Sync TWO Analog four together

Elektron Gear Analog Keys/Four
1

Is it possible to sync two A4 together for 12 channels of sequencing?

Start/stop and midi clock for lfo delay etc

2

Yes. A4 can send and receive Clock, Transport, Prog change (patterns) to sync 2 units.

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3

I actually do this - I have 2 A4’s and they both receive clock transport and program changes from my Digitakt

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4

So it’s a really tight and seamless sync?

Let’s say I just want to use the two A4 's. No other sequencer.

They stay locked and I can pull up whatever patterns when and where I want?

I just bought an A4. I’m thinking I should buy two.

One more question: I can sequence two external devices per machine with CV out, right?

5

I don’t have much experience with CV control. for midi sync it seems about as tight as any 2 devices midi-sync’d together would be expected to be. If you are asking about if changing a pattern on one device results in the other device changing pattern to the ‘same’ pattern address, then yes this works well

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6

yes, if you only want to sequence gate to trig an envelope and pitch CV, then you can sequence 2 voices. Or, you can do all sorts of other stuff like have 1 voice but have the CV control other things like cutoff etc…

7

fyi, you can disable that if you want, so that the same patterns don’t load when the master changes…

8

Ok. So If I wanted to sequence note on/off for two external synths with CV inputs, each A4 can do this? I have a Moog Sub37 and Minitaur. The sequencer can control these? They each have pitch/filter/volume/gate CV inputs.

9

So I could have each A4 controlling 6 voices independently - if I include the CV output?

So a total of 12 patterns across 12 voices?

10

you’d need one cv to provide the gate and the other to provide the pitch CV.
There’s only one CV track so I don’t think you can have 2 pitch CVs, but maybe you can with plocking - I’ve never tried. I’ve only ever setup the one CV track to provide clock, gate, pitch CV, and then control some other parameter.

And no, you could never have 12 voices since you’ll need whatever you’re controlling to be triggered by a gate.

11

You can use the FX track for CV/gate output along with the CV track - so sequencing 6 mono ‘voices’ per A4 is possible

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12

That’s what I was thinking. Never say never. :slight_smile:

13

If I sequence an external synth with the FX track what happens to the FX?

What’s the FX track for?

14

I simply want to sequence as many synths as possible with the two A4’s. I have always used MIDI, so this CV thing is new for me. There appears to be TWO “stereo” CV outputs on each A4. This allows me to control the pitch/note and gate on/off for TWO separate synths, right? It essentially will let me play my external synths with A4 mini button kyeboard?

I also want to use the inputs as FX processors simultaneously. There are TWO inputs per A4. My understanding is that these two inputs can be tapped by the FX processors.

If my understanding is correct, these features make the A4 really powerful.

I bought two for these purposes. Was I correct in my thinking?

15

Sequence Fx parameters. You can use synth tracks 1-4 to control FX sends.

Correct thinking apparently.

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16

As mentioned, p-locking effects settings or triggering envelopes etc
The note info can be used as a CV source (any track can be a CVsource)

17

pretty much yep - especially for a pair of CV mono synths - the mini keyboard(or external midi) can play directly or the sequenced track can be running of course

18

You can control only one synth with CV outs from the A4. Theoretically it would be possible to misuse the lfo channel to send trigger impulses and another V/Oct signal from the other two outputs independently from the CV track but that requires a lot of parameter locking and the workflow would be terrible. I´d rather buy a sq1 or a keystep and use the A4´s midi output to keep it in sync. The A4 has two midi outs that can serve to keep other gear in sync. Works like a charm, I have an Analog Rytm, a TR8 and my modular running in sync with the Analog Keys (which is identical to the A4 in terms of its midi and cv specs).

19

So many conflicting answers.

Well, I do hope to use the A4’s for FX and also as a 4-voice drums/perc and the other as a 4 voice synth.

I have an RS7000 that it seems can be triggered start/stop from the A4 MIDI, right? I also have a DSI PROPHET 6 desktop and DSI OB-6 desktop and they both have sequencers built in. I wonder if the A4 can start/stop trigger these sequencers via this MIDI out? These two DSI synths have a CV type SEQ input for triggering too.

I was hoping to control 4 synths directly via those two stereo CV outputs and to be able to sync my two DSI via MIDI so that everything is locked together for live performance.

In a studio setting all of this can be worked out. Live is a different story. I wanted create a system that could be used live and in the studio with very few changes.

20

I beg to differ, many folk including myself do this :thup:

There are 4 CV channels, two pairs of CV/Gate, two tracks (CV & FX), easy !

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