A4 strengths ? : Getting outside the 'typical' dull sound?

Elektron Gear Analog Keys/Four
145

Thanks Rodilh!

Another cool thing to play around with is having some unique aspect to the start of a lead or keys sound. I guess it would be a ‘transient’ sound. And also try to create a rich sound to start with before filtering away at it.

For example: Here is a sound I made as a ‘basic’ starting point. Try it and save variations and experiment with the settings. It may spark something for you - or not (~.^)

OSC 1 Tun = 23 ~ 26
TRK = OFF
LEV = OFF
WAV = SQR
SUB = OFF
PW = 21~24
ALL Others = default

Page2
NOISE
FAD = 51
LVL = 58
All others = default

OSC2
LVL = 75 (try from very low (eg; 33) for gentle / max for harsh)
WAV = Tr Pulse
PW = -7
SPD =45
PWM =33
All others = default

Page2
SMD= 2 -> 1
AM2 = ON
TRG = ON
All others = default

LFO1
SPD=33
MUL= Tuned 2K
MOD = TRG
WAV = EXP
DST1= PM1
DEP= 45
All others = default

So here is a basic sound with some character maybe like a ‘harmonica’ or something. Now after building up a harmonically rich sound there is something to actually start ‘sculpting’ away from. I think it’s good to have a nice big ‘chunk of clay’ as it were to start with.

As for the filter
For a string sound you might try:
FRQ= 20~45
RES=20=45
OVR= 12~30 (I like about 30)
TRK= 8 (Or to your taste)
DEP=39

Filt2
FRQ=17
RES=35
TYP=PK
All others = default

ENVF
ATK=10
DEC=54
SUS=0
REL=52
SHP= 3
DST= OSC2 PW
DEP= 3~ 19 (soften the string sound)

AMP ENV
ATK = 17~20
DEC= 70
SUS= 30
REL= 45
SHP= 7

CHO = Great place to use it if you want a wider string sound
REV= If you like it - I always do on strings.

Other options;
OSC1= 45
AMP ATK= 0
All other settings as above

This makes a cool bass in the low registers and ‘thin’ brass like sound in the uppers if you use filter tracking.

Anyway these are some things to try as starting points.

8 Likes
146

Another thing which came thru mind is the fine resolution of the parameters. I now have the BS2 and i miss the detailed sound-shaping like on the A4.

I don’t know any brand on the market today providing this kind of surgicality - DSI?

147

Those coming into my mind instantly are …

… if we don’t consider the modular world or plug-ins and, if versatility of oscillators, filters, and the modulation depth is what makes up the “surgicality” …

  • DSI Prophet 12
  • DSI Pro 2
  • Modal 02 and 08
  • Arturia Matrix Brute (should be, if the specs come true)
  • Alesis Andromeda 6
  • Schmidt
  • Access Virus series (okay - digital)
  • John Bowen Solaris (digital too)
  • Arturia Origin (digital)

… and I’m sure that there are more to add

148

Tokyo disco is showing a new strength of the a4 - vintage sounds that almost sound aoustic, and has done amazing job getting vintage warmth out of the a4
I have purchased a lot of the Tokyo sounds

I Have whipped up a couple of buchla fm patches myself but Tokyo disco - could I set you a challenge of adding some buchla easel style patches

Also some ems synthi style stuff ?

The os update makes the a4 my favourite synth on the market, well next to my old pal the monomachine

I had the a4 tracking an arp 2006 and 2 ems synthis the other day - pretty deep experience

Shows the a4 can at least sit next to the greats - well in my opinion anyway.:control_knobs:

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149

Quoted for truth!
Especially when comparing with big monosynths.

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150

Solid bit of analysis, @soundrider & @TokyoDisco.

Here’s one way to put this argument to bed: can anybody post a video of side-by-side oscilloscope waveform image, spectral analysis, and audio comparing a Moog, DSI synth, and the A4, all playing a 2-osc sawtooth @ 44Hz, with the filter wide open & no resonance? Then we can really dissect where the “character” comes from. I’d do it, except no oscilloscope + lazy.

151

have a gander at this post if you’re into comparisons, but I think it’s much easier to audition 1- Osc sounds

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152

Use thy ears, we don’t need no visual education

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153

Last of my summer gigs

complete with youtube link too!

154

@Zman I can do this but im not at my studio. i’ll try to remember because im actually interested

155

I would say this qualifies as getting outside the ‘dull’ sound.

4 Likes
156

Not trying to sound like an arsehole but I found that a little boring tbh. Just a personal taste thing :wink: Not really my kind of thing but didn’t hear anything special while flicking through, mostly the kind of sounds I’d normally associate with A4?

4 Likes
157

Definitely a personal taste thing then. That set gave me goosebumps. That’s fine though :slight_smile:

158

don’t forget lem use xpressor compressor with it elektron gear

159

Yeah for sure, no right or wrong in music :wink:

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160

Yeah what we need is Obie 4 voice jammed into an elektron box, with all the seq and effects

Rip your fooking head off and stuff it it where the sun dont shine, it would, but lets be real.

Each synth is what it is and its up to YOU to make it work.

161

i bought Analog keys just for its sound. Not using its sequencer. call me idiot :slight_smile:

i expected that AK would be my main instrument for all bread and butter synth sounds but after few months with it, it does not seem to be. AK can’t be Juno or Moog and for that sound even Diva plugin would be better choice IMHO. AK has certain character and it’s not that ‘sweet’. I mean i’ve always tried to make pleasant a little bit boring typical sweet synth sound and failed. its inherent character is rather melancholy, weird, out of space floating feeling and it’s a good thing. So i gave up using AK for every synth sounds and just using this for what it does well now.

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162

Same story here. In terms of half of what I ‘wanted’ it to do I kind of hate it, i can get ballpark but generally takes me too long to dial in those kind of sounds with the AK oscs/filter/drive/gain staging/UI etc. A lot of better synthesists will probably have had better luck than me there tho.

Like you I still use Diva for a lot of the sounds that I’d kinda naively hoped to squeeze out of AK. But it’s great for its own thing, which turned out to be something that I end up using on most songs so all good! And it does ‘wonky/weird’ very well, which was the other reason I grabbed one.

I just got a dominion 1. My first ‘knob per function’ ui synth. It sounds incredible throughout but it also makes a huge difference for someone like me that has only basic knowledge and mostly just likes to fiddle around and find new sounds by ear/instinct. Shame Elektron didn’t add more to the UI on the AK. All that wasted space to the right of the hardware bugs me every time I see it…

1 Like
163

A4/AK has its own sound. It’s not a Moog or Juno and I think that’s good, there are plenty of options for those sounds already. It works very well for “Boards of Canada” type music IMO. I can’t wait to hear demos of how it sounds with added warmth from Analog Heat.

5 Likes
164

Still my favourite Analog Keys related video. These two units seem to compliment each other surprisingly well. I have my volca keys almost permanently on AK midi out. Love the sound of Volca Keys. Instant lo-fi vintage.

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