Modal Argon8 Updated with New Waveforms and More
Modal Electronics has updated the Argon8, adding 12 new Wavetable Banks, featuring 60 new Waveforms.
Argon8 Firmware 2.6 features two independent wave-groups, each containing 180 carefully crafted wavetables split into 36 banks of 5 morphable waveform sets; there’s even an additional PWM bank and 3 noise/modulation banks accessible on wave-group 2.
In addition, users can now link OSC2 tuning to be linked to OSC1 frequency via a handy OSC2 Tune Mode control.
New Firmware v2.6 Wavetables:
- Chew – This wavetable starts as a fuzzy square-derived waveshape and takes on a more sinister identity as position value increases. Expect good results when used for bass texture or wobbles.
- Grit – A highly versatile table for making anything from hybrid keys to swirling pads. At position 0, this table can be used as a smoother substitute for a sawtooth. From there, you’ll hear a frequency sweep upwards as detain and grit steadily increase to form an energized and highly detailed waveform with its own distinct personality.
- Gnar – We took a trusty sawtooth and gave it a healthy dose of acupuncture therapy. Pins and needles might not be for everyone, but when this table gets a solid injection of phase mod from oscillator 2 (try running feedback on Osc 2!), it’s unstoppable for all things gnarly. Find a low key of choice and push/pull that joystick.
- Wicked – Things can get pretty intense using wicked. This particular wavetable carries a lot of mid frequencies, with noticeable overtones and harmonies. Wicked needs to be modulated to sound its best. Inject some phase mod or sync, along with movements in wavetable positions from either LFO’s or the Mod envelope, and you’ll be off-planet in no time.
- Transient – Created for the sole purpose of making distinct transient hits. You do this with the mod envelope, altering the position with a quick decay time. The far end of the wavetable has punchy highs and mids, while the other side contains much more subdued tones. This is another highly versatile preset, as it also makes an excellent modulation oscillator when used in oscillator 2.
- Feedback – Starts out with a high amount of overtones over what could arguably be a sin wave, and gradually picks up in the mids and highs. Eventually it becomes sort of a cross between an FM infused sin wave and a sawtooth. On its own you can use this without much modulation and still pull off stuff like bells, mallet instruments, or even a mangled lead or bass. The real magic of Feedback is when you use it in conjunction with the Oscillator Mod, particularly phase mod, to shape oscillator 1 into aggressive crunchy wobbles and punches.
- FM Organ – This one’s pretty self explanatory. If you like organs, set this one up on oscillator 1 or 2 and use a little wind sync for another layer of organ overtones.
- Metal – Exactly as named, this one’s full of metalic ting tang texture. Much like Feedback, this one can also do wonders when used as an Oscillator Mod, Especially Phase Modulation.
- Fat – Oscillator shapes sampled from an analogue synthesizer. For classic analogue sounds, this table does well as an alternative to the standard VA table. Expect pleasant results when used with filter envelope stabs and rises.
- Filter – Filter is a saw wave sampled through an analogue filter sweep
- Vsync – is sampled from CRAFTsynth 2.0 Vocaloid Sync modifier.
- Retro2 – Samples from a famous Japanese polysynth.
- Metal – Metalic overtones and tons of texture. If chrome was a sound, this might be what it sounds like. Great for Drum&Bass leads and basses.
- FM Organ – Sourced from organ tones manipulated with FM synthesis.
Modal Electronics Argon8 Firmware v2.6 is available now as a free download.
