▲ bo, i really appreciate you following up on this! i loved your initial review, and addressing these comments is super valuable! also, your editing is on point, and so are your sandals! ps. syntakt is on its way to me 💚
Big respect Bo, you always engage yourself in the comments, and I couldn’t agree more about a combination of RYTM and Digitakt in one box. Me personally would prefer combination of the A4 and Digitakt, that includes a master and S/C compression topped of with the sweetest shimmer reverb.
I just want to mention this and put this out there, I value your channel a lot Bo and I think it is extremely important to have such great diversity amongst our fabulous synth gear reviewers on YT … there are tips from your video that I could not find in other places, and that for me is invaluable in getting the feedback I need for a potential future purchase. Keep it up mate, I will have your back any day! And as last note, don’t be so hard on yourself, you make the best Dad-synth-dance bangers of them all! BoomTschakk!
You and Loop bring a lot to the table, whilst Bo has cost me money, you did 1st. Both of you and many others have contributed to what I have amassed as my little humble set up. When I say cost, I mean you encouraged me to buy something i would never have, experimenting with it and keeping it or selling it, it didn't matter, what mattered was I got to experience something 1sthand because you guys showed me benefits of said gear. Just keep doing what you're doing, you do it well and that's all that matters.
Thank you for answering questions about the Syntakt and getting some nuanced information out in the world! ^^ Been wanting to integrate a hardware drum machine into my DAW-dependent setup for a few years now, and after feeling that every drum machine on the market would be a compromise one way or another, it's super refreshing to have something like the Syntakt hit the market and just be exactly what I was looking for. I can't speak for anyone else, but it literally ticks all my weirdly specific boxes as someone who "has been producing for quite some time" and know exactly what I'm looking for :D
While I don't know if I'm going to buy the syntakt. But I love that they used the same black box for this that they used for the digitone and digitakt. It makes it much quicker to learn and they fit so nicely together.
I really like this format of video, Bo! The Syntakt makes me feel lucky to have waited so long to buy an Elektron device. Digital AND analog Elektron sounds & effects in one box - yes please!
@@livinproof718 I have to disagree. They arent better imo. I think the Syntakt is better than the Digitone and the Digitakt is its own system so I dont think you could even remotely compare the two. However I think the Digitakt and the Syntakt together are an incredible combination.
Sorry the internet is so toxic Bo, seeing negative comments popping up on your videos is really sad, this just shouldn't be the place for it.. you seem like such a great guy. Keep doing you. Hope you enjoy the Syntakt and it brings you a lot of joy and creative outlet. I'm holding out to see what the new Polyend (deluge-like) device is all about. Probably my most anticipated gear of the year. This looks really cool but I have a lot of synth drums sampled onto my digitakt already and while I won't have as much control over them, I guess.. I'm happy with what I've got. And that's totally ok 🤣 the Digitakt and digitone keys combo lives on!
I have a few elektron boxes, notably the rytm, a4, and ot. I preordered a syntakt here in the states as I’ve really wanted an all in one type box for traveling or time away from home. Sketch pad / launching point I can plug in and sample or recreate on the big boys when I get home.
Thanks again Bo. Great as always. I'm with you on being excited about this. (mine arrives today). For my live performance setup it will replace my Digitone (I was never that into the fm side but I loved having 4 voice synth in the small form factor). I can't wait to swap out 4 voices for 12! Also being able the process external instruments through the analog effects is huge for me as I run a Quadrantid Swarm and 1010 blackbox through. I don't see this in my studio as the Rytm handles drums and I have other synths (and plugins) for plenty of voices, but for my live performances this is an amazing upgrade. Thanks again!
@@BoBeats But its really worth it in my opinion. You put all the work in the review and you are the best person to answer most questions anyway :) Especialy for products like this, where a lot of people are interested in it anyway. Thanks Bo!
Im really looking into getting one, but what hold me back at first was the fact that you basicly dont get any polyphony outside of the special machine. Especially for MIDI sequencing, that was a huge downer... BUT then i read this on their website: "If you want to invite your other instruments to Syn City, they’re more than welcome. A MIDI machine can be assigned to any of the 12 synth tracks, with four-note polyphony, LFOs and plenty more." And suddenly, im completely hooked again :D
Maybe i should have watched your first impression video completely, so i missed the part where you talked about that... but no one else mentioned it for whatever reason...
The argument that this is a hodgepodge of other devices is weird. I don't have any of their boxes. But this one is the most attractive to me. Taking ideas and things from other devices, and putting them into a new one doesn't make it less good, it allows it to serve a different group of people
This is what an Electribe 2 should have been. The whole Compact Black Series is basically a grown up Er-1, EA-1, and ES-1. It's brilliant, I want all three. I'm poor though.
