Ahh thanks mate 😊 so good to hear you like it. I mean this genuinely, but I’m never sure when I’m making the bank whether I’m doing it right or not. I try to do what I like and hope others might too I guess! Thanks a lot.
I'm a Cobalt8x owner who LOVES his synth, but this amazing soundset makes me gaze longingly into the distance as I listen to it; most of these sounds would be impossible to produce on the Cobalt, and they are f a n t a s t i c Who knows, now that I've got a great controller keyboard in the Cobalt8x, maybe I'll pick up an Argon8m some day... Thank you Modal for creating truly awesome synths that normal people can afford and use - we love you! And thank you Soundsauca for blowing our minds with these patches - very inspiring and beautiful!
What can I say! Thank you for your enthusiasm and love!! Indeed Argon is a different beast to Cobalt. It’s a very versatile machine that sometimes gets overlooked with its newer brother. There’s always more to discover with it👍
This is really astonishing work. You have squeezed more out of this synth than I thought possible. And beautifully presented to boot! That also makes it the best value soundset I have bought for my Argon.
Thank you very much for your kind words. I appreciate it. When I next get round to web development I will look at what else I can offer. No promises, but I'll look at it.
Loving the sounds. Got my Argon8x in the mail should be here in a day or two. It's my first synth and I love hearing all the artists putting up these fantastic sounds for some good inspiration.
Thanks Bel! It's a really interesting synth so I'm sure you'll be really pleased. It would be a great first synth with it's front panel, and then more under the hood when you want to go deep. Let me know how it goes!
WOW! I also have the Modal Cobalt and love it! Prior to buying the Cobalt 8, I had the Argon 8, but found I didn't "connect" with it so I sold it and got the Cobalt 8. Hmmmm.... your demo clearly shows I need to take another look into the Argon 8. Saving the bucks again. Thank you.
Ah thank you 😊 Yes Cobalt is a more instantly rewarding synth. Argon treads a slightly different path but often surprised me when programming. There’s a lot of mileage in having both!
Found myself just enjoying listening this (and other your vids) soundtrack at background while working or surfing the net. Great composition Michael! It's amazing how you combined all the patches into whole story, connecting, combining and overlapping them. This approach reminds me early pc aka Amiga / ZX Spectrum mega-demos, and well known Jexus synth demos. Keep 'em coming please)
I don't think I ever expected anyone to do that! I might inadvertently use my demos as some sort of therapy through self expression. The more of these I do, the harder that seems to be. My musical ability (or rather lack of it) is a big road block for me, so I'll try to keep focused on the sounds. There's just so many great players out there who smash my offerings to pieces! Jexus is a legend & absolute genius:) He's a master of weaving his sound out of every synth and telling that story through his videos. I'll do my best!
Hi Max! Yes I saw it last night! I think it's great to see how different people come up with such different takes on a synth! I can only dream of the views he gets. Still I'll keep my head down:)
@@Soundsauca Jexus is Sick but i really prefer your Demos…. Its an awesome symbiosis between music and pictures. Your Stuff is also More Musical, Dreamy and i really Love ist :)
Hi Omatic, it's up (touch wood!) I always get nervous when uploading hence the "soft" release! All has been checked out so I hope you enjoy! www.soundsauca.com/sounds/modal-argon-daydrifta-soundset/
Nice to hear from you James! Still tring to get your patches on my 8x! Mark Bensette Aux Bois. ua-cam.com/channels/aSstZXbP2owOx5ej8isMQg.html?view_as=subscriber
Some stellar sounds here! Approx 3.00 min and approx 5.30 min are outstanding. The latter reminds me of the original Bladerunner soundtrack. Very impressed.
Thanks v much! Believe it or not comments such as yours really help. I'm working on my next bank and sometimes I wonder if it's worth the effort. Sometimes things come together, other times it takes enormous time & persistence to keep going!
@@Soundsauca Iron Chariots, Noble Strings, Stellarion, Angel Beach. Particularly stunning amognst a superb collection. Cannot stop listening to them. An Argon might be finding a home here!
You're too kind! Argon is a unique synth. There's a transparency to the Modal sound which works so well with certain patches. I'm sure you'll be happy with one!
Last year I bought your cobalt8 soundset, which is extremely good, and having just bought an argon8 went for this, which is again an excellent soundset, much better than most of the factory presets. Breaking down a few of them I can see that you really dived in to see what the synth is capable of. Finding that tremelo waveshape on Harmon Slice for instance ... It's a shame the argon8 hasn't the same LFO capabilities of the cobalt8 (only 2, and more limited shapes), but I guess it did come first.
Hi @Jack Holow. Glad to hear you like the soundsets. Yes the Argon8 does have one less LFO, but one thing I do like on it is the audio rate modulation. Really interesting tones start popping out using these, and of course you can modulate their rate too! Cobalt is also a fine synth with a different focus. Both unsurprisingly share a common signature which is very detailed. Thanks for stopping by:)
Thanks for doing this right in time with all this Cobalt8 raving. Argon8 deserves to be adored, it's a truly standout synth, it has it's own 'voice', capable of 'singing', which is most important for the Instrument, not the technical complexity, IMO. I also hope Modal will keep it up, continue to develop and upgrade it's OS. There is so much good things can be implemented.. Stunning soundset btw! So various and thoughtfully developed. Every patch has it's own story, it's inspiring. Totally love it. Will definitely purchase! Great job on the visuals as well. (which software you using to create such stunning visuals??) High quality content. Thanks for introducing once again. Keep it up!
