Well… I’ve been wanting to get a Syntakt since launch, but I keep getting a little underwhelmed by the many demos I’ve listened of it.
Despite that, there’s something about the idea that keeps coming back to me… I have the hope that I can take the sound of the digital machines closer to what I hear from the demos, and the analog part itself for me maybe worth the price…
Should I get one or look somewhere else?
I would consider buying something you like?
The Syntakt is almost entirely what you make of it. Analog tracks. FM tracks. Various noise and percussion synths.
It’s a box of synthesizers, you have to synthesize the sounds you want.
If you’re familiar with analog subtractive and FM synthesis types, you can make nearly any type of sound you can imagine being made with those. (Given operator/oscillator, LFO, etc. limits per machine of course.
The sound quality is excellent.
If you know sound design, you can make it sound how you want.
If that sounds like work to you, and not part of the fun of the process, then something else (maybe sample based) might be more your thing.
Just the impulse machine pinging the filter with some modulation is almost worth the price! 
It’s like having a small modular in a little box, though a touch less flexible in routing as one would expect. You can get a metric eff ton of sounds out of it with a touch of effort.
Just check one out somewhere if you can.
Is there a particular sort of sound that you’re wondering if it can or can’t produce?
That’s also part of my internal discussion jaja but it’s even hard to find what the analog side of syntakt does in a similar priced machine.
Thanks for your response! Very insightful.
More than what I can or cannot do, is that most of the demos I’ve heard use the digital machines a non-appealing way to me. I’m more into latin inspired music (kinda like Dj Python and Nick León vibes), and no demos go towards that direction.
But man… I’d get it just for the analog bass sound. I mean I could get a Minitaur for that (more limitedd of course) but for just a couple bucks more I could get the Syntakt with a shit ton of extra features.
I don’t think there’s a reason to need to like every instrument.
If you’re driven to want to give it your best shot for whatever reason, find it locally to try in front of you, if possible.
Syntakt is like a chameleon and can do almost anything. The analog voices are big and „beefy“ and also have a much variety.
It‘s not like a TR-909 which always sounds like a TR-909.
I also did not like the demos, but it is my favourite synth & groovebox of all times.
Listening to the two artists you‘ve mentioned, I wonder though if you already have a sampler … respectively if a sampler (like Digitakt II) would be a better choice for all the latin percussion elements, vocal samples and what not …
lol NO. big no absolutely not. Something can have all the features in the world on paper but if you don’t like how it sounds what’s the point unless you want to use it as a midi sequencer which would be a questionable choice. Don’t just buy something because it looks kool
If the main thing you’re looking to get out of it is analog bass, just get a Minitaur. It’s the undisputed king of massive, round low end. No Elektron (even the A4/AK/AR) comes close IMO.
There are LOTS of other reasons to go for a ST however. I ended up selling mine, after being first in line to buy one, because the digital voices sounded a bit hollow and plastic to me. But since the subsequent updates and people posting demos that have gotten deeper into the sweet spots of the machines than I had, I’m thinking it’s a nice all-rounder these days. And more features are coming I’m sure…
But… if you already have other hardware and software to do drums and digital synth bits and bobs, then you might still want to get a Minitaur. It’s amazing for what it does.
Like @Jeanne I didn’t like any of the Syntakt demos, or at least not many of them, but I could hear the versatility of it, and it’s one of my favorite devices now.
I don’t know if that means it’s for you…
I personally really like FM sounds in general, and the weird kind of sounds that you can get with all the little machines of the ST. I also like pushing them in different ways and using unconventional machines for different things and really exploring their range. There’s a lot to play with, on top of the FX block.
So for me, it makes a lot of sense. But if that’s not your thing and you’re just looking for a more conventional drum machine, it may not have enough to interest you.
When I don’t like something I tend not to spend money on it. Just saying. Maybe I’m the weirdo here…
If you didn’t like any demos of such a popular device that’s been on a market for 2 years, it probably means it can’t do what you like. Or in best case it’s very difficult to do it. If you really want to try it, get one used, so you won’t lose much money when you sell it. And if you end up actually liking it, even better.
Im super familiar with both of these producers and also have a syntakt and would say Syntakt isn’t going to cut it.
Both producers use a combo of traditional Latin percussion and experimental, processed percussion and the syntakt is only going to do the latter. You’ll def want something that can play samples - digitakt, mpc. INVT are really big on the Roland TR-8S for Latin percussion sounds so that might be an option too
I always say buy based on sound above all, but all the demos of the Model:Cycles didn’t impress me at all and it turned out to be one of my favorite Elektron boxes of all time. I took a gamble on it, but only because it was $300.
@cmnorm, I say see if you see any potential in it. If you don’t care for the analog sounds that will be half of it you will never quite enjoy. If you like the digital side of things maybe it’s worth it and maybe the analog side will have some use.
I think it’s worth trying out. You can always return it.
Check out Twisted Electrons Blast Beats- it cured my syntakt and machinedrum hunger(almost)
I’ll be honest, I love mine. I also think that a lot of the stuff one the internet is posted before creators go beyond the surface level of what a device can do. I’ve made some insanely thick sounding stuff with the Syntakt. The key is layers and creative use of the filters/lfos/FX. Somebody who I think generates great sounds from the Syntakt is @substan - I’ve posted a fave example below:
My advice — if you do get a Syntakt, be sure to give it some real quality time and attention before you decide how you feel about it.
It’s a blessing and a curse that you can whip up ideas so quickly/easily on Syntakt. It’s great for instant gratification, but if you don’t go further then you won’t really find your sound with it. This is true of so much gear today — you get out of it what you put into it — but doubly true of Syntakt since it’s so easy to skip off the surface and never really see its true potential.
So yeah, be sure to dive all the way in and resist the temptation of instant results. You have an awesome network of Syntakt specialists here to support you if you have questions or need inspiration.
Personally I’ve made that mistake before with different gear. If you’ve really listened a lot and don’t like the character of the demos that you’ve heard, I’d take a pass. Even if it’s possible to find design some enjoyable sounds, it’s going to be a frustrating experience going uphill against the default you don’t like.
Digital and analog synth character varies greatly from instrument to instrument. Many are still very capable of making great music, but it doesn’t mean they’re all interchangable or things you’d get along with.
Depends a lot on your creative process though. A lot of good stuff has come out of people that wish they had better or more expensive gear in the past.
I wasn’t really keen on most of the YouTube vids either, I did really enjoy some though.
I was a bit apprehensive about getting it, but figured I’d give it try because I love the digi workflow, and there would be a tiny learning curve.
Turned out to be one of my most usable synths ever. 12 tacks, analogue and digital, and the chord machine is great if you have a good ear but little theory like myself.
Yes I prefer the sound and deeper synthesis of the Digtone, and yes I prefer sampled drum sounds from the Digitakt. However, for an all in one box to hammer out tracks and improvise it doesn’t get better imo.
If I had to do a gig with one box, purely improvised, I’d choose the Syntakt no question.
It’s my second choice! But still waiting to see if all the bugs and stuff get fixed soon… if not i’m still really comfortable with ableton as a sampler (but it can’t do analog…)
That was also what I thought! But only for the percussive part, cause maybe some of the synth melodies/stabs they use might be possible.
Are u making similar music? Or what do u use the Syntakt for?