The Cobalt8 was already at the top of my list for a polysynth, if I ever decide to diversify from mono land. But this new 5S is even more practical for my hypothetical future uses. It's officially taken the top spot from its sibling. Great demonstration as always, Cameron. All the best to you.
Wow, right when I was considering a starter hardware synth as my next investment you drop this. The new Behringer mini synth clones caught my attention, hope you cover one!
Excellent tutorial once again, Bro. Thanx a lot. I was just wondering to get myself the Modal Argon wavetable synth but now I’m not so sure anymore. The 5s seems to be a considerable alternative too....
Hey, Robert. I just wanted to thank you for this comment. I was recently researching which new synth to get after unfortunately having to sell my Minilogue a couple years ago. You brought the idea of the usefulness of the Modal app to the fore of my consideration of the Cobalt5s, and ultimately it is a feature that made me feel comfortable making the decision to buy one.
@@VenusTheory Can you get everything out of this synth without the app...or are there some features you can't? I don't like using any apps for my synths, regardless of how good they are.
I think the only competition is the Yamaha Reface CS with regard to the dimensions. The problem of most of the keyboard-synthesizers is that they are too deep in size to fit on a desk in front of a computer screen.
I really love my CS, but I agree. I still mostly use the Keystep because it has the perfect form facter X number of keys for me (ok well I do want 37), but yeah. I wonder how much bigger this is than the CS overall? tempted to upgrade and potentially replace both, though I would miss the speaker.
@@jonwatson144 oh wow, that's impressive. I didn't really expect it to be smaller in any way, and only 4m longer aint too bad at all... might actually trade these units up, we'll see. Thank you!
damn i love the form factor on this thing. the real selling point is that you get a synth and a small daw controller in one. I was looking for a simple 8 fader device for a long time and instead of buying a faderfox ec4 for 300 bucks i can just get a full synthesizer and get a FREE midi controller on top :D.
Yeah I'm looking at it like, maybe I can replace/combine both my Keystep and Yamaha CS at once. I was eyeing the Keystep 37 to upgrade from my regular one, and I've wanted to get some presets back that the CS doesn't (comforably) offer. I could sell both of these and make up most of the cost for the 5S. Tempting. Would be really nice to have 16 knobs available for the DAW, that's for sure.
I have the MicroFreak and really the Cobalt 5s is a very tough competition for Arturia. The MiniFreak is recently coming out, and I think it's superior to the Cobalt 5s, but the Modal one has a very particular sound, very thick for basses and pads. Although I am convinced to acquire the MiniFreak, I do not think I can get rid of the Cobalt 5S, because I have fallen in love with it since the first time I laid hands on it. It is very versatile, much better than a Moog Minitaur, than a DSI Mopho, yes, very good too but they have become obsolete before this little monster, with basic built-in effects and with a really impressive ease of use and ability to save presets. ❤ Tengo el MicroFreak y realmente el Cobalt 5s es una competencia muy dura para los de Arturia. Recientemente está saliendo al mercado el MiniFreak, y creo que es superior al Cobalt 5s, pero el de Modal tiene un sonido muy particular, muy grueso para bajos y pads. Aunque estoy convencido de adquirir el MiniFreak, no creo que pueda deshacerme del Cobalt 5S, porque me ha enamorado desde la primera vez que le puse las manos encima. Es muy versátil, mucho mejor que un Moog Minitaur, que un DSI Mopho, sí, muy buenos también pero han quedado obsoletos ante este pequeño monstruo, con efectos básicos incorporados y con una facilidad de uso y capacidad para guardar presets realmente impresionante.
Hola Miguel, cómo los comparas en cuanto a calidez del sonido y recreación de síntesis clásica análoga. Estoy entre sí comprar el minifreak o el cobalt, me encantan los sintetizadores clásicos tipo prophet, juno o obx
Thanks for amazing content, this is no exception! The Cobalts have my interests as they seem highly functional over excessive flexibility.. I’m looking for a ready to go pad synth, the Cobalt might be the way to go…. 🤔
I´m really interested to know how the Keybed compares to Arturia KeyStep models (that I have and like). I loved to have a small Synth and a MIDI controller on the same package. But Keybed is very important to me (the feeling, travel, implementation.
Can you add a midi keyboard like an m32 and extend the keyboard range? Eg not mirroring what the Cobalt plays but if it's placed on the left or right, you can reach higher or lower notes
I’ve absolutely love my SkulptSynth SE by Modal, so looks like a may have to forgo buying a MicroFreak for this instead. Any word if Modal will be releasing an Argon version like this one?
