Whenever I hear these skilled compositions on a single bit of kit it makes me question the need for a table full of gear and a wall full of synths. Great work.
elektron boxes have always been known to be all in one composition + sound design boxes. you just need to take the time to learn what they're capable of. be willing to learn and explore and extract the most out of the limitations which exist (which, with elektron, the limitations always have a way around them)
Yeah... most of the gear probably isn't necessary. I downsized to just a hardware daw and one synth and I'm really happy with it. It's what I needed all along.
@@ToyKeeper This is exactly me when I got the Digitakt in 2021 an built a RE303, really enjoyed this setup. Years ago had loads of gear sold it off then buried my head in Cubase but now all hardware again but 'streamlined' so I can jam and have a bit of fun so added a Shruthi XT a Cyclone TT03 and an Octatrack.
Thank you very much, man! IME, it's a lot easier to make music on a single groovebox. You get more options with more gear, but you also get way more book keeping. One box is super immediate because it's so limited compared to a bigger setup. But that's honestly why I'm able to put out tracks often :D
dude, im here to tell you that the absolute best sketches/tracks/jams youve ever done have been on the analog four. its a crazy deep instrument but still, it can be hard to really dig into to the subtle sound design options to create something unique and still musically interesting. and then take those sounds youve created and build a complex and aurally pleasing arrangement with 4 mono tracks like i imagine someone seeing this, buying the a4 mk2, then turning it on and hearing the initialized pulse (or it is saw?) wave dco sound. but if you know anything about elektorn, youll know that its only limited by your creativity and skill. this is incredible. amazing work
Thanks a lot, man! I'm really happy with me A4 tracks. Yeah, it really does take some time to get used to. I've had more than a few sessions with the A4 where I wasn't happy with the results, but that's mostly because all the parameter ranges are so wide that you have to really look for the sweet spots. And all the sweet spots move around depending on how all the parameters interact with each other, so there's a lot to explore.
A4 is my desert island synth. It’s a swiss army knife tool and sound design platform that even after all this time is pretty much without competition. People say the A4 sounds clinical and sterile, I think it’s more just very very flexible to the point that it can be difficult to find sweet spots without coming at it with deliberate intent to sound design. Your work as a sound designer has always been totally ace with the elektron stuff, Thanks for all the music 🤘.
Hehe, that's exactly what I set out to do when I made the first pattern here. The patch itself is really simple, just the basic saw waves but I put a bit of vibrato on it, and also a slow triangle LFO to detune the 2nd oscillator a tiiiiny bit over time. I agree that the A4's init sound is clinical and sterile. Like you said, it's super flexible and not really hard to make it sound more alive, you just have to learn the right parameters to tweak. Making patches on the A4 is hard work, but very satisfying once you stumble upon something awesome :D
"clinical and sterile" I see this thrown around a lot and there are a few synths I think it applies to. The A4 isn't one of them. I think the Novation Peak is clinical and sterile. There is something about the A4 that makes it the best sounding DCO based synth I've ever heard. It has a certain liveliness. It's not just the excellent overdriven filter, though that helps. It sounds like an older VCO synth.
@@daemonelectricity I've been going through buyers remorse waiting on the A4 to show up today. I thought to myself "I should have went with the Peak instead". And then I run into this video and your comment. Now I can't wait to get it home and warmed up.
I've been away from Elektron's world for a bit, and this channel. I recently got a Digitakt II, refurbished my Digitone's buttons and now I find this glorious piece. Love love love.
Anyone thinking its easy to get nice evolving tones like that out of the A4 should think again....its the most difficult Elektron box to master in my experience....its capable but you really have to work to get decent sounds.....
I agree. I've had more than a few sessions with the A4 where I wasn't happy with the stuff I've made, but man, it's really satisfying once you discover a really nice sweet spot to start making sounds out from!
Aaaah spooky coincidence! Just this morning I was thinking of those records from a few years back doing the analog4 challenge. Not a wonder you did this well too. Very nice.
man, you just attempting to do all this without song mode is an inspiration. I have a hard enough time remembering the Quick Performance knob macros and when I’m supposed to use it, let alone trying to pattern switch and deal with the whole QPR page at the same time lol.
I *LOVE* this! Your "space exploration through a couch jam" is my favorite video of yours and I've listened to it endlessly. It inspired the latest jam I posted on my channel, which was a feeble attempt to make something as beautiful as you did, and then you post this, which feels like a proper sequel, and I'm amazed and inspired again. Thank you so much for sharing your art.
