Modal CARBON8M User Manual

8-voice experimental synthesiser module

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CARBON8M

8-voice experimental synthesiser module

User Manual

OS Version -

1.1

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Summary of Contents for Modal CARBON8M

Page 1 CARBON8M 8-voice experimental synthesiser module User Manual OS Version -...
Page 2 Important Safety Information Index Introduction �� 4 Specification ...........................5 Getting Started �� 8 Basic Functions ........................9 UI Combinations ........................11 Screen Map ..........................16 Connections �� 18 WARNING – AS WITH ALL ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS, care and general precautions must Synthesis engine �� 20 be observed in order to operate this equipment safely.
Page 3 AMP, MOD and FILTER that can be accessed independently or all three simultaneously on board. Oscillators CARBON8M also boasts a hugely powerful “Mod Matrix” with eight assignable slots and four • 16 high-resolution Core oscillators, 2 per voice additional fixed routes, 12 mod sources and 55 destinations.
Page 4 Specification Specification Sequencer and Arpeggiator Inputs and Outputs • Polyphonic Real-time and Step sequencer with 512 notes and four recordable/editable • 6.35 mm / 1/4” TS dual-mono line outputs parameter animations (Delay FX, LFO’s, sequencer and arpeggiator can be either clocked •...
Page 5 To access the functions on the panel labelled in light grey text (3 buttons bottom left), hold The Modal CARBON8M interface is designed to be extremely intuitive and easy to use, so that the button in that section that has a light grey ring (‘Velo’ button) and press the relevant button.
Page 6 Either when in ’Shift’ mode or while momentarily holding ‘Shift’ press and hold the ‘Rand’ CARBON8M has 4 Quick Recall slots for quickly loading presets. Quick Recalls are controlled button, a confirmation message will appear on-screen however the preset will not be using the following button combos: overwritten until saved.
Page 7 UI Combinations UI Combinations • Hold the ‘Arp’ switch and press keys on an external keyboard to add pattern notes or • Press FX1 / FX2 / FX3 switch repeatedly to change the FX type of the slot press the ‘Play’ button to add a rest to the pattern •...
Page 8 How to mount CARBON8M in a 19” rack For users who would like to mount their CARBON8M in a 19” rack, a pair of rack mounting ears are provided in the accessories box inside your CARBON8M packaging. To install these, first grab a corner of the...
Page 9 Screen Map Screen Map Patch Preset Osc (General) LFO1 Mod Slot 3 Mod (General) FX-3 Sequencer Settings - UI Load Patch XCore Shape Status Note -> Cutoff Type (continued) Screen Brightness Save Patch XMod Rate Source Y+ -> LFO1 Depth Anim3 Status Screen Switch Mode Init Patch...
Page 10 CARBON8M is a class compliant USB cable. These outputs can be used MIDI device and connects to a USB host CARBON8M 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 11 Synthesis engine...
Page 12 The two rates are linked such that on the CARBON8M the display will show the actual name of the wave modifier, and this will the oscillator will still complete a full cycle in the usual amount of time. The Contour change from core to core.
Page 13 Oscillators Oscillators Alt Sync – a variation of window sync where every other cycle is (potentially) played back Shaper – this is an alternative version of phase modulation using a triangle wave as a at either of two alternating rates. This can give interesting asymmetrical pairs of the same modulator.
Page 14 XCore Filter In addition to the two oscillators with fifty six Cores, CARBON8M adds an additional cross CARBON8M has a wide selection of 34 different filter types to tastefully tailor the sonic modulation stage before the sound is passed to the filter. In all cases, it is Oscillator 2 that content of the algorithms mix.
Page 15 Filter Filter Morphable Types: 3 pole Highpass Ladder (with drive) 2 pole Highpass Ladder (with drive) • State Variable LP/BP/HP – Morphs 2-pole lowpass, through bandpass, to high 1 pole Highpass Ladder (with drive) pass 4 pole bandpass Ladder (12dB Lp /12dB Hp) (with drive) •...
Page 16 Envelopes Envelopes CARBON8M provides 3 separate 4-stage Envelope Generators (i.e. envelopes), one for the • FILT-EG, AMP-EG, MOD-EG: These buttons selects which envelope generator the above filter (FILT-EG), one for the amplifier (AMP-EG) and one for modulations (MOD-EG). With controls are representing.
Page 17 LFOs Arpeggiator CARBON8M features three individual low frequency oscillators. LFO1 is global and LFO2 and CARBON8M features an intuitive programmable arpeggiator. The speed of the arpeggiator LFO3 are polyphonic. is controlled by the current clock which can either be received from the sync in port, external MIDI or from the internal clock in CARBON8M.
