Can somebody explain the difference to me? The price of a used Analog four MK2 makes it quite desirable to me. I was hoping to get the outbox 8 to separate synths and drums of my Digitone to send to the Analog Heat MK2. However, I’m just wondering if the Analog four is the same for processing (or better)? Anyone experienced both?
The analog heat has a lot more options for overdrive character, but the analog four has some benefits (4 distinct processing paths that each have two filters and OD/chorus/delay/reverb and you can use neighbor tracks to cascade them and do weird sequencing stuff).
There is no envelope follower on the analog four to use, which is a big advantage of the Heat for getting compressor-like behavior.
Ah yeah it does seem like a cool option. I always use the compressor on the Digitone 2. I’m guessing with the outbox 8 you could run your synths through the Analog 4 and then run everything back in to the Digitone. I’m not sure if I’ll ever do this, but it seems like a fun option over buying the Heat
A4 only has 2 inputs so I’m not sure what benefit the outbox would have. I love the A4, it’s a great synth and being able to run external inputs through it is a nice bonus but I wouldn’t buy it primarily for that.
I haven’t used the heat but I have an analog drive and it’s a lot of fun running a drum machine through it, using the big knob to try out different crazy drive circuits, and tweaking the eq knobs. You’re not going to get that level of hands-on tweaking of a stereo signal with the A4.
A4 has 2 drive circuits on one knob, one that goes from 12:00 on up, and one on the downward side of the knob. Personally I only use the up one because I think it sounds better.
Since the A4 tracks are mono, if you wanted to process a stereo signal, you need to use two tracks and set the parameters the same and then hard pan them. If you wanted to do something like a stereo filter sweep you would need to map both tracks filter cutoffs to a performance macro or something. Also keep in mind that you need to put a trigger down and open up the vca to even get sound to go through it. Lots of little things like that probably make it a little less friendly and more convoluted to use as a simple plug and play stereo fx box.
But it has dual filters x4 and a sequencer, so you could potentially get a lot crazier with the A4 as a processor if you want.
Also AH+FX has more effects and more flexibility of changing the order. Like on the A4 you can do a warble effect by modulating the delay with an lfo. But then you lose your delay. On AH you can have both.
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