Elektron Syntakt: Drum Machine or Groovebox? Best Features and Review

I’ve been a fanboy of Elektron ever since I purchased my beloved MachineDrum back in the early 2000s — wow that’s over 20 years ago! Elektron has continued to push the parameters of hardware drum machines and synths. Their designs embrace the spirit of early drum machines, with a nod to classic sounds and designed an updated sequencer that begs to be performed. I’ve watched how Elektron and their Viking spirit have made an impact on how electronic music is made and performed. So when I saw the new Syntakt, I was naturally eager to try it out.

The Syntakt is like a “best of” Elektron in their digi (think Digitakt and Digitone) format, borrowing sounds and features from their flagship drum machine the Analog RYTM MkII, the quirky FM groovebox Model: Cycles and their sound processor Analog Heat.

In this video, I take a look at the Syntakt and take a deep dive through some of my favourite features. Could this be Elektron’s best box yet?

Yes, the Syntakt has more percussive possibilities than you can throw a stick at. Its four analog and eight digital tracks can be used for melody, harmony, and bass sounds too. But it’s that incredibly powerful Elektron sequencer that makes all those sounds groove, with all that flexibility and automation possibilities too. If that wasn’t enough, the Syntakt introduces a new feature, I’ve never seen on a drum machine before — the FX Track and Analog FX Block, where one can sequence an additional set of insert-type effects through a dedicated sequencer track! Bra jobbat och grattis Elektron!

Here’s what Elektron are saying:

“The team here cherishes the musical creativity and output of the Elektron community,” said CPO Gösta Wellmer. “When designing Syntakt we always had the musician in mind. Our goal was to design a highly creative instrument, that is consistent to navigate but with many side tracks to shape your own unique, individual sound. We can’t wait to see and hear what people dream up.”

Add analog distortion and filtering to your mix or separate tracks, using the FX block. Run wild and free with the four expressive modifiers, with different velocities, retrigs, and varied settings of other parameters at your fingertips. Access a variety of different scales via the keyboard mode. And create dynamic soundscapes with the phenomenal sequencer.

There are 35 sound-generating machines to call on, some reimagined from Analog Rytm and Model: Cycles, with deeper sound control for the latter, while others are entirely new to the world. For you to create and personalize your sound, we’ve made sure you’ve got a set of parameter controls tailor-made for each machine. They let you quickly tweak the nature of each type of sound, showing you just the relevant options. 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.

Syntakt lets you route any of your synth tracks or external audio sources through the FX block. This gives you analog distortion and filtering, and a couple of LFOs to go to town with. Additionally, you can also call on Delay and Reverb as powerhouse send effects.

And all of the above effects can be sequenced with the FX track. Have them kick in at just the right moment. Add accents and dramatic changes to the selected tracks or external audio. Or use it as a master track for ducking and gating effects.

With up to four Modifiers, you can set your parameters to four levels of intensity. Unleash your sounds with different velocities, retrigs, and varied settings of other parameters. This offers a bunch of bouncy playability when performing live, and can also be recorded to the sequencer to make sure you capture the good stuff.

Syntakt comes full of filter and envelope goodness. All tracks have a Multimode filter to put to use allowing you to emphasize different parts of your sound, with the digital tracks also able to call on Parametric EQ and a Base-width filter – an additional filter giving you even more sonic control.

Choose from two amplitude envelope types to define the ideal contour of your sound. Try out the ADSR envelope – for your wicked synth lines – or the simpler AHD envelope – perfect for transient percussive sounds.

The world-class 64-step sequencer lets you bring dynamic soundscapes into existence by controlling both structure and sound to such a degree, it’s like a musical instrument in itself. Simply holding any step and tweaking any parameter onto it is an ultra-fast and detailed way of sequencing, or go wild and record your escapades live.

Build your composition one tonal nuance at a time, or real-time record every twist and turn you make. Some call it Swedish sequencing. We call it parameter locking.

Features:

Digital track features (×8)

10 × selectable machine

1 × Bass drum

2 × Snare drum

1 × Cymbal/hihat

1 × Percussion

1 × Clap

4 × Tonal synth

1 × digital overdrive per track

1 × digital multimode filter per track

1 × digital base-width filter per track

2 × assignable LFOs per track

Switchable to MIDI machine

Analog Drum track features (×3)

15 × selectable machine

6 × Bass drum

4 × Snare drum

2 × Rimshot

1 × Dual VCO synth

1 × Impulse

1 × Noise generator

1 × analog overdrive per track

1 × analog multimode filter per track

2 × assignable LFOs per track

Switchable to MIDI machine

Analog Cymbal track features (×1)

12 × selectable machine

5 × Hihat

3 × Cymbal

2 × Cowbell

1 × Impulse

1 × Noise generator

1 × analog overdrive per track

1 × analog multimode filter per track

2 × assignable LFOs per track

Switchable to MIDI Machine

FX track features (×1)

Delay and reverb automation

Analog stereo overdrive

Analog stereo multimode filter

2 × assignable LFOs

Assignable to each track

External in

Performance features

1 × Retrig modifier

1 × Velocity modifier

2 × Assignable trig modifiers

Keyboard mode with 36 different scales

MIDI Machine features

4 note polyphony per step

8 × assignable CC controls

2 × assignable LFOs per track

Sequencer features

64 steps per pattern and track

Individual pattern length per track

Individual time scale multiplier per track

Parameter locks

Trig conditions & trig chance

Retrig

Micro timing

Send effects

Delay

Reverb

Hardware

128 × 64 pixel OLED screen

2 × ¼” impedance balanced audio out jacks

2 × ¼” audio in jacks

1 × ¼” stereo headphone jack

48 kHz, 24-bit D/A and A/D converters

Hi-Speed USB 2.0 port

MIDI In/Out/Thru with DIN Sync out

Physical specifications

W215 × D176 × H63 mm (8.5″ × 6.9″ × 2.5″) including knobs, power switch and rubber feet

Weight approx. 1.53 kg (3.6 lbs)

Overbridge enabled

Class Compliant USB Audio

External Input mixer

More info here: https://www.elektron.se/en/syntakt-explorer

Elektron is distributed by Innovation Music Australia, in Australia.