Hi Max, thanks for your thoughtful words. The back story to this release: I was busy animating my videos one day when an email dropped in my inbox - Cobalt!! I was like great! But...oh shoot!!! Most of my banks have been for older synths but I’d hoped with the Argon to demonstrate something for a newer synth. That idea crashed and burned 🥵 As a result I decided to just keep at it anyway as the Argon is very different to Cobalt by the sound of things. My problem - I can’t make things fast enough (never have) I either take time and do it right or cut corners (can’t do that!) Software for animation: After Effects, Final Cut Pro and a load of sleepless nights;) Thanks a lot for stopping by and best wishes!
@@Soundsauca > "I was like great! But...oh shoot!!" Yeah, totally similar initial feelings after i realized that teaser was not an A8 OS update, but a new synth. But on some investigation and learning more about Cobalt, i realized that it's a very different machine, and Argon still stands on it's own strong points) Really happy about your soundset. Just bought it! Have a great weekend, and stay healthy!
Thanks a lot Max. First I really appreciate you purchasing. I’m a bit stuck really. I know many people give their sounds away. I just dunno if that would work financially for me. I don’t depend on Soundsauca to live (thank goodness!) but it really helps planning for future synths and web admin stuff. Totally, I don’t know enough about Cobalt yet but they are certainly different enough that the Argon can stand on its own merits. Will I get a Cobalt? Maybe 🤔!! Best wishes to you and likewise stay safe 👍
I don't have any of these two but from what i saw i think i would go and will go for Argon8. I think it can do more stuff sonically if that makes sense it also has Phase Mod (FM) which Cobalt doesn't have at least i didn't find any specs that would suggest othervise
I accidentally ordered an Argon 8X instead of a cobalt 8X. I have my argon on eBay and selling it to buy a cobalt 8x 61 key. The keyboard action is superb! Light years ahead of my JD-XA or Prologue 16. After hearing this demo I may keep my argon and buy a cobalt 8 desktop. Modal has really hit the ball outta the park with these two instruments. If my JD-XA didn’t have filter #3 and phat analog oscillators I wouldn’t miss it because I’d have the Modal Twins
Man i love your soundset for the Argon8 so much. My favorite! Tried to recreate the Stellarium patch on the Hydra but i dont get it. I love my Argon for the sound (not a fan of sice / Ui). I love the Hydra for the UI / Look / feel but i never get this "uuuuhm" feeling like when i hear and play the Argon8. Would love to see a soundback from you for the Hydra. Maybe you can make it shine.
Thank you for your words! Tbh I've spent ridiculous amounts of time trying to replicate sounds from one synth to another. Of course it can be done (to greater or lesser degrees), and I often do include some classic/cliché sounds as and when. I guess I prefer to explore each instrument's features & strengths. Hydra - maybe..
Thanks! UA-cam is an algorithm. If I put a flashy title like "Why the Modal Argon is the BEST affordable wavetable synth EVER!" I'd probably get more views. Also if I uploaded every week/month it would drive me up the list. Still, I kinda got to go my own path. Initially I tried pumping them out a bit but it wasn't sustainable due to other commitments and I don't want quality to suffer. Still I'm happy and hopefully there will be more in the future:) With the firmware updates, I confess I haven't! Too many synths, not enough time! However I never rule anything out..
@@Soundsauca Quality over quantity, always. And you're fantastic with programming. I purchased your 990 Superluminal soundset, love it. If I ever buy an Argon8, this will be a for sure buy. Hopefully in the future. I love the sound of the Argon8.....it's so...soothing. I don't find many others out there that sound like it. I'm typically very very picky at the synths I buy. Argon8 and maybe a microQ are only things on my current wish list (I own minilogue XD, Ti2, and JD990).
@@stephenwiley5617 Thanks for your kind words & support! It means so much to me:) IMO the Argon excels at transparent pads and otherworldly things. I prefer it to Cobalt actually but that's just me. You have a nice balanced selection of synths there, Argon would fit in nicely:)
I was close to getting Cobalt8, but this demo convinced me to look closer at Argon8. From your presets, I'm getting a feeling that Argon will give me more sculpting possibilities than Cobalt. I'm looking for a hardware poly in this price range. I have Odyssey and Model D, so my mono analogue synth needs are covered. I'm curious about your opinion, which one would be better for something like a "melodic techno/progressive"? For jam sessions with chords/pads and lots of reverb, I can feel already that Argon is a better choice 😉
Hi @Dark Light. It's always an interesting question I get! In your case I think it's relatively straightforward. If you already have the analog side covered then Cobalt will not sound as good as those synths for analog style sounds. That's not to say it can't do it, and Cobalt diverges from analog a lot, with FM and a plethora of other waveshaping. OTOH the Argon strength is undoubtedly in electronic genres where textural timbres are required. There's much to explore here with the wavetables, audio rate LFOs & distortion (not on Cobalt). Many disagree but my personal favourite has always been Argon;) Good luck with your decision, it's always tough! If I was looking today - Korg Modwave has my eye!!