So I have a good question for you, since you own a Skulpt. Why would you need this, already having a Skulpt? Doesn’t the Skulpt fit the same need, a virtual analog synth? Let me know, thanks!
I'm in a dilemma if I should go for something just like this Cobalt 5s and learn about sound design and start creating some of my own music as well as having a nice small portable solution. or interested, continue with my 7 year "piano journey" and get a 61, 73 or 88 with graded action and get even better at Blues, jazz and funk. I really do want both but rn it would be too much.
with 7 years of piano knowledge, I would go for a StudioLogic SL73 and a Logic Pro License (or whatever DAW is your favorite). That is only slightly more than the price for the 5s but gives you so much more options and possibilities in both directions - continuing your „piano journey“ and creating whatever sound you like within your DAW. ;)
If you had the extra cash, I would say it's certainly a worthy competitor. However, when doing comparisons I try to keep things to at or under the price point of the unit in question and the Explorer is ~$150 more.
Thanks for only using the syth for sounds, I get tired of watching a review and seeing $1000 worth of gear hooked up to the item being reviewed lol......
As somebody who owns only analog synths and drum machines, this thing has piqued my interest. I have considered the Novation Peak too, but never pulled the trigger.
Don't BY ANY MEANS imply that this synthesizer is bad. In fact, I think it's a superb instrument. However. Can a fully digital synth really be considered "hardware"? I mean, in the same vein, my PC with something like Vital is a hardware synth then. Or does general purpose CPU exclude my PC from "hardware"? I think only a synth without software components to the sound generation and processing should be called "hardware" synth, because otherwise it all boils down to hardware of some sort and there's no clear border. Things like Cobalt should be called "outboard softsynth" or "outboard digital synth".
A hardware synth is simply a synth that is completely standalone and has it's own audio outputs, regardless of how the sounds are produced internally. If you want to compare it to the DAW world, it is not simply a VST in a box. It is a keyboard controller, VST, and an audio interface all packed together in one box. I can take a hardware synth anywhere, plug it into an outlet and a sound system, and play it. Remember, it's not only DAW-focused producers that use synths. Some people play in bands and such, and standalone instruments are much easier to manage on stage than complex computer based setups.
Yes. It’s a hardware synth. It’s dedicated hardware that doesn’t share its OS/CPU with other applications, won’t stop working when the OS supplier updates it’s version and the software becomes incompatible 10 years later. Can be powered on and make sounds without a host computer and internet connection.
I’ve absolutely love my SkulptSynth SE by Modal, so looks like a may have to forgo buying a MicroFreak for this instead. Any word if Modal will be releasing an Argon version like this one?
The Microfreak is very interesting indeed. Did you check LFO Store's new preset bank for it? The sounds are amazing. I was sad to notice it was a hardware synth as I use only software synths right now. Well I might get it one day on sale just for fun.
addition: having dealt with a lot of manuals over the last year or so, i have to say this is an actually concise and informative manual, my wishes go out to roland, korg and akai
I think a better idea as alternative/competitor is not the Microfreak, but the Novation Mininova. It has 3 octaves of "traditional" keys (no aftertouch, though), a very capable polyphonic VA engine, a vocoder and an impressive software editor ... and it is blue!!!!
I just wanted to say, I have Modal Skulpt (so even a more budget one) and I really like it (even as another controller for soft synths) and the way it integrates with the DAW as VST. Just cannot understand why Modal doesn't want to release a Linux-native version of their app and VST. It's written in a cross-platform framework so shouldn't be that much effort. If they did that, I'd call them my favourite synth manufacturer.
@@odiroot That bothered me allot too. I love my Skulpt. And when I reached out to them about ways of getting the app to work in something like ardour. All I got was that they have no intention of supporting Linux. Super disappointing.
Had my eye on a Microfreak as my first synth, but I think this one is my new favorite; I love big soundscapes and dreamy leads, and it seems that this one right here is just made for it... Also that intro track alone could probably sell me one, like damnnn
How does it compare to the Skulpt? My understanding was always the Skulpt was a mini Cobalt and the Craft 2.0 was a mini Argon. This kind of messes with that perception. Also, I assume patches are not compatible between the OG Cobalt and the 5s due to the chorus?
The Skulpt hurts my brain (not sure why) and the sounds that come out of it are not as good as what I am hearing out of this one. I think it would be a really good comparison, as the Skulpt is pretty cheap for what it is.
