Now that Elektron has redone their line with Mk IIs and new products, a few observations. Skip this if you don’t like long boring posts – sorry.
[details=Observations:]First – Elektron has stepped up their game in the area of engineering and manufacturing. The introduction of one new product, the Digitakt, and the substantial redesign and re-introduction of the ‘Trinity’ in eight months is highly notable. Look for them to maintain this higher pace of growth. Elektron has grown as a brand. Expect new products in 2018.
Second – Overbridge has gained prominence in their line-up. What with its use in their lower-cost synth the Digitakt, its significant improvement in the mid-cost synths the Analog Four and RYTM, and even the inclusion in their effects box the Analog Heat. (That it is not in the Octatrack MkII is a curiosity!)
Third – Summary of current products and prices Elektron offers:
RYTM ________ $1550* ___ Analog and Digital
Analog Keys _ $1400 ____ Analog
Octatrack ____ $1350 ____ Digital, Midi-Sequencer
Analog Four __ $1350* ___ Analog
Digitakt ________ $680* ___ Digital, Midi-Sequencer
Heat ___________ $750 ____ Analog
Drive __________ $380 ____ Analog
*The cost of Overbridge Premium not included with these.
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[details=Conclusions:] Elektron is a very developed strategic planner.
Elektron has grown and is growing. Expect new products soon.
Openings exist particularly at the lower end, and for an anchor product.[/details]
[details=Speculation (aka fantasy) for new products:]
- A series of differently flavored low-cost $350-$500 midi-controlled synths, with Overbridge. These likely will be combinations of single voices pulled from their existing line-up, so a RYTM voice, or an Analog Four voice, or something with Digitakt or Octatrack digital voice – though none will ever be labeled such. These will include a reduced set of Elektron-style controls, and have no sequencer, and will be midi controlled, with a stereo and a USB audio output. Might include effects processing that give each of the set a distinctive flavor. Could have CV control. Outside chance these are Eurorack, though i doubt it; they will be near that size though. This ties into the high-end product below, but also can connect with the Digitakt or the Octatrack as controller.
- A digital equivalent to the Heat very much in the digital effects realm with Overbridge. Around $500.
- An exciting high-end product – An Overbridge Host Performance Mixer. You could compare this to the good parts of the Roland MX-1 expanded and done Elektron’s way. Could perhaps also blend in expansions of audio processing ideas from the Octatrack as well. This is a bunch of USB Overbridge host plug ins, for audio and central (midi) control of the RYTM, A4/AK, Digitakt, the single voice synth series mentioned above, and the Heat and ‘Digital Heat’ as effect processors. Will have many cool performance mix effects, and a fluid mix flow (so you could move effects around for example, or samples to Digitakt). Will also allow connection of audio and midi connections from other manufacturers. This could perhaps total to approximately a dozen I/O channels – most in bi-directional USB Overbridge, with a sequencer for effects and control. Will include a standard video monitor connection with the UI, and the control surface we all would recognize, especially with the new RYTM and A4 Mk II wedge consoles.
This is not a DAW, more a performance mixer, and will play nicely with computer hosted DAWs for recording and studio work. This is intended for performance, but that of course blends into composition as well. I called something like this the ‘Overneath’ a while back.
The staff at Elektron that have been doing the computer based OB UI interfaces will be very busy with this product. Perhaps the low level OS will be a real-time Linux, well disguised.
Pricing will be as low as Elektron can set, so that it is both affordable and profitable, as this drives sales, and is glue for their entire line, and will be a brand symbol. Pricing might be less than you expect.
Will also have a retro video game or hypnotic video display ‘easter-egg’ for fun using the same controls.
I already know that i am wrong with my speculation.[/details]