I bought my Cobalt8 last year. I enjoyed it but was not as impressed as I thought I would be. In fact I was about to sell it but when the Argon V2 was released I waited for a potential V2 Colbalt release. This firmware completely transformed this synth. The Cobalt will remain in my studio indefinitely. Great video, learned a few things from it. Thx!
Thank you for this information. Appreciated your description of both the user concerns and how Modal addressed them in this update! You just got a sub.
Hi Scott This tutorial about the new firmware update was very very helpful. I've had my cobalt 8x for less than a year, and it's a struggle for me to get anything useful out of it because sad to say, my brain is not large enough to comprehend the complexities of that instrument, however I did watch the first video you made about it, and that was also very helpful for understanding the architecture of how it works. It's British after all, so I guess my brain needs to drive on the left side of the road to get anywhere. Thanks for being so detail oriented on your videos. Love watching your reviews and hearing your opinions about synth gear in general.
Just ordered a cobolt 8 after watching this. ❤ some of this issues did hold me back to get one before. Really like your explanations and I will stick to this channel to learn more how to use my cobolt for sure
I bought Cobalt8 based on your original review and enjoyed it a lot even with the original firmware. However, I was on board with all criticism points of the community, so I was shocked to see ALL of them getting addressed in 2.0! Fantastic job by Modal team. And thank you, Scott, for your videos!
Excellent run-through as always. Very informative and useful. I have the Argon8, and it’s a very enjoyable synth. One of my favourites. I actually like the metallic quality for the purpose I use it for. I might have thought about the Cobalt, but I bought a Sequential Take 5, which sounds phenomenal. Modal is doing a bang up job.
Thanks for the video! This thing now has so many features which are not obvious when you don't read the manual and overread the details... This really helped.
Subbed! Just a day or so ago I was like "I bet modal is going to give a big update to the cobalt8". Ask and ye shall receive! This is rivalling some of the microfreak updates - or if you just compare 1.0 to 4.0. It's a crazy leap on an already amazing synth
Hi Scott. I also like Cobalt 8. Think this is one of the best VA synths. I love it despite those silly complaints. Just released 150 brand new sounds for it. The link is free...no tricks. Just on my YT. Thanks for this great video.
Brilliant. Thanks Scott. V2 is just what it needed. The first Cobalt vid is brilliant so if you haven't seen it now is good time. I have 3 minor gripes with this otherwise excellent synth. 1 visual info for oscillator etc. speed like a pulsing led or on the screen. 2 I'm always leaving the shift on and changing something I never meant to. 3 The app font and colour is awkward to read. I now expect all those to addressed now in V3!😁. I think some folk miss the patch volume option?
I do the same with the shift button. I like that it is latching when you are trying to change something while playing and only have one hand, but how many times do you change something and "why's it doing THAT??? oh...shift button"
Wow, thank you so much! A really good video as usual and you've perfectly answered my question. To be honest, I'd want to repost all of your videos on the Ganjing World site. Your videos and channel name will remain unchanged. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you!
When you talked about the digital keyboards “spinning up an instance of the oscillator” when a key is pressed, I thought “hmm, sounds like something a software developer would say”. So I continue watching and you mention you’re a “computer guy”. 🤓👍
@@ScottsSynthStuff I was a dev for 35-ish years, so it sounded natural and right to me, though I was never in the embedded/DSP/whatever world. Nice channel. Thanks for the vids :-)
I bought an RNC compressor to help with the gain originally since the gain is so oddly soft. Even after the V2 update it still seems soft, unless you drive the filter on a new filter model on one of your patches or add the utility fx. Maybe I am missing something on some other settings in V2 regarding getting more gain. I will play around some more. I definitely appreciate the update!
I saw your first review of the cobalt 8X and it first it made me want to get one then at the last of your video it made me not want to get one. I have a hard time dealing with low output, synthesizers . Did this update help the low input issue at all? I’m pretty sure you said you had to turn it down when you were going to do a review on the new patches because it was now louder. I was seriously going to pull the trigger on the cobalt 8X until Iwatched your review first video . Maybe I will just save a little more money and hold out for the hydra scent deluxe . I am a new subscriber . A lot of great data on your channel
They did add the ability to boost the output with V2 firmware, and you can also add gain to each individual patch. So while they obviously can't change the analog output level of the hardware with a firmware patch, they did make changes that made it much better.
