Elektron Syntakt: The World's No. 1 Drone Synth

I'm calling it: the Syntakt isn't a Drum Machine, it's a Dron(e) Machine.

I have a habit of turning synths into drum machines, it's a bit of a meme for me at this point (and not one I intend on letting up with, fair warning), so naturally, when I encounter a new drum machine (or at least an instrument geared towards beats), it is incumbent upon me to drone.

For real though, the mixture of machines available on the Syntakt mixed with the fantastic character introduced by the Analog FX section (through which all of the tracks are driven) makes the Syntakt a wonderful and inspiring drone machine.

Here, 9 of the 12 tracks are dedicated to drones, which I perform via the mixer, the other three are spare sequences which scatter other sounds across the soundscape (a Cy Alloy, a Sy Tone and an Analog Noise track which is agitating the filter on the edge of self-oscillation).

There's a lot of reverb and delay, of course, but to keep things from stacking up too much I also sent a random LFO to the delay to introduce some pseudo tape wobble (I love that you can do this without MIDI loopback on the Syntakt!).

[OscillatorSink]

The download of the EP includes the project files for the syntakt too.

[visisydandthevoid]

Gonna need one of your excellent tutorials on your method for droning on this one sir 😎😁 I would highly appreciate it

[DreadwoodProphecies]

Very cool! The Syntakt is a great little box. We've been starting to incorporate it into our dungeon synth stuff lately too.

[wendelynmusic]

I've been looking at the Syntakt but I already have a drum machine and I got rid of Model Cycles because I couldn't modify the FM voices enough. But I was concerned the Syntakt was too focused on being a drum machine. It is really nice to hear this and know it is a lot more flexible than I realized. Now I looking even harder at the this synth. I love these drones you are getting. Reminds me of Stuart Dempster and Pauline Oliveiros with their Deep Listening.

[faridessack]

Really brilliant, a 'controlled' Lyra8. Like others I wasn't so sure how organic the synth engines would sound but this is amazing.

[kevincowart]

The first thing I try to do with a new synth is use it in unintended ways. Glad to see I am not the only one.

[tomfenn]

The single most best piece I've heard from this instrument so far. Gorgeous!

[willcoram]

This performance made me purchase one. Thanks. It'll be here in a couple days. Beautiful composition.

[marcusegan]

just bought a syntakt, thanks for these videos. looking forward to more

[MrRarise]

Beautiful…I can’t wait to learn how you brought this gorgeous think to life. Thanks for sharing!

[repeat_defender]

That was stellar. Gives me a whole new perspective on this machine.

[djo]

Video on loop, in the drone zone, getting shit did. Nice work. Receiving mine today.

[silofuse]

Heavy! I got one and love it. Works nicely with the Elektron Distortion Pedal or Analog Heat MK2 for fuzzy drones and pads. Oscillator Sink very nice cinematic drone work.

[kenb]

Oh that bell tolling at the end... genius !

[MattiasRickardsson]

Amazing work!!!
Thanks for expanding our preconceptions! :-)

[helixrider]

What a ride! Beautiful soundscapes in this jam. Though it doesn’t help with the growing GAS I‘m feeling for the Syntakt… 😊

[thandSynth]

Really looking forward to learning more about this. Having a blast with this little beast.

[hexwavemusic]

Well that was cool as hell, loved it ending in that bell

[sbudapest]

SO inspiring! Just brilliant. Thank you OS 👍

[Kung_Fu_Jesus]

Wow, that’s heavy! Such a deep palette when searched for