It looks like something new is coming from Elektron.
Images of the Elektron Tonverk, a yet-unannounced device, are circulating on the Elektronauts forum and on social media. We have not seen any official announcement yet from Elektron on the Tonverk, but the company applied to trademark the name ‘Tonverk’ in the US in April.
The Tonverk trademark application is for the following goods:
Musical synthesizers; Music synthesizers; Electronic synthesizers; Electronic drums; Robotic drums; Drums; percussion instruments; Drum machines; Electronic musical instruments; Mechanical, electric and electronic musical instruments; Computer controlled musical instruments; Electronic musical apparatus and instruments; Musical instruments controlled by microprocessor; Electronic musical keyboards
It’s not clear from the photos what the Elektron Tonverk does, but the photos show many of the company’s familiar interface features, including:
- 16 sequence step buttons along the front of the device;
- A button keyboard, which doubles as Drum/Ptn Bank controls;
- Sequence control buttons and navigation arrows; and
- A bank of 8 contextual control knobs.
Around the back, the Elektron Tonverk offers four audio outputs, two audio inputs, three DIN MIDI jacks, dual USB jacks and a media card slot.
What is the Elektron Tonverk?
Even with clear photos of the Tonverk, it’s not clear what the device does.
Check out the photos, and share your thoughts on the Elektron Tonverk in the comments!
The color scheme makes me think it is heavily utilizing FM, but with an SD card slot, I wonder if it’s using samples, too. Maybe they are doing another “greatest hits” box that incorporates features from other Elektron devices, like the Syntakt does.
I feel like this will be a DJ oriented project with the dual USB.
Speculators, mount up.
I would bet for an Analog-4 type device, but with drums machine capabilities clearly. Most of other Elektron devices of this form factor are sorta cheaper variations of the company’s flagship products. Digitakt to Octatrack for samples, Syntakt to Rytm for analog drums, only the A4 has no equivalent.
Looks like a combination Octatrack/synth. I don’t think it will be full FM, they’d be cannibalizing the Digitone, but it have 2-op FM, ring modulation, waveshaping, or something allowing some combination of samples with oscillators. Agree with DTP above that it feels a bit like the Syntakt. It might have a limited number of analog voices like the A4 and encourage resampling. It looks like a LOT of control, with 6 function categories (under the knobs) and 6 more available with the Func key…that’s up to 96 tweakable parameters. The Matrix, Routing, and Bus options on the front panel also suggest something more flexible/sophisticated than previous models, likewise the Chord feature. Nice to see them using an SD slot.
Things I don’t like: the colors, that green makes me think of a hospital or prison – although it is probably much easier to read in semidark conditions than the usual red. I guess they are trying to keep prices down by going with plain switches instead of fully illuminated ones. The layout looks oddly squashed and I feel a lot of people will not like the ‘piano keys’ on the left hand side. I wonder why they didn’t go with the larger case format of the Octatrack and other models, so the 16 pattern switches can be full size.
Still, it looks very interesting if not groundbreaking.
My impression was that it looks like a ‘takt’ format take on the Octatrack.
If so, it will be really interesting to see how they streamline the Octatrack’s feature set, and also if they can improve on the notoriously challenging usability of the Octatrack.
let me see that ton ton ta ton ton ton
new? or is it the same thing rehashed over and over and over and over
its not a SidStation, thats for sure
An updated Monomachine, perhaps?
Use your eyes, people. The device is missing KEY elements of the elektron design language. Where are the Page LEDs, for example? This looks like a mashup of a digitone and an analogue 4. Until it’s on Elektron’s site, I wouldn’t get excited.
“Where are the Page LEDs” – see Ptn Bank white keys with LEDs in the middle
The keys themselves are probably backlit.
I think we’ll see a more official announcement in the next few weeks. Things like this don’t leak by accident 😉
Interesting. Looks like it could be a replacement to the analog 4 mk2 with added bells and whistles
Tonverk, like “tone work,” like a beefed up Model Cycles? I’d be into that.
Translates out from Swedish into “Composition” — so maybe properly moving into the DAWless arrangement, compositional, and “finished track” space like MPC. I imagine Tonverk would sit somewhere between Octatrack and Analog RYTM. Maybe even bringing back some of the Monomachine and Machinedrum vibes.
I think the Tonverk is to the Digitone (Digi Ton) what the Syntakt is to the Digitakt. It is a digital synthesizer that has additional engines besides FM. Perhaps Granular and some form of Wavetable engine? I believe you will be able to import your own wavetables or samples for granular manipulation. I am open to the idea that there could be a different synthesis engine of some type.
I do not think it is the next Octatrack.
I haven’t been hoping for this (anymore than I imagined the Syntakt) but I do think it could prove to be a very compelling new instrument that I would be wanting to buy (unlike the Syntakt.) I have an Anlalog Four MK II, A Digitakt, and my first love, a Digitone, as the basis for my opinion.
DigiOctaSynthMonoTaktMKII or something similar.
Syntakt but focusing on melodic instruments and harmonies (arp & chord buttons), with a thouch of octatrack. Multiple “Machines”.
What it looks like to me.
Am I mistaken or is this the first device in history that has the octave switching in the middle of the unit?
Clearly this is some kind of MC303 knockoff.
totally agree.
interesting if it doubled up as a drum synth by accident of design, so to speak.
A follow-up product could be called Reverk!