If you can only have one Elektron box, get the Syntakt. It sounds great, and it's their most "all-in-one" groovebox. But only if you like the Elektron workflow. It's not for everyone.
Great questions! And thanks to the Discord community for addressing mine even though it didn't make the cut. I've not been a fan of the Elektron UI, I feel like they are the scientific calculator of gear, so I will move on. Cheers.
The Elektron interface is a genuinely fresh take on the old concept of a tracker. In some ways, it's a huge upgrade compared to its origins. Like, it has virtually unlimited modifier columns (er, p-locks) per step, and entering the data is easier and more intuitive than editing a spreadsheet. Unfortunately, it's also kind of a downgrade in some ways, and other tracker-derived grooveboxes have arguably made more meaningful improvements. The Dirtywave M8, for example, has less intuitive data entry but has a fantastic song mode which functions kind of like a sequenced multi-track clip launcher. It works really well for composing songs from a bunch of reusable little pieces. Meanwhile, Elektron generally has no song mode at all, and certainly not a multi-dimensional song structure. The amount of friction in the Elektron workflow increases exponentially with the number of patterns. So it's not very compatible with traditional song composition, and instead, people mostly use Elektron gear to make short loops where they (un)mute tracks and turn knobs to make it less repetitive. It's too bad the firmware isn't open-source... because all the downsides could be fixed by modifying the code. The hardware is great, and the sound engines are great, but it could really use a more robust song structure and some workflow improvements.
Matt has been putting out a lot of fun videos, for sure. The Syntakt is the Elektron box that interests me the most so far. I own a Cycles, it frustrates me highly.
A cool hack for polyphony I use on my digitakt and that I guess should work with the syntakt is using a midi filter machine that can cycle thru channels per press.
I really enjoyed this video very much. Both from the perspective of a potential buyer and also as someone who absolutey loves well-made videos (informative and creative) just like this one 😍
I'm a bit taken with the Syntakt, mostly. There are things I wish it did, mostly being able to save pattern chains, and maybe having a song track or two. I also already own the Model:Samples, and I kinda think the two working together somehow would make a great pair. I'm not entirely sure that it's worth a thousand dollars, but it's certainly a capable device. In my case, it would be an excellent addition to my synth world, but so would something like the MPC One.
I was never into sampling much so the Digitakt did not appeal nor did the Digitone. The Syntakt however seemed more flexible, better FX handling and you get to learn the Elektron sequencer, so it’s become my first Elektron box. The irony is that I’ve been looking at the Octatrack now.. 😂
I feel like I read all RU-vid comments all in the same voice and created an imaginary person in my head with a wildly inconsistent personality, but the same look and accent, and a passion for local IPA's
I’ve had m cycles twice thought it sounded good but it always sounded like a m cycles it needed Adsr amps , filters etc .Now it’s got all that with analogue machines , just ordered it to go with digitakt & tone can’t wait.
If the Model: Cycles wasn't my most recent gear purchase, I would love to pick this up! As it is, it doesn't offer enough new for me to upgrade. If there were sample tracks and a rechargable battery, I would strongly consider it. The Deluge has battery power along with synths and samples though, so it would be hard to choose between the Syntakt and Deluge for me.
@@alifeinyellow Grids are EVERYTHING. The more visual aspect of the Deluge is certainly a major plus (but then it has that tiny calculator-like LCD screen)
Nice video. I own the octatrack digitakt and analog four. I had the rytm but sold it a bit of regret and realy wanted to try the cycles. This one gives me improved cycles and a few rytm channel.. Perfect.
I also really hope that Elektron makes some kind of polyphonic sampler. Or really, I just wished that the Digitakt had some of the Digitone's features. If there were voice stealing for polyphonic playback, if we could assign sounds to MIDI zones, maybe give us a little velocity modulation, I think we'd all have a lot of fun. The Digitakt can do a lot of really great synth stuff with samples. I'd just love to be able to take that to it's logical conclusion in an Elektron.
Love how you're "serving yourself" as we say in Swedish. It's very likeable and you come across as so wholesome. Thanks for your hard work in front of the camera!
I have 2 Model:Cycles and a Digitone. Selling the DT and one MC to get the Syntakt. Its like they made it just for me. The only box I want more is the Rytm and honestly I think this might be all i need.
Good point in addressing some of the comments. Still, I can't look at this device and think that basically Elektron throw in the same box bits and pieces of things they already made, instead of going for something new and innovative. Can't blame them; if it sell why change anything? And their device sell well and retain value. Although for anyone that is looking for that new piece of gear that add something that no other instrument can add, the attractiveness is not really there.
