Modal Cobalt 8 Virtual-Analogue Synthesizer

Unleash your creative potential with the Cobalt 8 - a unique and incredibly intuitive virtual-analogue synthesizer that pairs with the cross-platform MODALapp to deliver a hands-on synth experience like no other!

Best Of Both Worlds

The Modal Cobalt 8 Virtual-Analogue Synthesizer utilizes the potential of virtual-analogue waveforms to create a unique and expressive experience, able to generate sounds like no other synthesizer can. With a new extended virtual-analogue engine, the Cobalt 8 combines traditional analogue waveforms with modern synthesis techniques to deliver an incredible hybrid that benefits immensely from both worlds.

Modal Cobalt 8 Virtual-Analogue Synthesizer Features:

• Unique Approach To Synthesis
• New Extended Virtual-Analogue Engine
• 37 Premium-Key Layout
• True 8-Voice Polyphony
• 34 Different On-Board Oscillator Algorithms
• 4-Pole Ladder Filter
• Powerful cross-platform MODALapp Compatibility
• Robust Aluminium Enclosure

Creative Flow

Adopting a similar approach to the classic modular synthesizer ways of working, Modal have taken harmonically rich and traditional analogue waveforms such as triangle, saw, square and PWM and allowed them to be combined with ease - providing an incredible tonal palette at your fingertips.

Create new and unique 8-voice polyphonic sounds with a selection of 34 different onboard oscillator algorithms, each with their own individual waveform controls, providing instant access to an incredible range of diverse and distinct sounds.

Including a self-oscillating 4-pole morphable ladder filter, developed exclusively for Cobalt 8, your sound-shaping capabilities are seemingly endless!

Synthesis Systems

Alongside the innovative extended virtual-analogue engine, Modal have included an incredible range of synthesis standards, with almost everything you ever need, made readily available for use in some capacity.

Featuring LFO's, a 12-slot modulation matrix, sequencers, a programmable arpeggiator, FX, envelopes, joystick performance control, MPE support and an incredible range of I/O options, you've really got an incredibly versatile instrument - housed conveniently inside a robust aluminium enclosure, ideal for hitting the road.

MODALapp

Unlock the full potential of your Modal Electronics instrument with the free, cross-platform MODALapp. Providing full intutive visual control over presets, patch editing and synth paramaters, alongside effortless firmware updates and seamless DAW integration, the MODALapp allows you to experience hardware synth editing at its finest!

With every paramater you could want at your fingertips, the app works in perfect harmony with your synth to unlock full-touch integration over you set-up from selectable waveforms, to filters to modulation and sequenced patterns - whether you're on Windows, macOs, iOS, iPadOS, Android OR AU/VST3.

Perfect for both live performance and in-depth production setups, with the MODALapp you can easily import and export everything from single patches to entire libraries so you never need to trouble yourself with complicated third party softwares again!

Modal Cobalt 8 Virtual-Analogue Synthesizer Specifications:

Polyphony

• True 8 voice polyphonic

MPE

• Supports MPE-compatible MIDI controllers, allowing you to apply polyphonic control and expression to individual notes

Oscillators

• 64 high-resolution virtual-analogue oscillators, up to 8 per voice
• Two independent and self-contained oscillator groups with sine, pulse, triangle, sawtooth waveforms, 34 different algorithms including: complex analogue synthesis techniques, built-in crossmodulation (SYNC, RM, and many more), PWM, smooth morphing between VA waves, bit crushing, filtered noise.
• Extended Oscillator Drift

Filter

• 4-Pole Morphable Ladder Filter with Resonance and four switchable configurations
• Resonance and Balanced Filter Modes 

Modulation

• Three dedicated envelope generators for AMP, MOD and FILTER that can be accessed independently or all three simultaneously including negative (reverse) versions for MOD and FILTER ENVs
• Three audio-rate LFO’s with tempo sync (two poly, one global) with seven different shapes
• Eight assignable modulation slots and four additional fixed modulation routings for common assignments with 12 modulation sources and 55 modulation destinations

Sequencer and Arpeggiator

• Polyphonic Real-time sequencer with 512 notes and four recordable/editable parameter animations (Delay FX, LFO’s, sequencer and arpeggiator can be either clocked internally or externally)
• Polyphonic Step Sequencer with 64 steps, 8 notes per step, 4 lanes of Parameter-Lock style animation, Step Input mode, multiple playback modes including gate modes and rest function
• Built-In sophisticated programmable arpeggiator of 32 steps with rest capability with up to 2048 steps before repeating

FX

• Three incredibly powerful independent and user-configurable stereo FX engines for Chorus, Phaser, Flanger (Pos), Flanger (Neg), Tremolo, LoFi, Rotary, Stereo Delay, Ping-Pong Delay, X-Over Delay and Reverb that can be arranged in any order

User Memory

• 500 patch memories, all fully editable and ships with 300 factory programs
• 100 sequencer presets that can be linked to any patch for quickly loading arrangements
• 100 FX presets
• 8 Quick Recall slots accessible from the panel for quickly loading your favourite patches

Controls and Performance

• Premium FATAR 37-key Keyboard with velocity and channel aftertouch
• 29 endless encoders, 24 buttons
• 4-axis joystick that can be assigned to a huge range of modulation destinations and virtually ‘locked’ when desired
• Multiple keyboard modes, Mono, Poly, Unison 2, unison 4, unison 8, Stack 2 and Stack 4
• Glide/Portamento with both legato and staccato modes
• Chord Invert control to easily create chord inversions and variations

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
• Class compliant MIDI over USB connection
• 6.35 mm / 1/4? TRS expression pedal input
• 6.35 mm / 1/4? TS sustain pedal input

Enclosure and Display

• Road-ready steel and aluminium enclosure with economical stained bamboo end cheeks
• 1.54-inch large OLED display for instant visual feedback at all times of playing/editing

Power

• Power: DC-9.0V – 1.5A centre-positive

Editor Software

• Free MODALapp software editor available for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android
• MODALapp can also be run within your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), with VST3 and AU versions available

General

• Dimensions (L x W x H): 555 x 300 x 100 mm / 21.9? x 11.8? x 4?
• Weight: 5.60 kg / 12.4 lbs