ARGON 8 Voice Wavetable Synthesiser Module User Guide
- June 7, 2024
- ARGON
Table of Contents
UI
GUIDE
Modal Argon8M is an 8 voice polyphonic wavetable synthesizer. It features 120
crafted wavetables split into 24 banks of 5 morphable waveform sets, 32
oscillators in total (4 per voice), and a huge range of wavetable and
oscillator modifiers.
Beyond the oscillators, there is a multi-mode filter, 3 envelope generators, 2
audio-rate LFOs, 3 powerful independent and user-configurable stereo FX
engines, a real-time sequencer, a programmable arpeggiator, and an extensive
modulation matrix.
Screen Navigation
The two switched encoders on either side of the screen are used for screen
navigation and control:
Page/Param – When this encoder is in ‘Page’ mode it cycles through the
parameter pages (e.g. Osc1, Osc2, Filter); when it’s in ‘Param’ mode it cycles
through the parameters on that page. Use the switch to toggle between the two
modes, the model is displayed on the screen with a line at the top for ‘Page’
mode and at the bottom for ‘Param’ mode.
Preset/Edit/Bank – This encoder/switch is used to adjust the value or
‘trigger’ the currently displayed parameter. When on the ‘Load Patch’
parameter when the panel is in ‘Shift’ mode this encoder is used to select the
patch bank number.
Connections
Headphones – 1/4” stereo jack socket
Right – Audio Out for the right stereo channel. 1/4” unbalanced TS jack socket
Left/Mono – Audio Out for the left stereo channel. If there is no cable
plugged into the Right socket then sum
to Mono. 1/4” unbalanced TS jack socket
Expression – user-configurable pedal input, 1/4” TRS jack socket
Sustain – works with any standard, open momentary footswitch, 1/4” TS jack
socket
Audio In – stereo audio input, to process your audio source with Argon FX
engines, 3.5mm TRS jack socket
Shift functions – parameters in light blue can be accessed by entering ‘Shift’
mode using the button to the right of the screen with a light blue ring. The
shift can be momentary by holding the button and changing a parameter or
latched by pressing the shift button.
Alt functions – parameters in light grey can be accessed by holding the button
with the light grey ring in the same section (Velo). ‘Alt’ mode is always
momentary and you will exit ‘Alt’ mode on the release of the button.
Presets
Patch/Seq – this button is primarily used to switch the screen to either the
‘Load Patch’ or ‘Load Seq’ param for loading patches or sequences, however,
this button also puts the panel into either ‘Patch’ mode or ‘Seq’ mode. This
changes the ‘Save’ and ‘Init’ buttons to either affect Patch preset management
in ‘Patch’ mode or Sequencer preset management in ‘Seq’ mode.
‘Init / Rand’ – this button/function only responds on a button hold.
Argon8M can have a large dynamic range so there is a Patch Gain control that
can be used to equalize patch volumes. Hold the ‘Patch’ button and turn the
‘Volume’ encoder to control the ‘Patch Gain’ parameter.
Sync In – analog clock in. 3.3v, rising edge, 1 pulse per 16th note signal,
3.5mm TS jack socket
Sync Out – analog clock out, the same configuration as the clock in, 3.5mm TS
jack socket
MIDI Out – used to control other MIDI hardware, 5-pin DIN MIDI socket
MIDI In – used to be controlled from other MIDI hardware, 5-pin DIN MIDI
socket
USB MIDI – MIDI in/out to a USB MIDI host, connect Argon8M to a
laptop/tablet/mobile device for the
optional software editor, ModalApp, full-size USB-B socket
Power – 9.0V, 1.5A, center-positive barrel power supply
Preset Saving
Press the ’Save’ button to enter the ‘full’ save procedure or hold the ‘Save’
button to perform a ‘quick save (saving preset into the current slot with
current name).