Thanks for this; I have been considering a Cobalt and this update may put a crowbar in my wallet. For demo purposes (particularly on a VA synth with an update strongly focused on improving a "vintage analog" sound) I did not care much for the patch you chose; the split bass at the end was better, but even then... I appreciate it would have taken a LOT longer (maybe a future more focused video if you feel there would be interest) to explore the unisonizer and new chorus/phaser/reverb. Seeing the former with an "old school" bass, lead, and brass patch would be great. In fact if you had MANY hours of boredom to fill "old school" string, pad, keys, bass, lead, and brass patches through the 3 V2 effects would also be great; especially the first 3 through that phaser... (I should probably just buy one and try it myself instead of being such a jerk)😆
Honestly, I had a very limited amount of time to record and edit this video, so I did not put much time into patch selection, nor did I show EVERY option of every function, as the video would have been twice as long. I was just trying to get enough information in there to get across what the new functionality was.
Really cool video! I'm just getting started with the Modal8 (and synths in general) and I think its a great platform. Just one thing that annoys me is with the DAW integration. They have this Cobalt App VST, but it takes full control of the USB connection and cannot pass MIDI through, so you need to use the DIN MIDI connectors, which I find a bit.. weird.. in that they couldn't figure out a better solution to this.
Hey Scott, I see you have both the cobalt and the summit and that you were impressed by both of the firmware updates/upgrades. Which one would you recommend? What are the main differences in sound and feel?
Obviously the Cobalt is quite a bit more inexpensive than the Summit. The Cobalt is a really great VA synth that can do some very digital type sounds. I like the variety of filters it has, and I like the sounds of its filters. I also like how they have "curated" oscillators and effects, so that your controls are used to do things that make sense instead of making silence. It's hard to do something "wrong" on a Cobalt. The Summit on the other hand lets you do anything you want, including staring at it in puzzlement wondering why it's not making any sound (user error, normally). The filters on it are analog, and the beautiful, lush reverb is the best I've ever heard on a synth. You can drive those analog filters hard and give the sound a really nice edge. The Summit is probably the best approximation of an analog synth without the fuss and hassle of an analog synth: no voices going out of tune, no overheating issues causing problems.
Thank you very much, that helps me a lot, if it were possible to make a video about the sequencer, I don't quite understand it. That would be great, best regards
About the synth update problems - the same nightmare i had with upgrading through the usb stick Roland jupiter xm (similar design to fantom - zen core). It didn't recognized the stick at all, or put a message that there is no firmware upgrade on it. And there was no other way than to use different usb sticks. Finally one of them worked. I did the same procedure every time and still don't know what the hell happened.
I have no idea why Roland forces you to use USB sticks to do updates, load sounds, models, etc. The firmware update process on the Fantom is ridiculous, requiring several steps and having to insert the stick into different slots at different points in the process. Modern synths let you just plug it into the PC, open the app, and it just WORKS all by itself.
Thanks for the video is great! I like prog rock and metal. I own the Kurzweil PC4 but I find it to hard to accurately achieve the sound I need (is to technical for me to start a sound from nothing) ¿would you recommend the 37 key cobalt 8? I think it might empower my sound pallete and creativity. I would also like it to use some synth bases and arpregiators as accompaniment for heavy guitar riffs and for more dynamic soloing. ¿Do you think it will be the right pick?
Love this vid. Am I the ONLY one who thinks the original efx are superior and stylish in all ways to the rev 2? The new seem gaudy and predictable, albeit stereo, but the original seemed thoughtfully designed to 'sit' in any mix. But, still, such a wonderful digital board. Thanks!! \
Great update, but it doesn't seem to address my main gripe with the cobalt8 that I returned, which was that the encoders seemed to need a large change before they would recognize that you were turning the knob. I found it difficult to make small changes since I would have to make a larger change and then try to dial it back to where it was. Have you ever noticed that? And if so, does the newer firmware affect the encoder behavior?