@@Soundsauca Thank you for the reply. Audio Rate LFO is something that is always good to have 😀 I'm a bit disappointed that they didn't add it to Cobalt. Is distortion good? Probably nothing exceptional, I guess. I'll run it through the guitar pedals chain, so effects are not that important tbh. From your patches, Argon seems to have more character than Cobalt, which reminds me of crystal clear plugin synths. Or, in other words, a character that I prefer (bit dirtier with a texture). About Modwave, I have to look a little bit more at it. Filters are very interesting (like MS20 emulation). But I got an impression that it's not as easy/fast to program as Argon. The less diving in menus of a tiny display, the better 😉 For the same reason, Hydrasynth (and Explorer) put me off. I'll let you know if I go for Argon, as I'll buy your preset bank the same day 😁
Yes Argon is arguably slightly grittier than Cobalt. Cobalt is pristine in timbre. Argon has static oscillator modifiers that serve to rough up the sound pre filter if desired. They are quite subtle though. Distortion is a clipper type, not a saturated character one though so if that's what you're after, outboard is the way to go. RE: Modwave. You'd be right, if you want immediacy I think the Argon would suit more. Modwave is on paper at least a universe deeper in options. For sound design that's enticing, for performance/production maybe not so important. Hope this helps but no probs and thanks for your support:)
@@Soundsauca your answers are very helpful :) I'll continue research and dreaming of a synth like Modwave/Argon/Hydrasynth with 61 keys that actually use a full top panel for knobs and buttons, not just 1/3 of it ;) Thanks for your replies. I appreciate it. Enjoy your weekend :)
Hi there. Thanks very much! With the 303 sound, there’s no midi slide. It’s legato and glide is controlled by keytrack IIRC. At the time I even surprised myself, Argon couldn’t do this!!
Great sounds. I had this puppy in my studio for a week but didn't like the anaemic low end and the FX, so it went back. Built quality was very good though.
Thanx Scoox! I understand why you'd say that. Low end probably isn't a highlight. It has great clarity in the upper mids which I guess is it's signature sound. The wavetables have their own thing going on which I kinda like. Build quality = best in class IMO!
Thanks v much! Well I do like wavetables, purely due to the diverse timbral palette they provide. However Cobalt does sound a little better IMHO, especially for analog/FM sounds. I would choose based on the type of sounds I was after, but you can’t go wrong with either 😀
@@Soundsauca thanks for the feedback! I'm leaning towards getting a Cobalt at the moment, but the Argon also sounds great. Modal did a great job on these
If you’re on the fence, the Cobalt is probably the best all rounder. It covers all the analog type sounds you’d need and can do much more, especially with the new FM algorithms. Baltica was made before these so there’s more!
Ah thank you 😊 with the videos - I use loads of different programs but it all comes together in After Effects & Final Cut Pro. It takes a while but I like doing it and learning at the same time!
I have been thinking for a while whether to get the Argon or the Cobalt. This video is truly inspiring and I will be be getting the Argon8X. Did you use the internal FX only or outboard FX? Thanks for the ear candy
Ah that’s great to hear ;) I’d love the X version as it’s such a good quality keybed. No outboard was used. A limiter in Logic X to push the level up but that was it. Hope you enjoy it!
@@Soundsauca There doesn't appear to be much of a price hike for the X over the 3 octave version and those patches deserve to be played as far across a keybed as possible. BTW I just subscribed to your channel. Are you into UFO's etc? I was thinking your patches would sound sublime over the X files! LOL.
Oh yes, the Modal synths are an extremely good price. My problem is room. I’ve always been fascinated by the universe and everything, so I guess I am yes:)
Mate i am looking to buy this synth. What do you think about it (and from what i saw i am leaning more for Argon8 which has Phase Mod FM than Cobalt)? It seems it will compliment my MiniNova... My only question is how does it do for a let's say some cinematic drones, pulses? Even bass sounds. I know it can do very atmospheric stuff but can it do that other stuff i have mentioned. Ok i am 5 min. into your sounds and i can see it can do all of that LOL nuf said as soon audio shop opens close to me i am buying it. At least i assume it is easier to make a sound thgan within MiniNova - more hands on control with less dive into it without needing software librarian
Hi Dario, how's you m8! Yes the Argon8 is a great synth. A different timbre to the Mininova with more detail in the sound and much easier to program. Less bass but can do it, and the cinematic stuff for days! The Mini has a more comprehensive filter section but I think that's where Cobalt comes in... I've heard some demos from Cobalt and it is a different machine, albeit with that Modal "sound". Argon is optimised for Wavetables, audio rate mod/LFOs & FM. Cobalt is more on the analog modelling vibe, but with a very interesting wave mod section & modelled ladder filter. I did a write up of some of my thoughts on Argon: www.soundsauca.com/daydrifta-argon8 I hope this helps!
