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Unlock the true power of the Argon8 – firmware v3 has arrived!
Welcome to the future. Building on the success of the now iconic Argon8 wavetable synthesizer, Modal have been busy crafting the newest update, providing a wide variety of exciting new features, upgrades and enhancements. One of the most prominent new features is the free-running oscillator and vintage controls. Emulating the behaviour of classic synthesizers, Argon8’s free-running oscillators can be used for a variety of applications from creating long drone-style sounds to creating atmospheric melodies.
The new ‘Vintage’ parameter introduces variation between the voices, emulating the effect of aging components to give them a truly analog sound and feel. The sound shaping capabilities have also been expanded with the introduction of four new filter types: Ladder, Ladder Hybrid, Notch, Ladder Phase and Sallen-Key. There are also 15 new effects including a compressor, phaser, chorus, three-band EQ and a variety of new reverb algorithms. If that wasn’t enough, the factory preset bank has been heavily updated, allowing you to explore all the new features and upgrades included within the firmware v3 update.
The DNA of the Modal 002, taken further
The Argon8 bases its architecture on the Modal 002 design, based on the cutting-edge wavetable synthesizer engine. This specialised sound engine allows you to achieve a wide range of sounds, from classic analog synth tones to modern-day EDM-inspired tones. The Argon8 features eight voices of true polyphony, allowing you to unleash your creativity without limitations. It features a wide range of hands-on controls including a four-axis joystick and precision encoders for maximum flexibility.
It comes jam-packed with features and parameters designed to optimise your sound design process. From the two-pole morphing resonant filter to waveshaping distortion and the three user-configurable stereo FX engines, you can craft virtually any sound you can dream up. From here, you can store up to 500 patches using the onboard memory slots. It comes ready with 300 factory programs and 200 user patch spaces, allowing you to upload and download patches through the free MODALapp.
Advanced wavetable synthesis engine
ARGON8’s sophisticated engine offers two wavetable oscillators per voice, providing an immense sound palette. Each oscillator draws from a library of 120 wavetables, with 32 modifiers available to further reshape the base waveforms. These modifiers include transformations such as wavefolding, bitcrushing, and phase manipulation, creating complex, evolving sounds. Additionally, the Vintage and Oscillator Free Run settings allow the user to introduce subtle variations that emulate classic analogue behaviours, giving digital patches a more organic tone.
Versatile filter section and modulation capabilities
Eight morphable filter types provide sonic flexibility across a wide range of musical styles. Options include 2-pole and 4-pole lowpass, highpass, and bandpass filters, as well as combinations with notch characteristics. Two LFOs (one polyphonic and audio-rate) and three envelopes (for filter, amp, and modulation) offer complete control over dynamic shaping. A powerful 12-slot modulation matrix lets you route sources to destinations with ease, while four pre-assigned modulation paths save space for more complex designs.
Performance tools that inspire
The onboard 512-note step and real-time sequencer allows for expressive pattern creation. Four animation lanes can independently modulate parameters per step, enabling movement that extends beyond what traditional envelopes or LFOs can offer. The 32-step arpeggiator is fully programmable and features modes like Chord Hold, Inversion, Transpose, and Sustain Latch. Combined with the joystick and aftertouch-enabled keybed, these features give players direct and nuanced control over every performance element.
Premium FATAR keybed with intuitive design
ARGON8 features a 37-note FATAR TP9/S keybed, one of the most trusted options for expressive playing. With channel aftertouch, velocity sensitivity, and smooth mechanical response, it provides a professional-grade feel. The synth includes 29 endless encoders, 24 buttons, and an X/Y joystick for immediate hands-on access to key parameters. This layout is tailored to encourage experimentation and real-time control, whether you are on stage or in the studio.
Three-slot stereo FX engine
Enhance your patches with ARGON8’s high-quality onboard FX. The engine supports three simultaneous effects, with 27 algorithms including Chorus, Phaser, Flanger, Tremolo, Reverb, Ping-Pong Delay, Lo-Fi, Rotary, Drive, and EQ. These effects are designed to add depth, character, and space to your patches without the need for external processors. Each FX slot is fully programmable, enabling tailored sonic textures for every preset.
Comprehensive connectivity and expandability
ARGON8 is equipped to connect into any modern or vintage setup. It includes full-size MIDI In and Out, USB-MIDI, 3.5 mm sync In and Out for modular or drum machine integration, and expression and sustain pedal inputs. Stereo line outputs and a headphone output offer clear monitoring and routing flexibility. For users needing more voices, ARGON8 supports poly-chaining, allowing two units to be linked for 16 voices and up to 64 oscillators.
Onboard storage and software integration
With 500 patch memory slots (300 factory presets included), 100 effects configurations, and 100 sequence memory slots, ARGON8 provides a vast toolkit for creative exploration. MODALapp, the dedicated editor and librarian, is available for macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, AU, and VST3 platforms. It offers a clear visual interface to adjust, organize, and backup your sounds, streamlining the workflow from sound design to performance.