Hey Scott, thanks for the update and review. Have you ever had the Cobalt make a random reverb noise? It sounds like hitting a spring reverb tank. This happens to me when I'm not even playing the synth. I love this synth but this is annoying. Thanks again.
Hi, I am new to the synthesizer thing. The only thing I know is playing music. I have models app upgradedi do mot know to what version. Can you tell me what connections I need to upgrade my newly cobalt 8x to my apple ipadair?
Isn't that just a spring reverb? Best reverb I've heard on a synth is the Novation Summit. It's so good it could be used as an outboard effect in your DAW.
Moog Matriarch doesn’t have any reverb, lol … The Grandmother has a (spring?) reverb, but it sounds small (because it is) and a bit tinny … the stereo analog delay that the Matriarch got instead of a reverb is lush … 😊
take a listen to the reverb of the micromonsta 2. it doesn't have to be expensive or a big CPU, just a good algorithm... 😉 btw: i sent the cobalt 8 after 30 min of playing back
Please, can i have your suggestion/recommendation? I'm a piano player who doesn't care much about raw syntheses i just want an easy to use intuitive, quality synth with an excellent keybed ~37 keys so i can use to practice my playing and learn some syntheses on the side. with some research i came by the new Arturia MiniFreak, the Modal Cobalt 5s/8 and the ASM Hydrasynth Explorer. i want to order one already.. to have a small keyboard instrument to jamm but i can't make a decision. please, which synth do you think should be the right option for me? Thank you!!
So, 8 Slots you can fill with modulation. I had a Cobalt8 in the past and when I tried fill some Slots with the same mod source e.g. LFO1 in Slot 1 AND Slot 2 with different Destinations, then it told me something like that for Slot 2 ... "can't do this, LFO1 is already in use". Can you confirm this? If it's true, than it's a no go in my eyes. I want to be able to modulate more than one destination with THE SAME modulation source (LFO1 in this example).
Wow...tough choice. I think I would have to go with Hydrasynth. Polyphonic aftertouch, ribbon, 32 slot mod matrix, and a UI to die for. It doesn't have the silky filters of the Summit or its gorgeous reverb, but it can do just about everything.
@@kierenmoore3236 ooooh, now that one's tough. If I'm focusing on sound design, Summit. If I want new, innovative sounds beyond classic subtractive synthesis, Cobalt8! For live work...Summit. For studio work, Cobalt8. :)
Yes! It's not in the manual, but I did find it eventually: Go into the Oscillator menu (not OSC1 or OSC2, it's the OSC menu that contains Mix and Drift), and the last menu option is now "Free Run".
Hi! Inspired by your videos about Cobalt 8 I decided to buy one. It is used and have firmare version 1.2. I agree with you about issues found in earlier versions so i decided to instal V2. But i can`t find any Modal electronic support on the internet. Is there some usefull link that works today, in 2024. Need help. Thank you. Syncererly Vlatko
Yup, you're right! That said, most people are familiar with "DSP" but don't know "FPGA" - or more importantly, what the difference is. Same functionality, far more ability.
@@ScottsSynthStuff as I understand it, it's parralel (FPGA) and serial (DSP/CPU) operation. But you are right, same outcome though it's more powerfull that FPGA.
Try updating a Korg sometime - if you have EVER had more than 9 MIDI devices on your system it just full stop will not work. If you plug in the device before installing the driver, same deal. The include a utility to delete MIDI devices from your system so you can get the one you want Korg to recognise into the first 9 devices (rather than make their driver see all the midi devices). Who TF buys something like a hardware sequencer and doesnt have 10 midi devices????
Oh I have several Korg synths, I have been through that "must be in the first 8 devices" Korg MIDI hell many times before!! It's an absolute and total FAIL on the part of Korg, and despite YEARS of people complaining, they still haven't rewritten their stupid MIDI drivers to fix this problem.
