Elektron Syntakt Review - 5 things I LOVE about it!
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 2 авг 2024
- We've had the Elektron Syntakt for 18 months and have made countless of songs on it. So we can say without hesitation that it's the most fun groovebox we've used so far.
In this review (and tutorial), we share the 5 things we love the most about the Syntakt. Each of these things have changed how we make music, and to a large degree they've also changed how we think about hardware vs software.
You can download the project files for all of the music played in the video from our Patreon community by visiting / sineway .
We'd love to hear what you think! Join us in the comments and share your thoughts on the Syntakt.
The jam Still Waiting which was referenced in this video:
• Syntakt jam: More synt...
Some of our other review/tutorial content worth checking out about the Syntakt:
• Syntakt vs Digitone - ...
• Syntakt vs MC-101 - St...
• My 5 favorite creative...
00:00 Intro
01:36 Feature 1: Ctrl+All
05:06 Syntakt is a remix generator!
07:36 Feature 2: Parameter Locks
11:54 Feature 3: Overbridge
13:16 Comparison of Syntakt stereo out vs DAW mix
16:14 Feature 4: Analog FX Block
18:50 Feature 5: Workflow
19:39 Making a song from scratch
23:16 More on workflow
24:55 Wrapping up
25:52 It's not perfect
#elektron #syntakt #groovebox #review #tutorial reviews #electronicmusic #sequencer #fmsynthesis #drumcomputer #drummachines 
Видеоклипы
Hope you'll find some inspiration from this review and tutorial! Let us know what you'd like to see next on the channel. Some ideas include making a full song from scratch, how to get a decent mix on the Syntakt itself, reviews and/or comparisons of the Syntakt/MPC/Push 3, and/or of course more jams. Thanks for watching and for keeping the discussions going. ❤️✨
Great video, and I really like the tracks you showed off. I just ordered a Syntakt myself, and your video is making me really excited to play around with it as soon as it arrives!
Thank you for the positive feedback! Hope you'll have lots of fun making music with the Syntakt. It's definitely one of those devices that rewards deep explorations, the more you use it, the more it starts to sound like "your sound" rather than the "Syntakt sound". 😊
@@sinewaymusic Good to know! Looking forward to dialing in my own sound.
Awesome work, subscribed 👍
Thank you for the feedback, much appreciated! Looking forward to seeing you around here in the future, much more to come. 😊
I have the same workflow, I try making the full track on syntakt with only 3-4 patterns, overbridge into ableton and do the mixing there as well as adding some extra goodies like a 909hat or some fx’s, vocals, and fine tune the arrangements. Once that’s done I begin a new song within the same project on syntakt and start building a live set, one song at a time. Also any extra goodies from ableton I add to my digitakt and have them both synced for live performance. Such a sweet duo
goodies?
@@christdolphin69 samples!
That sounds like a really thought-out process that is extremely similar to ours but adapted to live performances too. Indeed, the Digitakt really plays nicely with the Syntakt. I'm curious about an eventual mk2, let's see if it's announced next month? 🙏 Thanks for sharing your workflow here, it confirms that we're on to something. 😊
I own a syntakt. Absolutely love the thing & it was the first bit of gear I bought. Recently bought an octatrack & although I understand it can do so much, it feels like a much older device and I can't get over a few tiny things it does /doesn't do that the syntakt does better. Tiny as in, when saving, the track keeps playing in syntakt and stops on the mkii. The immediacy of the syntakt vs the learning curve of the mkii also makes me want to resell mkii immediately - I have too much to learn on ableton to spend sm time learning the mkii. Id buy a second hand digitakt, but the mkii rumours make me hold off. Thanks for your video!!
@@DuckTreeGaming I have never tried the Octatrack myself but the lack of Overbridge honestly makes it a non-starter for me. Yes, I'd buy a Digitakt instead and it does seem like we're all in a bit of a holding pattern on that one until Elektron speaks up about it. 😊
00:18:10 the following 30 seconds is spine tingling
edit: ive pressed this time stamp at least 10 times already
THIS VIDEO IS INCREDIBLE. IT GIVES ME FEELS.
Wow, I'm so happy to read your comment, it put a big smile on my face! Thanks for watching and listening. And yes, that analog filter is awesome, right?!
thank you!!!
