Hi, I am very brand new to electro hardware. I’m a singer and secondly a guitarist who has played in rock bands for 20 years that has found it difficult to keep a band going as I get older due to many social and material factors. A couple months ago I bought an Elektron Cycles to begin tryin out a solo venture . Basically creating songs something in the vein of the first Thom yorke album “ The Eraser” . I love the Cycles! It’s fairly easy to use and the basic beats I need have been a ton of fun to make . Big problem is That it doesn’t have song mode nor the greatest synth sounds. Most of the time I’m playing guitar and singing so my hands are tied up and obviously am unable to play the cycles live . I was looking at buying a used Analog Keys and was curious if you guys thought that would be a good idea for me. Any feedback is appreciated!
Might depend a little on the sounds you like, or what’s currently missing.
I imagine you might want chords/pads if you currently have a Cycles, so I might suggest a Digitone if staying within the Elektron family - it’s very versatile, has a song mode and will add a fair bit extra to your cycles. Could go for the keys version if that’s somethign you’re keen on.
However if you’re a sucker for analog then you might find you want to work against some of its qualities rather than with them - you have to like that FM sound.
Well, I like the idea of the AK being a one stop piece of gear since I already have guitar , amp , pedal board and vocal mics to set up as well. I do like analog sounds a lot that’s for sure. Does the Digitone have good synths sounds and is it poly ? Also , is there a decent midis keyboard w/weighted or semi weighted keys you would suggest if I went this route?
Analog keys are priced very high atm. A year ago they were much cheaper. Not a great time to be buying one.
What would you consider an appropriate price?
I think the price last year around £650 is fair.
Yea , I’m finding some in mint condition for about 850 $ plus Shipping and tax atm. I’ll probably wait and also peruse this site to see if anything else comes to mind. Im just trying to simplify because if I do purchase something with songmode and also keep the cycles going I’ll have to get a midi keyboard then it all adds up the same or more most likely. Appreciate the heads up!
The Elektron Analog four sounds on YouTube is what led me to the Keys in the first place. What I’m hearing really hits home for me. Hope I’m not stuck in tunnel vision.
…a keyboard if u got ur hands not free already !?
if u wanna become a serious one man band, a truu singer songwriter that performs electronica of whatever kind, there’s only one answer at first…octatrack…
that’s the core device on stage with me, since a decade now…
it backs me up while i’m singing and fooling around and whatever the song is want to perform, this thing keeps it all together…sometimes as a plain and simple half playback bitch, sometimes as THE conductor tool and truu music instrument for me to play a whole external sonic ball park…
and ur cycles is the perfect instrument to become ur first through machine on ot’s first stereo inputs and to be told by ot’s arranger, what to play next…
It looked appealing because it has keys and I play piano as well and if I wanted there would be no need for a midi keyboard, but I’m brand new to this stuff so I appreciate the advice . I’ll look into the octo
…so there u go…the a4 keyboard version is a beautiful and timeless instrument…
and the octratrack is what host’s it all end of the day…every day…
Do you think the current going prices for the AK are worth it ? Since they are discontinued do you think they will become hard to find? A previous user mentioned they were considerably cheaper a half a year ago.
If what you want to do is sing and play guitar with some gear playing itself with song mode, why don’t you just use a laptop to play an already recorded background while you perform ? Seems easier and less expensive, provided you probably have a laptop already.
Because it’s sad? Sorry pun intended but i’ve seen a few people on stage “performing” with a soundtrack but it’s karaoke not a real concert. Or i’m too nostalgic/old fashion.
I think current AK prices are still worth it.
It’s an incredibly versatile synth.
The A$ is cool too, but the AK actually adds a massive layer of performance playability.
The Split Keys function allow you to play patters, individual sounds, and groups of sounds in many different ways. The Performance knobs are the gift that keeps on giving too.
I’d also add that the AK or A4 might be the best drum machine money can buy.
It’s definitely the kind of synth you can dig into for many many years and still feel like you’re growing with it.
Even though it’s only 4 tracks, that limitation mixed with the way electron sequencers work are like the perfect combination of limitations proving to be a plethora of inspiration.
I’d DEFINITELY recommend getting one.
Oh yeah, and it will outlast about 4 laptops, probably more.
Well it depends what you do on stage. I have seen a metal band performing with prerecorded stuffs playing on a simple tablet, but yeah there was also 5 dudes playing too.
Also, Sleaford Mods. 
Thank you! The A4’s are $$$. Especially the ii. I’m gonna sell a couple pedals and maybe an amp and scoop up an AK as soon as possible.
Out of all three
The AK is definitely my favorite.
If I was choosing between the A4MKI or MKII I’d go with the MKI every time.
The price is unbeatable.
The AK offers something the other two dont, and that’s the split keyboard and joystick.
Both of those two thing really take it up a notch vs the others.
The other appealing part for me is that there’s no need to get a midi keyboard as well being I already have other stuff going on . Once I get 40 mins worth of music I plan to play out as much as possible and setting up my Orange rockerverb , pedalboard , vocal setup plus electro hardware makes the AK an appealing choice .
Have you played live with the AK? Also, does the screen burnout and if so is it pretty fixable?