First I’ve seen about this anywhere and just watching and learning about now. Interesting new form factor from Modal and if the price is right I’d consider for when I need a compact synth.
More deets on the Modal Electronics site:
Prices seem to be $449/£379/€449:
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I imagine these will end up selling for sub-£300 in the sales, which makes it pretty interesting.
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Totally agree, just watching Nick’s coverage now - he’s noted that the XY pad tracks pressure which is cool for those interested in MPE I’d imagine
Was excited for this until I found out it isn’t battery powered.
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Though I applaud them launching new product I don’t sense that they hold their price too well , 2nd hand colbalt 8’s have been quite cheap.
It’s usb powered, I guess you can use it with a power bank.
The Argon version of this announced later in the week ??
So, very different, but with some overlap is the Explorer. Always good when buyers have options that allows them to fit their needs better.
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Hope so.
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449? Why does this thing exist?
Cobalt 8 is in the same price range, similar size and better UI… I don’t get it. If they would have made one at 250, that would have been another thing.
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Good point.
It’s probably about size. Modal probably wanted something smaller but still playable and with a keyboard.
But you’re right a company the size of Modal gives up some other product that they could have released at this time.
I think this will do OK.
ADDED : Price check. Mini Keys.
The PWM Malevolent is at $550 USD.
The HS Explorer is at $600 USD.
For me it’s not so much that it’s expensive but rather that it’s so close to their other products, it seems to cut in on a segment they already exist in. If it had batteries it might had been different
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I don’t know, the size and price are appealing to me. When I first heard about it I instantly thought of the Hydrasynth Explorer (something I’ve been interested in). However the $150 price different has me more interested in the Cobalt than the Explorer at this point.
I never considered the Cobalt8 all that much because I vainly have always found it a bit odd looking. However this Cobalt 5s looks more akin to a Reface and I find that appealing.
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I’m not sure you can use “more playable” and “minikeys” in the same post
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Notice that i didn’t.
I have the Cobalt 8m and it sounds absolutely lovely.
The fact that the cobalt 5s is small and could be used as a midi controller and doesn’t take up too much space might have some appeal.
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In Canada the Cobalt 8 retails for $1079
The 8M is $949
The 5S is $579
And for reference the Skulpt SE is $259
The pricing and positioning of this synth makes sense to me.
The controls look well thought out and I personally don’t mind the lower voice, lfo, and effect count. The only thing that has me sore about the changes to the synth engine is the lack of audio rate modulation!
1079 is for the 61 key, no? not the 37key?
The 61-Key is 1179 $
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