Without any filtering going on, you aren't going to hear much other than a perceived volume increase. Select one of the filters with drive, bring the resonance up, and the cutoff down, then play a note while adjusting the drive and you'll hear it more.
Not that I'm aware of. You don't actually download and install the firmware, you just run ModalApp, and it figures out if there is new firmware and automatically installs it for you.
Hey Scott! Say, I have an idea for your next video: Why don't you make a video in which you totally FAKE a great hidden feature (something that REALLY MATTERS) on a random $2,000.00 synth, making it appear to do something it can't do - you know, as a JOKE. People will spend their $2,000.00, buy the synth, and then be stuck with it when they find out what a great sense of humor you have! Won't that be a stitch!?? (Oh... wait... you already DID that...)
Or maybe you could actually read the title and description of the videos you watch, and realize that not only was the video posted on April 1st, but it's mentioned in the title AND the description, not to mention MANY of the video comments that it was an April Fools joke!
What a great company!! ..... but sorry, to my ears, this is just such an annoying sound that you're using to show off all the new features that I had to stop watching. Cheers anyway for your great enthusiasm!
I bought my Cobalt8 last year. I enjoyed it but was not as impressed as I thought I would be. In fact I was about to sell it but when the Argon V2 was released I waited for a potential V2 Colbalt release. This firmware completely transformed this synth. The Cobalt will remain in my studio indefinitely. Great video, learned a few things from it. Thx!
Looks like I am behind the times and need to update !!!! Maybe I will love mine more too.
It's now the synth I thought I was buying a year ago.... almost sold it.
Actually a virtual analog now! :)
Appreciate the video
Thank you for this information. Appreciated your description of both the user concerns and how Modal addressed them in this update! You just got a sub.
Hi Scott
This tutorial about the new firmware update was very very helpful. I've had my cobalt 8x for less than a year, and it's a struggle for me to get anything useful out of it because sad to say, my brain is not large enough to comprehend the complexities of that instrument, however I did watch the first video you made about it, and that was also very helpful for understanding the architecture of how it works. It's British after all, so I guess my brain needs to drive on the left side of the road to get anywhere.
Thanks for being so detail oriented on your videos. Love watching your reviews and hearing your opinions about synth gear in general.
Just ordered a cobolt 8 after watching this. ❤ some of this issues did hold me back to get one before. Really like your explanations and I will stick to this channel to learn more how to use my cobolt for sure
This video was very helpful in that it answered the cons I've heard about the Cobalt8. Thanks!
The new phaser is really cool. It sounds like synth phaser. Much brighter and cutting.
I bought Cobalt8 based on your original review and enjoyed it a lot even with the original firmware. However, I was on board with all criticism points of the community, so I was shocked to see ALL of them getting addressed in 2.0! Fantastic job by Modal team. And thank you, Scott, for your videos!
Excellent run-through as always. Very informative and useful.
I have the Argon8, and it’s a very enjoyable synth. One of my favourites. I actually like the metallic quality for the purpose I use it for. I might have thought about the Cobalt, but I bought a Sequential Take 5, which sounds phenomenal. Modal is doing a bang up job.
Similarly, I also like the Argon8, but I already have a Hydrasynth, which pretty much covers that territory.
Thanks for the video! This thing now has so many features which are not obvious when you don't read the manual and overread the details... This really helped.
Subbed!
Just a day or so ago I was like "I bet modal is going to give a big update to the cobalt8". Ask and ye shall receive!
This is rivalling some of the microfreak updates - or if you just compare 1.0 to 4.0. It's a crazy leap on an already amazing synth
Hi Scott. I also like Cobalt 8. Think this is one of the best VA synths. I love it despite those silly complaints. Just released 150 brand new sounds for it. The link is free...no tricks. Just on my YT. Thanks for this great video.
Nice. It's like getting a better synth for free 😀
Thank you! I'm glad I ran into this because my cobalt has not been plugged in for a while.
This rundown of all the new features very helpful. Thank you for the video!
