Include MKII module upgrades: screen & encoder improvements
upgraded, substantial joystick
sustain pedal input
updated body design, less boxy than MKI
additional mod wheel
Software/UX Upgrades:
1 extra LFO (3 total) - or even better, a set of controls for adding ‘vintage’ variation into the oscillators and filter. These could live in the same parameter page as the ‘noise’ settings
Display LFO speeds as blinking/flashing indicator
Improved shortcut access to mod destinations: velocity, aftertouch, mod wheel, etc + shortcut access
navigate back to parameter pages simply by pushing any page button
Improved quick patch saving workflow
I know this is just a dream and probably unlikely to happen, but is there anyone else pining for an Analog Keys MKII? This synth is easily my most-played keyboard, despite the tiny screen and the endless spinning of encoders. I love having everything in one package: sound design, sequencing & composition, and expressive playing controls.
The keyboard utility UI is perfect: hold, midi control, splits and transpose all right there. The key indicator lights were cheesy at first but they are incredibly handy once you start sequencing and holding notes across tracks.
It seems like Elektron is moving away from the Keyboard models, but I am curious how much enthusiasm there is for another release among the actual users of their gear. By the price of a used Analog Keys I can tell they were not a hit… but it feels like a sleeper classic synth.
It’s already got four when you include the PWM and “vibrato” ones. And the existing “normal” LFOs can have two destinations… More would be nice, of course, but the Four already has more than most other Elektrons.
@Octagonist I don’t own a MKII so I was guessing on some of those items. Glad to hear the page buttons return you to the param pages!
Re: LFO, yes there are a number of great built-in LFOs. I often find myself using one LFO to modulate other LFOs slightly or to mod the pitch/filter slightly to get a more rich sound. Honestly, a ‘vintage’ parameter (or set of parameters) would be ideal… add some subtle pitch variation, some filter variation, etc. Could be some parameters added in the ‘noise’ page (unless MKII has used these open slots for something else).
The mkii has an “oscillator slop” setting. Maybe the mki does too? It’s just the oscillator tuning, tho’. Nothing like the Sequential vintage knob. If you keep the slop up, add some vibrato, and don’t go wild with the more unusual features, I find you can get some pretty old-fashioned sounding sounds out of it.
@Octagonist yeah the MKI has an ‘oscillator drift’ setting but it’s simply a toggle, and the effect is very subtle. I’d love a knob that I can turn from ‘subtle’ to ‘almost broken synth’ and be modulatable via envelopes! Especially would love multiple controls: amount, detune, color? Perhaps?
Similar to the noise parameters currently available (which are nice and go well beyond most synth noise generators).
I am definitely wanting an update… The Analog Keys is exactly as you describe so well thought out so much better to sequence with keys all in one unit… and I think its actually a perfect size nice when gigging. I´m buying another one for sure… If mine has a problem I need an extra as its essential to how I sequence my other synths and I LOVE it!
Lets pray they come out with some kind of flagship synth WITH Keys based on all the good things we love about Elektron.
Another upgrade would be extra midi tracks to sequence others synths. 4 or 6 would be great… and also give it one track dedicated to stereo samples