Hit the nail on the head. It will sell, and they're a business after all. While not something every hardcore Elektron fan wants, NEW potentital customers will want this; and some existing ones too! Elektron is by far the most "you should own all elektrons, and if you're asking me what device to get next and its not another elektron box I'm confused" bunch yet in my experience :)
@@grandmasterjo1 Hey if those cosmetic and OS updates bring good things, those are still good things. Or, if its really all bad - then you save money and get to explore brands that don't start with E :)
I liked this little series. Thanks Bo. Not for me, but enjoyed checking it out. If I got something in this line, probably the digitakt. From other reviews, it seems the externa sequencing plus samples would be the plus for me.
Thanks for this vid, now the picture is more clear. As an owner of Mono, A4, Okta and Machinedrum, I like this new one more than digitakt and digitone.
I think important information 'i got this synth for free from Elektron' should be right in the beginning of the video. Loopop is always very transparent in such matters, for an example.
Hey Bork. This is not my review. I disclosed this at the start of my review. This is a followup video. Feel free to check out my full review. This is a Q&A style video where I focus on answering viewer quetsions. I generally dont make disclosures on any such videos unless theres a sponsor for said video, which there isn’t.
Like I said: I did disclose. In this video I even have a long section discussing the very thing. and ”for free” isn’t even correct. Not technically and not philosophically. ”Didn’t pay” isn’t correct either. Any machine I receive is a cost: theres taxes and theres the fact that there is loads of work associated with a new device. Think about that for a minute. Its not like they randomly appear out of thin air: I work for it to happen, its a cost to me in terms of money & time and energy. So no, its not free. And yes, its good if people disclose of course. But this notion that its ”for free” is very simplified. Concrete example: If I say yes to test a device and they send a review sample: The sheer time it takes making the video far outweighs the cost of the device. By a long shot. So to me: a ”free” device is a major cost. This being said I don’t mind disclosing. And I agree we could all do better in being transparent. A reason why people arn’t bring transparent tho is because people are all weird about it. If you disclose: AHA, you shill! If you don’t disclose: no one cares. See the issue? This has been my life for 5+ years and since I have often been very clear about sponsorships and ”free gear” I know exactly what its like. So give it some thought.
Thank you, videos like this are very useful 👍 I had Digitone Keys and Analog Four Mk2 a couple of years ago but sold both, partly because of hardward and firmware issues and partly because I concluded that many voices is more important to me than advanced pattern related features. I wish they spent a little more time on quality control and a little less on branding their hipster image. Otherwise, very innovative and capable products!
Thanks Bo for the interesting video. I personally think this is the most interesting machine out of the three elektron boxes (Digitakt, Digitone, Syntakt). Almost reminds me of the old Korg Electribe boxes. The EM-1 was the last edition that came out and it was the most versatile one in the first generation. I kinda see the Syntakt the same way, but also I could be wrong.
I look at it this way of the Digitakt, Digitone, Syntakt as Sample, FM and analogue based rhythm devices and it depends on what you want/need. own two out of three, don't see the need personally for a third.
@@gregorynelson2327 Yeah that’s the most important part, it depends what you need them for. I like the versatility of the Syntakt, combined with my Live II it would make it a nice match. Personally I like the digitone more than the digitakt, but I have limited experiences with both machines.
Mine came today. I got it because I didn't have these kind of tones in my set up. I may keep it or I may sell it. Had an hour with it earlier and it seems OK.
6:10 I agree with this. If you already have some Elektron non-Model boxes, this is probably a bit redundant. That isn’t bad by any means. But this certainly would be a good first or second box for many people.
Interesting that somebody mentioned Model: Cycles. I nearly pre-ordered the Syntakt but instead went down an Elektron rabbit hole and came out with a Model: Cycles to pair with my Analog Rytm MkII.
If it has a 1tb storage and updates are to be expected, than there is something to be said about this. How vorsatile can this storage be used I wonder.
I got a used Rytm mk1, used model cycles and used model samples for only slightly more than the Syntakt is going to cost me....sill going to get one though. Elektron are the masters of overlap ;)
I love Elektron and have several of their products, but I find this new device rather disappointing - especially compared to the Roland MC-707, which I was very skeptical about first, but: I got one and to me it's the ultimate groovebox - it has real polyphony with the powerful synth engine, a sampler and a great sequencer (and with the recent firmware update even the arpeggiator and scene-chaining). My Elektron boxes have been gathering dust a bit now because of the 707 and I certainly won't get the Syntakt. It just seems too limited in comparison.
Yeah. If you want a device to use by itself or as the core of a studio, it's hard to justify getting a Syntakt when things like the MC-707 and MPC One exist. They do soooo much more. I got a brand new Akai Force a few months ago for $100 less than the Syntakt, and it's basically a complete studio in a box. Meanwhile, my Digitakt is gathering dust, waiting for me to export its data and sell it. But for people who really like doing things the Elektron way, and want a single box to make songs on, the Syntakt may be the best thing they've ever made.
