General
We'll forgive if you thought you were looking at a blue Argon8 for a second there. While equipped with a similar control panel, this is a completely new and different synth: the Modal Electronics Cobalt8. Loaded with 8 voices plus 8 oscillators per voicing, this virtual analogue synthesizer sounds fat and extreme in all the right ways. It may be virtual analogue, but the Cobalt8 definitely doesn't just offer traditional sawtooth and square waveforms, but comes with a whopping 34 algorithms. These are still related to classic waveforms and some of their offspring, and include algorithms for pulse-width modulation, hard sync triangle, filtered noise, ring modulation on specific waveforms and much, much more!
The Modal Electronics Cobalt8
It goes without saying that an extensive filter is included. More specifically, we're talking about a morph-able 24dB Ladder filter with resonance and switchable configurations. In addition, there are three envelopes for amp, mod and filter, as well three audio-rate LFOs for crystal-clear FM effects. Using the 12-source/55-destination matrix, you're free to create your own modulations and, as a modern synth befits, the Cobalt8 features a built-in sequencer and arpeggiator. The sequencer can also be used to control the parameters, and as the chocolate-coated cherries on top, you're offered three effect engines including chorus, reverb, delay, phaser and a bunch of other effects!
Other Awesome Features
The Cobalt8 comes loaded with ample storage capacity. In fact, it not only offers room for presets, but you're free to save sounds, sequences and even effects. In terms of more visible features, you're getting a FATAR keyboard with channel-aftertouch and a beautifully clear OLED display to help you keep track of what's going on with razor-sharp graphics. Safe inside in a robust and road-ready housing, the Cobalt8 is perfect for gigging musicians and comes with editor software that can be run in your DAW as a VST3/AU plugin. Last but not least, this future-proof VA synthesizer supports MPE - the new MIDI standard that divides polyphony across multiple MIDI tracks so you can do stuff like pitch-bends per note - which concludes the list of reasons why the Cobalt8 deserves a spot somewhere at the top of your gear-based wishlist.
