Analog Keys Vs Syntakt

Elektron Gear Analog Keys/Four
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Hello,

Looking for advise.

I have a chance to buy a brand new Analog Keys that was kept in a seller’s store for quite some time.

I have a Syntakt, which I really love, but I’ll need to sell it to fund that Analog Keys purchase, can’t afford to keep both.

Will recreating my Syntakt compositions on the Analog Keys be a struggle? I mainly use the Analog machines for rhythm and the digital ones for melody on the Syntakt.

What will I miss from the Syntakt aside from the immediacy and combined digital analog features?

Anything else that I should consider? Is the screen on the Analog Keys really that small.

Is the screen really that small? Is $1300 too high for a new Analog Keys?

Thank you!

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Going from 12 to only 4 voices may be quite annoying.

Yes, the screen is small.
The old-style encoders feel more flimsy and take longer to adjust parameters.

Otherwise it’s a fantastic instrument.

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Analog Keys is only 4 voices where the Syntakt is 12 voices. Analog Keys is really just an Analog Four with a built in keyboard (at least that’s how I’ve seen it, maybe there’s some special features that the Four doesn’t have, probably related to the keyboard).

$1300 seems to be the MSRP on that thing back in the day. Considering a new Analog Four MK2 is $1700 and doesn’t have a keyboard, I’d say that’s a pretty good deal, assuming you’re good with the screen. Also, compared to the MK2, its overdrive only has one mode where the MK2 has two. And I believe the overall sound of the MK2 is different: more bassy is what I’ve read.

It’s definitely a great piece of gear especially if you’re considering getting into eurorack as it has a very good CV sequencer with lots of internal routing options as well as you can process external gear with it. Very good companion for eurorack.

But compared to the Syntakt, again, your biggest difference is you’re gonna have a third of the voice available to you. You can play 4 voice polyphonic or 4 monophonic voices and you’ll of course have Elektrons sound locking per step so you can really stretch what those 4 voices are doing… but at the end of the day you’ll only have 4 voices and if you’re considering using it as a groove box the way Syntakt is you’ll probably be disappointed. Syntakt is very capable at making full tracks where it would be much harder to do that with the analog keys by itself. Of course possible… but you’re gonna feel very limited compared to what the Syntakt is capable of on that front.

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I have the Syntakt and recently bought an Analog Keys (used). I think you would have a hard time making patterns as quickly on the AK, especially at first. You will not have as “immediate” of a workflow, but the AK is an awesome sounding machine and if you’re not going to feel limited by 4 voices, it can do things ST can’t.

The Analog Keys has individual outputs for each of the 4 voices, which is the same as the A4Mk2 but an upgrade from the original A4 which only had stereo outs. It also has a joystick mapped to pitch, modulation and breath control, and an aftertouch keybed, which are quite nice and playable. The frequency response is much more bass heavy than the original A4 (arguably too much low end, at least for some).

The screen is much less pleasant to look at compared with the modern Elektron screens. You will get used to it, but at first, expect it to be a downgrade. The screens are also prone to going bad eventually.

You will likely miss some of the visual indicators of ST’s interface, and you will almost certainly miss the encoders. The encoders on the Mk1 and AK are much less responsive/ sensitive and can be a bit of a pain.

Getting a “new old stock” AK is cool, but to me, $1300 is a tad high, even brand new. On the used market, if you keep your eyes peeled I feel certain you could get one in good condition with box and paperwork for between $900 and $1k. I got lucky (and patiently waited and watched listings) and got mine in good shape for approx. half of what you’re considering paying for a new one. Just food for thought on the price.

I hope I don’t seem too negative about it - I adore the AK and ST and plan to keep both. But if I had to choose, I’d keep the Syntakt because I find it more immediate for sitting down and making music with. And I don’t think I’d personally spend $1300 on a new AK.

Edit:

I need to look into this. The AK has a bipolar parameter for overdrive in the filter section. Negative is meant to be a smoother overdrive, positive is meant to be harder. Not sure if that’s the same as what you’re talking about, I will educate myself later.

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I don’t have a Syntakt, but it seems like a MD with some analog stuff and various other improvements. I have a MD and a MNM, and I’d describe the A4/AK as somewhat more claustrophobic or intimate than the MD or MNM. The A4 has only one engine, so you are always either working on an A4 voice or the FX track. On the others you have 6-16 slots that can be occupied via more machines.

The A4 feels intimate in the sense that it’s a very rich east coast analog synth with plenty of plockable parameters to experiment with. The MD’s and MnM’s engines are much more basic.

If you would like to work with four plockable east-coast analog synths then the A4 or AK is a unique must have instrument.

The keyboard, joystick and macros are very nice so I would recommend the AK for anyone who has the space and budget for it.