Sadly I just can't play pads with 5 voices, I can barely get away with 8. But it does sound good, GREAT for 800 AUD. I am impressed as shit. Give me a module version with 10 voices and I all over it today!
It would be nice if more companies adopted the use of the X-Y Pad. Just like some cars offer you an option between manual or automatic transmissions. How about a poll? If given the option to choose between an X-Y Pad or Mod Wheels on a synth, which would you choose? I'd pick an X-Y Pad.
For sure - XY is such a useful controller and I'm not sure why it's not more common. Modal's addition of Z pressure to it is awesome too - hopefully we'll see more of it in the future!
good demo'ing; love the xy z pad controller, wish there was a unit just with this midi controller solution ; I can;t find this anywhere, but possible to use iPhone I guess.
Ha ! I wuz just watching Andertons C5S vid ... I wasn't really in the market for a new hardware synth ... but I think you might just have sold me the Modal ... My wallet hates you ... 😜
OK I dig it I’m gonna get one - And thanks so much I learn a lot from your channel - totally helps me move forward as a musician, composer and producer!
If the Modal Cobalt 8 update makes its way to the Modal Cobalt 5S as well, this little synth can become one of the best small on the outside but big on the inside synths. ❤ Si la actualización del Modal Cobalt 8 llega también al Modal Cobalt 5S, este pequeño sintetizador puede convertirse en uno de los mejores sintetizadores pequeños por fuera pero muy grandes por dentro.
Parece tener finta de juguete pero mucha capacidad y ampliedad de uso. La polifonía me llámala atencion. Definitivamente en la lista de candidatos de compra .
Thank you for your content, really enjoy your videos! I'm debating between the Cobalt 8m and the Minilogue XD module, how do you feel about those 2 against each other? I"m only starting to get into sound design, though I've been playing guitar for a long time, so I still depend on pre-sets a lot when I'm composing.
I went with the Modal. I liked the extra polyphony, sounds and build quality. I got the 8x because of the proper keybed. No regrets. Support is good too. The xd isn't off the wish list though!
Certainly a relative thing but given the general cost of synthesizers I would say (as would most synth publications) that stuff under the $500 mark is 'budget' area. While it's not a $49 Behringer 4 voice, it's also not something that comes across as a toy. Similarly, for comparison, it's like a $450 Epiphone vs. a $6500 Gibson. I would argue $450 is well within the reach of the average person, and falls well into the range of budget/affordable stuff. It's not the cheap end of the spectrum, but it's leaps and bounds away from the high-end stuff out there.
Sounds amazing! OK people comparing to the Microfreak. The Microfreak isn't true polyphonic. It's also monaural so no stereo output. Neither does it have any effects and the touchplate keys have a small key range. I have the Microfreak and love it to death but all of the aforementioned lack of features make me very interested in the Cobalt5
That 4 chord sequence is brilliant. Love it (F#, G, D, E), it produces so many active power parameters and it beautifully demonstrates the sonic power of this synth. Great stuff Cam man
Hey Cameron! Awesome video as usual. I’d be curious to know how you think the 5S compares to the Arturo’s Minifreak for someone’s first entry into hardware. The Minifreak is obviously more versatile, but I find myself preferring the Cobalt’s warmer sound, and I also think the smaller form factor could make the 5S a great all-purpose midi controller.
Thank you for the video. I watch a few of your older videos and must admit that I'll stay here. ;) Besides Cobalt 5S I've a general question about digital pianos. I'm a beginner in the piano field and I own KAWAI ES110, which so far was enough musical instrument for me, but... Looking at the music opportunities which give you syncs I wonder myself is there any option to expand my piano sounds or even modulate somehow? I don't have enough knowledge and also an idea about how to take the next step. I really feel a lack of options with my current instrument, but maybe you could suggest something besides "sell it and buy product X'.
i can not backup presets or banks. nothing happens when i click to backup. i can not give a name. there is only OPEN button which opens nothing. how can i save presets to PC?
I have the Cobalt8M Module and I'm seriously thinking of trying to sell that & get this instead. Why? Because I realize that I don't like Modules. Its a pain in the ass to have to scrounge around for keys so I can play them. I wonder if I will find this keyboard version lacking. I know it's missing a bit of polyphony and an LFO or two. And maybe you have to menu-dive for the deeper functions. I don't care about deeper functions. If it has a good arp and sequencer, I'm sure I would be happy.