@@Soundsauca I am doing well finishing the quarantine since i had to isolate myself since someone i know had covid (all in all good) how about you. So if i am correct if Cobalt had FM mod it would be just perfect synth. Yeah it depends what someone prefers. I love them risers, drones on a more grittier deeper side ala zimmerish sounds and pulses with whole lot of lfo movement. That's why are Zebra and Serum for but i love hands on controll so i can feel it. In that regards i just assume argon would be better or i could be wrong. Fx section is the same so as sequencer and arp. But cobalt doesn't have dedicated distortion fx
@Dario JL Ah man, glad you're ok. We all got it here back in the summer - not pleasant but we made it... With the Cobalt, it's hard for me to say without getting my hands on one. I don't think it does have FM between the oscs, but it has all sorts of algorithms with fractal waves, sync stuff etc which is really interesting me (GAS alert!) Argon can get gritty with the cross-mod stuff and the LFOs go really fast which I always love. I have Zebra & Serum but never find the time to use them much (they're great though). Argon is certainly more straight forward than either plugin but it's a very different experience having hands on with it all. I didn't know about Cobalt not having distortion. Maybe it's something they'll add...?
@@Soundsauca the decision has been made . It will be argon8. I just wasn't really impressed with cobalt8 i mean it sounds dope. But there is just something missing. I just love sounds from Argon8 more. From what i have heard so fa. I have an opinion that i can do a whole lot more with sound design on Argon
There’s a few but mostly this is obvious as It’s pretty linear. There’s a few overlaps to transition from one sound to another. I’m happy to admit I’m not a live demonstrator so I record each track and try and make a nice video with it. I hope that’s ok! If not there’s plenty of great players out there who do the usual twiddles 😊
Hi Peter, I don't have a Modwave. I guess some things would be possible. However it isn't how I'd approach a Modwave if I did. I'd rather spend time understanding the personality of an instrument as opposed to duplicating something I've done already. That probably doesn't help you but I find that way each bank I do has a unique fingerprint that hopefully reflects the synths unique characteristics. Thanks!
Hi there! The Argon8 is mono-timbral so only one sound can be played at a time. For the demo a few sounds were layered (mostly the intro IIRC), mainly because as I recorded them in I thought "that sounds really cool together!" it also helps to flow the visuals. There's no EQ or effects though so it's purely Argon. Thanks!
I own this synth.... and cubase and in cubase you got spector,prologue,mystic. These plugins do exact the same with simular sounds software wavetable synths
Indeed. Many software synths can do similar sounds. I guess some people prefer the physical interaction with their synths. Every synth I’ve ever used has its own unique character. The Argon certainly has one too.
Have had a cobalt8 for a week, wow ! Got me digging deeper into the Argon world. After hearing this, argon8 m ordered. Incredible programming 👏
Nice one! Yeah, I still prefer Argon personally. The Modal sound engine lends itself to wavetables more than VA imho. Hope you enjoy;)
Speechless Bring me back in time when Tangerine Dream spoiled us in the early 80s
Ahh thanks mate 😊 so good to hear you like it. I mean this genuinely, but I’m never sure when I’m making the bank whether I’m doing it right or not. I try to do what I like and hope others might too I guess! Thanks a lot.
HAHA love your sense of humor, and your sound design skills are par excellence! Well done man.
Thanks @Ambientnauts! Glad you like it! Argon is my preferred Modal mostly.
I'm a Cobalt8x owner who LOVES his synth, but this amazing soundset makes me gaze longingly into the distance as I listen to it; most of these sounds would be impossible to produce on the Cobalt, and they are f a n t a s t i c
Who knows, now that I've got a great controller keyboard in the Cobalt8x, maybe I'll pick up an Argon8m some day...
Thank you Modal for creating truly awesome synths that normal people can afford and use - we love you! And thank you Soundsauca for blowing our minds with these patches - very inspiring and beautiful!
What can I say! Thank you for your enthusiasm and love!! Indeed Argon is a different beast to Cobalt. It’s a very versatile machine that sometimes gets overlooked with its newer brother. There’s always more to discover with it👍
Purchased in an eyeblink... thanks for the great sounds !!!
Thankyou Rik - hope you find them inspiring.
Impressive Argon8 showcase with great sounds; and also nice visuals !
Would welcome a pt. II of this.
Thank you! Well never say never, although I'll need to work faster if I ever get to it :) !!
This is really astonishing work. You have squeezed more out of this synth than I thought possible. And beautifully presented to boot! That also makes it the best value soundset I have bought for my Argon.
Thank you v much!
Just Love The Sound Of Them Modal's
Yeah they do sound good, very transparent with a lot of high end detail. Hope to get a Cobalt8 at some point.
IMHO this is the best soundbank for Argon 8 yet! Wonderful work and so inspiring, I'm gonna buy it (but don't have Paypal ) will think of sth.
Thank you very much for your kind words. I appreciate it. When I next get round to web development I will look at what else I can offer. No promises, but I'll look at it.
Loving the sounds. Got my Argon8x in the mail should be here in a day or two. It's my first synth and I love hearing all the artists putting up these fantastic sounds for some good inspiration.
Thanks Bel! It's a really interesting synth so I'm sure you'll be really pleased. It would be a great first synth with it's front panel, and then more under the hood when you want to go deep. Let me know how it goes!
Шикарный звук, я люблю свой Аргон
Да. Очень хороший синтезатор!