Thank you very much, man! These sorts of melodic patterns without drums are really satisfying to make. I'm glad you like that one, and it's funny how this one turned out to be like a sequel to "space exploration through a couch jam," hehe :D
Brilliant as always. Ivar is by far the best inspiration for getting the Elektron gear off the shelf. Too bad I can only dream of making music like this.
I'm interested in the SE-02 for the same reasons I want a boog, the main difference being that the SE-02 has better midi implementation while the boog has CV connectivity (though a bit limited compared to other semi-modulars).
That was MAGNIFICENT. It really is analog. You are correct and your demonstrative skills are sublime. You can always pick an Elektron user because we hit [stop] twice. 🎛🎛
Thank you! I agree, I think this would go very well with drums. At the time I had already used up all my "music making energy" and called it a day. But yesterday I played around with these A4 patterns through the octatrack and added drums! Slightly different vibe, but here it is: ruclips.net/video/kVLZKLFDJts/видео.htmlsi=UGybea1J2Kb9KnPE
@@one23johnson Thanks a lot! I've been eyeing the boog for a long time, but I want something with a bit more CV connectivity. Love the idea of the Minibrute 2s, but I'm not particularly interested in any of the demos I've heard of it. I've been looking for semi-modulars that don't take up too much desk space, mostly.
Yeah you've got a4... but have you put your hands on a Subsequent 37? Love the track as always! But seriously, one Elektron with a full size knobby monosynth is *heaven*.
Yeah, that's exactly why I've been GASing for monosynths, particularly something that is knob-per-function, and preferably with a few patch points for CV connectivity with my A4 :D
@@microfx It'd be fun if the monosynth has its own sequencer, so I can use the A4's sequencer at different length from the monosynth's sequencer to make melodies, while the monosynth's sequencer changes parameters
Somehow i always run into trouble setting up the efx in A4. Somehow the reverb sounds to small of to big and the chorus doesn't really do it's thing. Any tips how to set these up more effectively?
Very cool! I really love the sound of the A4, but sold mine as compared to my other synths… I don’t love the interface. It’s all there… but yeah, just not for me I guess.
Thank you! That's definitely understandable. Sound designing takes more effort on the A4 than other synths (I have limited experience with non-Elektron stuff though), and sometimes advanced features isn't what you need, but immediacy. A4 is amazing, but IME it's not all that immediate.
@@IvarTryti the many thing i would want from a one knob per-function thing would be a wide sweet spot...on the elektrons you can fine-tune patches to sound like a moog or an sh101 but that sound is very DIALED in to the state. so having something with a big sweet spot would be cool that being said it would be cool to see how the a4 mkii differs in tone from my AK. maybe i'll join the patreon and try the project to find out
@@0e0 Yeah, the sweet spots on the A4 are really small in my experience, but there are plenty of them all over the place. It involves a LOT of exploration! Having a synth with big sweet spots at the cost of being a bit more limited is something I'd like to try one day.
Yep, everything is made on the A4 itself, and recorded in one take. I did run the stereo recording through Maximus (multiband expander) and Limiter6 GE in post to """master""" it, though!
Hehe, for what it's worth, the mk1 is pretty cheap on the used market nowadays, at least here in Norway. I highly recommend the mk2 if you plan on using it standalone though. The knobs, buttons, and screen all make it so much more comfortable to use than the mk1, in my experience.
Not only digital controls, but digital reverb, delay, chorus, and noise. Would be fun to try using a 100% analog device, but I can't imagine I'd be able to make anything nearly as complex as this in one take!
Whenever I hear these skilled compositions on a single bit of kit it makes me question the need for a table full of gear and a wall full of synths. Great work.
elektron boxes have always been known to be all in one composition + sound design boxes. you just need to take the time to learn what they're capable of. be willing to learn and explore and extract the most out of the limitations which exist (which, with elektron, the limitations always have a way around them)
Yeah... most of the gear probably isn't necessary. I downsized to just a hardware daw and one synth and I'm really happy with it. It's what I needed all along.
@@ToyKeeper This is exactly me when I got the Digitakt in 2021 an built a RE303, really enjoyed this setup. Years ago had loads of gear sold it off then buried my head in Cubase but now all hardware again but 'streamlined' so I can jam and have a bit of fun so added a Shruthi XT a Cyclone TT03 and an Octatrack.