Of course I'd buy Syntakt if it has for instance 2 sample player tracks and 2 analog and 8 digital but it will never happedn as it will be the ultimate groovebox that will kill Digitakt. And Elektron doesn't want to compete with themselves. So each new product will lack something so that you'll have to buy other device to complement it. That's how marketing works and GAS is our friend :)
I am experimenting with Syntakt and the the retrokits RK-002. Setup is pretty much the same as the Digitakt and it’s possible to wring out some huge polyphonic chords, albeit using one track per note. SY Swarm really opens up this way.
What would be REALLY cool is a FX box in the lineage of the analog heat...lets call it "Tonetakt"...put all the elektron effects in it and call it a day.
People online seem to be a bit underwhelmed with this release but personally it, as someone in the business says, ticks all the boxes. I already have an Octatrack for sample based stuff. I need some synths and interesting drums: Rytm is a bit too much, A4 is a bit overly complex for my needs too and only four voices, not a fan of fully-FM architecture of Digitone and it sounds a bit too clean for me so Syntakt seems to fit pretty damn well into my personal needs.
Thanks for the video, just want to let you know that your vocal audio seemed to be restricted not sure if your mic has an issue, maybe check it, make sure it's working correctly.
I stand corrected! I totally missed this and this means there should be some sample track hope if theres RAM for it. Let Elektron know if you want this. I still think its unlikely but here is to hoping!!
I'm guessing they will not do sample playback but had to leave the +drive in there because is basically a reuse of the DT form factor with new screen print on the face. Probably cheaper to use the same box as the DT then make one without the +drive in manufacturing.
I think the drive could be used for projects, and settings/sound, but if you can hook it up and look at the space via usb. I think that’s the plan. But who knows?
@@ubiquitousreverser Given their eperience with the Digitakt AND MD-UW it would be shortsighted to not at least leave the option of a sample track open. However, ofcourse the digitakt is the sampling brother (and OT sampling granddaddy) so i'm personally fine that things not get complicated even further.
Great video! Definitely considering buying one but a bit set back because of price point... Bonus question - can you map the chord machine to a scale so it produces both major and minor chord but always in that scale?
Bo! It’s been a minute. They should have thrown some part of the word heat in ‘Syntheatackt’, as there is a lot of heat on people’s opinion’s of this thing out of the gate. Yep, chip prices, product prices up! Boo, but this also includes ‘analog’ circuits, which are more expensive, i.e. more parts, Quality level, over a single black ‘digital’ chip. And you get the 12 tracks of midi too. So if you like the takt workflow, Machinedrum/Analog Rhythm/Model Cycles/Heat kind of thing going with guaranteed future upgrades. That’s a pretty good price over the others aside from the M:C But most will probably want more until they really get deeper. I own an OT, had the Digitakt, and will likely buy the Syntakt one day b/c the flow on the DT over the OT is miles, and w/the form factor and those 3 performance pads for rolls and much more, oh if only they open up sampling.
This is actually what I wanted as I want analogue drum machine and synth sounds. I have Elektron Model Samples and Arturia MicroFreak and together they seem to be able to do more that Syntakt alone but in my case I want one unit to work with. I decided to sell Model Samples and MicroFreak in favor of Syntakt. Am I crazy?
Obviously no samples to use any more but There’s enough crazy sounds that the syntakt can make that Samples wouldn’t always be necessary although there is the £65 PO sampler. Owe and the sonicware smpletrek when it eventually comes out is gunu be a game changer. I also can’t wait to get this syntakt beast next year when I get some money saved. See how this inflating economy goes innit.
Thanks for the video! I've found it so strange the response around this device, it's like everyone expected their next box to be the size of a digitakt, the price of a digitakt, but have all the features of a digitakt, digitone, analog heat, on top of 100 new features. I think this is a great new machine which is perfect for some and wrong for others, and that's okay! (Personally I am hyped 😎)
EXACTLY! it's a great new addition to the elektron mid range. Of course it won't fit everybody's setups. It won't fit mine at this point, but it's a great machine nevertheless
I own a Circuit: Tracks and my old Korg Monotribe. Up to now, I couldn't get much out of them, other than some usual loops. Are there any grooveboxes that actually complement the Circuit Tracks, rather then replace it? Even a Modal Cycles would make more sense than Syntakt, because of the knob-per-function style. Still looking out for my next purchase, as I'm not very happy with the sounds I've been getting so far.
I mean, I basically say the same things as I said in my review. I just put the bit about polyphony at the start except the end. Feels more like a case of people not really watching my vid through. But I will try and put the more critical stuff spread out in my reviews so its easier to get a feel for what I think. Since you never did answer my questions I assume this is what you meant.