Once again good work Michael , proud of you !
Thank you my love 😍 x
Amazing sound set. Thanks for taking the time to design the patches and showing them so nicely.
It's a pleasure! Glad you like them:)
beautiful :>
Awesome work as always! Argon8 is very versatile.
Thanks @synth4ever. Indeed it's a great machine!
WOW! I also have the Modal Cobalt and love it! Prior to buying the Cobalt 8, I had the Argon 8, but found I didn't "connect" with it so I sold it and got the Cobalt 8. Hmmmm.... your demo clearly shows I need to take another look into the Argon 8. Saving the bucks again. Thank you.
Ah thank you 😊 Yes Cobalt is a more instantly rewarding synth. Argon treads a slightly different path but often surprised me when programming. There’s a lot of mileage in having both!
Glad I found your demos, amongst the best there is, your very talented.
Now I want those new Modals!
Haha! 😂 choices...choices!
This a seriously beautiful soundbank!
Ah thanks David! Glad you enjoyed.
Wow, what a journey! Great soundset but also great video!
That all sounds outstanding......
Found myself just enjoying listening this (and other your vids) soundtrack at background while working or surfing the net.
Great composition Michael! It's amazing how you combined all the patches into whole story, connecting, combining and overlapping them.
This approach reminds me early pc aka Amiga / ZX Spectrum mega-demos, and well known Jexus synth demos.
Keep 'em coming please)
I don't think I ever expected anyone to do that! I might inadvertently use my demos as some sort of therapy through self expression. The more of these I do, the harder that seems to be. My musical ability (or rather lack of it) is a big road block for me, so I'll try to keep focused on the sounds. There's just so many great players out there who smash my offerings to pieces!
Jexus is a legend & absolute genius:) He's a master of weaving his sound out of every synth and telling that story through his videos.
I'll do my best!
@@Soundsauca Jexus finally presented his A8 story: ua-cam.com/video/4MN1QtotWLk/v-deo.html
Hi Max! Yes I saw it last night! I think it's great to see how different people come up with such different takes on a synth! I can only dream of the views he gets. Still I'll keep my head down:)
@@Soundsauca Totally! This shows the depth and the scope of the synth.
BTW there is PT2 coming up soon from Jexus ;)
@@Soundsauca Jexus is Sick but i really prefer your Demos…. Its an awesome symbiosis between music and pictures. Your Stuff is also More Musical, Dreamy and i really Love ist :)
Phenomenal work. Looking to buy this synth in the next week, and will absolutely be picking up this sound set!
Ah thanks Zack! I really like the Argon. In fact it’s more “me” than the Cobalt. But both are great synths!
This sounds great.Really immersive, insular yet forward and bursting out too.Very inspiring.I just bought the soundpack too !
Thanks a lot! Glad you like it.
Cant wait to use it on my argon. Dont hesitate to tell when available 😀
Hi Omatic, it's up (touch wood!) I always get nervous when uploading hence the "soft" release! All has been checked out so I hope you enjoy!
www.soundsauca.com/sounds/modal-argon-daydrifta-soundset/
@@Soundsauca I tried it and wow it is really pleasant. For what I searched, pads and ambient, I found my sound.
Great work
A lovely set from a fellow Argonauntron :)
Thanks James! A smaller offering compared to your endless awesomeness!!
@@Soundsauca Thank you. Love the website too I must get one done soon :) Keep up the great Sonics!
Nice to hear from you James! Still tring to get your patches on my 8x! Mark Bensette Aux Bois. ua-cam.com/channels/aSstZXbP2owOx5ej8isMQg.html?view_as=subscriber
The best patches I ever heard! 👍🏻
I just bought them. Thank you! 👍🏻 👍🏻
You’re v welcome!
Bloody brilliant, awesome!!
Thank you! 😊
Some stellar sounds here! Approx 3.00 min and approx 5.30 min are outstanding. The latter reminds me of the original Bladerunner soundtrack. Very impressed.
Thanks v much! Believe it or not comments such as yours really help. I'm working on my next bank and sometimes I wonder if it's worth the effort. Sometimes things come together, other times it takes enormous time & persistence to keep going!
@@Soundsauca Iron Chariots, Noble Strings, Stellarion, Angel Beach. Particularly stunning amognst a superb collection. Cannot stop listening to them. An Argon might be finding a home here!
You're too kind! Argon is a unique synth. There's a transparency to the Modal sound which works so well with certain patches. I'm sure you'll be happy with one!
Pure Epicness
Really nice work mate, will buy
Ah thanks very much Shanti. Glad you like it! Argon is my favourite Modal. So much can be done with the Wavetables 👍
Nice presets, nice job!
Thanks Marc. Really good to hear it was worth it!
Delicious.
Last year I bought your cobalt8 soundset, which is extremely good, and having just bought an argon8 went for this, which is again an excellent soundset, much better than most of the factory presets. Breaking down a few of them I can see that you really dived in to see what the synth is capable of. Finding that tremelo waveshape on Harmon Slice for instance ...
It's a shame the argon8 hasn't the same LFO capabilities of the cobalt8 (only 2, and more limited shapes), but I guess it did come first.
