Modal ARGON8 V3 update brings vintage character, new filters and FX
4,8 / 5,0 | 
Modal has released a huge firmware update for the ARGON8, including vintage imperfections, four new filter types and 15 new effects for free. Sounds like a good deal!
ARGON8 V3
The ARGON8 is a well-regarded wavetable synthesizer that manages to offer a wide range of sound and functionality in an affordable form. The reviews were overwhelmingly positive and so Modal didn’t really have to do anything, which makes this update even more welcome. It is very reassuring to feel that Modal are determined to improve and add further features to existing successful products.
The new Vintage parameter is definitely the biggest news. The most common criticism of the ARGON8 is that it was all a bit too clean, a little too shiny in the wavetable department and so, perhaps, lacked some character. Well, hopefully, this will sort that out. The Vintage parameter messes about with the wavetable textures by emulating the imperfections of old synthesizers. It will affect the tuning and add in movement and variations. There’s also something called Oscillator Free Run which adds further sonic flexibility. The aim is to make every key press slightly different to the one before, which should help take some of the polish off the ARGON8.
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On the filter side, we get four new types, including a 4-pole Ladder, 1-Pole Ladder Hybrid, resonant Phaser Ladder and a gnarly (or so they say) 2-Pole Sallen-Key filter. They all have a bit of drive and polesweeping for morphing from one to another.
15 new effects seem like a huge addition to the synthesizer. There’s a new reverb, a chorus borrowed from the COBALT8, phasers, compressors, EQ, an Unioniser and additional drive effects. Some of the effects use up two effects slots for a bit more depth and power.
There are also improvements to the arpeggiator, the OLED screen and the quality of the audio input. You also get 100 new presets.
All in all, it’s a massive update to a popular synth that’s just got a lot more awesome.
The update is free; all you need is an ARGON8 and the MODALapp software.
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