Features
Firmware v3 Update
- Vintage Parameter
- Oscillator free run
- New factory preset bank
- Four new filter types
- Ladder - 4 pole resonant ladder filter with pre-filter drive, morphing through: LP > BP > HP
- Ladder Hybrid - 1 pole resonant ladder filter with pre-filter drive, morphing through: LP + Notch > Notch > HP + Notch
- Ladder Phaser - Resonant ladder filter with pre-filter drive, morphing through: Notch >> Phaser
- Sallen-Key - 2 pole resonant Sallen-Key Filter with pre-filter drive, morphing through: LP > BP
- 15 new effects (including new reverb algorithm)
- Reverb V2
- Phaser V2
- Chorus V2
- Unisoniser
- Compressor
- Three Band EQ
- Mono Drive (Hard Clip)
- Mono Drive (Soft Clip)
- Mono Drive (Rectify)
- Mono Drive (Fold)
- Stereo Drive (Hard Clip)
- Stereo Drive (Soft Clip)
- Stereo Drive (Rectify)
- Stereo Drive (Fold)
- Utility
- Seven new arpeggiator directions:
- Chord
- Pendulum 2 - Repeats the last note when reversing direction
- N-Pendulum 2 - Pendulum 2 in note number order
- Reverse Pendulum - A reverse version of Pendulum
- N-Reverse Pendulum - A reverse version of N-Pendulum
- Reverse Pendulum 2 - A reverse version of Pendulum 2
- N-Reverse Pendulum 2 - A reverse version of N-Pendulum 2
General
- True 8 voice polyphony
- Road ready Steel and Aluminium chassis
- 120 carefully crafted wavetables split into 24 banks of 5 morphable waveform sets, covering virtual analog classics through to cutting edge EDM and many from the original Modal 002 as well as a whole range of mathematically generated tables. Additional PWM bank and 4 noise/modulation banks accessible on Oscillator 2
- 33 static wavetable processors including de-rez, wave folders, wave shapers, phase shapers and rectify that can be applied to the 120 wavetables to give a mind boggling array of permutations and new waveshapes
- 32 high resolution wavetable oscillators, 4 per voice, with 8 types of oscillator modifier including: Phase Mod (FM), Ring Mod, Amp Mod, Hard Sync and Windowed Sync
- FATAR TP9/S Full size 37 key keybed with both velocity and aftertouch
- 1.54 inch large OLED display – that provides instant visual feedback to the user at all times of playing/editing
- Bourns continuous rotary encoders throughout as standard
- A 4-axis joystick that can be assigned to a huge range of modulation destinations and virtually ‘locked’ when desired
- Three dedicated envelope generators for AMP, MOD and FILTER that can be accessed independently or all three simultaneously including negative (reverse) versions
- Four filter types - Standard, Standard Notch, Classic, Classic Notch
- Waveshaping distortion
- Drift and Width - Drift control that adds subtle nuances to the oscillator tunings that emulates old analog hardware and a Width control that helps to create massive stereo soundscapes
- Three incredibly powerful independent and user configurable stereo FX engines that can create sophisticated Delays, lush Reverbs, Flanging, Phasing, and Rich Choruses
- Glide/Portamento with both legato and staccato modes
- Hugely powerful “Mod Matrix” with eight assignable slots with four additional fixed routes, 11 mod sources and 52 destinations
- 500 patch memories, all fully editable and ships with 300 factory programs and 200 user patch spaces. Patch upload and download through the free MODALapp
- Two Audio rate LFO’s with tempo sync (one poly, one global). Polyphonic LFO can sync to frequency divisions
- Sophisticated programmable arpeggiator of 32 steps with rest capability with up to 2048 steps before repeating
- Real time sequencer with number 512 steps with input quantise and four recordable /editable animations
- Multiple keyboard modes, Mono, Poly, Unison 2, unison 4, unison 8, Stack 2 and Stack 4
- All time-based FX, LFO’s and sequencer arpeggio can be either clocked internally or externally
- Sync in/out
- Full size MIDI five pin din sockets
- Full size quarter inch jacks for both audio and external control such as sustain and expression
- 3.5 mm stereo input with ability to route incoming audio through the FX
- Fee dedicated app that works on Mac, PC, iOS, Android and works under VST3 and AU
Specifications
- Patch Memories: 500 patch memories, all fully editable and ships with 300 factory programs and 200 user patch spaces
- Presets: 100 sequencer presets and 100 FX presets
- Clock Sync: Analog in and out (configured to the KORG / Teenage Engineering specification
- MIDI DIN: I/O
- MIDI: Class compliant MIDI provided over USb connection to host computer or tablet
- Stereo Input: 3.5mm stereo input with ability to route incoming audio through the FX
- Power: DC-9.0V-15A
- Chassis: Steel and aluminium, road-ready design
- Dimensions (WxDxH): 560mm x 300mm x 120mm
- Product Code: ARGON8