Thank YOU! Hope you found it useful or at least entertaining. 😊
Nice review
Glad to hear you liked it, thanks for commenting! 🙏
Great overview, I’ve been looking for a clear general demo of the Syntakt, and this is it. Definitely feeling the “ all “ feature. The Elektron work flow is alien to me , but up for it…. I just hope there is a sample playback engine in the digital machines…. Cheers 👾
Hey there, glad you found the overview helpful! Yeah the Elektron workflow is probably not for everyone, but somehow it just really works for me. I'm quicker on the Syntakt than on any other device. One thing, I really don't think they'll add a sample playback engine. I mean, I'd absolutely love it if they do, but I just don't think they will. Cheers and have a great weekend!
This video is awesome and the first song is so great
Thank you so much! We will definitely make an effort to finish and publish that song later this year. Appreciate your comment. Hope you'll have a great week ahead.
Musically, for me these are the best demonstrations of what the Syntakt can do. Lush, melodic, progressive sounds. Makes a nice change to the dark dub techno (at best) or structureless noise (at worst) demos floating around. I appreciate there is a place for both, but I enjoy listening to your music so these videos are great.
Hey Andy, I really appreciate you taking the time to write that. It means a lot and it made me smile. The gamut of what the Syntakt can do is pretty wide and it definitely has its own signature sound that you have to work a bit to push outside of. It took us a while to discover the sounds we like the most on it and, looking back at some of the oldest jams, it's clear it's been a journey. 😊 Thanks again for the feedback!
Guys this channel is awesome inspiring
This comment made my day, thank you for your positive energy and encouragement!!
It only just clicked for me that Drive "goes to 11" 😆
Haha, yeah seem to have a sense of humor and playfulness at Elektron, which translates into the experience of their instruments. 😊
Why didn't they just make 10 louder?
@@mellemellor It's a reference to the 1984 film This Is Spinal Tap. 😊
@@sinewaymusic As is my comment :)
@@mellemellor Haha, it's been too long since I watched it. 😂🙈
In my case, you're preaching to the choir! But I did enjoy the video and found it helpful. Two things I want to try: 1) simulating a snare by changing the kick transient on 2 and 4, and 2) using the analog block with a single instrument. I've avoided using the analog block altogether since it's not really Overbridge-friendly.
Hey, honestly that's the best form of GAS when it's about something you already own and love! 😊 I'm glad I was able to share some new tricks to explore. It's actually one of the key reasons why I enjoy watching other people's reviews of gear I already own myself. Thanks for stopping by and let me know how you find it. The Analog FX Block is my new favorite now that I've "unlocked" it by dedicating it to one track. 😊
@@sinewaymusic Hopefully I'll be able to say the same soon! Then the delay/reverb track will be the only throwaway on Overbridge! 😂
Perfect analysis of the Syntakt 👍. I started making elektronic music last year, quickly going through a few volcas, roland airas and an mc-101, but it all felt a bit unfocused. Then I decided to sell them all to invest in a Syntakt, which was a perfect decision for me. I really gel with the workflow and immediacy of making music with the Syntakt and I actually like that it has some limitations (like you mentioned as well about nog going through endless presets to find the perfect sound/sample). The only thing I really miss is some polyphony and I would like to add a polyphonic synth to complement the Syntakt (Digitone, Minifreak, …?), but can’t decide which one to pick 😊.
That sums it up nicely! The Syntakt is a great way to focus. For me personally, it also allows me to make music "on the go" around the house, which is only possible if the number of cables are minimized. Since you seem more open to hooking gear up at a more stationary location, those are some interesting options for polyphony. My take: if you're into the hybrid workflow and you're fine with just one polyphonic track, the Minifreak does look like an interesting option since it comes with a VST for use in the daw. Plus, that allows you to play freely with a velocity-sensitive keyboard (on the Digitone you'd need a separate midi keyboard for that experience). Personally, I probably would go with the Digitone though because I prefer to work with one device at a time, and the Digitone would lead to different musical ideas than the Syntakt. If money was no issue, I'd probably buy both. 😂
@@sinewaymusic Thanks for the advice. Yeah, Digitone is highest on my wishlist right now, but I would love to have both DN and Minifreak indeed 😁
@@stofbug Sounds like we think alike. I'd be curious to hear how you like the combo once you decide. 😊
If I can throw another consideration into the mix for you: the Roland S-1. It sounds fantastic, is tiny, portable, battery powered, and importantly, polyphonic. Great combination with the Syntakt.
