The extra multi mode filter, 2X selectable sub OSCs (the “5th” setting in particular), and FX all really put it over the top.
Try to get your hands on one.
Check out Cuckoo’s AK Keyboard Player patches video.
Sure, there are only 2 LFOs per voice, however there are 4 unique destinations between them, and you can use neighbor OSCs to get more LFO modulation, or better yet, use OT’s LFO designer to overcome the 2 LFO limitation.
If you only look at the price, the A4 may be interesting. But the tetra sounds much better for me. I love elektron but I hate the A4 sound. But this is - of course - my personal taste. If you use the Tetra you can controll him with the OT - its nearly the same feeling like using the A4 - but the sound is FFFAATTT !!!
you can use 2-3 small monosynths for the price instead -
then you can tweak them separetely anytime.
I have Mono Lancet and Dark Enegy I sequenced by OT and thru its effects- perfect for me.
or even cheaper with MFB stuff.
greets
andajazz
I have a Prophet 08 and the Octa controlls it nicely (it does two parts fine).
Depends on what sound your after. The Dave Smith filter does 80’s sound perfectly, but with the many LFO’s and mod options theres a lot a room for other sounds too. The Tetra will do great 4 voice pads.
I cant comment on the A4 sound.
Hi,
i decided to continue in this thread. Got the same combi here OT & DSI Tetra.
I have troubles to send a Program change to the Tetra.
the patch works fine, but it does not react on the bank setting.
Does anyone how how to make it work?
in Ableton for example. i need to switch the Subbank instead of the bank to change it at the Tetra.
Thanks for help
Frank
This is a problem with the Octatrack’s MIDI sequencer. Its implementation of the Bank Select message in the Note Setup page is known to only use one of the two data bytes that are specified in the MIDI specification. Unfortunately, the Tetra (and other DSI synths) use the other data byte.
The workaround is to use MIDI CC 32 to select the Bank, as described by @cykranosh here:
Other users in the same thread provide alternative workarounds.
Let’s write to Elektron support and request that they implement the Bank Select message comprehensively.
Yeah I used to use that work around. It sounds killer with OT. Should never have sold mine.
I opened a support ticket request with Elektron and received a polite and sympathetic acknowledgement of the issue. We will just have to wait and see whether it will be implemented.
I’ve just started with this set up. When it works, it’s just a monster but sometimes I have an issue (I’ve just create a thread about it).
Hey, are you still using your Tetra? I’m considering getting one. Would you recommend it? I would be sequencing it from my Digitakt/Digitone
Sorry, didn’t see you request until now 
It sounds very good but too menus to my tastes so I sold it but I’ll get it later for sure !
Ok, this thread is live again so… I have a AK on it’s way, but still am interested in adding the Tetra (always been a Prophet fan…). Is it worth it? I think that AK/A4 and P08/Mopho/Tetra/Rev2 are very different, and might be complementary. What do you think? Overkill?
Just a follow up: Finally I got myself a Tetra and couldn’t be happier. Paid 350€, I can’t believe how much synth I got for the money. I run it into my Digitone for fx, it couldn’t get better than that. One of the most underrrated synths of all time. Extremely powerful both the sound and the possibilities. DSI/Sequential support was very responsive, friendly and helpful when I needed to sort out some NRPN WTF moments (fixed, needed a beta firmware update) Get one while they’re still around…
A bit of a pain to program? How’s the UI?
It’s not that difficult as long as you learn the synth structure by heart. There are lots of modulation routings and 4 gated sequencers you can affect to almost anything, plus layers, combo and multimodes… it’s not a synth for beginners although the factory presets and the banks you can find on the web are mostly excellent. With the five fixed and 4 assignable knobs you can go a long way.
The free soundtower editor is useful for understanding what is where during the leaning process, and almost indispensable for programming the sequencers would you need them (very spectacular, you WILL need them!) But I find I always end up using my synths’ own UI for sound editing and resort to PC editors mostly only for the librarian part, and that’s true for my Elektron boxes as well: I tested overbridge, saw that it works but never grabbed a mouse to design a sound.
So OK, the Tetra has only a two-line LCD and is a complete DSI synth with all the bells and whistles (more actually than the Prophet8 which it improves upon adding sub-oscillators just to name a major change), but then again, it’s not more difficult to program than a Micromonsta, for example. The key to succes is: learn your synth (especially the mod matrix) and use your ears. Satisfaction guaranteed! (To reply to my own question from two month ago: it sounds very different from the Analog4 and Keys: it’s a Prophet and really has that Dave Smith signature sound, and both are complementary. Glad I now have both)
You’ve mentioned the MicroMonsta. How does the Tetra compare to the MicroMonsta?
Tetra is a highly overlooked synth. Powerful yet space conscious. The UI doesn’t look painful once you know the shortcuts as well.
I actually never had the chance to really compare them, a friend of mine has a Micromonsta so all I did was messing around a short while. Very different soundwise though. I mentioned the MM because of some similarity in form factor and minimal UI.
I read that Tetra was more complicated to program than A4 / AK. I found Micromonsta really simple, clever, minimum parameters allowing efficient modulations. Sold my Blofeld (multitimbral) without regrets for MM (monotimbral).
I have to check Tetra’s manual if it’s that simple.
I read the manual yesterday (I was curious, because I kinda forgot about the Tetra^^) and when I got it right it doesn’t work like on the Micromonsta which has an approach similar to Elektron’s (you press a button to choose a category, i.e. oscillator 1, oscillator 2, filter, envelopes etc. and then the encoders edit that category).
On the Tetra, you press the ‘Assign Parameters’ button (Led on) and then you can scroll through a list of parameters with each of the four assignable encoders. Press the button again (Led off) and the encoders control the selected parameters.
You can also set the assignable encoders to different parameters and save those for each preset. Is this just the last selected parameters or is there a different menu entry somewhere to assign the four encoders?
Well, an analog synth remains an analog synth so that’s why I find it quite simple to find what I’m looking for once I have learnt the synth’s inner structure (in other words: RTFM) When people say it’s more complicated, that’s mainly because of the minimal amount of visual feedback.
It’s the last selected parameter for that encoder that is saved with the preset but that’s not a problem. DSI really optimized the real estate here. That gives you direct access to 9 parameters when performing, which is plenty at least for me that is.
The Tetra is now legacy product, otherwise I would have suggested a direct jump to parameter sections (Osc1, Osc2, mixer, modulation) like DSI did on the AS-1 (and probably on their other more recent products) but seriously it doesn’t bother me. As long as I know where the preset volume is hidden, that is 
(yeah I know, in the VCA section, that’s technically correct but not practical!
I should really spend some more time with the MM… I’m hanging on to my Blofeld though, I made some pretty cool sounds that play nice with the Touché controller (the Blo’s mod matrix is very clever!). But new investments are postponed right now, I will probably get a Pyramid and that will be it. I also need to invest in some security. All the homes around my place have been burglared recently… and it’s freaking me out (quite) a bit…