I’ve searched the web far and wide for this answer with no luck.
Elektron states that the Analog Keys has a better low end compared to the four, I’d love to hear the actual difference using the same patch on both units.
No stores in my area have a Four, if anyone can answer this question from experience or have actual sound clips to compare I would appreciate it as this would greatly help with my upcoming purchase.
Thanks!
I don’t have any experience with this myself, but I’ve seen it mentioned before from other people in other random threads that they didn’t notice a difference.
I think the general conclusion is that it’s a go-faster-stripes effect. 
Honestly man my friend has an a4 and he’s brought it over and we’ve put the same patches on them and it sounded the same to me.
I’m pretty sure Elektron was referring to the OS update bringing improved bass which they release alongside the AK
Kinda wish Elektron would lay this topic to rest already. Does it or doesn’t it?
I’d love to have done an A/B comparison but having played both at different times, I now have the A4 module. The bass end sounds great and really that’s enough for me.
Once Overbridge is ready, someone should do a comparison using a £4000 audiophile USB cable run into a Macbook Pro from Q1 2008 (those had the nicest sounding display components), played back on a Cervin Vega system in a concrete hall while jumping around manically. Then we might finally know.
No.
The hardware difference is described briefly on Elektron’s website:
http://www.elektron.se/products/analog-keys?section=faq
“Does the Analog Keys and the Analog Four sound exactly the same?
The Analog Keys uses the same means of analog sound generation as the Analog Four, but features circuits fine-tuned for delivering deep bass.”
The OS update (1.1, I believe) had the same effect for both AF and AK.
I think even Cenk said that the difference between the two units was unnoticeably small.
Thank you all for the valuable information, based on what I had already heard they both sounded great but it was Elektron’s site that made me think twice after reading the FAQ.
I guess now it comes down to the workflow of having a keyboard and joystick for modulations vs. portability and price.
*Curious if overbridge will give A4 users the option of tying parameters to a midi keyboard’s mod/pitch wheels like the AK.
Did you ever try getting the sounds deeper, like a room shaking bass? It might just be more bottom end rather than “hey this one sounds deeper in the mid range with the same patch”.
The original operating systems for the A4 had a quirky issue with Filter 1 resonance where it would create odd waveforms from the Oscillators unless the resonance was set high. A common complaint from this was a lack of bass. OS 1.1 introduced the F1 resonance boost as an automatically turned on feature for init sounds and seems to have solved the problem. They moved the default resonance to a place where the waveform is normal, and the bass is full.
The AK shipped with 1.1 so it had the improved bass from the start.
@R7 Sounds like this would be the case, if so Elektron should rectify the FAQs on the site mentioning otherwise, that will throw some people off like myself.
Which of the FAQs do you think is incorrect?
I’m saying that we played a patch that was literally just a sub-bass sound as well as a very subby kick and there was no discernible difference either by ear or on the meters.
@PeterHanes only incorrect if this was fixed with an OS update like some have suggested here.
Taken from the AK FAQs:
Does the Analog Keys and the Analog Four sound exactly the same?
The Analog Keys uses the same means of analog sound generation as the Analog Four, but features circuits fine-tuned for delivering deep bass.
http://www.elektron.se/products/analog-keys?section=faq
*I just realized you pointed to same FAQ above
From everything that Elektron has told us, the text of this FAQ is correct.
The 1.1 OS update addressed a different issue.
Perhaps the FAQ is missing a statement to the effect that the difference in hardware between the AK and the AF makes very little difference to the sound, which is what users seem to report.
i am not an expert, but I have them both at the moment.
When I started with my A4, I didn’t like the workflow. With my AK I love the workflow… It feels much better and fits much better on my head.
Another thing is the sound. People say there is a difference, I don’t hear it… For me it feels like exactly the same… but I still have my old speakers (KRK VXT 6)… it is all fine to me.
How is the workflow different? I had an A4 and got rid of it pretty quickly when it first came out as I felt the waveforms didn’t sound great - maybe fixed by 1.1 and I didn’t like the workflow and wanted better integration. Now with overbridge and improved sound I’m ready to try again but am debating about the benefits of the A4 vs Keys.
With the ‘fine tuned bass’ circuits - since its mostly digitally controlled couldn’t this be done with the A4 as well if it hasn’t already? But it does use VCOs not DCOs doesn’t it? Has anyone asked elektron support?
If you scroll halfway down this page from an old thread, Jon from Elektron states that the (very minor) differences between the Analog Four and the Analog Keys “will remain different”.
So “fine tuned bass circuits” apparently doesn’t mean more low end in the AK.
In some particular cases there must be some differences that can be heard right?
Perhaps someone from elektron could go more into specifics what in what cases this will be noticeable?
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With the ‘fine tuned bass’ circuits - since its mostly digitally controlled couldn’t this be done with the A4 as well if it hasn’t already? But it does use VCOs not DCOs doesn’t it? Has anyone asked elektron support?
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It does use DCOs. But still I don’t think any firmware update could possibly improve the basic sound of the waveforms or filters. If you didn’t like them then you won’t like them now. I don’t particularly like them as well.