Hi @Jack Holow. Glad to hear you like the soundsets. Yes the Argon8 does have one less LFO, but one thing I do like on it is the audio rate modulation. Really interesting tones start popping out using these, and of course you can modulate their rate too! Cobalt is also a fine synth with a different focus. Both unsurprisingly share a common signature which is very detailed. Thanks for stopping by:)
suppa nice!
Congrats!
Thanks a lot Nick! Long time no speak. I must catch up more. Hope you're all doing ok.
Thanks for doing this right in time with all this Cobalt8 raving.
Argon8 deserves to be adored, it's a truly standout synth, it has it's own 'voice', capable of 'singing', which is most important for the Instrument, not the technical complexity, IMO.
I also hope Modal will keep it up, continue to develop and upgrade it's OS. There is so much good things can be implemented..
Stunning soundset btw! So various and thoughtfully developed.
Every patch has it's own story, it's inspiring. Totally love it. Will definitely purchase!
Great job on the visuals as well. (which software you using to create such stunning visuals??)
High quality content.
Thanks for introducing once again. Keep it up!
Hi Max, thanks for your thoughtful words. The back story to this release:
I was busy animating my videos one day when an email dropped in my inbox - Cobalt!! I was like great! But...oh shoot!!! Most of my banks have been for older synths but I’d hoped with the Argon to demonstrate something for a newer synth. That idea crashed and burned 🥵 As a result I decided to just keep at it anyway as the Argon is very different to Cobalt by the sound of things.
My problem - I can’t make things fast enough (never have) I either take time and do it right or cut corners (can’t do that!)
Software for animation: After Effects, Final Cut Pro and a load of sleepless nights;) Thanks a lot for stopping by and best wishes!
@@Soundsauca > "I was like great! But...oh shoot!!"
Yeah, totally similar initial feelings after i realized that teaser was not an A8 OS update, but a new synth.
But on some investigation and learning more about Cobalt, i realized that it's a very different machine, and Argon still stands on it's own strong points)
Really happy about your soundset. Just bought it!
Have a great weekend, and stay healthy!
Thanks a lot Max. First I really appreciate you purchasing. I’m a bit stuck really. I know many people give their sounds away. I just dunno if that would work financially for me. I don’t depend on Soundsauca to live (thank goodness!) but it really helps planning for future synths and web admin stuff.
Totally, I don’t know enough about Cobalt yet but they are certainly different enough that the Argon can stand on its own merits. Will I get a Cobalt? Maybe 🤔!! Best wishes to you and likewise stay safe 👍
I don't have any of these two but from what i saw i think i would go and will go for Argon8. I think it can do more stuff sonically if that makes sense it also has Phase Mod (FM) which Cobalt doesn't have at least i didn't find any specs that would suggest othervise
I accidentally ordered an Argon 8X instead of a cobalt 8X. I have my argon on eBay and selling it to buy a cobalt 8x 61 key. The keyboard action is superb! Light years ahead of my JD-XA or Prologue 16.
After hearing this demo I may keep my argon and buy a cobalt 8 desktop.
Modal has really hit the ball outta the park with these two instruments.
If my JD-XA didn’t have filter #3 and phat analog oscillators I wouldn’t miss it because I’d have the Modal Twins
Ah man! Yes keys are really great 👍 JD-Xa Is a great synth but very different.
Man i love your soundset for the Argon8 so much. My favorite! Tried to recreate the Stellarium patch on the Hydra but i dont get it. I love my Argon for the sound (not a fan of sice / Ui). I love the Hydra for the UI / Look / feel but i never get this "uuuuhm" feeling like when i hear and play the Argon8. Would love to see a soundback from you for the Hydra. Maybe you can make it shine.
Thank you for your words! Tbh I've spent ridiculous amounts of time trying to replicate sounds from one synth to another. Of course it can be done (to greater or lesser degrees), and I often do include some classic/cliché sounds as and when. I guess I prefer to explore each instrument's features & strengths. Hydra - maybe..
One Word : fantastic!
Thanks so much! Much appreciated & glad you like it!
You deserve way more subscribers. These sounds are killer! Have you revisited this synth since all the latest and greatest firmware updates?
Thanks! UA-cam is an algorithm. If I put a flashy title like "Why the Modal Argon is the BEST affordable wavetable synth EVER!" I'd probably get more views. Also if I uploaded every week/month it would drive me up the list. Still, I kinda got to go my own path. Initially I tried pumping them out a bit but it wasn't sustainable due to other commitments and I don't want quality to suffer. Still I'm happy and hopefully there will be more in the future:)
With the firmware updates, I confess I haven't! Too many synths, not enough time! However I never rule anything out..
@@Soundsauca Quality over quantity, always. And you're fantastic with programming. I purchased your 990 Superluminal soundset, love it. If I ever buy an Argon8, this will be a for sure buy. Hopefully in the future. I love the sound of the Argon8.....it's so...soothing. I don't find many others out there that sound like it. I'm typically very very picky at the synths I buy. Argon8 and maybe a microQ are only things on my current wish list (I own minilogue XD, Ti2, and JD990).
