Electron ANALOG 4 Reference Manual
A reference guide for using Elektrons Analog Four Synthesizer.
A4 Is developed by Swedish company Elektron and is an
analogue four voice synthesizer. 2 Analogue Oscillators, 2 Sub
Oscillators and a Noise Osc per voice. It contains 4 synth tracks,
FX Track, CV Track, and Sequencer.
ANALOG 4 REFERENCE GUIDE
A BLUESKYREPUBLIK PU
BLICATION
ANALOG 4
REFERENCE
GUIDE
A BLUESKYREPUBLIK
PUBLICATION
INTRODUCTION
This guide is designed as a reference, based more on workflow.
Full details are given in the official A4 manual and hence this
guide a quick reference rather than in depth detail on each
parameter. It should be used in conjunction with the official A4
manual. It is ideally suited for new users but hopefully there is
also something for the more experienced user too.
Conventions used in the text
[FUNCTION] Physical Buttons are shown in square brackets.
(LEVEL) Rotary controls shown in curved bracked.
Combinations are shown with a + inbetween control sequence
i.e. [FUNCTION] + [KEYB C1]. Items shown in red on the A4 are
selected by [FUNCTION] + X.
Elektron: www.elektron.se
Elektron Forum: Elektron User
Blueskyrepublik Videos: www.youtube.com/user/BlueSkyRepublik
CONTENTS
1. REFERENCE IMAGE
2. CONFIGURATION
3. GLOBAL
4. TRACKS & SOUNDS
5. KITS
6. SEQUENCER
7. PERFORMANCE MODE
8. CHAINS & SONGS
9. MIDI & CV
10. OTHER I/O
11. MISCELLANOUS
4
2. Configuration
The A4 contains 4 Voices, with 2 Osc, 2 Sub Osc and noise Osc per voice plus a ladder filter
and a multimode filer each.
Voice 1 to 4
Voice X (x4). Parameter pages are shown
Ouput Section
OSC 1
Page 1
OSC 2
Page 1
Noise OSC
Osc1 Page 2
LADDER FILTER
MULTIMODE FILTER
Filter Page 1
Overdrive Distortion
1/2 Mod & Sync
Osc2 Page 2
Sub
OSC 1
Page 1
Sub
OSC 2
Page 1
AMP
VCA/PAN/ ENV/VOL
CHORUS
DELAY
REVERB
ENVF
Page 1
5
Modulation Section (Env & LFO)
External Routing (to FX Track)
ENVF
Page 1
2x ASSIGNABLE
DESTINATION
s
FILTER CUTOFF’s
FIXED DEST
ENV2
Page 2
2x ASSIGNABLE
DESTINATION
s
LFO1
Page 1
2x ASSIGNABLE
DESTINATION
s
LFO2
Page 2
2x ASSIGNABLE
DESTINATION
s
INPUT
Left
INPUT
Right
PAN
PAN
VOL
VOL
CHORUS
DELAY
REVERB
CHORUS
DELAY
REVERB
6
Song Structure
3.0 Global
Accessing Global Settings
Press [FUNCTION] + [KEYB C2]
Navigating menus
1. Select Global Slot in global Menu
2. Use the [˄] and [˅] buttons (under the display) to navigate up and down
the menu options
3. Use the [<] or [>] buttons to select each parameter setting for the
selected option
4. Press [Yes /Save] to confirm / save the selection. Some parameters auto
save and this selection isn’t required.
5. Press [No / Reload] to cancel and backup from menu
Track 1 (Synth)
Track 2 (Synth)
Track 3 (Synth)
Track 4 (Synth)
Track 5 (FX)
Track 6 (CV)
SONG
•
Series of Song
Rows incl Chains
•
Max 16 songs
•
Songs are
played row by
row – top to
bottom
PATTERN
•
Trigs for Synth, CV &
FX + Trigless Locks
•
Parameter Locks
•
Trig Mutes
•
Accent. Swing &
Slide Trigs
•
ARP & Note
parameters
Linked Kit info
Track length / Time
Signatures
A
E
B
F
C
G
D
H
BANK
8 Banks host 16
Pattern 1 (A01)
A02
A03
KIT
•
Up to 4 Sounds
(1 per track) plus
CV and FX track.
Max 128 kits.
•
Level Settings
•
Performance
mode
parameters
•
Kits are linked to
patterns for
sequencing
_ _: 1x
A02 A01 A02
00: 4x B01
01: 1x D04 A04
02: 2x H01
03: 1x A01 A02
CHAIN
•
Sequence of
patterns shown in a
song row.