@@andyraps I had the S-1, but sold it to finance my Syntakt 😊, I really liked the device though, so if I would only want to add one polyphonic track I might buy it again 😄
Great video, learned a lot from this video. One trouble I've had with Overbridge is that the output from my Syntakt is always really quiet. Have looked up this problem online and on the Elektronauts boards, and I can't seem to figure it out.
Glad you were able to learn something new from the video. 😊 I've noticed the levels being low using Overbridge too. There's a gain setting in the Settings page, isn't it? +6 dB or something, can't remember. However my recordings come out quiet anyway. But for digital tracks, it doesn't really matter and I just crank up the gain in the DAW instead. For the Analog tracks, make sure you increase the track levels to the max as well as the amp setting. They will sound louder during the recording but that can be fixed later when mixing. Or you just accept a slightly higher noise floor on those tracks - it's never been a problem in my real-world mixing. Hope this helps and thank you for commenting!
@@sinewaymusic Ah ok, I'll try that! But yes, this video has been very instructive. Have only had my Syntakt for three weeks so I'm still learning it, but the discovery of CTRL + All blew me away yesterday lol
@@sebastiancastillo8704 It makes me very glad to hear that our video could spread the knowledge about it. Another little trick (I'm not using this enough myself) is to hold down a parameter page button and press Yes. That randomizes all parameters on that page. If you're more into preset browsing than I am, this is sort of a way to browse for an endless stream of random sounds. Maybe you'll eventually stumble over something really cool. 😊
100% agree!
It sure is a fun little device!
Finally a showcase video with original sounds and not reeking of preset smells xD
Great video!
I appreciate your comment! It probably helps that I hate preset browsing. 😂 Thanks for watching and for the feedback on the video. Much more to come. 🙏✨
How do you mix the tracks you send through the FX Block when using Overbridge to record? Do you solo and record each track going through the FX individually or blend the FX track in with the dry signal for the final result?
Hey there. As I'm explaining in the video, the key trick is to pick *one* track to route through the FX block for this to work well. So no, I don't record multiple takes because that would defeat the purpose of recording the jam live in front of the camera. I would only route multiple tracks through the FX block if they were related - for example, maybe a couple of percussion tracks could share the same bus. But so far I've been having the most fun routing a specific synth sound, like a lead or a bass, through it. Hope this helps!
@@sinewaymusic Ah that does make a lot more sense for getting a proper mix after the fact, thanks for clarifying! I'm still debating on what the best approach to a live hardware performance would be. I've thought about just recording and mixing the Syntakt then stemming out the final mix to a sampler for more of a DJ set but ideally I'd like to perform directly on the Syntakt and just run the direct outs into a mixer in which case the FX Block's filter and ducking abilities seem crucial for getting a cleaner sounding live mix.
what is the command on syntakt for ctrl all? There is no ctlr button and there is no all button?
Good point, I'm demoing this extensively in the video. You hold down the TRK (track) button and twist a knob. That then modifies the parameter that knob is controlling for *all* tracks at the same time. Hope this helps!
Four months in, how do you like the Syntakt for its sound design capabilities? I'm also an MPC user and I love its versatile workflow, but I too missed the sequencer of the Elektron boxes. But to me, the Syntakt is like the worst combination of the Digitakt and Digitone: no per-track polyphony, very shallow FM synthesis, shallow melodic sound design overall, tinny hi hat machine, no arp, no chorus, no resampling, etc etc. Yes, on paper it had 12 tracks and is both analog and digital, but in practice, if just sounds thin. I think I'll go back to accepting that I'm way more productive on the MPC and look for inspirational synth sounds elsewhere, like my Hydrasynth.
I just read this comment of yours on someone else's video. And now you're in love. That seems very good to me. It seems like you have to give it time. greetings
Seeing this made me smile. I first read it as if it were your question, then there was something strangely familiar with it. Out of curiosity, where did you find it? 😊 I bet it's nearly two years old now.
Anyway, you're absolutely right that you need to put in the time to appreciate what it can do. And you do need to work with it to get it to sound the way you want - or at least I do. To be perfectly honest, I would have loved to see polyphony in the form of voice sharing across grouped tracks, it would open up so many more possibilities. And we made a separate video about how we often add chorus to the leads and pads to make it sound warmer and wider. If this were a pure synthesizer, I wouldn't have bought it. The magic comes from its combination of synthesis *and* sequencing and that unique workflow of morphing not just a particular sound but an entire musical phrase into something completely different. This leads to so many new and interesting ideas.
