Elektron has just unveiled its newest instrument: the Syntakt, a powerful combination of analog drum sounds, digital synthesis, and new performance features not seen on any other Elektron product.
Syntakt is a 12-track drum machine and synthesizer with four analog and eight digital voices. For each track, you can pick from a list of tone generators, or what Elektron refers to as machines. Each machine gives you different parameters to shape any particular drum or sound.
All the analog tracks have a dedicated analog multimode filter and offer a few machines found in the higher-end Analog Rytm. However, the analog cymbal machine is new to the Syntakt, which is excellent for creating cymbals and other metallic-type sounds.
There are quite a few more machines with the digital tracks, including a clap machine, a few FM-based synth engines, and a chord generator. The Syntakt really stands apart with two completely new features not yet seen on any other Elektron piece, Analog FX Block and Trig Modifiers.
The Analog FX block allows you to route selected tracks through the analog filter and effects and use its dedicated sequencer track to control effect parameters. It's similar to the way you might use an automation lane in a DAW. You can also use envelope triggers to create automated envelopes for any effect parameter you choose, and again, as with previous Elektron hardware, you can do so on a per-step basis. External signals can be sent to the FX track as well.
The other new and unique feature to the Syntakt is Trig Modifiers, a handy technique to change velocity levels, perform ratchets, and trigger effects on any or all tracks at once.
Watch as our host Fess Grandiose breaks down these features in the video above. Click here to learn more and order yours today.