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Modal Electronics has released a free firmware update for their COBALT8 line of synthesizers, extending the synth’s engine with a new ‘Vintage’ parameter and Oscillator Free Run, 27 new filter types, 14 effects and more.

New in COBALT8 Firmware v2:

The update adds the new Vintage parameter and Oscillator Free Run, to more accurately emulate classic analog synths’ sound. The Vintage setting models the behavior of vintage synths’ technical imperfections, where certain tuning and other variations were introduced into the sound generation. Oscillator Free Run more accurately models traditional analog oscillators. Modal says that classic synth sounds are more alive with the addition of these parameters, so that every key press is slightly different than the one before.

27 new filter types increase the COBALT8’s already impressive arsenal for creative sound design. The list includes 2-Pole State Variable Filters, various Lowpass, Bandpass and Highpass Ladder Filters with drive, combinations of traditional filter types with Notch characteristics, and more. For all new filter types featuring Drive, the Morph control allows for dialing in the right filter drive amount to taste.

A new Cutoff Scaling patch parameter unlocks improved filter cutoff behavior with three distinctive modes to expand your sound design options. Note-to-Cutoff Scaling can now track with full accuracy in one of two new modes; Relative, and Bipolar. These modes can be tailored to match your preferences on a per-patch basis. The original note-to-cutoff characteristics remain available in Legacy mode.

Additionally, COBALT8 Firmware v2 includes 14 powerful new effects. The V2 Reverb is great for adding a little bit of space to a sound, huge near-infinite reverbs, and everything in-between. Other effects options include Phaser v2, Compressor, Three-Band EQ, Unisoniser, Utility and additional Drive effects.

With the new firmware, the programmable Arpeggiator receives new Arp Directions. The update also improves the capabilities of the OLED display, the Audio In quality, the gain staging of the audio output and more.

COBALT8 Firmware v2 is available now as a free update, via Modal’s MODALapp software.

Modal Electronics has released ARGON8 Firmware v3, a free firmware update that they call “the most comprehensive release for our acclaimed wavetable synthesizer since its release 3 years ago”.

New in ARGON8 Firmware v3:

The new Vintage parameter allows you to alter the organic fabric of the wavetable textures by emulating the behavior of vintage synths’ technical imperfections, introducing certain variations to tuning and other parameters. Oscillator Free Run is another feature known from analog synthesizers, and adds to the sonic flexibility of ARGON8. Modal Electronics says that ‘classic’ synth sounds are much more alive with the vintage, and free run parameters, ensuring that every key press results in sound that’s slightly different than the one before.

Firmware v3 also adds four new filter types, incl. 4-Pole Ladder Filter, a 1-Pole Ladder Hybrid, a resonant Phaser Ladder Filter and a new 2-Pole Sallen-Key Filter. All new filters come with Pre-Filter drive, and the integrated pole sweeping allows seamless morphing through the audio spectrum. The Ladder filter unlocks even more classic synth tones as well as expands ARGONs experimental capabilities with the more complex filter outputs, and the Sallen-Key filter brings a whole new level and character to gnarly, driven sounds, especially when paired with the Drive FX.

More Effects

The V2 Reverb is great for adding a little bit of space to a sound, huge near-infinite reverbs and everything in-between. The new Chorus v2 was brought over from Modal’s COBALT5S and COBALT8 synths and offers vintage Chorus tones. Other new effects include the new Phaser v2, Compressor, Three-Band EQ, Unisoniser, Utility and additional Drive effects.

More Presets

Firmware v3 features a dedicated new bank of 100 new factory presets to showcase Firmware v3 in action.

Other New Features

With the new firmware, the programmable Arpeggiator gets new options for direction. Firmware v3 also improves the capabilities of the OLED display, the Audio In quality, the gain staging of the audio output and much more.

The Argon8 update is available now as a free download.

Modal Electronics tests the Eurorack waters with Filton, a 20HP dual analogue transistor ladder filter module – a Moog-style dual analogue ladder filter.

New 20HP module is a Kickstarter exclusive. It is based on the design of the classic Moog ladder filter. Filton promises to deliver saturated transistor overdrive, resonant harmonic peaks and warm analogue timbres. It also features the ‘polesweeping’ that Modal introduced in its 002 synth, which enables seamless filter morphing from four-pole through bandpass to one-pole 6db per octave, and everything in between.

In fact, Filton is based on the same circuitry as the 002’s filter, though the design has been altered to improve stability and sound. Additionally, the dual architecture means that you get two filters, which enable you to process two sounds independently or a single sound using both filters in series or parallel.

Each of these filters has an audio output, four analogue CVs with attenuvertor controls for FM, Resonance, Morph and Level, pitch tracking provided by the 1V/Oct input, an audio output and a mixed output.

All CV inputs on Filter A have been ‘normalled’ to Filter B, meaning any CV signal plugged into Filter A is automatically sent to Filter B if nothing is plugged into the corresponding input.

Filton is available exclusively on Kickstarter priced at £299. As such, it’ll only be released if the £50,000 funding target is reached.