Cool. I totally missed this announcement. The desktop module is interesting, for a space-saving sense, but it’s not much cheaper than the original model.
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Also note that the desktop, beyond no keyboard, has a slightly different arrangement of knobs and buttons with fewer of them, and so has a slight different though similar interaction.
The Argon8M (module) is currently in stock at Musicmatter in the UK.
Desktop version looks good £499
I bought my Argon8 37 keys new for £489.
But if you need a module, you need a module.
I have a linnstrument that’s looking for a hardware partner. Can the Argon8 handle MPE? Can’t seem to find any clear information on this?
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Well the big ROLI MPE list doesn’t show it.
But you might think that it might – as it lists: Modal Electronics 001 / 002 / 002R
The list is definitely incomplete, as for instance the Hydrasynth added MPE in a recent upgrade, both in and out, with the polyphonic aftertouch on the keyboard and MPE added as inputs in the Modulation Matrix. Maybe the Argon8 is just not listed.
My guess is that given some of Modal’s other synths having support, that perhaps it might be added to the Argon8 sometime in the future. Seems de rigueur to me now.
Ok thanks. I definitely have my eye 
on the Hydrasynth as well. I do like the Argone8 a little more but I’ll need clear info on MPE capability before I pull the trigger.
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I received my Argon 8 last Monday, I am gonna decide tomorrow if I will send it back or keep it… sadly I am not convinced yet…
Pros:
- Very good build quality for the price
- Nice key bed with aftertouch
- Joystick is better than expected
- Very intuitively laid out
- USB MIDI class compliant
- The modalapp just works
Cons:
- Extremely low output volume
- Gain staging, or lack thereof (no osc level only balance, no pre/post filter gain)
- Mediocre effects
- Poor finish, buttons have sharp edges, LEDs have little artifacts
- Encoders feel very light and flimsy (although they are very precise, and supposedly very durable according to Modal)
- Sometimes it doesn’t start properly and needs a power toggle before it will work
I will try to design some more sounds tomorrow, hoping it will grow on me but so far it has been hit and mis…
No MPE support as far as I can tell
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That’s what I was afraid of. Well that shortens the list.
Very good rundown, will be very curious is you find sonic bliss or return it.
There was talk of adding MPE support in a future update in one if the videos I saw last year, so maybe that is one of the 2.0 features.
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MPE IN would make sense, but i wouldn’t think that means OUT too.
That would be good particularly for the 8M, but good for them all.
Interesting to see how they’d implement that. Hard links would be one thing, like to wave tables or filters. A full mod-matrix interface would be possible too, just a little more challenging to implement.
I returned it 
I decided I “don’t need it” right now. I do like the sound to a certain extent and programming patches is ok, but something kept feeling a bit “off”…
Ideally Modal Electronics would do something about the lack of gain staging and low output volume (the headphone output is fine and sounds great), but after boosting the main outs by cranking the gain on my UA Apollo Twin mk2 it didn’t sound great to my ears (and in my opinion the preamp and ADC on the Twin is pretty decent).
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Email from Modal.
“Dear Friend of Modal,
We are happy to invite you to attend our next webinar, highlighting the new features we will introduce with ARGON Firmware v2.0. Please mark the webinar date in your calendar.
Friday, May 22 2020, 5 pm CEST.
Our team of product specialists and developers are currently preparing an extensive tutorial to discuss the new sophisticated functionalities and we will be available to answer your questions afterwards”
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Let’s see if I returned it too soon 
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I was posting this too, but as I read further it says it’s private and not to share 
So I decided to err on caution and deleted my post. Then again, maybe I took it too seriously …
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