What’s the differences in Song mode?
Functionally not much, just looks and operation. I prefer the version used on DT/DN.
Would be much cooler to have retrigs (or Plocks for Arp) as almost all Elektron machines has now. And having a normal (not only external) control for the multimap “notes” would be great as well.
I think these features are really not hard to implement (or “turn on”) as we use A4 for years already. And it can’t fully replace Syntakt, Digitakt and so on. For example, you can’t make TR808/909 like close hats here. AM functionality gives you only a half for that. No matter how I tried - I can’t. So it’s about the “full universality” of A4. It’s not here IMHO.
808 hats use 6 square waves into a bandpass filter so you can do it but you need to use 3 voices.
Sounds cool, don’t get me wrong… But it’s not that typical close hat (
or open). It has to have a modulation… you know ) And… using 3(!) voices for just a single hat ![]()
It’s not practical, just more like a challenge.
Oh, actually I’ve meant (in the previous comment) the open hat. Sorry :)) English is not my native language and sometimes I misplace things which I remember “like that”.
- instead of the asterisk sign.
Yeah it was just for the challenge. You could track it on its own though or use it as a starting point to make your own sounds and then sample them. Or use 3 tracks for hats, rides, cowbells (the cowbell sound uses 2 of the same square wave frequencies with just different amp and filter settings) and use the 4th track with sound locks for kick & snare.
I’m sure it could get a lot closer too. The output needs to be run through another highpass to get closer to the real sound.
My point though is just that 808 hats take a lot of oscillators so it’s not something that could be added to the A4 as a firmware update. The fact that it takes 3 tracks to get close shows just how complicated a sound it is.
Actually it could be here if Devs will make the feature of wavetables (not necessary for long and hi-res!). My guess is that sub-osc are digital; Noise is digital - it’s 100%. So if there is enough memory (or it could be borrowed from the Projects area) then it would be really cool to have an ability to load wavetables… Or at least to have some set of usual “PPG” stuff or from Elektron
Of course it’s just a dream… Their marketing strategy doesn’t allow for this I guess.
Don’t know if it was mentioned, but both A4 an AR (I own both) would benefit from a trig keys mode selection like on the Octatrack, where you can select trigs to perform a certain function when not in Record mode.
The ability to set them into Mute and Chromatic mode would be awesome. On A4 this will allow to use left hand on the trigs and right hand on keys and mute tracks with one hand when not in performance/mute mode.
On AR Scenes and 16-Velocities can also be added to trig modes.
some great suggestions here - really hoping for an update with
noise as a modulation source
slew on the random lfo
digital srr
euclidean seq
detune each key +/- 50 cents for saved microtonal scales
arp p-locks
mutes per pattern
note events trigger track leds
already one of the greatest synths ever made, but this would be a proper update to live alongside the new digis and AR 1.70
Yes, this for track buttons. My work around now is temp switch to performance mode to see note events LEDs being triggered.
You’ve pointed the most wanted features IMHO.
I just want to say that Euclidean seq is not that cool after you’ll try Transition (it’s the free MIDI plugin for PC). It’s simple and blows mind right away and quickly!
facts. went and consolidated all of my fav ones to make it easier for elektron devs to find ![]()
i’m well versed with euclidean and think it would be rad. don’t use pc but transition looks cool
Of the things that are possible to update w firmware, p-locking arp settings is my #1.
If they were to ever do a mkiii they really should swap the position of the two filters. Two tricks I like to do with bass (and other sounds) all the time is adding saturation/overdrive, but then rolling off some of the high end to remove the fizz. And using a resonant hpf to boost the fundamental or add in some other bass frequencies. You can’t do both of these things at once on the A4 since the hpf is only post drive.
Would be fabulous if we could choose the filter routing, but I don’t know if that is possible.
Also, it’d be really handy if the LFO ‘speed’ parameter would act similar to the Osc Fine Tune parameter: in the case of Fine Tune, when you scroll to the end of one full rotation, it automatically updates the ‘Coarse Tune’ parameter by +1 or -1 respectively, and the Fine Tune range resets so you can keep turning up or down in pitch smoothly.
I wish the same were true with the LFO speed, where at the end of one range (either clockwise or counter-clockwise) the LFO multiplier would automatically step up or down to the next setting, and the LFO speed knob could continue to adjust the range in that multiplier setting.
This would make some live adjustments a lot smoother, and I reckon it would be fairly easy to program.
Would be nice and kind of @Elektron to let us now they stopped developing A4 firmware. I would understand. It’s a perfect machine.
Please Elektron. Tell us if true.
Not true. I sent them a bug report a few month ago they responded that it was a known bug that would be fixed in the next is upgrade so something is definitely coming.
love to hear it ![]()
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I heard the same from them nearly 2 years ago, i followed up recently asking again about that bug… see below for their reply. I’d assume its abandonware with a side of bugs until I see that update appear. Theyre still selling them but dont seem to be providing any ongoing support. Such a shame.
Could it be that they even don’t have the team in place anymore to work on the A4? Dunno, seems they seriously changed course.
Ive had my A4 for several years and i think theres only ever been an overbridge compatibility update in all that time. I personally dont expect anything more than maintenance type updates but I’ll keep my fingers crossed for the rest of you. ![]()