Thanks a lot for making the video, it helped me a lot for preparing to a new member in my synth family - I'm looking forward the get a Cobalt 8m soon.
You're going to love it!
After two days of exploration and playing: in deed! I do love it! 😊 what a monster of a synth! Thanks for making the video Scott!
Thanks for this updated video. There is a used one for sale near me, and this V2 info helped me decide to spend more money that I don't have.
Brilliant. Thanks Scott. V2 is just what it needed. The first Cobalt vid is brilliant so if you haven't seen it now is good time. I have 3 minor gripes with this otherwise excellent synth. 1 visual info for oscillator etc. speed like a pulsing led or on the screen. 2 I'm always leaving the shift on and changing something I never meant to. 3 The app font and colour is awkward to read. I now expect all those to addressed now in V3!😁. I think some folk miss the patch volume option?
I do the same with the shift button. I like that it is latching when you are trying to change something while playing and only have one hand, but how many times do you change something and "why's it doing THAT??? oh...shift button"
Wow, thank you so much! A really good video as usual and you've perfectly answered my question. To be honest, I'd want to repost all of your videos on the Ganjing World site. Your videos and channel name will remain unchanged. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you!
Great vid, cheers for creating. Substantial enhancements :)
I got a Cobalt7 and it's got so much firmware I'm fully immersed
When you talked about the digital keyboards “spinning up an instance of the oscillator” when a key is pressed, I thought “hmm, sounds like something a software developer would say”. So I continue watching and you mention you’re a “computer guy”. 🤓👍
I guess as a developer, having some insight as to the inner workings of this type of code, it alters how you perceive the operation of things. :)
@@ScottsSynthStuff I was a dev for 35-ish years, so it sounded natural and right to me, though I was never in the embedded/DSP/whatever world. Nice channel. Thanks for the vids :-)
Just downloaded the update and i agree, they just really let the synth out of the box with this
thank u for this vid !! it definitely helped me to buy one.
I bought an RNC compressor to help with the gain originally since the gain is so oddly soft. Even after the V2 update it still seems soft, unless you drive the filter on a new filter model on one of your patches or add the utility fx. Maybe I am missing something on some other settings in V2 regarding getting more gain. I will play around some more. I definitely appreciate the update!
Use the gain function in the utility effect, it solves the gain issues!
Also there is a patch volume parameter. They seem a bit all over the place in V1.
Love the RNC !!
I saw your first review of the cobalt 8X and it first it made me want to get one then at the last of your video it made me not want to get one.
I have a hard time dealing with low output, synthesizers .
Did this update help the low input issue at all?
I’m pretty sure you said you had to turn it down when you were going to do a review on the new patches because it was now louder.
I was seriously going to pull the trigger on the cobalt 8X until Iwatched your review first video .
Maybe I will just save a little more money and hold out for the hydra scent deluxe .
I am a new subscriber .
A lot of great data on your channel
They did add the ability to boost the output with V2 firmware, and you can also add gain to each individual patch. So while they obviously can't change the analog output level of the hardware with a firmware patch, they did make changes that made it much better.
I want this synth so bad. Thanks for making this
Thanks for this; I have been considering a Cobalt and this update may put a crowbar in my wallet. For demo purposes (particularly on a VA synth with an update strongly focused on improving a "vintage analog" sound) I did not care much for the patch you chose; the split bass at the end was better, but even then... I appreciate it would have taken a LOT longer (maybe a future more focused video if you feel there would be interest) to explore the unisonizer and new chorus/phaser/reverb. Seeing the former with an "old school" bass, lead, and brass patch would be great. In fact if you had MANY hours of boredom to fill "old school" string, pad, keys, bass, lead, and brass patches through the 3 V2 effects would also be great; especially the first 3 through that phaser... (I should probably just buy one and try it myself instead of being such a jerk)😆
Honestly, I had a very limited amount of time to record and edit this video, so I did not put much time into patch selection, nor did I show EVERY option of every function, as the video would have been twice as long. I was just trying to get enough information in there to get across what the new functionality was.
So the gain is beefed up to Parr amigo?