As far as price goes, a patient and frugal person could probably get a better deal or they might not. A NOS AK would be nice to have because you can be reasonably confident that everything will work properly and continue to do so for a while. On the other hand, I’m pretty sure the guy who sold me his AK was just returning from playing out at a rave. I paid near the bottom of the estimates posted so far and have had zero issues with the machine. One button has very slight cosmetic damage that doesn’t impact my jams at all.

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If you can swing it, use both together.

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I liked my analog leys when i had it, but ak and syntakt is far from the same thing so wouldnt compare them… ak is a 4 voice synth and syntakt a drummachine/mono synth in one

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Ok that sounds like the Analog Four MK2 then. I never really saw the Four MK2 compared to the keys, I always assumed the Keys and MK1 were pretty much the same with a keyboard strapped to one of them. From my understanding the original MK1 does not have a bipolar overdrive it’s just a knob that turns up. The A4 MK2 has the bipolar knob and that was what I was talking about.

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The AK also has a bipolar overdrive, but the negative behaviour is extremely weird.

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I appreciate this. Thanks!

I’m leaning towards keeping the Syntakt actually.

What calls me to the Analog Keys is the analog polyphonic doodling that I’d be able to do with it - I think that would be a good constant source of inpiration. But I’ve been looking at the Reface DX recently, and paired with the Syntakt, I think that would be a more economical alternative.

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Nah, the MK1 has a bipolar overdrive as well, 0 is center, -64 is pre-filter, +64 is post filter it I remember right.

The negative one is a bit strange but I think I prefer it to the positive one; the weirdness gives it some gritty character.

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JOYSTICK!!!

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I got mine for $600 of Craigslist. It was basically mint condition.

Sound design is much deeper, and it will not sound at all like the Syntakt. Recreating your old tracks probably won’t happen but you could easily end up somewhere else really cool along the way. That’s the way the AK is.

If you get one I encourage you to do what I did: erase the entire +Drive first thing on powering up :wink: I’ve been playing it every day for 5 years now and I’ve never heard a single A4 preset. You can take a look at my YT channel if you want to hear what it sounds like without presets - @musictoddstuartfletcher

Key differences (hehe) with the Syntakt: Direct Change for the sequencer (at least Syntakt didn’t use to have that), MultiMap mode - really complex features there, the JOYSTICK!!!, and also held notes continue through a Kit change, only changing presets with the next new note (this is incredible), and the sequencer gets muted as long as a key for that track is held, so you can play with/over a sequence in a really interesting manner. There’s more but that’s what comes to mind now. Others have said the 4 voice limit is not nearly the big deal you might think and that’s totally true.

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If any thing you could look at the Digitone 2 for polyphony. That seems to be Elektrons king at polyphony now and would pair with, or replace, the Syntakt much better.

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The analog portion on the syntakt is much closer to the Analog Rytm with the limited set of parameters for dedicated machines. The AK is a great self contained instrument and midi controller. I also really liked the leds on the keys when I had one just for visualizing the note data as a sequence is playing. It’s very helpful when writing a song. $1,300 is still “worth it” relative to what you are getting verses what else is out there but unfortunately the analog keys doesn’t really hold it’s value as they seem to top out in the $600-$800 range used. Keep in mind that the used market for the syntakt isn’t that great at the moment either so keeping it may just be a better option.

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Yup, thought about this, quite tempting, just that I realize I have all the tools I need with the Syntakt - I might not have even discovered half of them. I’m sure the Digitone 2 has a lot more to offer, and I think I’ve been subconsciously trying to avoid videos or posts about it to spare me the dilemma.

The Analog Keys came knocking on my door, and it was right there in front of me, hence I had to decide and I wasted away a couple of days obsesing about the decision. Don’t want to get in the same situation with the Digitone 2. Ah, how good it feels to be free from these choices and just play and make music. :slightly_smiling_face:

(I decided not to keep the Syntakt.)

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Wait what?

I’m confused even more by this post lol. You want to keep the Syntakt but now you’re selling it?

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O my, “not” was not supposed to be in that sentence. I’m not sure how it got there, it might have been the part of me that coveted the Analog Keys. :grimacing:

I’m keeping the Syntakt.

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Yeah I think you’re making the right call. I’d say just save up for a Digitone 2. I have an A4 MK2 and I love it but unless you’re really wanting to get into eurorack or have semi Modular’s or something I think it’s falling behind as a standalone synth. Maybe not falling behind… but the Digitone 2 just manages polyphony much better and has 4x the polyphony and multiple engines now.

Syntakt and Digitone 2 would be good companions.

And every time I’ve thought about selling the Syntakt in the past I pick it up and try and make a track and usually get something I like effortlessly and quickly. I’m definitely not getting rid of it, or at least not until a MK2 comes out lol.

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Keys has kits

Syntakt no kits

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