Once you are in the ‘full’ save procedure, presets are saved in the following
way:
Slot selection – Use the ‘Edit’ encoder to select the preset bank/ number to
save into, and press the ‘Edit’ switch to select it
Naming – Use the ‘Page/Param’ encoder to select the character position and use
the ‘Edit’ encoder to select the character. Press the ‘Edit’ switch to finish
editing the name.
There are a number of panel shortcuts here:
Press ‘Velo‘ to jump to lowercase characters
Press ‘AftT’ to jump to uppercase characters
Press ‘Note’ to jump to numbers
Press ‘Expr’ to jump to symbols
Press the ‘Page/Param’ switch to add a space (increment all above characters)
Press ‘Init’ to delete the current character (decrement all above characters)
Hold ‘Init’ to delete the entire name
Press the ‘Edit’ switch to confirm the settings and save the preset.
At any point during the procedure hold the ‘Page/Param’ switch to move back a
step.
To exit/quit the procedure without saving the preset, press the ‘Patch/Seq’
button.
Global Settings
When the screen is displaying the ‘Reset’ option, hold the ‘Edit’ switch to
trigger the ‘Reset’ function.
Quick Recalls
Argon8M has 4 Quick Recall slots for quickly loading patches. Quick Recalls
are controlled using the following button combos:
Hold ‘Patch’ + hold one of the four buttons on the bottom left of the panel to
assign the currently loaded patch to a QR slot
Hold ‘Patch’ + press one of the four buttons on the bottom left of the panel
to load the patch in the QR slot
Oscillators
Hold the ‘Patch’ button and turn the ‘Wave1’ or ’Wave2’ encoder to control the
WavMod parameters
Press the ‘Tune/Fine’ switch to toggle between Osc1 and Osc2 tune and fine-
tune controls
Filter
Hold the ‘Patch’ button and turn the ‘Cutoff’ encoder to control the Filter
Type parameter
Envelopes
Hold any of the EG switches for one second and then turn the ADSR encoders to
adjust all envelopes simultaneously
Press the ‘MEG’ switch when MEG is already selected to latch MEG assign
Sequencer
Hold the ‘Patch’ and ‘Play’ buttons to clear the sequencer notes When the
screen is displaying the ‘Linked Sequence’ parameter, hold the ‘Edit’ switch
to set the value to be the currently loaded sequence.
Arp
Hold the ‘Arp’ switch and press keys on an external keyboard to add pattern
notes or presses the ‘Play’ button to add rest to the pattern
Hold the ‘Patch’ button and turn the ‘Division’ encoder to control Arp Gate
Keyboard/Voice
Press ‘Mode’ repeatedly to cycle through the different voice modes Mono, Poly,
Unison (2,4 and 8), and Stack (2 and 4).
Press ‘Chord’ whilst holding a chord on an external keyboard to set the chord
mode chord.
Modulation
To assign a Mod Slot either hold (momentary) or latch the desired Mod source
button – then set a depth by turning the desired modulation destination
parameter
When latched in a Mod Source assign mode pressing the flashing Mod Source
button again will exit assign mode
Mod source button + ‘Depth’ encoder – set global depth for that mod source
Press ModSlot repeatedly to cycle through and view all mod slot settings on
the screen
When the screen is displaying a mod slot ‘Depth’ parameter (most easily
accessed via assigning modulation using the panel or via the ModSlot button),
hold the ‘Edit’ switch to clear the mod slot assignment.
To assign a mod source to an orc’s global frequency destination, use either of
the fine-tune controls. ‘Tune1’ will assign to the Osc1 tune, ‘Tune2’ will
assign to the Osc2 tune.
FX
Press FX1 / FX2 / FX3 switch repeatedly to change the FX type of the slot
Hold FX1 / FX2 / FX3 switch to reset the FX type of the slot to ‘None’
Turn the ‘B’ encoder into the negative range for the slot with a Delay FX
assigned to access synced delay times
Press FX1 + FX2 + FX3 to jump to the ‘FX Preset Load’ parameter
LFO
Turn the ‘Rate’ encoders into the negative range to access synced rates
Press the ‘LFO1/LFO2’ switch when LFO is already selected to latch LFO assign