. Connections 03. Synthesis Engine Oscillators Oscillator Modifiers Wavetable Modifiers Filter Envelopes LFOs Arpeggiator Sequencer Modulation Voice Joystick + Audio Input...
  • Page 4 There are two Audio rate LFO’s with tempo sync (one poly, one global). Polyphonic LFO can sync to frequency divisions. ARGON8M 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

    4 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

    Getting Started Powering on Connect the power lead to your ARGON8M then connect the outputs of the ARGON8M to your mixer, or if you prefer, connect your headphones. Optionally connect a USB cable from your computer or tablet device to the ARGON8M for MODALapp communication.
  • Page 8 Secondary functions Randomise Preset ARGON8M is a comprehensive and fully featured synthesiser despite its small size. Therefore Either when in ’Shift’ mode or while momentarily holding ‘Shift’ press and hold the ‘Rand’ there are a number of user interface combinations that are required to access some of the button, a confirmation message will appear on-screen however the preset will not be deeper functions of the synth.
  • Page 9 UI Combinations UI Combinations Quick Recalls ARGON8M has 4 Quick Recall slots for quickly loading presets. Quick Recalls are controlled • Hold the ‘Arp’ button and press keys on an external keyboard to add pattern notes or using the following button combos: press the ‘Play’...
  • Page 10 How to mount ARGON8M in a 19” rack For users who would like to mount their ARGON8M in a 19” rack, a pair of • Press FX1 / FX2 / FX3 button repeatedly to change the FX type of the slot rack mounting ears are provided in the •...

  • 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 ARGON8M is a class compliant USB cable. These outputs can be used MIDI device and connects to a USB host ARGON8M 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 ARGON8M 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 ARGON8M 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 ARGON8M 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 ARGON8M 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 ARGON8M now provides 3 updated separate 4-stage Envelope Generators (i.e. envelopes), • FILT-EG, AMP-EG, MOD-EG: These buttons selects which envelope generator the above one for the filter (FILT-EG), one for the amplifier (AMP-EG) and one for modulations (MOD- controls are representing.
  • Page 19 LFOs Arpeggiator ARGON8M features two individual low frequency oscillators. LFO1 is global and LFO2 is ARGON8M 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 ARGON8M.

  • Page 20: Real-Time Mode

    Sequencer Sequencer ARGON8M 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 ARGON8M 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 ARGON8M 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: 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 26 Voice Voice • Chord: Pressing this button while holding a chord (via incoming MIDI) stores this chord • Chord Invert: Holding the ‘Patch’ button and turning the ‘Drift’ encoder controls Chord and enables chord mode. This chord can then be played from a single note trigger until invert.

  • Page 27: Audio Output + Gain

    The X axis controls pitch bend as standard, but this can also be turned off (on-screen: Joystick: Because ARGON8M 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 LFOs) may not work correctly or at all. are forwarded to DIN-out. • Global Tune: Sets the global tuning of the ARGON8M with a range of +/- 1 semitone. • Arp/Seq Out: Enables the ARGON8M arpeggiator and / or sequencer to transmit notes You may need to adjust this if using the ARGON8M with other synthesisers that are not to the MIDI-out ports.
  • Page 29 Pitch Bend Out: Enables / disables the joystick X axes from transmitting MIDI Pitch Note: Metronome and Pre-Roll are only available for realtime sequences Bend messages to MIDI-out. You may want to disable this behaviour if the ARGON8M • Quantise: Sets the sequencer note recording input quantise value to ensure that played is connected to other synthesisers that responds to MIDI Pitch Bend messages.
  • Page 30 ARGON8M 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 ARGON8M 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

    ARGON8M has app-configurable midi filters on the Din input and output: ARGON8M 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 ARGON8M or control any of the Notes, CC, Program Change, Aftertouch, Pitchbend, Transport, Clock and Sysex.
  • 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 ARGON8M) to • MPE is not available in Polychain mode take full advantage of ARGON8M’s polyphony.
  • Page 35 Polychain You can connect any 2 ARGON8 models together to give 16 voices using polychain. First, connect the desired master ARGON8 DIN MIDI Out to your desired slave ARGON8 DIN MIDI In. On the master ARGON8 navigate to ‘Settings (General) > Polychain Master’ and turn this on. The slave device should now be showing all voice mode LEDs lit and ‘Polychain Slave’...
  • Page 36 Update Update The firmware on ARGON8M can be updated remotely. This means that you will be able to update your ARGON8M to the latest version each time an update is released. You can update ARGON8M 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 ARGON8M 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 ARGON8M 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 ARGON8M 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 ARGON8M 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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