Page 18 Sequencer Sequencer CARBON8M 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 19 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 20 Sequencer CARBON8M features 3 incredibly powerful independent and user configurable stereo FX Gate Thru - The same as ‘Gate’ but all MIDI notes are sent to the voices. engines.These 3 slots can be rearranged in any order in series. 1>2>3. Any effect can go in Great for re-harmonising a sequence - record chords into the sequence, then play it back any slot, but you may only use 1 type of each effect per preset plus any effect with “+”...
Page 21 - Long: Our pristine Clean delay with up to 4x Colour or Clean delay times. FX Presets CARBON8M 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 22 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 23 Modulation Modulation CARBON8M 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 • • • • • • •...
Page 25 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 26 The X axis controls pitch bend as standard, but this can be turned off (on-screen: Joystick: Because CARBON8M employs a limiter as the final stage before output in its audio signal Pitchbend status or on MODALapp). It also sends MIDI pitch bend messages to the MIDI path, headroom for dynamics might be reduced as a result of higher gain levels.
Page 27 MIDI-in messages from the MIDI DIN-in port. • Global Tune: Sets the global tuning of the CARBON8M with a range of +/- 1 semitone. • DIN Out: A set of MIDI filter settings for enabling / disabling the CARBON8M from You may need to adjust this if using the CARBON8M with other synthesisers that are not transmitting certain types of MIDI-in messages from the MIDI DIN-out port.
Page 28 MIDI-in Monitor: The MIDI-in Monitor is a useful tool to use if needing to verify if the CARBON8M is receiving MIDI messages. It will display the data of any MIDI message that CARBON8M can respond to and will ignore the current MIDI channel and filter settings.
Page 29 CARBON8M 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 On CARBON8 the MIDI channel can be set in the on-screen settings, or with the MODALapp. in CARBON8M synthesiser to a USB port and it will show up as a MIDI input and output device You can also change additional MIDI settings in the on-screen settings pages or in the settings in any software that supports external MIDI devices.
Page 31 MIDI MIDI Program Change Sending a bank change (0-4) followed by a program change (0-99) to CARBON8 will load the relevant preset. Sync The analogue sync connections on CARBON8 are configured to use a 3.3v, rising edge, 1 pulse per 16th note signal. This is used to syncopate any other gear that is CV clock enabled with your device.
Page 32 MIDI CC Implemention Chart Function Function Function Function Bank Change FEG Amount Sustain Pedal Chord Mode Mod Wheel Filter Warp Filter Cutoff LFO3 Rate Filter Resonance Seq Length LFO1 Rate Seq Mute ModSlot 1 Source Glide LFO1 Depth Seq Clear ModSlot 2 Source Seq Hold ModSlot 3 Source...
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 CARBON8M) to •...
Page 34 Polychain You can connect any 2 CARBON models together to give 16 voices using polychain. First, connect the desired master CARBON DIN MIDI Out to your desired slave CARBON DIN MIDI In. On the master CARBON 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 MODALapp The firmware on CARBON8M can be updated remotely. This means that you will be able to MODALapp adds visual feedback for CARBON8M (and other Modal devices) and access to a update your CARBON8M to the latest version each time an update is released.
Page 36 There is also access to play, record, tempo options as well as sliders for patch gain and volume. At this point you can play your CARBON8M with any MIDI controller! MODALapp forwards all incoming MIDI to CARBON8M automatically. Just make sure that your MIDI controller is Across the middle there are the 12 modulation slots with 8 user configurable and 4 pre sending to the same MIDI channel you’re CARBON8M is assigned to.
Page 37 Preset Manager + Modulation Tab Preset Manager + Modulation Tab In the Preset Manager Tab there are options to curate, move, backup or import presets. You may also right click on a bank to expose exporting and importing options of the entire There are 100 presets per bank that can be viewed by scrolling in the preset list.
Page 38 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 39 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 CARBON8M 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 40 • We define this as a defect in the performance or specification of the product as described • The Modal warranty period for any product purchased is 12 months from the date of the and published by Modal. original purchase.

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