Thank you very much, man! IME, it's a lot easier to make music on a single groovebox. You get more options with more gear, but you also get way more book keeping. One box is super immediate because it's so limited compared to a bigger setup. But that's honestly why I'm able to put out tracks often :D
@@IvarTryti Awesome.
Best sounding Analog 4 demo I have ever seen by a freaking mile, including the official Elektron stuff
check out other Ivars A4 songs... best A4 player
Bit reductive to call it a demo. It's a proper song he made.
Thank you very much!
@@burkovmotion299 Thanks a lot!
@@bluntobjct Thanks, man!
One of the best A4 sounds and performances I’ve seen.
Lovely sounds.
Thanks a lot, man!
dude, im here to tell you that the absolute best sketches/tracks/jams youve ever done have been on the analog four. its a crazy deep instrument but still, it can be hard to really dig into to the subtle sound design options to create something unique and still musically interesting. and then take those sounds youve created and build a complex and aurally pleasing arrangement with 4 mono tracks
like i imagine someone seeing this, buying the a4 mk2, then turning it on and hearing the initialized pulse (or it is saw?) wave dco sound. but if you know anything about elektorn, youll know that its only limited by your creativity and skill.
this is incredible. amazing work
Thanks a lot, man! I'm really happy with me A4 tracks. Yeah, it really does take some time to get used to. I've had more than a few sessions with the A4 where I wasn't happy with the results, but that's mostly because all the parameter ranges are so wide that you have to really look for the sweet spots. And all the sweet spots move around depending on how all the parameters interact with each other, so there's a lot to explore.
A4 is my desert island synth. It’s a swiss army knife tool and sound design platform that even after all this time is pretty much without competition.
People say the A4 sounds clinical and sterile, I think it’s more just very very flexible to the point that it can be difficult to find sweet spots without coming at it with deliberate intent to sound design. Your work as a sound designer has always been totally ace with the elektron stuff, Thanks for all the music 🤘.
Hehe, that's exactly what I set out to do when I made the first pattern here. The patch itself is really simple, just the basic saw waves but I put a bit of vibrato on it, and also a slow triangle LFO to detune the 2nd oscillator a tiiiiny bit over time. I agree that the A4's init sound is clinical and sterile. Like you said, it's super flexible and not really hard to make it sound more alive, you just have to learn the right parameters to tweak. Making patches on the A4 is hard work, but very satisfying once you stumble upon something awesome :D
"clinical and sterile" I see this thrown around a lot and there are a few synths I think it applies to. The A4 isn't one of them. I think the Novation Peak is clinical and sterile. There is something about the A4 that makes it the best sounding DCO based synth I've ever heard. It has a certain liveliness. It's not just the excellent overdriven filter, though that helps. It sounds like an older VCO synth.
@@daemonelectricitytotally agree on the peak (also hydra)
They can be made to sound good too. But they can’t get to these levels
@@daemonelectricity I've been going through buyers remorse waiting on the A4 to show up today. I thought to myself "I should have went with the Peak instead". And then I run into this video and your comment. Now I can't wait to get it home and warmed up.
man, you bring out the best out of these boxes.
Thanks a lot!
I really love the stereo spread on this one--just a nice beautiful wide but focused field.
Thank you very much! I've been working on making my tracks wider lately. I'm glad you like it!
Lovely! Deadmau5 vibe
Thank you!
I've been away from Elektron's world for a bit, and this channel. I recently got a Digitakt II, refurbished my Digitone's buttons and now I find this glorious piece. Love love love.
please release this jam its absolutely insane man
Anyone thinking its easy to get nice evolving tones like that out of the A4 should think again....its the most difficult Elektron box to master in my experience....its capable but you really have to work to get decent sounds.....
I agree. I've had more than a few sessions with the A4 where I wasn't happy with the stuff I've made, but man, it's really satisfying once you discover a really nice sweet spot to start making sounds out from!
This screams. Someone needs to record a live drum track for it.
Thanks, man!
Agreed, but part of the magic is that it doesn't need drums
This is like Tangerine Dream:, it's written to not have drums, there are percussive synths that do the job.
Love love love love love this. Ace. Well done.
Thanks a lot!
@@IvarTryti I'm back listening to it again today :) Trying to sell a few things to grab a used MKI too.
Aaaah spooky coincidence! Just this morning I was thinking of those records from a few years back doing the analog4 challenge.
Not a wonder you did this well too. Very nice.