@@stephenwiley5617 Thanks for your kind words & support! It means so much to me:) IMO the Argon excels at transparent pads and otherworldly things. I prefer it to Cobalt actually but that's just me.
You have a nice balanced selection of synths there, Argon would fit in nicely:)
kann man sounds für die roland mc 808 sampling groovebox bekommen ? (2006)
Hi! I’m not sure 🤔 I’ve never had one unfortunately. Maybe one day 👍
I was close to getting Cobalt8, but this demo convinced me to look closer at Argon8. From your presets, I'm getting a feeling that Argon will give me more sculpting possibilities than Cobalt. I'm looking for a hardware poly in this price range. I have Odyssey and Model D, so my mono analogue synth needs are covered. I'm curious about your opinion, which one would be better for something like a "melodic techno/progressive"? For jam sessions with chords/pads and lots of reverb, I can feel already that Argon is a better choice 😉
Hi @Dark Light. It's always an interesting question I get! In your case I think it's relatively straightforward. If you already have the analog side covered then Cobalt will not sound as good as those synths for analog style sounds. That's not to say it can't do it, and Cobalt diverges from analog a lot, with FM and a plethora of other waveshaping. OTOH the Argon strength is undoubtedly in electronic genres where textural timbres are required. There's much to explore here with the wavetables, audio rate LFOs & distortion (not on Cobalt). Many disagree but my personal favourite has always been Argon;) Good luck with your decision, it's always tough! If I was looking today - Korg Modwave has my eye!!
@@Soundsauca Thank you for the reply. Audio Rate LFO is something that is always good to have 😀 I'm a bit disappointed that they didn't add it to Cobalt. Is distortion good? Probably nothing exceptional, I guess. I'll run it through the guitar pedals chain, so effects are not that important tbh. From your patches, Argon seems to have more character than Cobalt, which reminds me of crystal clear plugin synths. Or, in other words, a character that I prefer (bit dirtier with a texture). About Modwave, I have to look a little bit more at it. Filters are very interesting (like MS20 emulation). But I got an impression that it's not as easy/fast to program as Argon. The less diving in menus of a tiny display, the better 😉 For the same reason, Hydrasynth (and Explorer) put me off.
I'll let you know if I go for Argon, as I'll buy your preset bank the same day 😁
Yes Argon is arguably slightly grittier than Cobalt. Cobalt is pristine in timbre. Argon has static oscillator modifiers that serve to rough up the sound pre filter if desired. They are quite subtle though. Distortion is a clipper type, not a saturated character one though so if that's what you're after, outboard is the way to go.
RE: Modwave. You'd be right, if you want immediacy I think the Argon would suit more. Modwave is on paper at least a universe deeper in options. For sound design that's enticing, for performance/production maybe not so important. Hope this helps but no probs and thanks for your support:)
@@Soundsauca your answers are very helpful :) I'll continue research and dreaming of a synth like Modwave/Argon/Hydrasynth with 61 keys that actually use a full top panel for knobs and buttons, not just 1/3 of it ;)
Thanks for your replies. I appreciate it. Enjoy your weekend :)
Amazing sound pack. On the list to buy real soon! How have you achieved the slides over MIDI on the 303 bass @ 32:00?
Hi there. Thanks very much! With the 303 sound, there’s no midi slide. It’s legato and glide is controlled by keytrack IIRC. At the time I even surprised myself, Argon couldn’t do this!!
Great sounds. I had this puppy in my studio for a week but didn't like the anaemic low end and the FX, so it went back. Built quality was very good though.
Thanx Scoox! I understand why you'd say that. Low end probably isn't a highlight. It has great clarity in the upper mids which I guess is it's signature sound. The wavetables have their own thing going on which I kinda like. Build quality = best in class IMO!
Loving the sound of these presets, great work! Do you have a preference for the Cobalt8 or Argon8?
Thanks v much! Well I do like wavetables, purely due to the diverse timbral palette they provide. However Cobalt does sound a little better IMHO, especially for analog/FM sounds. I would choose based on the type of sounds I was after, but you can’t go wrong with either 😀
@@Soundsauca thanks for the feedback! I'm leaning towards getting a Cobalt at the moment, but the Argon also sounds great. Modal did a great job on these
If you’re on the fence, the Cobalt is probably the best all rounder. It covers all the analog type sounds you’d need and can do much more, especially with the new FM algorithms. Baltica was made before these so there’s more!
I would point out the parts that I like but I'm not sure there would be enough room for all the timestamps.
You can be my PR guru!! Thanks a lot.
@@Soundsauca Haha. I bought the soundset, really looking forward to diving in!
The videod and the sounds fit so well together. How do you do those videos ?
Ah thank you 😊 with the videos - I use loads of different programs but it all comes together in After Effects & Final Cut Pro. It takes a while but I like doing it and learning at the same time!
@@Soundsauca Thanks !
I have been thinking for a while whether to get the Argon or the Cobalt. This video is truly inspiring and I will be be getting the Argon8X. Did you use the internal FX only or outboard FX? Thanks for the ear candy
Ah that’s great to hear ;) I’d love the X version as it’s such a good quality keybed. No outboard was used. A limiter in Logic X to push the level up but that was it. Hope you enjoy it!
