If you’re interested in the new Elektron Analog Keys 4-voice synthesizer, then you may want to check out this in-depth tutorial, via Cuckoo.
Cuckoo takes a look at the Analog Keys and Analog Four sequencer, parameter locking, song mode, poly mode and more.
If you’ve used the Elektron Analog Keys or the Analog Four, leave a comment and let us know what you think of them!
See the Elektron site for more info.
that synth is so confusing. i tried it out last week and i was super lost in a few seconds of trying to make a new sound.
it has a really odd way of doing things but i love the sound.
The main head fark is the way it saves data ie sounds for each variation of pattern you create. you have to save them uniquely all the time. Get your head around that and it is funking brilliant. Took me about two weeks to grasp it but then you are flying.
Ok not knob per function,like you felch over in our perfect ultra massive modular cathedral sized bedroom, which we all of course have of course… but it makes a funking beautiful noise for its tiny size. I like other stuff too, in fact i know nothing about sythesisers but the thing in front of me, but please, stop moaning about gear and make some decent music instead.
i was not moaning about it. just saying its not easy to use.
its a fact. not an opinion.
Heh, yeah, sorry bit overly grumpy that, and I’m also ashamed by the distinct dereliction of grammar, but it was off the back of a good chat with a (stunning) bottle of malbec and the fact I see a lot of people complaining that the interface isn’t intuitive etc.
Well, true – it isn’t intuitive if you are expecting a synth where the design is primarily geared to sound manipulation with the standard sound editing workflow etc, but the AK just isn’t designed with that as the priority.
The whole machine is designed around the sequencer and you’re essentially buying a workflow and functionality geared specifically to song/groove creation. As a result the workflow has to be different, but once you have that knowledge, and I’m not trying to patronise anyone by talking of some sort of higher intelligence, just simply knowing how it workflow is intended, then it starts to make sense.
When I first got it my initial frustrations were mostly based on not conceptually understanding that I’m pretty much always ‘writing a song’ (and hence not understanding how to save my own patches safely and the filing system in general which underpins the project and song structure), and secondly simply not know what buttons do, combinations or how to find settings etc.
But… now I know that stuff it actually, mostly, seems, well, pretty logical. I don’t think about it, I just play.
But there are a few things they can definitely improve though, e.g. if they really want to make self contained songwriters happy, then it needs at least another couple of voices as four voices over four tracks is pushing it, you spend a lot of time working out where you can sacrifice notes.
A few other niggles too, but more nice to haves like a BIGGER SCREEN, but I am getting a lot of joy out of it, it sounds really good.
I’d highly recommend the Keys version over the A4 because it just feels much more musical and less about data entry.
Do I want this or a pro 2? Anyone know how the keybed compares?
Great synth but doesn’t have the knobby fun factor of the Pro 2. An excellent sculpting tool if you like programming. Capable of emulating many other analogues. Softer sounding than the Dave Smith stuff too..they compliment each other well sadly 🙂
Arguably the best sounding new generation analog synth out there, but can that interface be any more confusing?
Could people please stop whinging about the interface? My generation had to program VCRs in the eighties. This is NOTHING.
Elektron interfaces are indeed confusing.
I have an analog 4 And at the beggining , the interface could be a little bit unfriendly, but few days later using , you will be surprised yourself how fast can you do all… Is like ride in a bicicle
Yes, like the great ‘Merican Philosopher H.Simpson once said “anything that’s hard to learn, isn’t worth learning.”
Thank you for this great tutorial!
regards
Nice ….. It helped me to understand my monomachine seq better 🙂
Great video.
I’ve been spending a TON of time with my AK over the last month and a half. I originally purchased an A4 when they were first released, but didn’t click with it at all. Part of the reason why is purely psychological. I typically don’t like sound modules. The lack of a real keyboard makes me approach sound modules in a different way, not as an instrument. So while the AK is pretty much the exact same thing, I approach it as an instrument because it has a real keyboard.
With all that said, I’ve grown to absolutely love the AK. I wanted an uber-synth, something that would last me for years and years. My choices were the DSI P12, Pro2, and the AK. While I like the looks of the DSI synths, I just don’t like their sound. So I picked the AK.
It’s quickly become my go-to instrument. I have it running through my Pigtronix Infinity Looper, and I’m pretty sure this small yet insanely powerful configuration will be my main source of music creation for a very, very long time. The possibilities are nearly endless, as I’m able to build-up 4 tracks of live sequencing on the AK, and then bounce those to one of the two tracks on the looper, clear the sequences on the AK, and then continue to evolve the performance over time. As a matter of fact, I’m performing a 30-minute set this coming Thursday with only these two pieces of gear.
It really is an incredible machine.
I also chose the AK over the DSI P12 because of the sound. The AK filters seem so much more pleasant to my ears than the Curtis Filters. The balanced outputs were also a bonus.
Don’t get me wrong DSI synths sound great too and I foresee a DSI gear purchase in my future.
This year Elektron edged them out.
I traded the pro 2 for the analog keys + cash and haven’t looked back. Actual polyphony, a sequencer to actually do things with, great transpose features. Dedicated outs for each synth voice. It even has four cv outs. It sounds amazing. The distortion on the pro 2 was a bit sweeter, and it has those digital waveforms. But for an all arounder, akeys has my money. YMMV of course.