Modal Announce Their New Mini Virtual Analogue Polysynth – Cobalt5S

UK synth aficionado’s MODAL ELECTRONICS have today announced a trimmed down 37 mini-key version of their Cobalt8 virtual analogue synthesiser. The Cobalt5S is a portable 5 voice polysynth and shares the same extended virtual analogue synth engine to the Cobalt8. It’s USB-bus powered and features a morphable 4-pole ladder filter, MPE support, X/Y/Z pad for pitch bend, modwheel, modulation assignments and a real-time step-sequencer with four animation lanes.

At first glance this mini-polysynth shares many design aesthetics as the Cobalt8, housed in that rich blue chassis and familiar panelling. The form factor is clearly targeting desktop synth lovers and musicians that are keen to throw it in a backpack and collab with mates, personally, I love mini synths with mini keys as I’m not much of a keyboard player and rely on sequencers, so this is a big yes from me.

Interestingly the Cobalt5S features aftertouch and MPE support which are powerful features of a synth of this size, and with its 5-voice polyphony this will surely be an attractive feature for synth players. We love the rich wide-ranging pallet of sounds from its VA sound engine taken from the Cobalt8 that we’ve been praising since its inception. Here’s what Modal had to say:

Founded on Modal Electronics’ next-generation COBALT synth architecture and housed in an ultra-portable go- anywhere footprint, the USB-powered COBALT5S is made-to-move and ready to spark your creativity wherever, and whenever inspiration strikes. Whether it’s a singularly authentic replication of classic analogue sounds or the most contemporary leading-edge texture, COBALT5S’ extended virtual analogue sound engine delivers on all counts. Supercharge any performance with COBALT5S’ built-in MPE support, 16 quick-access smooth rotary switch encoders, a premium 37-note compact-key keybed with aftertouch and an ultra-responsive X/Y/Z Touchpad for pitch bend, mod wheel and/or modulation assignments. Rounding out the control arsenal is a comprehensive real-time/step sequencer with four animation lanes alongside a built-in programmable arpeggiator. Like all Modal synthesisers, COBALT5S is fully compatible with the free MODALapp, the gateway to effortless editing and preset management available on Mac, Windows PC or mobile devices including iOS/Android smartphones and tablets.

Features:

• Polyphony: True 5 voice polyphony
• MPE: Supports MPE compatible MIDI controllers
• Oscillators: 40 high-resolution virtual-analogue oscillators, up to 8 per voice. Two independent and self-contained oscillator groups with sine, pulse, triangle, sawtooth waveforms plus 40 different algorithms
• Filter: 4-Pole Morphable Ladder Filter with Resonance and four switchable configurations
• Modulation: 3 ENV generators, that can be accessed independently or simultaneously, 2 X Audio Rate LFO’s, 8 assignable modulation slots via a mod matrix.
• Sequencer: Polyphonic real-time sequencer with 512 notes and four recordable/editable parameter animations (Delay FX, LFO’s, sequencer and arpeggiator can be either clocked internally or externally)
• Arpeggiator: Polyphonic Step Sequencer with 64 steps, 5 notes per step, 4 lanes of Parameter-Lock style animation, Step Input mode, multiple playback modes including gate modes and rest function Built-In sophisticated programmable arpeggiator of 32 steps with rest capability and up to 2048 steps before repeating
• FX: Two incredibly powerful independent and user-configurable stereo FX engines for Chorus and Stereo Delay
• Premium 37 compact-key keyboard with velocity and channel aftertouch
• 16 switched encoders support real-time CC message transmissions to other
• MIDI devices or DAWs
• Five-axis X/Y/Z pressure-sensitive keypad for pitch bend, mod wheel and/or
• modulation assignments
• Multiple keyboard modes, Mono, Poly, Stack 2, Unison 2, Unison 4
• Glide/Portamento with both legato and staccato modes
• 6.35 mm / 1/4” TS line outputs
• 6.35 mm / 1/4” TRS headphone output
• MIDI DIN In and Out
• 3.5 mm / 1/8” TS Analogue clock sync In and Out
• Class-compliant MIDI over the USB connection

EXPECT TO PAY AUD$699.00

Modal Electronics is distributed in Australia by CMI Music & Audio