@@Soundsauca There doesn't appear to be much of a price hike for the X over the 3 octave version and those patches deserve to be played as far across a keybed as possible. BTW I just subscribed to your channel. Are you into UFO's etc? I was thinking your patches would sound sublime over the X files! LOL.
Oh yes, the Modal synths are an extremely good price. My problem is room. I’ve always been fascinated by the universe and everything, so I guess I am yes:)
Mate i am looking to buy this synth. What do you think about it (and from what i saw i am leaning more for Argon8 which has Phase Mod FM than Cobalt)? It seems it will compliment my MiniNova... My only question is how does it do for a let's say some cinematic drones, pulses? Even bass sounds. I know it can do very atmospheric stuff but can it do that other stuff i have mentioned. Ok i am 5 min. into your sounds and i can see it can do all of that LOL nuf said as soon audio shop opens close to me i am buying it. At least i assume it is easier to make a sound thgan within MiniNova - more hands on control with less dive into it without needing software librarian
Hi Dario, how's you m8! Yes the Argon8 is a great synth. A different timbre to the Mininova with more detail in the sound and much easier to program. Less bass but can do it, and the cinematic stuff for days! The Mini has a more comprehensive filter section but I think that's where Cobalt comes in...
I've heard some demos from Cobalt and it is a different machine, albeit with that Modal "sound". Argon is optimised for Wavetables, audio rate mod/LFOs & FM. Cobalt is more on the analog modelling vibe, but with a very interesting wave mod section & modelled ladder filter. I did a write up of some of my thoughts on Argon:
www.soundsauca.com/daydrifta-argon8
I hope this helps!
@@Soundsauca I am doing well finishing the quarantine since i had to isolate myself since someone i know had covid (all in all good) how about you. So if i am correct if Cobalt had FM mod it would be just perfect synth. Yeah it depends what someone prefers. I love them risers, drones on a more grittier deeper side ala zimmerish sounds and pulses with whole lot of lfo movement. That's why are Zebra and Serum for but i love hands on controll so i can feel it. In that regards i just assume argon would be better or i could be wrong. Fx section is the same so as sequencer and arp. But cobalt doesn't have dedicated distortion fx
@Dario JL Ah man, glad you're ok. We all got it here back in the summer - not pleasant but we made it... With the Cobalt, it's hard for me to say without getting my hands on one. I don't think it does have FM between the oscs, but it has all sorts of algorithms with fractal waves, sync stuff etc which is really interesting me (GAS alert!)
Argon can get gritty with the cross-mod stuff and the LFOs go really fast which I always love. I have Zebra & Serum but never find the time to use them much (they're great though). Argon is certainly more straight forward than either plugin but it's a very different experience having hands on with it all. I didn't know about Cobalt not having distortion. Maybe it's something they'll add...?
@@Soundsauca Well see about distortion. It is nice to have that on board if nothing else for gimmick :D i have send you mail :)
@@Soundsauca the decision has been made . It will be argon8. I just wasn't really impressed with cobalt8 i mean it sounds dope. But there is just something missing. I just love sounds from Argon8 more. From what i have heard so fa. I have an opinion that i can do a whole lot more with sound design on Argon
are some of this sequences and patches layered ?
There’s a few but mostly this is obvious as It’s pretty linear. There’s a few overlaps to transition from one sound to another. I’m happy to admit I’m not a live demonstrator so I record each track and try and make a nice video with it. I hope that’s ok! If not there’s plenty of great players out there who do the usual twiddles 😊
The other thing I forgot to mention is there's no EQ, compression etc on the sound. It is a direct recording! Thanks
brb it's tinkle time
😂
Could you port these to Modwave?
Hi Peter, I don't have a Modwave. I guess some things would be possible. However it isn't how I'd approach a Modwave if I did. I'd rather spend time understanding the personality of an instrument as opposed to duplicating something I've done already. That probably doesn't help you but I find that way each bank I do has a unique fingerprint that hopefully reflects the synths unique characteristics. Thanks!
is the audio right out of box or did u use some mastering with compression, eq, etc. on it?
Did you layer some patches in the demo? I thought the argon8 couldn't do two different patch sounds at once? Sounds good though
Hi there! The Argon8 is mono-timbral so only one sound can be played at a time. For the demo a few sounds were layered (mostly the intro IIRC), mainly because as I recorded them in I thought "that sounds really cool together!" it also helps to flow the visuals. There's no EQ or effects though so it's purely Argon. Thanks!
@@Soundsauca purchase incoming once I get nine. 😃
Really appreciated and helps me to keep doing this! Thank you.
Is this straight from the box, or did you do any post-synth processing?
Yes, no additional FX added. I might have had my RME limiter on for recording but no post processing.
I own this synth.... and cubase and in cubase you got spector,prologue,mystic. These plugins do exact the same with simular sounds software wavetable synths
Indeed. Many software synths can do similar sounds. I guess some people prefer the physical interaction with their synths. Every synth I’ve ever used has its own unique character. The Argon certainly has one too.
@@Soundsauca yeah its a great synth! and also alot more fun turning knobs then knobs on a pc screen
@@lX-NDR Those synths sound good, a similar type of sound but missing something, whereas the Argon is a lot warmer and more interesting tonally.