Analog Keys - The Issue Thread

Justus · 2014-04-17T14:45:08.000Z

""bandersong"":

[quote=“namnibor”][quote=“Justus”]Got mine replaced by a new one and i couldn’t agree less with you @bandersong. This is an expensive piece of equipment and i want it flawless out of the box. I had a first batch xbox360 with problems too, returned it to the store and got an replacement. Not acceptable no matter what the price is, at least for me.

Justus

+100
Nice to hear they took care of you and got a replacement. I would not ever just accept something out of the box like that whether it was $50. or $1600. Someone deciding not to use the 3 year warranty is beyond fanboy mentality and find that mentality really hard to fathom. I am quite sure Elektron wants to identify and correct the manufacturing glitches in their tracks. By negating to address issues, a person very well may through their own neglect, could invalidate the very warranty so generously provided.[/quote]
This level of pretense and assumptions about other people’s decisions is overwhelming and frankly leaves a sour taste in my mouth.
Do what you want with your money and your gear.
[/quote]
No need for any sorts of sour tastes, wasn’t trying to bash you or trying to be rude. I just don’t agree with what you said in your previous post.
No hard feelings i hope

bandersong · 2014-04-17T15:12:24.000Z

Specifically talking about the fanboy comment. Did not mean to throw your post in there.

It doesn’t bother me that others have different opinions but specially @Namnibor has been particularly rude about this discussion.

Personally, I sold all my gear to get this. I’m not rolling in money, Im 21 years old and I make $10 an hour. Sending away this synth for me means more time not making music. I already spent 3 months in agony from selling my other gear and honestly my case wasn’t so bad. It was barely uneven, just a slight wobble and I fixed it how Elektron said. If they said it, it’s because they’re likely confident nothing bad will happen. Ultimately that’s just money, they don’t want to advocate a fix that will ultimately cost them several repairs so yeah. No hard feelings, but to call someone a fanboy on an Elektron forum without knowing anything about the context or even seeing the problem first hand to make a decision in the first place has an air of imagined superiority that is at best laughable and at worst irritating to read.

Not posting any more about this. My problem is fixed for me, personally and I don’t want to further incite any bad blood.

Justus · 2014-04-17T15:28:18.000Z

""bandersong"":

Specifically talking about the fanboy comment. Did not mean to throw your post in there.

It doesn’t bother me that others have different opinions but specially @Namnibor has been particularly rude about this discussion.

Personally, I sold all my gear to get this. I’m not rolling in money, Im 21 years old and I make $10 an hour. Sending away this synth for me means more time not making music. I already spent 3 months in agony from selling my other gear and honestly my case wasn’t so bad. It was barely uneven, just a slight wobble and I fixed it how Elektron said. If they said it, it’s because they’re likely confident nothing bad will happen. Ultimately that’s just money, they don’t want to advocate a fix that will ultimately cost them several repairs so yeah. No hard feelings, but to call someone a fanboy on an Elektron forum without knowing anything about the context or even seeing the problem first hand to make a decision in the first place has an air of imagined superiority that is at best laughable and at worst irritating to read.

Not posting any more about this. My problem is fixed for me, personally and I don’t want to further incite any bad blood.

Well i don’t know if the fanboy comment was directly at you.
We can have different opinions at times but we are all on the same side here i guess

If the bending thing works for you, then it’s all good!!

Justus · 2014-04-17T15:35:08.000Z

""modulargrey"":

I asked for clarification from support if they ment, bend the case. They came back and said “do not bend the case,” the idea was to push down and try to squish the feet. With mine pushing down on it does slightly bend the case regardless, because it is warped enough.

Just wanted to see if they actually told you other guys who responded, to bend the case or it was just a miscommunication. Don’t want others taking it as advice if it’s not official.

They send me some pictures, with (it think was) Cenk demonstrating the procedure. I tried to find the pictures and post them here, but i think i deleted that mail. I also don’t think it’s meant to be bend, but to slightly add pressure to the two uneven sides.

Mattstacks · 2014-04-19T21:10:26.000Z

I just received my AK.
Was manufactured in March of 2014.
Has wobble (enough that it wobbles when I use it on a flat surface and is rather annoying)

Seems that. Elektron has not fixed this issue, unless they did so in the last 30 days .

Where is the QC?

Is there not someone testing these before they put them in a box to ship?
You’d think that the first thing they’d do is put it on a flat surface and make
Sure that it didn’t wobble.

Are the replacements you guys are getting not wobbly?
If so, how ?

mfx · 2014-04-23T13:13:58.000Z

Just got mine out the box (try not to feel smug and wonder why am posting here first).

No wobbly feet - yay! Hope others get theirs sorted.

Screens very small, but workable till the GUI interface is released post summer.

…on to some fun.

Peace

modulargrey · 2014-04-24T03:21:47.000Z

I decided to send mine back for them to look at.

grandaddy · 2014-04-24T10:04:06.000Z

My Analog Keys, bought this month, also has a slightly warped body. I’ve decided not to send it back to the shop for this, even though I think for this money it should be absolutely level. I’ve instead taped a thin piece of black cardboard under one of the feet.