•
Max 64 chains are
available with 256
patterns
7
Global Slot Selection
Up to 4 storage slots are available to save global configurations
1. Select Global Mode
2. Select ‘Global Slot’ in the menu options
3. Use [<] or [>] to select the desired slot
4. The setting flashes until [Yes / Save] is pressed to confirm.
Any global parameter changes will be stored in the selected slot
Synth Config Setup
Not recommended to change
1. Select Global Mode
2. Select ‘Synth Config’ in the menu options
3. Press [Yes / Save] to select
4. Select the ‘Master Tune’ and use [<] or [>] to adjust (440Hz default)
5. Use [<] or [>] to select ‘Calibration’
6. ‘Calibration’ op up widow appears, select [Yes/Save] to start or
[No/Reload] to cancel.
Other Options available in the
GLOBAL settings (detailed
elsewhere)
• Midi Config
• CV Config
• Sysex Dump
• OS Upgrade
4 Track & Sound Control
Track Configuration
Track 1- Synth Track, used for synth sounds per track
Track 2- Synth Track, used for synth sounds per track
Track 3- Synth Track, used for synth sounds per track
Track 4- Synth Track, used for synth sounds per track
Track 5- FX Track, used for effect send setup and external audio
Track 6- CV Track, used for controlling external CV and Gate signals.
See Song Structure in Section 2
Loading a Sound to a Track
1. Select a track to edit (1-4) by pressing [Trk 1], [Trk 2], [Trk 3] or [Trk 4]
2. Press [FUNCTION] + [KEYB D1] i.e. Sound
3. Select LOAD TRACK SOUND press [Yes/Save]
4. Use (LEVEL) control or [<] [>] buttons to browse stored preset sounds
5. Select [Yes/Save] to load highlighted sound
Or
1 Press [No/Reload] + [KEYBD D1] i.e. Sound for Quick Reload
Note: Sounds which are used in a sequencer pattern will show a step
indicator to avoiding changing sounds used in other patterns
Track LED Status
LED to the right of the button indicates:
☼
Red
Selected for Edit Unmuted Audible
☼
Green
Deselected Unmuted Audible
☼
Amber
Selected for Edit Muted Inaudible
☼
Off
Deselected Muted Inaudible
Muting / Unmuting Tracks
Select [FUNCTION] + [Trk X]
X = Track Number
8
Saving Sounds
1. Select a track with sound to store by pressing [Trk 1], etc
2. Press [FUNCTION] + [KEYB D1] i.e. Sound
3. Select SAVE TRACK SOUND press [Yes/Save]
4. Use (LEVEL) control or [<] [>] buttons to browse to sound slot (max 128)
5. Select [Yes/Save] to store to highlighted sound slot
Or
1 Press [YES/SAVE] + [KEYB D1] i.e. Sound for Quick Save
Renaming Sound
1. Select a track with sound to rename i.e. [Trk 1], etc
2. Press [FUNCTION] + [KEYB D1] i.e. Sound
3. Select RENAME SOUND press [Yes/Save]
4. Use (LEVEL) control or [˄] [˅] buttons to change character
5. Use [<] [>] buttons to change text position
6. Press [Yes/Save] to store new name
Clear Sound from a Track
1. Select a track with sound to clear i.e. [Trk 1], etc
2. Press [FUNCTION] + [KEYB D1] i.e. Sound
3. Select CLEAR TRACK SOUND press [Yes/Save]
4. Press [Yes/Save] to confirm or [No/Reload] to cancel
Clearing a Track
1. Select a track to clear i.e. [Trk 1], etc
2. Select GRID RECORDING Mode by pressing [REC]
3. Press [FUNCTION] + [PLAY] i.e. Clear : Press again to UNDO
Copying / Pasting Track
1. Select a track to Copy i.e. [Trk 1]
2. Select GRID RECORDING Mode by pressing [REC]
3. Press [FUNCTION] + [REC] i.e. Copy
4. Select a Destination Track i.e. [Trk 2]
5. Press [FUNCTION] + [STOP] i.e. Paste : Press again to UNDO
Adjusting Sound Settings
1. Press [FUNCTION] + [KEYB D1] i.e. Sound
2. Select SOUND SETTINGS, press [Yes/Save]
3. Scroll to desired setting;
• Oscillator Drift – Select to increase warmth by adding subtle pitch drift
• Legato Mode – Active = Envelopes not retriggered for overlapping
keyboard or midi notes. Does not affect sequencer notes.