Thanks for commenting and reminding me of my journey with it!
@@sinewaymusic I'm glad you didn't take it the wrong way, I came across you on several forums and I also really like you. I have the 3 Elektron boxes which I haven't even gotten a drop of juice out of and while watching videos analyzing whether to sell them I came across your video which makes me wait a little longer before selling it. We will see what happens in the future. Thank you
When you modulate while live recording, does it playback linearly or per step?
Great question! So when you twist an encoder live, it will affect the parameter linearly, as in "free floating". But when you add a parameter lock, it will jump to that parameter value instantly when playing that step. Now, if you have parameters locked *and* you twist that same parameter encoder while jamming live, it will technically jump to the locked parameter value when it reaches that step in the sequencer, but you can still "unlock" it before it reaches the next step by twisting the encoder. So in essence, it's a bit of both at the same time when you perform live - which is actually part of the fun too. For example, there's a white noise type of "crash/cymbal" sound when I'm jamming freely in the end on the Analog FX Block demo, and that wasn't programmed to sound that noisy, it was a result of me twisting knobs while the pattern switched. Hope this helps!
@@sinewaymusicit does! Thank you!
Actually, I have been going dawless for a while and I still enjoy mixing Elektron sounds with Roland, they really need one another. 😅
Yeah, the Syntakt can definitely benefit from some added elements in the DAW. In the jam called Memories, we did add some additional synths to round things out. That's more of a personal preference, but I much prefer to work with one piece of hardware gear at a time to avoid all the cables and midi mess, but if you're more comfortable with that, an Elektron and Roland combo is pretty darn hard to beat!
1 - The MC101 doesn't not have thousands of snare drums 2 - the perfect snare does exist
Haha, well I talked about the daw, not the MC-101 in particular. 😊 You'll have to share with me the perfect snare though, I haven't yet found it! Thanks for watching the review. ✨
I'm baffled on how Elektron can just sell "the workflow" and deliver a device that has no polyphony, no sample loading, and no battery compartment/rechargeable battery for USD 1000, and I'm even more baffled on why Roland or Korg can't just make a decent workflow.
Yeah, it seems like anyone can create a sawtooth oscillator, but I guess designing a really good workflow is the real challenge? So in the end, perhaps a good sounding synth is the easy part? 😊
@@sinewaymusic They have solved the good sounding synth part since the 90's. As for the UI... they "think" they solved it since the 90's too. I think that's the reason the most legendary Roland, Korg (and even Yamaha) instruments are keyboards, sound modules or have awful sequencers that nobody uses.
It makes perfect sense within the Elektron environment. You don't need sample loading, the Digitakt exists. Polyphony? Digitone.
One box to rule them all never really works. Too many compromises.
@@Nik.leonard Yeah exactly. But that's why when you wrote to "*just* sell 'the workflow'", I'm thinking "isn't that actually the hard part that makes it all worth it?" In the end, I could make my DAW sound like any synth out there. But that's not what makes me attracted to hardware gear. It's all about the workflow and hands-on experience, and Elektron has done the best job yet at nailing that part. All in my opinion, of course. 😊
@@leftmono1016 In theory you're right, but with the excellent Elektron workflow, I really don't think the Syntakt would become too much of a compromise if they added a few more machines and effects.
I have all three "Digi" format Elektrons as my main OTB gear and over the past year or so, Syntakt has become my favorite of the three. BTW, that track starting at the 2:00 mark is fantastic. Overall, this vid has some very clear examples of how the Syntakt in the right hands is a synthwave beast.
Wow, thank you so much for those words, they mean a lot. We hope to finish and publish that track soon. Actually what I felt was missing was a few variations and the recording of this video helped me generate them. 😊 So now maybe we're ready to stitch the song together. Thanks again for your comment. I agree, between the three Digis, this is the most fun one. Let's see if there's a Digitakt mk2 coming out soon though, I'd be thrilled about that one for sure! 😂
@@sinewaymusicHow do you know about Digitakt Mk2, did they send one to Bo already? 😂
@@meilstone Haha, maybe? 😂 But jokes aside, I really don't know and I'm speculating just as much as anyone else at Elektronauts. 😊
Where can I find information on how to configure volumes in Ableton. ?
Do you mean the gain of the recorded stems from Syntakt? You can double-click on the stem and there you can adjust the gain for the sample. Hit Shift+Tab to toggle between the stem view and the fx rack view. Hope this helps!