Automux · 2014-04-24T17:36:56.000Z

""poonti"":

[quote=“namnibor”]If being told by support to simply bend the case to correct the problem is their solution, when it’s obviously a design flaw, that’s the worst advice I have ever heard any manufacturer provide as a solution.
Does not provide confidence to lay my money down at all. Even any other small company such as DSI or Waldorf would not only replace instrument, but make a change at the manufacturing level.
Firm believer it’s the choice of having no support piece below keyboard to fully stabilize the unique aluminum sides and perhaps too thin of aluminum that’s contributing to this. Would be pretty wary of traveling with an AK even in a Pelican or SKB Case at this point. Sorry, but the truth.

I hear you, but I certainly wouldn’t use DSI as a good Samaritan here (encoders cough cough - there was no replacing NADDA, but they did offer a nice $350 upgrade instead, so yeah, DSI: bad example)[/quote]
Waldorf isn’t a good example either. I have a Blofeld with the low audio output and they have not responded to my support requests at all.

wavestrike · 2014-04-25T01:50:34.000Z

I had an issue. There was a screw or small part sliding around in the case of my AK. However, they sent me a new one and this one did not have any spare parts inside. The level was bad on the first one and much better on this one so they must be addressing it at least. My table is glass so the table is perfectly level. It is the AK that is now only just a little off but the first one was way off.

mfx · 2014-04-25T09:18:44.000Z

""poonti"":

I hear you, but I certainly wouldn’t use DSI as a good Samaritan here (encoders cough cough - there was no replacing NADDA, but they did offer a nice $350 upgrade instead, so yeah, DSI: bad example)

This is exactly why I sold my Pro 08. The build quality and lack of support for early adopters encouraged me to sell mine fairly quickly and has discouraged me to anything further from them. Not cutting my nose to spite my face but once stung, twice shy. Nearly got a Tempest, but again seen a few issues with the firmware, whilst usable discouraged me.

So here we are with an AK and other kit instead.

modulargrey · 2014-04-28T18:53:00.000Z

Just an FYI, mine will be going back for repair to the US shop. They need to use a new serial plate so my guess is the whole case might be replaced.

Knownasmax · 2014-05-04T06:32:12.000Z

I just want to say if the Analog Keys had 8 voices (or even 6) it would beat out everything else on the market without a doubt. It sounds so amazing but when I get into playing the notes dropping out is so depressing!

mfx · 2014-05-09T08:15:51.000Z

Encoders - can I ask if anyone else find the feel of the potentiometer movements are gritty. Not in sound but when twisting they feel they are not entirely free in movement, ie a very slight resistance and movement.
I can only describe as if there’s grit a very slight rubbing feel and extremely low noise? Im pretty light handed on the kit, but a sensitive soul. Only little thing that’s bothering me.

Thanks

maca_namra · 2014-05-19T11:25:28.000Z

Everything bout the AK is amazing I have to say. I’d definitely love even more voices. My only issue is that the arpeggiator has no automatic relatch function. And being able to use the hold with the arpeggiator is not the same thing before anyone says it. Would love to see a relatch option with the arpeggiator in future versions, or else an option for the hold function where the most recent used keys are held down rather than having to hit the button to hold onto notes.

tonight · 2014-05-19T21:56:03.000Z

""nirun"":

“The CV track is useless for 99.99% of users and has more to do with worrying about sales of the Octatrack than making a great Analog Keys.”

lol @ complaints about CV. It’s hilarious it’s called the Analog Four and people cannot see a use for control voltage parameter locking/sequencing

A ton of opinions float around about Elektron’s methodology, but I do think they included CV for very good reasons, and has been very useful to me sequencing/syncing outboard gear without midi.

I suggest borrowing a friend’s synth that has trigger/gate inputs and give it a whirl before speaking for 99.9% analog four/keys users- this kind of generalizing will not yield happy/clear responses from the users who do use the functions you dismiss as sales/marketing

yep agree my “anyone using the a4 cv outs?” thread is one of the biggest in the a4 section

nottinhill · 2017-02-26T03:34:43.437Z

This is 26 February 2017. Bought a brand new Analog Keys, wobbly casing, fixed by paper under left front feet. For 1400 eur, this is unexpected, even though I know how much work it must have been to design such a marvellous instrument.

LyingDalai · 2017-02-26T09:24:04.172Z

You might be true, but have you tried another table / stand ?
I found so many times that my problems had their origin between the seat and the table…
^^

ChrisG · 2017-02-26T15:31:01.965Z

Mine is ever so slightly off as well, and ever so slightly wobbly if I wiggle it (top left <-> low right). I get this all the time with gear, mostly with grooveboxes and similar things, those things you just, very gently, bend straight. Happens all the time. But the AK…I would try LyingDalai’s suggestion, place the AK on different desks/stands/tables, check the results. If it is still wobbly, contact Elektron, I don’t remember how the rubber feets are attached, but with their help you might be able to adjust it

nottinhill · 2017-02-26T20:41:49.670Z

Its standing on a 800 Euro USM Haller table made in Switzerland, the country of precision clocks, so no, it’s not the table =oP. But I bend the AK diagonally and its better now, I will bend more until it is perfect. I guess when you send your unit in, Elektron would unscrew the casing, bend it, and re-screw, so why not do it on your own. Feet are attached with some hexagon screw, so that would arguably be the more “intelligent” approach.