Modal Electronics COBALT8X, User Manual

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Envelopes

COBALT8X provides 3 separate 4-stage Envelope Generators (i.e. envelopes), one for the filter 
(FILT-EG), one for the amplifier (AMP-EG) and one for modulations (MOD-EG). With negative 
amounts (FILT-EG and MOD-EG) only the attack, decay and sustain levels are inverted, the 
release phase will still tend to 0. 

The envelope generator represented on the encoders can be selected using the 3 dedicated 
buttons to the right of the envelope depth encoder.

• 

Attack: 

This parameter controls the time passing from the moment you press a key (i.e. 

‘MIDI Note On’ message) until the sound reaches its maximum value. 

• 

Decay: 

This parameter controls the time passing for the envelope to drop from its 

maximum value to a sustain level (see below).

• 

Sustain: 

This parameter controls the level of the sustain phase (i.e. the volume of the 

sound while keeping the key pressed for AMP-EG). If there are no modulations active, this 
volume keeps constant until you release the key. (The envelope then enters the ‘release’ 
phase)

• 

Release: 

This parameter controls the time passing from the moment you leave a key (i.e. 

‘MIDI Note Off’ message) until the sound reaches silence.

• 

Depth:

 This controls the envelope depth amount of the selected envelope generator. 

This gives bi-polar (FILT-EG and MOD-EG) or uni-polar (AMP-EG) control of the amount of 
modulation the envelope has over its destination/s.

• 

Type:

 There are 8 envelope types. These types are stored per-patch and each envelope 

type is independent so you can have a different type for MEG, FEG and AEG in the same 
patch. You can find these settings at the bottom of the AEG, FEG and MEG pages on the 
screen.

- Expo

 - classic exponential curve - suited for most sound types

- Snappy

 - fast attack and decay time curves - best suited for percussive material

- Soft

 - smoother attack and release time curves - best suited for pads

- Linear

 - simple linear ramp for each envelope stage - best suited for modulation

- Expo Long

 – Expo curve with double the maximum time for each stage of the envelope

- Snappy Long

 – Snappy curve with double the maximum time for each stage of the 

envelope

- Soft Long

 – Soft curve with double the maximum time for each stage of the envelope

- Linear Long

 – Linear curve with double the maximum time for each stage of the 

envelope

Long variants possess a maximum release time of 10 seconds.

Envelopes

• 

FILT-EG, AMP-EG, MOD-EG: 

These buttons selects which envelope generator the above 

controls are representing.

Pressing the MOD-EG button again latches the assign mode - you will notice the LED 
blinking to indicate you are in assign mode. Press again to exit assign mode.

TIP: Holding either the FILT-EG or AMP-EG button and changing the ADSR parameters 
will alter all three envelopes simultaneously and is a useful shortcut to quickly change all 
envelopes at once.