Modal Electronics Introduces Modal 008 in a Rack & New IO Board

NAMM 2016 - Modal 008R Analog Poly in a Rack

Published on Jan 25, 2016 sonicstate

"Modal Electronics 008R and the DSP IO board for the 002"

You might have been familiar with the Modal 002 in a rack, but NAMM was the first time we got a look at the all analog Modal 008 in a rack. Check out the Union Jack on its back! Some details and images from Modal Electronics

008R provides eight discrete voices of polyphony with an uncompromising analogue architecture utilising the highest grade components throughout

Two 100% analogue VCO’s per voice with two sub oscillators, providing sawtooth, triangle, square with PWM and noise.

Each of the waveforms can be blended together to provide completely new complex wave shapes

Innovative and extremely flexible 15 multi-mode filter, consisting of traditional modes such as low-pass, band-pass and high-pass as well as more unusual notch, phase and combination modes.

Filter overdrive enables the sound to be driven to sonic extremes

A range of classic analogue polysynth features such as oscillator and filter FM bringing amazing sonic power

Two LFO’s, both capable of reaching audio rates with multiple wave shapes and midi sync

11 modulation sources with unlimited destinations. Each destination can be set its own unique depth, a super smooth sample rate of 10kHz

008R features a range of sequencing options – a built in 2 Track, 12 row, 32 step sequencer with 16 dedicated step time editing knobs on the front panel and MIDI sync capabilities. Sequences can also be transposed dynamically while running

A very highly featured arpeggiator with a wide range of different modes, including ‘hold’ mode, enabling arpeggiator-based sequences to be created

The Modal Electronics Animator, which enables any control parameter on the 008R to be sequenced, enabling very complex filter transisitions, wave form changes and modulation matrix changes to be sequenced

Ethernet port to connect your 008R to your network and enable updates via the internet (no more midi sysex dumps) and access to the Modal Electronics cloud features

Two part multi-timbral (bi timbral) allowing splits across a keyboard or stacks to create amazingly complex sounds

Superb UI, a great departure from the norm of synthesisers, featuring a very high quality 4.3″ screen with wide viewing angle, display is context sensitive where the control parameters of any control knob that is touched by the user, is immediately displayed

Eight ‘quick recall banks’ are accessible directly from the front panel, enabling performing musicians to get rid of their set sheets and build set lists of presets, sequences and animations, all quickly accessible from dedicated front panel buttons. Up to ten banks of quick recalls can be created, making live performance a doddle

Ultra fast (1ms) VCF and VCA envelope generators. VCF-EG is one of the 11 modulation sources that can be freely assigned to any parameter by it’s own unique amount

Four Key Modes – Polyphonic, Monophonic, Unison and Stack

Voice control parameters are easily accessible using the Modal Quick Navigate dials to quickly control page, parameter and value. These dials are also user assignable to single or multiple parameters to create complex macro knobs.

The power of 008R becomes really apparent when used with the Modal Web Interface, no need for a plugin, use any HTML5 compatible web browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox etc.) on any platform that supports a browser – laptop, desktop, tablet or phone! for full control and editing of all of 008R’s functions

Optional Digital Output board providing multi voice outputs over USB (Class Compliant) with FX available 2016.

Two audio inputs enabling audio processing from the VCF onwards plus external MIDI in and out

Fits into a 3U 19″ audio rack"