With the Cobalt5S Synthesizer, Modal Electronics introduces a smaller sibling of its Cobalt8 extended virtual-analog Synthesizer for the mobile music-making community.
Almost four years ago, Modal Electronics released the Cobalt5S, the smaller, portable sibling of the Cobalt8 Synthesizer. It features five voices, mini keys with aftertouch, and fewer panel parameters, but is more portable and can be powered by a power bank.
The synth launched at 459€ and has since dropped to 333€, making it a more attractive option. Thomann/Musicstore.de are now slashing the price again, offering the Modal5S for 269€ instead of 333€. That’s a 19% discount and 41% off the original price.
Don’t forget, in the US, you can get the regular versions of the Argon8 and Cobalt8 for $499.
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Article from March 1, 2022
The brief public leak of the new Modal Synthesizer was true. Modal Electronics today officially introduced the Cobalt5S, a new portable virtual analog Synthesizer.
It’s the little brother of the Cobalt8 series. The engine is slightly slimmed down, but you get a lighter, more compact instrument (56,5 x 16,2 x 5,7 cm) that can also be operated with a power bank.
Modal Electronics Cobalt5S
Like its big brothers, the Cobalt5S uses the innovative extended virtual analog synthesis engine with the same powerful 40 algorithms. You get here classic shaping algorithms such as PWM, sync, or FM, but also more complex and unique ones. Including fractal synthesis, reverse, window, metal, ring mod…
The implementation of this is particularly noteworthy. Instead of using many shaping parameters, you can achieve a lot with just a few controls. Kind of macro controls. The big difference is the number of polyphonies. The Cobalt5S has 5 digital voices instead of 8.
Then, you have the 4-pole morphable ladder filter with resonance across four configurations (resonant low-pass, balanced low-pass, balanced high-pass, and balanced phase). A filter that adds analog-style juice to the digital sounds.
On the modulation side, you have three advanced envelopes and two multi-wave LFOs, giving you tons of options to add movement to your sounds. All this is controllable via a solid modulation matrix with 4 fixed routings and 8 assignable slots.
To polish your sounds, you have a dual FX-engine with different delays, reverb, and more.
Playability
Due to its compact design, the Cobalt5S also features a different keybed adapted to it. It features a 37-note keyboard with velocity and aftertouch.
I haven’t played it, but it reminds me of the mini keys from the Keystep series. No polyphonic aftertouch support for the keys, but the extended VA engine has a full MPE implementation.
Furthermore, you have an onboard arpeggiator and real-time step sequencer with motion recording. X/Y control is also onboard, but without a physical joystick. Here implemented with a touchpad that also has an additional Z axi,s giving you hands-on X/Y/Z control. The instrument has 16 high-quality encoders that let you adjust parameters on the fly.
Plus, a display provides visual feedback on the waveforms and the menu structure. Modal Electronics ships its latest synth release with 200 factory sounds and 100 sequencer patches.
Like all Modal synths, the COBALT5S is fully compatible with the free, excellent MODALapp for editing parameters, firmware updates, and preset management. It runs on macOS, Windows, and mobile devices such as iOS and Android devices.
Backside
On the backside, you have a socket for the headphones, stereo out on left/right mono outputs, a sustain pedal input, a MIDI interface, sync in/out, USB, and a power supply input.
The matching power supply is not included for a reason. The power comes from the USB port, and therefore, you can use a power bank as well. This makes the Cobalt engine more mobile than ever.
First Impression
A nice offshoot of the big Cobalt Series, which comes with a very unique, soft, warm sound. Now in a much more “on the go” design, but no less exciting. I
Didn’t get the Cobalt5S to test the complete test for the Cobalt8; however, it can be found here, including in-depth sound demos of the oscillators.
Modal Electronics COBALT5S is available now for 459€/$449 USD.
More information here: Modal Electronics
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thanks 😉
i ordered one.
Looks good!