I am on the edge about buying an A4.
I would like to make electro like Model 500, Drexciya, ERP… My setup is composed with an AR, a Blofeld Keyboard and 2 Shruthi (one with the awesome SVF filter!).
My issue is that I missed a good sequencer and I am not a fan of laptop and prefer to trigger and play on hardware. I made my own elektron type sequencer on Arduino but it is only 2 tracks due to memory limitation…
Would the A4 be a nice adding value to my setup? Should i focus more on something else? I need advices.
…well, you can only trigger external gear via cv/gate with the a4…on ONE track!
soundwise the a4 might fit you perfectly, but it’s definitly not the sequencer you’re asking for…
if you wanna go for further elektron machines AND be able to trigger via midi all that hardware you got in a comfort way, the octatrack might suit you better…
no synth…but the sampler to tweak anything 'tli it sounds like one…
Hmm. Personally Id probably buy an MPC1000 to control the midi on the blofeld and other gear. MPC1000 makes a great centrepiece or midi brain for any live setup.
The Analog Four is PERFECT for Model 500 and Drexciya type electro. PER-FECT. However, it’s not going to be able to sequence your Blofeld or 2 Shruthi. My suggestion would be to get the Analog Four, sell a Shruthi and get a small MIDI sequencer like MMT-8, RM1x, MC-505, QY series, MPC500, etc.
While OT does have a MIDI sequencer, the AF is way more suited to synthy electro, comparatively.
Ok fair point about the sequencer. It is clear that the A4 will be weak to control other gears…May as well go for an MD if I want a powerful one.
But waht about the sound? Difficult the get a real good opinion just based on youtube video…and not really possible to test it.
Would it be so awesome that I can only use AR/A4?
It is a probably very subjective but I would like to hear opinions.
Rythm Droid:
Well actually the Arduino sequencer that I build would be perfect for blofeld and shruthi: 2 track polyphony of16 steps x 8 pattern chain so…
I know that an Elektronaut try to organize an Elektron meeting in Chicago… that would be perfect, getting feedback and perspective from users.
Thanks again Rhythm droid.
For midi sequencing via Elektron…
Octatrack > Monomachine > Machinedrum.
My suggestion is Monomachine. You can get that nice FM sound that early Advent Kombination Research records featured, some Aux88 tones as well. Plus 6 additional seq tracks for your other midi gear.
You’ll still lust for an A4, though, until you have it
Monomachine has so much hater and lover…Really difficult to make an opinion before testing or even owning it.
Once again an Elektron user meeting would be helpful.
If I could only have one Elektron box with a handful of midi gear, it would be Monomachine. MnM + Nord Drum 2 is a particularly fierce combo for classic electro.
To only have one Elektron to write whole tracks and perform live with, it’s Rytm.
To only add one Elektron box to my Rytm, it was Analog Four.
Another thing to consider is how much overlap MnM has with Blofield. And how that might even be a good thing.
Blofield is great though, like a pocket MicrowaveXT. It deserves good sequencing.
Soundwise the A4 would be a decent addition, but in terms if sequencing and sampling an MPC-1000 with JJOS2XL would be an excellent choice for the type of music you’re referencing.
You really don’t need anything too complicated. Electro is a genre that was founded upon simplicity and minimalism.
What are the most important aspects of “electro” do you want to access? My guess would not be the complex sequencing arrangements, but the sound!
It seems like you have a bunch of good synths, so maybe just work with them and find a sequencer that allows you to make music easily and not get in the way.
If you like Elektron, I second the Monomachine idea. You get a variety of tones (including the SID machine’s excellent PWM–perfect for electro) and the original, most accessible MIDI (and internal) sequencer.
If you can find an SFX6, that’s even better. I can’t imagine using a Monomachine without the integrated keyboard.
I was looking for the A4 due to its elektron sequencer, as it cannot sequence external gear, the sound has to be good as well.
But now…his forum, definitively revived my interest for a MnM
I watched lots of video and the sounds are indeed…very electrotasty!
With the huge flexibility to sequence whatever midi I want. Very flexible.
I think I am sold on the MnM. I just hope I will be able to sound design it correctly.
I have always felt that electro embodied futurism, in the artistic sense… This is demonstrated with some tracks released 20 years ago, to this day sounding like they are from the future. The question to ask is not so much what instruments to use to sound like certain artists, but rather what type of instrument is necessary to convey the conceptual?
I think Monomachine has what is necessary thanks to the various synthesis types…
Also, the individual analog outs will help even more with hardware sound design. A4 only gives you two analog outputs.