Thank you very much!
man, you just attempting to do all this without song mode is an inspiration. I have a hard enough time remembering the Quick Performance knob macros and when I’m supposed to use it, let alone trying to pattern switch and deal with the whole QPR page at the same time lol.
I *LOVE* this! Your "space exploration through a couch jam" is my favorite video of yours and I've listened to it endlessly. It inspired the latest jam I posted on my channel, which was a feeble attempt to make something as beautiful as you did, and then you post this, which feels like a proper sequel, and I'm amazed and inspired again. Thank you so much for sharing your art.
Thank you very much, man! These sorts of melodic patterns without drums are really satisfying to make. I'm glad you like that one, and it's funny how this one turned out to be like a sequel to "space exploration through a couch jam," hehe :D
I'm still listening to this over and over, months later. Honestly one of my favorite tracks of all time.
Great stuff as always! Really love how you make something simple sound so complex and satisfying.
Thank you very much! I did make an effort to not over-design the sounds in this one! At least during the first pattern :D
dude this is the best thing ive heard from A4 great job
Thank you! I'm really proud of this one.
soo beautiful !!!
Thank you!
How did a miss this gem? ❤
favorite track so far!
Thanks a lot!
Brilliant as always. Ivar is by far the best inspiration for getting the Elektron gear off the shelf. Too bad I can only dream of making music like this.
Hehe, thank you very much, man!
Everytime, this guy, with the amazing dawless jams
Hehe, thanks a lot!
Damn. What a riff!
Thanks a lot, man!
Man once again you rule! Epic!
THank you very much!
Wow. Just floored mate. I can never get mine sounding this nice lol
Hehe, thanks a lot, man!
another beauty, thanks ivar
Thank you!
Dude! What a banger!
Thank you!
master piece
Thank you!
Inspiring as ever! ❤
Thanks a lot!
Wooooow! This is incredibly inspiring. I need to go spend some quality time with my A4…
Thanks a lot, man! Yeah, go for it! :D
Insane. Fantastic work 💯💯💯
Thank you!
That very first synth lead patch ❤ one of my favourite sounds. It reminds me of Poly by Daphni
Thank you very much!
This is super beautiful!
Thank you so much!
Excellent work!!! 🌌🤌💥
thank you!
beautiful
Thank you!
Boah klingt das satt! Sehr geil!
Thanks a lot!
Nice programming!
Thank you!
You always inspire. Wow.
Thank you verey much!
Great moody track. Very nicely composed.
Thanks a lot, man!
Never worry about the limitation. It's in our nature to use it to explore new things to come. Keep up the good stuff. ❤
Perfect!!!
Thanks!
Wow, fantastic!
No new synth necessary ;)
yay!
🙏
Great song!
Thanks!
That is lovely. The A4 is a kind of GAS cure ... whatever I find I am desiring ... 'but I already have an A4'! Most recently it was the Syncussion
Thank you! Yeah, I'm really glad I have the A4 :D
Beautiful! ❤
Thank you!
Incredible.
Thanks!
Boards of Canada vibes, love it!
Thank you very much!
Thanks now I need one of these
It’s all about being Ivar, not the A4.
Hehe, thank you!
@@danpreston564 Thanks a lot for the kind words, man :D
Great composition!
Thank you!
Yussssss love this track
Thank you!
I'm inspired! 😊 🔥
I'm glad to hear it! Thanks :D
nice , great musician
Thank you!
Meanwhile, you're making us have GAS for the A4 😂
Hehe, oops :D
Instant favorite. Shower of harmonics I needed.❤
Thank you very much!
Crazy stuff makes a great atmosphere!!!!!
💯🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Thank you!
I've been pairing my A4 with an SE-02 for years now and it's close to perfect, especially when running the Roland's audio back in :)
I'm interested in the SE-02 for the same reasons I want a boog, the main difference being that the SE-02 has better midi implementation while the boog has CV connectivity (though a bit limited compared to other semi-modulars).
agreed
AHHHH another banger
Thanks a lot!
When Deadmaus meats BoC. Lovely stuff
Thanks, man!
My thoughts exactly. This is incredible
That was MAGNIFICENT. It really is analog. You are correct and your demonstrative skills are sublime. You can always pick an Elektron user because we hit [stop] twice. 🎛🎛
Thank you very much! Hehe, double-stop is super useful :)
awesome
Thanks!
amazing machine😍🤙🙃
Yeah, A4 is on my never sell list!
