Modal ELEMENT One: Cobalt8 in Sheep’s Clothing?
An Affordable, Performance-Focused Alternative to the Cobalt Series?
The new Modal ELEMENT One pairs powerful virtual analog synthesis with a streamlined, performance-focused user interface. What sets the ELEMENT One apart from the Cobalt8?
Modal ELEMENT One
Modal Electronics has unveiled the new ELEMENT One at Superbooth 26. The first instrument developed entirely after Modal’s corporate restructuring process is an 8-voice polyphonic virtual analog synth, just like the Cobalt 8. Compared to the Cobalt series, however, the Modal ELEMENT One has a much more streamlined user interface and weighs in at just 4.5 kg / 10 lbs. This makes it an obvious choice for live performers, beginner synthesists, and anyone who can’t be bothered with navigating complex menus.
Under the hood, the ELEMENT One seems to share much of its DNA with the Cobalt. Like the bigger brother, the new synth offers two independent oscillator groups per voice. Up to eight oscillators can sound per voice, or 64 in total. You can choose from 34 algorithms, which range from basic waveforms to more complex configurations like sync, ring and cross modulation, PWM, bit crushing, and more. You can also morph continuously between waveforms.
The filter section also seems to be identical to the Cobalt’s and offers no less than 31 filter types, including morphing variants. For modulation, the synth has three envelopes and LFOs each, which can be assigned via a modulation matrix with 12 sources and 55 destinations. For additional sound shaping, there are three effects engines that can be arranged in any order and offer effects such as chorus, flanger, tremolo, LoFi, rotary, delay, and reverb.
Up to this point, this reads almost exactly like the Cobalt’s spec sheet. Even the keyboard with 37 velocity-sensitive keys and channel aftertouch seems to be similar, if not identical. Like the Cobalt, the ELEMENT One has an assignable 4-way joystick for pitch bend, modulation, and other control tasks. It’s even compatible with Cobalt patches. So what are the differences?
It all comes down to the user interface. While the sound engines are obviously very similar, the ELEMENT One doesn’t have nearly as many controls as the Cobalt8. And this is no coincidence: according to Modal Electronics, the design “prioritizes immediate inspiration and expressive playability over dense menu-diving”.
For example, although the structure of the oscillator section is identical, the ELEMENT One has only three knobs to control it instead of the Cobalt’s seven. You also need to make do with fewer controls for the envelopes, LFOs, and the arpeggiator; the effects even have no panel controls whatsoever. That said, you can use the four envelope knobs as universal assignable controllers for any parameter.
Such a powerful synthesis engine in a lightweight, more affordable package is an exciting thought. However, I wonder if the streamlined user interface really does make for a more intuitive, user-friendly experience in this case. Don’t complex synth engines actually tend to get harder to use with fewer knobs and buttons? But maybe that’s just me.
We’ll have to wait for the first reviews to see how the ELEMENT One holds up in practice. In any case, the streamlined interface doesn’t mean that you can’t go deep diving into every detail of the synth engine: the ELEMENT One is compatible with the free MODALapp, a comprehensive editor with access to all sound parameters.
Price and Availability
The Modal ELEMENT One will be available in July 2026. The manufacturer states an MSRP of €649 ($599 MAP in the US).
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