Modal Electronics COBALT8X User Manual
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Modal Electronics COBALT8X User Manual

8 voice polyphonic extended virtual-analogue synthesiser
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Modal COBALT8X
8 voice polyphonic extended virtual-analogue synthesiser
User Manual
OS Version -
1.0
1

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Summary of Contents for Modal Electronics COBALT8X

  • Page 1 Modal COBALT8X 8 voice polyphonic extended virtual-analogue 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 Algorithms Filter Envelopes LFOs Arpeggiator Sequencer Modulation Keyboard/Voice Joystick + Audio Input Audio Output + Gain Settings 04. MIDI MIDI Implementation Chart Polychain 05.
  • Page 4 AMP, MOD and FILTER that can be accessed independently or all three simultaneously on board. COBALT8X also boasts a hugely powerful “Mod Matrix” with eight assignable slots and four additional fixed routes, 12 mod sources and 55 destinations.

  • Page 5: Specification

    Specification Specification Polyphony Sequencer and Arpeggiator • True 8 voice polyphonic with option to polychain any two COBALT8 synthesisers for 16 • Polyphonic Real-time and Step sequencer with 512 notes and four recordable/editable voice polyphony. parameter animations (Delay FX, LFO’s, sequencer and arpeggiator can be either clocked internally or externally) •...
  • 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 COBALT8X then connect the outputs of the COBALT8X to your mixer, or if you prefer, connect your headphones. Optionally connect a USB cable from your computer or tablet device to the COBALT8X for MODALapp communication.
  • Page 8 Secondary functions Randomise Preset COBALT8X 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 COBALT8X 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 Filter LFO2 Mod Slot 5 FX Preset Arpeggiator Audio Settings - Sequencer Load Patch Cutoff Shape Status Load FX Status Main Volume Metronome Save Patch Reso Rate Source Save FX Division Patch Gain Pre-Roll Init Patch Morph Depth...
  • Page 12 COBALT8X is a class compliant USB cable. These outputs can be used MIDI device and connects to a USB host COBALT8X 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 Algorithms COBALT8X features two independent oscillator groups, each containing 34 different The available algorithms on COBALT8X include a variety of complex analogue synthesis algorithms. There is a Mix control between the oscillator groups and an extended Oscillator techniques, built in cross-modulation (SYNC, RM, and many more), PWM, smooth Morphing Drift control for creating huge super-sounds.
  • Page 15 Algorithms Algorithms • Fractal Saw: Complex sync with un-quantised control over ratio (A) and and an • Ring Mod Square: Ring mod applied to two square waves, with quantised ratio control asymmetry control (B) that allows every second cycle of the wave to have a different sync (A) that snaps through a series of useful ratios, and a fine control (B), which cross-fades ratio to the first between these ratios allowing precise control across the whole range...
  • Page 16 Filter COBALT8X has a 4-pole morphable ladder filter, with switchable configurations • Cutoff: This parameter controls the filter cutoff frequency. This affects the cutoff frequency of the filter, from 0Hz up to 22kHz. • Reso: This parameter controls the amount of resonance of the filter.
  • Page 17 Envelopes Envelopes COBALT8X provides 3 separate 4-stage Envelope Generators (i.e. envelopes), one for the filter • FILT-EG, AMP-EG, MOD-EG: These buttons selects which envelope generator the above (FILT-EG), one for the amplifier (AMP-EG) and one for modulations (MOD-EG). With negative controls are representing.
  • Page 18 LFOs Arpeggiator COBALT8X features three individual low frequency oscillators. LFO1 is global and LFO2 and COBALT8X features an intuitive programmable arpeggiator. The speed of the arpeggiator is LFO3 are polyphonic. controlled by the current clock which can either be received from the sync in port, external MIDI or from the internal clock in COBALT8X.

  • Page 19: Real-Time Mode

    Sequencer Sequencer COBALT8X 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 20: 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 21 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 22 With multiple clicks it will cycle through the effect type used in that slot. COBALT8X comes loaded with 100 factory FX presets for you to instantly switch up your sound. FX presets range from simple single-FX presets to complex multi-FX presets.
  • Page 23 Modulation Modulation COBALT8X has a comprehensive Modulation Matrix with 12 Modulation Sources and 55 • 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 24 Modulation Modulation Valid combinations are listed here, combinations marked “•” are possible and marked ‘X’ are not possible: Parameter LFO1 LFO2 LFO3 NOTE VELO EXPR AFTT Parameter LFO1 LFO2 LFO3 NOTE VELO EXPR AFTT • • • MEG Amount • •...
  • Page 25 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 26: Audio Output + Gain

    The X axis controls pitch bend as standard, but this can be turned off (on-screen: Joystick: Because COBALT8X 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 to the MIDI headroom for dynamics might be reduced as a result of higher gain levels.
  • Page 27 DIN Out: A set of MIDI filter settings for enabling / disabling the COBALT8X from • Global Tune: Sets the global tuning of the COBALT8X with a range of +/- 1 semitone. transmitting certain types of MIDI-in messages from the MIDI DIN-out port.
  • Page 28 Mod Wheel Out: Enables / disables the joystick Y+ axis from transmitting MIDI engine. If you are using COBALT8X 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 29 COBALT8X 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 30 Simply plug in COBALT8X 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 31: Midi Channel

    Notes, CC, Program Change, Aftertouch, Pitchbend, Transport, Clock and Sysex. COBALT8X 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 COBALT8X or control any of the By default Din IN allows all message types, and Din OUT allows all message types except clock.
  • Page 32 MIDI CC Implemention Chart Function Function Function Function Bank Change FEG Amount Sustain Pedal Chord Mode Mod Wheel Morph Cutoff LFO3 Rate 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 33 Set ‘MPE Number of Channels’ to match that of your MPE instrument. It is recommended notes recorded into the sequencer are converted in ‘master’ notes. to set this value as high as possible (on both your MPE instrument and COBALT8X) to •...
  • Page 34 Polychain You can connect any 2 COBALT models together to give 16 voices using polychain. First, connect the desired master COBALT DIN MIDI Out to your desired slave COBALT DIN MIDI In. On the master COBALT 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 35 Update Update The firmware on COBALT8X can be updated remotely. This means that you will be able to update your COBALT8X to the latest version each time an update is released. You can update COBALT8X using the MODALapp. MODALapp is available for macOS, iOS, Windows, and Android.
  • Page 36 • Sequence page for live sequence controls and editing the 4 parameter animation rows • Keyboard page for playing COBALT8X 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 37: 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 COBALT8X 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 38 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 COBALT8X as well options. Exporting will copy and send all of the selected presets to the selected folder.
  • Page 39 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 40 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 COBALT8X 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 41: Warranty Information

    Warranty Information Warranty Information Warranty Statement 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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