Very nice video. I just bought this (used, for about $325) largely because of its size, I wanted something small with some keys and a synth engine. The hydrasynth explorer and minifreak both look great but are physically substantially deeper - I don't think there are many things this powerful that are as narrow as the cobalt5s.
@ZetaCarinae just read your comment as am here doing EXACTLY the hunt you did, and my list of options are the 3 you've named...how are you finding your choice now?
@@Farold_Haltermeyerconfusing comment incoming- I have the explorer and it’s the best sounding synth I have, but it’s still like 11 lbs and not fun to carry around. Consider the 5s, that is listed at 5ish lbs. The microfreak which I don’t have is listed at 2lbs! But the sounds seem pretty square / chippy . I’m also looking for something smaller and portable btw, and have pre ordered the new sonicware Elz1, which looks amazing, but keys are a little strange, but very playable. For now Im using a minilab 3, 25 keys 2lbs, and a cobalt 8m / 4.6 lbs , so 6.6/7 lbs total. But again the 5s is listed at 5ish lbs with 37 keys!
The fact someone can make a full album with one keyboard (plus pedals, etc.) is a pretty great endorsement! I may get this as a stereo upgrade to my Microfreak
I really like that you've put up a video about your experiences after having had the Cobalt5S for six months of real use. So few people actually do follow-up videos about gear. You're right on the mark about the key bed on the 5S. It's downright awful -- nowhere near as nice as the Keystep37 (which I actually find to be quite nice for mini keys) or the Hydrasynth Explorer (ASM's key beds are phenomenal). I also agree that the controls are a little hard to get your head around (which I also find to be the case with all of Modal's "budget" instruments) and the trackpad is a bit of a disappointment. The Modal App, however, is really effective, again with the caveats you mentioned on Windows machines (maybe Microsoft's MIDI issues are cleared up in Windows 11? I haven't tried the Cobalt with my Win11 machine yet). Even so, I tend to use the app for sound design instead of the hardware because it's so much clearer what's going on. I also agree about the "price/performance" consideration, especially as compared to the other options you discuss -- or the Novation Mini Nova, Korg microKORG, or the Roland GAIA SH-01, which are all under $500. Each, of course, have their pros and cons, just as the Cobalt5S does. For me, the bottom line is that while I do like the sound and some of the uniqueness the Cobalt brings to the table, mine has been pretty much collecting dust, and I'll probably be letting mine go and put the money towards a MiniFreak.
I purchased the 5s brand new around Christmas time for $300. I recently paired it with Holograms Chroma Console, and let me say that when paired it turns the 5s into a little beast. Also the workflow is super intuitive and lightning fast when creating your own sounds.
Gradually learning that it’s not the amount of features that makes a synth great (for me) in creating...it’s the sound and speed of use every time...and that little blue sliver has been proving itself on those fronts way above and beyond many competitors
I do think you have a bad pressure pad. I haven’t had any of those problems! Actually this is the only time I’ve heard of this problem on the 5s so I’m pretty sure it’s not a firmware that needs updated but maybe reinstalling the last one might work? I’m sure you’ve tried that already but I would use the year warranty and get it fixed! Great video! Peace
Your unit is not a lemon. I have the 5s and the keybed is downright horrible. It doesn't feel like regular key action but instead as if it's mounted on a single point of pivot and is quite unresponsive, feels like a cheap child's toy sadly... The only positive side of the keybed for me was the aftertouch curve, which I found OK-ish. I bought it as a travelling companion to my Cobalt 8X and I am keeping it as such, but I definitely feel like it's simply not worth the money compared to its bigger siblings nor other market offerings.
@@mars4994 if you need mini keys, Explorer is your best bet. If you want a more VA style sound in a similar price range, get the full size Cobalt8 or 8x like Tefty describes in his follow up video.
This video actually puts this on my radar despite your grumbles. What is selling it to me is those factory presets. They sound great. Usually I have no interest at all in presets because they're either simply not my style or they're outright awful. Unless I'm just looking for some initial inspiration, I find trawling though presets soul-destroying. However these sound like "back pocket" sounds that I'd dig out specifically.
Yup, a good portion to me just felt usable for my productions. A lot of presets from other synths are trying to showoff every feature in action which doesn't always equate to "usable" 🤣 I'd recommend trying it out knowing you can return it if it doesn't hit the spot for you.
Thanks for putting this vid together. It certailnly makes a difference to have a user venture an opinion backed up by the usage experience, as opposed to a serial reviewer promoting channel views or shop sales. Much appreciated 👍
I kinda like how they limited the number of mod slots. I think the UI of the app would feel really cluttered if they were to have 16+ slots. So I think it was an intentional limitation. I had a cobalt8 for a short time and I didn't feel limited by the number of mod slots and already had made some pretty complex sounding patches.
Fair point! Definitely not saying you can't do complex sounds. More on the lines of most of the patches don't take advantage of the synths features because they ran out of mod slots. Like on the Cobalt8, it feels like most of the patches don't give a -Y modulation for the joystick.
Good honest review. I don’t own one, but like the sounds you played and have heard else where. For me good starting presets have high value. Sounds like it might end up on Bad Gear someday, lol.
i wish they done a desktop version of this because Im daw based.. the keys are jjust an annoying waste of space for me.. I don't want the 8m because of the price point
I feel like the engine on the 5 would make a great entry-level small module. The fact they had to scrimp on the keybed so much makes it less appealing. I have the Cobalt 8M, X and the Argon 8M but I'd happily buy a couple of 5M's for performance if they were good value.
In agreement with you on almost every point. The keybed and X-Y-Z touchpad are...pretty frustrating. I personally am not in love with the interfacing--while I understand what they've tried to do, since the form factor obviously won't allow knob-per-function, I don't find it to be that easy to use for shift-on-the-fly param adjustment during live performance. Also, I've experienced some notable issues with low volume output, even after making adjustments in the individual patches. The main reason I haven't unloaded the 5s yet is that these patches are butter-rich--they sound huge and super-lush, and the engine really does have its own sound. Right out of the box, these sounds are a great launchpad to begin writing music. If there was a way I could more immediately emulate any of these programs on a Hydrasynth Explorer, I'd make the switch in a heartbeat.
Does it have chords and scales. It looks cool. I am looking for the ultimate scales and chords midi controller. The best I have seen so far is the Akai MPK Plus. I am getting the Akai. I hope they make a bigger unit too.
Interesting review. I had considered purchasing the 5S because of its size (I don't have much room left in my studio) and the price and I wonder if I could play it as a module from my Modwave in light of the limitations your review mentions? The form factor of the Cobalt8 is similar to the Modwave and I love that size of synth, perhaps subconsciously, because I was a big fan of early Depeche Mode and they only had small synths and that's influenced my judgment? Thanks Tefty.
Could definitely be used as a module, especially with the VST app to control settings etc .. But if you're interested and can go for the Cobalt8, I highly recommend checking that out. It's a beautiful synth! The keys are exceptional and firmware 2.0 fixed most of the pain points that people had before (except for the mod slots). I wish the Modwave had keys like the Cobalt8 😭