It's time to vacuum the dust off my beautiful blue synth.
Really cool video! I'm just getting started with the Modal8 (and synths in general) and I think its a great platform. Just one thing that annoys me is with the DAW integration. They have this Cobalt App VST, but it takes full control of the USB connection and cannot pass MIDI through, so you need to use the DIN MIDI connectors, which I find a bit.. weird.. in that they couldn't figure out a better solution to this.
It's a limitation of DAWs, not Modal - but I do the exact same thing with mine. ModalApp connected over USB and DAW connected via DIN MIDI.
@@ScottsSynthStuff but there‘s like arpeggiator VSTs that can output MIDI to the DAW, right? So why cant the modal vst „forward“ the data to the DAW?
I just bought one on Saturday
Cool shirt!
Hey Scott, I see you have both the cobalt and the summit and that you were impressed by both of the firmware updates/upgrades. Which one would you recommend? What are the main differences in sound and feel?
Obviously the Cobalt is quite a bit more inexpensive than the Summit. The Cobalt is a really great VA synth that can do some very digital type sounds. I like the variety of filters it has, and I like the sounds of its filters. I also like how they have "curated" oscillators and effects, so that your controls are used to do things that make sense instead of making silence. It's hard to do something "wrong" on a Cobalt.
The Summit on the other hand lets you do anything you want, including staring at it in puzzlement wondering why it's not making any sound (user error, normally). The filters on it are analog, and the beautiful, lush reverb is the best I've ever heard on a synth. You can drive those analog filters hard and give the sound a really nice edge. The Summit is probably the best approximation of an analog synth without the fuss and hassle of an analog synth: no voices going out of tune, no overheating issues causing problems.
Nice video 😀
Thank you very much, that helps me a lot, if it were possible to make a video about the sequencer, I don't quite understand it. That would be great, best regards
Thanks :)
About the synth update problems - the same nightmare i had with upgrading through the usb stick Roland jupiter xm (similar design to fantom - zen core). It didn't recognized the stick at all, or put a message that there is no firmware upgrade on it. And there was no other way than to use different usb sticks. Finally one of them worked. I did the same procedure every time and still don't know what the hell happened.
I have no idea why Roland forces you to use USB sticks to do updates, load sounds, models, etc. The firmware update process on the Fantom is ridiculous, requiring several steps and having to insert the stick into different slots at different points in the process. Modern synths let you just plug it into the PC, open the app, and it just WORKS all by itself.
Thanks for the video is great!
I like prog rock and metal. I own the Kurzweil PC4 but I find it to hard to accurately achieve the sound I need (is to technical for me to start a sound from nothing) ¿would you recommend the 37 key cobalt 8? I think it might empower my sound pallete and creativity. I would also like it to use some synth bases and arpregiators as accompaniment for heavy guitar riffs and for more dynamic soloing.
¿Do you think it will be the right pick?
If the panning knob works inversely, swap the output cables. ;)
Hmmmm....you know, I never even thought to check to see if they were. Looking now... Nope, cables are correct, it's the knob that's backwards! :)
@@ScottsSynthStuff I‘d swap them nevertheless. I never surrender to fraudulent pan pots! :)
Love this vid. Am I the ONLY one who thinks the original efx are superior and stylish in all ways to the rev 2? The new seem gaudy and predictable, albeit stereo, but the original seemed thoughtfully designed to 'sit' in any mix. But, still, such a wonderful digital board. Thanks!!
\
Dislike all - tho’ v2 phaser is at least a considerable improvement over v1
FIxed focus would help here. The synth gets fuzzy each time your arm/hand changes the focal length on the variable focus.
Yes, I was not happy with the focus in this video. I'll do better in future.
@@ScottsSynthStuff it’s the content that counts though and that was great:)
Great update, but it doesn't seem to address my main gripe with the cobalt8 that I returned, which was that the encoders seemed to need a large change before they would recognize that you were turning the knob. I found it difficult to make small changes since I would have to make a larger change and then try to dial it back to where it was. Have you ever noticed that? And if so, does the newer firmware affect the encoder behavior?