Excellent! Now pair this with some drum patterns with your signature groove on say DT or Rytm for an extended journey!
Thank you! I agree, I think this would go very well with drums. At the time I had already used up all my "music making energy" and called it a day. But yesterday I played around with these A4 patterns through the octatrack and added drums! Slightly different vibe, but here it is: ruclips.net/video/kVLZKLFDJts/видео.htmlsi=UGybea1J2Kb9KnPE
Awesome demo, I should spend more time with my analog keys...
Thanks! And go for it. The A4 is on my never sell list :)
Godt gjort!
Tusen takk!
Great Track 👌!
How do you program the individual tracks? With an external MIDI keyboard or step by step directly into the A4?
Thank you! I sequenced everything on the A4 itself. Sat with the A4 in the living room with headphones :D
🤯
🙏
What analog mono synths you got gas for? I recently got a Cascadia and I’ve been in love
Beautiful track by the way
@@one23johnson Thanks a lot! I've been eyeing the boog for a long time, but I want something with a bit more CV connectivity. Love the idea of the Minibrute 2s, but I'm not particularly interested in any of the demos I've heard of it. I've been looking for semi-modulars that don't take up too much desk space, mostly.
@@IvarTryti- I’ve been looking at the Kobol because of its amazing CV connectivity…
GODMODE 🩶🩶🩶
Nice! What filter you using for the bass? Can I get the same sounds on the analog rytm?
Thank you! The 2nd filter is using the default 4-pole HP setting, and it's key-tracked to boost the fundamental note with a bit of resonance.
Yeah you've got a4... but have you put your hands on a Subsequent 37? Love the track as always!
But seriously, one Elektron with a full size knobby monosynth is *heaven*.
Yeah, that's exactly why I've been GASing for monosynths, particularly something that is knob-per-function, and preferably with a few patch points for CV connectivity with my A4 :D
@@IvarTrytiwhat would you patch?
@@microfx It'd be fun if the monosynth has its own sequencer, so I can use the A4's sequencer at different length from the monosynth's sequencer to make melodies, while the monosynth's sequencer changes parameters
this makes me think.. my compositions really lack filter automation :D
also fine job but you know it
Somehow i always run into trouble setting up the efx in A4. Somehow the reverb sounds to small of to big and the chorus doesn't really do it's thing.
Any tips how to set these up more effectively?
I love this analog but me skill is zero 😮 you are best
Hehe, thank you very much!
Very cool! I really love the sound of the A4, but sold mine as compared to my other synths… I don’t love the interface. It’s all there… but yeah, just not for me I guess.
Thank you! That's definitely understandable. Sound designing takes more effort on the A4 than other synths (I have limited experience with non-Elektron stuff though), and sometimes advanced features isn't what you need, but immediacy. A4 is amazing, but IME it's not all that immediate.
I definitely get a lot of analog mono mileage out of my Analog Keys
Yeah, that's awesome!
@@IvarTryti the many thing i would want from a one knob per-function thing would be a wide sweet spot...on the elektrons you can fine-tune patches to sound like a moog or an sh101 but that sound is very DIALED in to the state. so having something with a big sweet spot would be cool
that being said it would be cool to see how the a4 mkii differs in tone from my AK. maybe i'll join the patreon and try the project to find out
@@0e0 Yeah, the sweet spots on the A4 are really small in my experience, but there are plenty of them all over the place. It involves a LOT of exploration! Having a synth with big sweet spots at the cost of being a bit more limited is something I'd like to try one day.
Is it internally sequenced?
Yep, everything is made on the A4 itself, and recorded in one take. I did run the stereo recording through Maximus (multiband expander) and Limiter6 GE in post to """master""" it, though!
Wish I'd not sold mine
Hehe, for what it's worth, the mk1 is pretty cheap on the used market nowadays, at least here in Norway. I highly recommend the mk2 if you plan on using it standalone though. The knobs, buttons, and screen all make it so much more comfortable to use than the mk1, in my experience.
Latterlig bra...seriøst sykt bra
Please more A4
I'll probably be using the A4 more down the line!
... apart from the effects 😅
And digital controls and noise generator!
Digital control over analog isn't 100% analog,sorry,but i love it anyway
Not only digital controls, but digital reverb, delay, chorus, and noise. Would be fun to try using a 100% analog device, but I can't imagine I'd be able to make anything nearly as complex as this in one take!