Modal Electronics Updates ARGON8 Synths

US Firmware v3 offers four new filter types, 15 new effects and workflow enhancements 12/09/22

Modal Electronics has released an all-new firmware update for their ARGON-Series synthesisers. Here's the story in their own words...

Never content with a static approach to product development, ARGON-Series firmware v3 redefines the sound and functionality of Modal Electronics' advanced Wavetable synths and adds a raft of new forward-thinking features that guarantee to supercharge users' creative output like never before.

New in Firmware v3
The brand-new Vintage parameter helps to alter the organic fabric of the wavetable textures by emulating the behaviour of vintage synths' technical imperfections, where certain tuning and other variations were introduced into the sound generation. Oscillator Free Run is another new feature known from analogue synthesisers and, when activated, adds to the sonic flexibility of ARGON8. 'Classic' Synth sounds are so much more alive with the vintage and free run parameters ensuring every key press is slightly different than the one before.

Firmware v3 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 polesweeping allows seamless morphing through the audio spectrum. The Ladder filter unlocks even more classic synth tones as well as expanding 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.

Additionally, ARGON8 Firmware v3 includes 15 new powerful effects. Harnessing our flexible processing distribution system, some of the new additions harnessing the power of two effects slots for more sonic power and depth. 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 from our successful COBALT5S and COBALT8 synths and injects vintage Chorus tones to ARGON8. Creative sound gourmets will also enjoy the new Phaser v2, Compressor, Three-Band EQ, Unisoniser, Utility and additional Drive effects, giving enough options to give custom patch creations a final, production-ready touch

With the new firmware, the programmable Arpeggiator receives new Arp Directions to inspire musicians and producers. Firmware v3 also improves the capabilities of the OLED display, the Audio In quality, the gain staging of the audio output and much more. For a full list of new Features and Improvements, we recommend the Release Notes, available on the product's web page.

Finally, Firmware v3 launches with the addition of a dedicated new bank of 100 new factory presets to showcase Firmware v3 in action.