Isn't the Analog Four the most incredible and deep instrument from Elektron so far?

[LyingDalai]

You can even use the 6th track to output audio back I to the audio in, and create kicks from CV envelopes…

[Strutter]

You mean by pinging the filter?

[LyingDalai]

No, only the CV signals trigged from CV track, back into audio.

Here for use as a sub:

CV outs back into Inputs or Expression input

While I’ve found the A4 Synthesis to be severely lacking in terms of subbass, there is a trick I’ve been doing with my techno tracks that gives you that great bass to layer under kicks and such with the added caveat that it is it’s own track not consuming any synthesis tracks. The CV LFOs go into the audible range so that is the basis of this trick. I got this from an old thread on either this website or elektron users but I figure many new people here so: Cable from CVA to Input on A4 Set Vo…

[Strutter]

Thanks for the tip! I’m very much interested in understanding this device as a whole and it just seems like new ways to use it always come up when I think I know something hehehe.

Testing it right away!!

edit:

Got it working and in the process of trying to understand how it’s supposed to happen I learned some other new techniques as well.

When setting the track 1 osc to input L there are so many ways to have all kinds of interesting amplitude fluctuations going on.

This instrument is basically a modular that consists of synths instead of per function modules. The routing possibilities are almost endless.

So cool! Thanks again buddy!!

[B_LD]

Well that’s funny… I actually tried the CV kicks yesterday, too. Needs a bit of tweaking to sound acceptable to be honest, but it’s big fun – even when it starts clipping.

What voltage range do you set for these ideally? Does it make sense to have a bi-polar range from -5V to +5V for example?

Next level for me would be feeding CV back into control inputs for “side-chaining” or any kind of additional modulation.

[LyingDalai]

Here are a few settings I had written down back then.

CV outs back into Inputs or Expression input

Had some experiments with CV A → Input A config today. I used PITCH V/oct setting for CV A (secondary menu). [IMG_4676] The TUN parameters becomes the voltage output by the CV out. So basically the level of the signal received on Input A. Or more precisely, a big variation in TUN will send a high voltage difference, so a big volume. So on the screen bellow, TUN represents the floor level of the voltage that we will modulate with envelopes. My thinking was to use V/oct setting to get an e…

Beware of the voltage btw.

@TrabanT

The Analog Four inputs are +19dBu, this corresponds to around 20V peak to peak(+/-10V)

Since the internal circuit provides +/- 12V internally and the inputs are diode bridged to the power rail it is safe to input up to +/- 12V to the inputs. However the input signal will start clipping around +/- 10V.

If you input above +/- 12V the diodes will save the input from over voltage but might damage the power supply if it constantly exceeds +/- 12V.

Regards,
Olle

[B_LD]

Thanks, your detailed post was very helpful indeed! Seen that already before, of course.

[LyingDalai]

Just in case you’ve missed it, this thread has a lot of tricks…

A4 Tips & Tricks

Couldn’t find a thread on this, so thought I’d start one. The reason being a cool thing I just found out, a lot of you will probably already know. If you hold down a note on the mini-keyboard on say track 1, keep holding the key, select track 2, hold a key on that, and then select track 3 etc, the notes from the previous tracks remain sustained as long as you keep holding the first note you triggered down, the second etc. Pretty cool if you want to create some intense sounding stuff. Nothing …

[garf]

I’ve just been trying this on my old AK. Had no idea you could use Func+CV buttons to change the type of output, I thought they were fixed! Managed to get some raw oscs generated by the CV LFO coming into track 1 but they’re pretty buzzy with metallic overtones, bit-reduced kind of sound to them. Guess this is just the resolution of the clicks. Not too bad with a some filter overdrive, cool trick to know but not something to rely on as a sound source

I did manage to make some nice kicks though…

[B_LD]

@garf

I did manage to make some nice kicks though…

Same here! Nice. Still no idea how to get rid of that higher pitched noise, though. I wish there‘d be a cleaner tone.

It’s sounding a bit better with tri shape LFO. Or random for noisy „snares“.

Will need to tweak a bit more.

[charlie.computer]

My Analog Four has this to say:

[B_LD]

Here we go. A4 CV_A track sounds fed into track 1 via Osc1. Gradually applying delay and filter and just noodling around. Adding 2nd oscillator around 1:50. Kick and hats on track 3+4. Boom.

[crossposting from current sounds. because… ]

[Gerry_Dorsey]

A. Nice!

B. Is your A4 black with grey buttons? what is this witchcraft?

[Jeanne]

Thank you

@Gerry_Dorsey

B. Is your A4 black with grey buttons? what is this witchcraft?

Sorry, it’s just black with black buttons and weird light

[Gerry_Dorsey]

holy fuckin shit I had no idea you could save a sound with the arp on and the recall it this fuckin changes everything (not really but wow)

[Jeanne]

oxygenic analog four (just a short)

Oxygenic Analog Four

[charlie.computer]

Last night I was playing the A4 with a keyboard via midi, and wow it’s quite a different experience. I’m no great key-pusher, but just a simple filtered single-saw sound feels really nice to play polyphonically.

The keyboard I was using is a Hydrasynth Deluxe, so next I tried to recreate the A4 sound there. I’ll wasn’t able to get very close even though there were very few modifications on top of the saw oscillator. I did enable warm mode, analog FL, and the random phase setting on the hydra.

I bought the hydra thinking it would be a solid synth and useful as a poly AT controller, but now I’m thinking of selling it and saving for a trigon or some other analog poly.

In the meantime, going to make sure I keep a keyboard connected to the A4 because wow.

[jemmons]

@charlie.computer

thinking it would be a solid synth and useful as a poly AT controller

I don’t want to get off on a Hydra tangent in an A4 thread, but if “solid synth and poly AT controller” is what you’re going for, I’d stick with it. Very much like the A4 (see! On topic!) the simple, sterile oscs can be underwhelming, but with (expressive!) modulation, and (in the case of the hydra) experimentation with the many different filter types warm sounds can be had. Maybe even consider routing it through the A4 to take advantage of its ladder filter? And maybe even its reverb/chorus (fx of the hydra don’t do it for me)

Moreover, as a poly AT keyboard it’s pretty much unmatched by anything short of the osmose. Honestly it’s almost worth the price for the keyboard and ribbon alone, IMHO.

[charlie.computer]

Appreciate the take on the hydra. I’m totally happy to chalk my dissatisfaction up to a lack of skill and patience exploring its depths. In the end, I think I’m more of attracted to an instrument with its own character even if it’s not as flexible as the hydra.

You’re right that the A4 and HS both seem to offer a wider range of sound than other synths at the cost of making sweet spots harder to find. This is why I was so surprised at how awesome a low-effort A4 patch felt to play. I’m excited to work with it more in that context.

Makes me wonder what a successor to the A4Keys could look like.

[maarzt]

The Trigon does seem amazing. I watched Loopop’s demo