Modal Electronics Cobalt8X Synthesizer

General

Right after the release of the Cobalt8, Modal Electronics presented the Cobalt8X. Both synths are virtually identical, it's just that the X-version features a 61-note FATAR keyboard. So, if you've missed the Cobalt8, allow us to recap what this powerful virtual analogue synthesizer equipped with 8 voices and 8 oscillators per voice is capable of. The Cobalt certainly goes beyond what most other VA synths can do, and doesn't simply offer a handful of standard sawtooth and square waveforms, but a collection of 34 algorithms! While these do include options like pulse-width modulation and triangle hard-sync, the Cobalt8X surely serves up a huge plate of sounds and will effortlessly get your synth-pads sounding awesomely fat.

The Modal Electronics Cobalt8X

In regards to sonic tweaking and tinkering, this Modal Electronics-made machine is greatly extensive and comes with three envelopes for volume, filter and modulation, as well as versatile 24dB Ladder filter that can be morphed at will. Perhaps the most intriguing feature, however, is the 12-slot modulation matrix, which lets you shape truly expressive sounds. Even an arpeggiator and sequencer are built in, and the sequencer can also be used as a controller, or a kind of complex envelope if you will. Then there are the effects. As if the 8 oscillators per voice aren't enough for extreme synth pads, you can just as easily throw in chorus, phaser, delay or reverb...verb...erb.

Other Awesome Features

The Cobalt8X comes loaded with ample storage capacity. In fact, it not only offers room for presets, but you're free to save sounds, sequences and even effects. In terms of more visible features, you're getting a FATAR keyboard with channel-aftertouch and a beautifully clear OLED display to help you keep track of what's going on with razor-sharp graphics. Safe inside in a robust and road-ready housing, the Cobalt8 is perfect for gigging musicians and comes with editor software that can be run in your DAW as a VST3/AU plugin. Last but not least, this future-proof VA synthesizer supports MPE - the new MIDI standard that divides polyphony across multiple MIDI tracks so you can do stuff like pitch-bends per note - which concludes the list of reasons why the Cobalt8X deserves a spot somewhere at the top of your gear-based wishlist.