Not that I noticed, no. I would have liked velocity-sensitive encoders, that change much faster when you spin them faster.
Hey Scott, thanks for the update and review. Have you ever had the Cobalt make a random reverb noise? It sounds like hitting a spring reverb tank. This happens to me when I'm not even playing the synth. I love this synth but this is annoying. Thanks again.
Never! Very odd! My Cobalt will sit silently for hours never making any noise on its own...
Hi, I am new to the synthesizer thing. The only thing I know is playing music. I have models app upgradedi do mot know to what version. Can you tell me what connections I need to upgrade my newly cobalt 8x to my apple ipadair?
Wonder if they souped up the sequencer for a useful 4 track stand alone? It's a nice way to get acquainted with blue mamachina.
The sequencer is still the same, but it's got quite a few tricks up its sleeve already...
Moog matriarch has the best reverb I've heard on a synth
Isn't that just a spring reverb? Best reverb I've heard on a synth is the Novation Summit. It's so good it could be used as an outboard effect in your DAW.
Moog Matriarch doesn’t have any reverb, lol …
The Grandmother has a (spring?) reverb, but it sounds small (because it is) and a bit tinny … the stereo analog delay that the Matriarch got instead of a reverb is lush … 😊
Summit has the best (digital) reverb I’ve heard on a synth, too … one of the reasons I have one …
take a listen to the reverb of the micromonsta 2. it doesn't have to be expensive or a big CPU, just a good algorithm... 😉
btw: i sent the cobalt 8 after 30 min of playing back
Even the NTS-1 has a pretty decent reverb. But the DSP reverb in the Summit and Peak is just astounding. It's SO good.
Sent meaning sent back to the store?
Please, can i have your suggestion/recommendation? I'm a piano player who doesn't care much about raw syntheses i just want an easy to use intuitive, quality synth with an excellent keybed ~37 keys so i can use to practice my playing and learn some syntheses on the side. with some research i came by the new Arturia MiniFreak, the Modal Cobalt 5s/8 and the ASM Hydrasynth Explorer. i want to order one already.. to have a small keyboard instrument to jamm but i can't make a decision. please, which synth do you think should be the right option for me? Thank you!!
100% I would go with the Modal Cobalt8. It has an excellent 37-key Fatar keybed that is as good as you will find on any synth of that size.
Agreed. I’m not a fan of the Cobalt’s sounds, but the Keybed is the most important thing for you, if you want to develop your playing/muscle-memory …
It’s ree-verb not r’verb! Enjoyed the video!
It depends on where in the world you're from. And I'm not from where you probably assume I am. :)
Crashed UAP pilot status: Confirmed
Those aren’t synths, either - those are control panels, salvaged from his crashed spaceship …
So, 8 Slots you can fill with modulation. I had a Cobalt8 in the past and when I tried fill some Slots with the same mod source e.g. LFO1 in Slot 1 AND Slot 2 with different Destinations, then it told me something like that for Slot 2 ... "can't do this, LFO1 is already in use".
Can you confirm this? If it's true, than it's a no go in my eyes. I want to be able to modulate more than one destination with THE SAME modulation source (LFO1 in this example).
Firmware seemed to load but laptop says it's still processing. 20 minutes and maybe it's frozen?
It should definitely not take that long.
You can only have one: Summit or Hydrasynth?
Wow...tough choice. I think I would have to go with Hydrasynth. Polyphonic aftertouch, ribbon, 32 slot mod matrix, and a UI to die for. It doesn't have the silky filters of the Summit or its gorgeous reverb, but it can do just about everything.
Thanks for your response. 🙂
Now, your Hydrasynth Deluxe or the Cobalt8X c v2 software … ?! 😊🙏🏼
@@kierenmoore3236 that's easy, Hydrasynth! It's far more flexible... 32 mod slots, polyphonic aftertouch, ribbon, bitimbral!