• Portamento – Pitch Slide between notes (Midi / Keyboard) Note Slide is
used for sequencer. ON / OFF / LEGATO (Overlapping notes only)
• Velocity to Vol. How midi velocity will affect volume. OFF / LOG
(Logarithmic curve) / LIN (linear curve) / EXP (Exponential)
• Velocity Mod
• Pitch Bend
• Modulation Wheel
• Breath Controller
• Aftertouch
9
Playing a Sound
Use the Keyboard Keys to play a sound
C# D# E# F# G#
●● ●●●
○○○○○○○○
C1 D E F G A B C2
Use the
[˄] [˅] keys to move the keyboard octave up and down. Octave Led
on the left of the keyboard shows current position
Simulating a Chord Sound
1. Select ‘5th’ as Sub Oscilator Type
This will play a note 7 semitones below when playing notes
Editing a Synth Sound
1. Select a track with sound to edit by pressing [Trk 1], etc
2. To change the Track level use (LEVEL) Control (Left hand bargraph on
display shows set level)
3. Select PARAMETER page to edit [Osc1, Osc2, Filters, Amp, Env, LFO]
4. Display changes to show the selected parameter list. Where 2 pages
exist pressing the PARAMETER again will change to page 2.
See configuration section to see location of sound parameters.
Adding FX to Sounds
Chorus, Delay and Reverb are available on the FX track. See the
configuration section for order of effects.
1. Select a track with sound to edit by pressing [Trk 1], etc
2. Select the Amp section by pressing [AMP]
3. Adjust the control for (CHO) (DEL) (REV) to change the send amount.
4. Select the [FX] Track 5
5. Switch to the selected effect by pressing the [Chorus],[Delay], [Reverb]
button (these are indicated in grey under the performance buttons)
6. Adjust the effect settings as desired.
Note: The chain of effects means that Chorus signal can be routed to Delay
and Reverb, Delay signal can be routed to Reverb.
Quick Save & Reload of Track
1.Press [Yes/Save] + [KEYBD E1] i.e.Track for Quick Save
1. Press [No/Reload] + [KEYBD E1] i.e.Track for Quick Reload
Parameter Set
10 per page
Page No Bar
Level for Track
TUN FIN DET TRK LEV
WAV SUB PW SPD PWM
120
.0
OSC1
1:1:1
■
_ _ : [
A01 ]
KIT
gggg----YAZOO
YAZOOYAZOO
YAZOO
OFF
OFFOFF
OFF
OSC1
A01
A01A01
A01
10
4.1. Envelopes and LFO’s
The A4 has a number of configurable modulation sources.
Track 1-4 Each Contains
• An output stage AMP Envelope per track.
• 2 Configurable and routable modulation envelopes per track, ENVF and ENV2.
• The first envelope ENVF also by default is linked to the 2 Filter’s cutoff.
• Each Envelope as 2 assignable modulation destinations.
• T2 LFO’s per track are also configurable and routable to 2 destinations each.
• These modulation sources form part of the synth track section and therefore are saved
with the sounds.
FX Track contains
• 2 Additional LFO’s (each with 2 destinations) dedicated to modulating the FX track
parameters.
• These modulation sources form part of a kit and therefore are saved with the kit.
Adjusting Amp Output section
Envelope
1. Select the Track to Adjust eg [Trk 1]
2. Press [Amp] performance button to select the Amplifier output
parameters
3. Adjust the ADSR and Shape setting as required.
Assigning an Envelope to a
track sound
1. Select Track to adjust eg [Trk 1]
2. Select sound Envelopes by pressing performance button [Env]
3. Press [Env] button to toggle Page 1, ENVF and Page 2 ENV2 to the
desired envelope.
4. Use control (G) or (I) to select Envelope destination
5. Adjust (H) or (J) to change depth i.e. amount of envelope used to
modulate the selected destination
6. Adjust the other Envelope parameters ADSR etc as desired
Assigning an LFO to a track
sound
1. Select desired Track to adjust eg [Trk 1]
2. Select LFO by pressing performance button [LFO]
3. Press [LFO] button to toggle Page 1, LFO1 and Page 2 LFO2
4. Use control (G) or (I) to select LFO destination
5. Adjust (H) or (J) to change depth i.e. amount of LFO used to modulate
the selected destination
6. Adjust the other LFO parameters Speed, Wav etc as desired
Assigning an LFO to the FX
track
1. Select FX Track to adjust [FX]
2. Select LFO by pressing performance button [LFO]
3. Press [LFO] button to toggle Page 1, LFO1 and Page 2 LFO2
4. Use control (G) or (I) to select LFO destination (FX Specific)
5. Adjust (H) or (J) to change depth i.e. amount of LFO used to modulate
the selected destination
6. Adjust the other LFO parameters Speed, Wav etc as desired
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