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Modal COBALT8M User Manual

8 voice polyphonic extended virtual-analogue synthesiser
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Modal COBALT8M
8 voice polyphonic extended virtual-analogue synthesiser
User Manual
OS Version -
2.1
1

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Summary of Contents for Modal COBALT8M

  • Page 1 Modal COBALT8M 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 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. COBALT8M 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 COBALT 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 COBALT8M then connect the outputs of the COBALT8M to your mixer, or if you prefer, connect your headphones. Optionally connect a USB cable from your computer or tablet device to the COBALT8M for MODALapp communication.
  • Page 8 Secondary functions Randomise Preset COBALT8M 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 COBALT8M has 4 Quick Recall slots for quickly loading presets. Quick Recalls are controlled • Hold the ‘Arp’ switch 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 COBALT8M in a 19” rack For users who would like to mount their COBALT8M in a 19” rack, a pair of • Press FX1 / FX2 / FX3 switch 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 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 COBALT8M is a class compliant USB cable. These outputs can be used MIDI device and connects to a USB host COBALT8M 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 COBALT8M features two independent oscillator groups, each containing 34 different The available algorithms on COBALT8M include a variety of complex analogue synthesis algorithms with a Mix control between the oscillator groups. techniques, built in cross-modulation (SYNC, RM, and many more), PWM, smooth Morphing between VA waves, bit crushing and filtered noise.
  • Page 15 Algorithms Algorithms • Fractal Saw: Complex sync with un-quantised control over ratio (A) and and an • Ring Mod Triangle: Ring mod applied to two triangle waves, with quantised ratio asymmetry control (B) that allows every second cycle of the wave to have a different sync control (A) that snaps through a series of useful ratios, and a fine control (B), which cross- ratio to the first fades between these ratios allowing precise control across the whole range...
  • Page 16 Filter Filter COBALT8M has a wide selection of 31 different filter types to tastefully tailor the sonic content Static Types: of the algorithms mix. • 4 pole Lowpass Ladder (with drive) • Cutoff: This parameter controls the filter cutoff frequency. This affects the cutoff •...
  • Page 17 Envelopes Envelopes COBALT8M 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 COBALT8M features three individual low frequency oscillators. LFO1 is global and LFO2 and COBALT8M 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 COBALT8M.

  • Page 19: Real-Time Mode

    Sequencer Sequencer COBALT8M 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 B: This encoder allows us to control the second parameter of the selected effect. COBALT8M comes loaded with 100 factory FX presets for you to instantly switch up your Tip: Turn the ‘FX1,2 and 3 B’ encoder into the negative range to access synced delay sound.
  • Page 23 FX List Chorus Dry:Wet Mix Mod Depth Mod Rate Time Feedback Phase Chorus V2 Dry:Wet Mix Mod Depth Mod Rate Feedback Phaser Dry:Wet Mix Mod Depth Mod Rate Frequency Feedback Phase Phaser V2 Dry:Wet Mix Mod Depth Mod Rate Frequency Resonance Pole Count Flanger (Pos)
  • Page 24 Modulation Modulation COBALT8M 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 25 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 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 be turned off (on-screen: Joystick: Because COBALT8M 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 28 MIDI-in messages from the MIDI DIN-in port. • Global Tune: Sets the global tuning of the COBALT8M with a range of +/- 1 semitone. • DIN Out: A set of MIDI filter settings for enabling / disabling the COBALT8M from You may need to adjust this if using the COBALT8M with other synthesisers that are not transmitting certain types of MIDI-in messages from the MIDI DIN-out port.
  • Page 29 MIDI-in Monitor: The MIDI-in Monitor is a useful tool to use if needing to verify if the COBALT8M is receiving MIDI messages. It will display the data of any MIDI message that COBALT8M can respond to and will ignore the current MIDI channel and filter settings.
  • Page 30 COBALT8M 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 COBALT8M 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. COBALT8M 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 COBALT8M 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 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 34 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 COBALT8M) to •...
  • Page 35 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 36 Update Update The firmware on COBALT8M can be updated remotely. This means that you will be able to update your COBALT8M to the latest version each time an update is released. You can update COBALT8M 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 COBALT8M 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 COBALT8M 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 COBALT8M 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 Draw Mode: To create some notes, ensure the draw button on the top bar is highlighted (this presets as well access the live sequence controls such as Length, Hold, Loop and Quantise. will be by default) and click or drag on any of the empty slots in the display below.
  • 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 COBALT8M 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.