@@ScottsSynthStuff
🙏🏼 Finally, ‘second place’ of the three: Summit or Cobalt8X (both with current version software, of course!) … 🤔
@@kierenmoore3236 ooooh, now that one's tough. If I'm focusing on sound design, Summit. If I want new, innovative sounds beyond classic subtractive synthesis, Cobalt8! For live work...Summit. For studio work, Cobalt8. :)
Shame you skipped over the drives. Really wanted to hear the folder.
Did you ever figure out how to turn on free running oscillators from the panel? Have only spent about 30 min with the update but can’t figure it out.
Yes! It's not in the manual, but I did find it eventually: Go into the Oscillator menu (not OSC1 or OSC2, it's the OSC menu that contains Mix and Drift), and the last menu option is now "Free Run".
@@ScottsSynthStuff thanks!
Hi!
Inspired by your videos about Cobalt 8 I decided to buy one. It is used and have firmare version 1.2. I agree with you about issues found in earlier versions so i decided to instal V2. But i can`t find any Modal electronic support on the internet. Is there some usefull link that works today, in 2024.
Need help.
Thank you.
Syncererly
Vlatko
website is back up now.
i updated firmware to 2.1 yesterday.
better do it quick, while you can.
summit is a FPGA, not DSP. :)
Yup, you're right! That said, most people are familiar with "DSP" but don't know "FPGA" - or more importantly, what the difference is. Same functionality, far more ability.
@@ScottsSynthStuff as I understand it, it's parralel (FPGA) and serial (DSP/CPU) operation. But you are right, same outcome though it's more powerfull that FPGA.
Try updating a Korg sometime - if you have EVER had more than 9 MIDI devices on your system it just full stop will not work. If you plug in the device before installing the driver, same deal.
The include a utility to delete MIDI devices from your system so you can get the one you want Korg to recognise into the first 9 devices (rather than make their driver see all the midi devices).
Who TF buys something like a hardware sequencer and doesnt have 10 midi devices????
Oh I have several Korg synths, I have been through that "must be in the first 8 devices" Korg MIDI hell many times before!! It's an absolute and total FAIL on the part of Korg, and despite YEARS of people complaining, they still haven't rewritten their stupid MIDI drivers to fix this problem.
I can't hear any difference beyond volume turning up the filter drive. I put a scope on it and it looks like the drive really doesn't do anything.
Without any filtering going on, you aren't going to hear much other than a perceived volume increase. Select one of the filters with drive, bring the resonance up, and the cutoff down, then play a note while adjusting the drive and you'll hear it more.
I have a question, is it possible to download these older updates for cobalt 8x, eg 1.1 or 1.2? If so, please link to the page. Regards Sebastian
Not that I'm aware of. You don't actually download and install the firmware, you just run ModalApp, and it figures out if there is new firmware and automatically installs it for you.
@@ScottsSynthStuff thnx
You say reverb all screwy
Not everyone is originally from the same country as you. I likely say quite a few words different than you do.
Where are you from, Scott?
🛰 nitpicking.....buy a stryman, scheech!!
Hey Scott! Say, I have an idea for your next video: Why don't you make a video in which you totally FAKE a great hidden feature (something that REALLY MATTERS) on a random $2,000.00 synth, making it appear to do something it can't do - you know, as a JOKE. People will spend their $2,000.00, buy the synth, and then be stuck with it when they find out what a great sense of humor you have! Won't that be a stitch!?? (Oh... wait... you already DID that...)
Or maybe you could actually read the title and description of the videos you watch, and realize that not only was the video posted on April 1st, but it's mentioned in the title AND the description, not to mention MANY of the video comments that it was an April Fools joke!
You just went full April Fool.
You never go full April Fool.
What a great company!! ..... but sorry, to my ears, this is just such an annoying sound that you're using to show off all the new features that I had to stop watching. Cheers anyway for your great enthusiasm!
I wanted a percussive sound (to show off the echo) but with lots of harmonics (to show off the filters), which is why I picked that one. :)
It’s “Reeeverb”’ not “Riverb?” My dude. I’m outta her, ya hear 🙌
I wanted to be a pedant but I'm just too childish!