The Elektron Syntakt is a hybrid tabletop groovebox that masterfully combines analogue and digital synthesis in a compact, immaculately built unit. As the third addition to Elektron's 'Digi Trinity' alongside the Digitone polyphonic digital synthesiser and Digitakt drum computer, the Syntakt carves out its own unique identity while maintaining the signature Elektron aesthetic and workflow.

Design & Build Quality

The Syntakt features Elektron's retro-inspired signature design with a sturdy, sleek black-powder-coated steel chassis that ensures the unit won't move a millimeter during use. The front panel houses a sharp 128×64 pixel OLED screen flanked by smooth encoders and colour-lit computer keyboard-style buttons that are highly satisfying to press, though slightly rattly. At approximately 1.53 kg, the unit feels substantial and tactile, rewarding on-the-fly adjustments and spontaneous creativity. The physical dimensions measure 215mm × 176mm × 63mm (including knobs and feet), making it perfectly sized for desktop use or integration into a portable setup.

Sound Architecture

At its core, the Syntakt offers 12 audio tracks plus 1 dedicated FX track, split between analogue and digital synthesis engines. The analogue side comprises three slots for Analog Drum Machines and one for an Analog Cymbal Machine, while eight digital tracks provide access to 11 selectable machines ranging from bass drums and snare drums to tonal synths and percussion elements.

The analogue tracks offer an impressive selection of 19 machines across the three drum tracks, including seven bass drum variants, five snare drums, two rimshots, three tonal synths, one impulse generator, and one noise generator. The dedicated Analog Cymbal track provides 13 machines spanning six hihat variations, three cymbal sounds, two cowbells, plus impulse and noise generators.

The digital tracks are equally versatile, featuring dedicated bass drum, two snare drum options, cymbal/hihat, percussion, clap, and five distinct tonal synth machines. This hybrid approach creates a vast sonic palette capable of everything from precise drum programming to otherworldly synthesis and experimental noise generation, with faint echoes of both the legendary Machinedrum and Analog Heat in its DNA.

Effects Processing

The Syntakt's effects section is deliberately focused rather than overwhelming, featuring classic studio-style processors including reverb, delay, drive, and filtering. What makes these effects special is their implementation: the drive and filter sections are entirely analogue, lending significant character to the unit's tonal output. Each digital track includes a digital overdrive, digital multimode filter, and digital base-width filter, while analogue tracks feature analogue overdrive and analogue multimode filters.

The dedicated FX track allows for delay and reverb automation across the entire mix, complemented by analogue stereo overdrive and analogue stereo multimode filter with two assignable LFOs. The Analog Effects Block is a particularly versatile feature, allowing users to route selected tracks through a user-preset effects insert chain of all-analogue drive and filtering complete with modulation.

Workflow & Sequencing

The Syntakt employs a 64-step sequencer per pattern and track, with immense flexibility ranging from 30-300 BPM. Individual tracks can have different pattern lengths and time scale multipliers, enabling complex syncopation and polyrhythmic possibilities. The sequencer supports parameter locks, trig conditions, trig chance, retriggering, micro timing, and includes one Euclidean sequence generator per track.

Parameter Lock functionality is central to the Syntakt's creative potential, allowing users to sequence parameter values and effects alongside or independently of the sounds they modify. A single synth oscillator can drone throughout a sequence while every step shifts waveform, filtering, volume, harmonic balance, and reverb mix, creating dynamic, evolving passages.

Each of the 128 possible projects contains up to 128 patterns stored across eight banks, providing extensive memory for complex compositions. Song Mode enables pattern chaining beyond the 64-step limit, allowing entire songs, passages, or live sets to be crafted and triggered with a single gesture.

Performance Features

The Syntakt introduces several performance-focused innovations. Four Trig Modifiers enable effortless application of user-preset parameter values during live performance. The first two are dedicated to retriggering and velocity control. The Retrig modifier is particularly powerful for live performance, enabling expressive, Aphex Twin-style glitching and ratcheting at speeds from 1/1 to 1/80 note divisions. The velocity modifier addresses previous criticisms of the Digitone and Digitakt by offering four velocity options without needing velocity-sensitive pads. The remaining two Trig Modifiers are freely assignable to virtually any parameter, perfect for real-time manipulation of filter frequency, LFO rate, or reverb depth.

Keyboard mode supports 36 different scales, facilitating melodic composition and improvisation. Each track can be switched to MIDI machine mode, outputting MIDI instead of audio to control external hardware, though this sacrifices the audio on that track.

Connectivity & Integration

The Syntakt is a class-compliant USB device compatible with Elektron's free Overbridge software suite, allowing it to function as a plugin within your DAW or as a sound card itself. Audio connectivity includes two ¼" impedance balanced audio output jacks, two ¼" audio input jacks for external audio processing, and one ¼" stereo headphone jack. All conversion happens at 48 kHz, 24-bit resolution through high-quality D/A and A/D converters.

MIDI connectivity is comprehensive with In/Out/Thru ports plus DIN Sync output for integration with vintage gear. The Hi-Speed USB 2.0 port handles both audio and data transfer. The external input mixer allows routing of outside audio through the Syntakt's effects processing and analogue circuitry.

User Experience

Almost every button on the Syntakt serves at least two functions, which can initially feel complex or confusing, particularly for those unfamiliar with Elektron's workflow. However, once the principles are understood, navigation becomes intuitive and the primary functions remain accessible even in the early learning stages. The screen provides helpful graphics, including playful miniature visualizations like Space Invaders-style graphics for the Bit Reduction parameter on the Sy Bits Machine.

The unit strikes an excellent balance between limitation and open-endedness, providing enough options to encourage creativity without overwhelming users with excessive choices. Effects are clearly laid out on-screen and correspond to the eight data-entry knobs, making real-time sound sculpting immediate and tactile.

Build & Reliability

The Syntakt comes with a 3-year Elektron warranty and includes the PSU-3c power supply. The unit features 100×100mm VESA mounting holes (requiring M4 screws with maximum 7mm length) for flexible installation options in studio or performance environments.

Verdict

The Syntakt represents another triumph for Elektron, cementing its position in the hearts of producers across electronic and experimental music. It's durable, flexible, and excellent-sounding whether at home in the studio or onstage. The combination of analogue warmth and digital precision, coupled with deep sequencing capabilities and performance-focused features, makes it a worthy addition to the Digi Trinity and a compelling standalone instrument for anyone seeking a comprehensive groovebox solution.

Technical Specifications

Notable Features

• Analogue drive and filtering circuits
• Digital and analogue synthesis engines combined
• Real-time parameter adjustment via eight data-entry knobs
• On-screen graphical feedback with playful visualizations
• Class-compliant USB compatibility for plug-and-play operation
• Can function as audio interface/sound card via Overbridge

Audio Tracks

Digital Tracks (×8)

• Machine Selection: 11 selectable machines per track
  • 1× Bass drum
  • 2× Snare drum
  • 1× Cymbal/hihat
  • 1× Percussion
  • 1× Clap
  • 5× Tonal synths
• Effects per Track:
  • 1× Digital overdrive
  • 1× Digital multimode filter
  • 1× Digital base-width filter
• Modulation: 2× Assignable LFOs per track
• Alternative Mode: Switchable to MIDI machine (4-note polyphony per step, 8× assignable CC controls, 1× assignable LFO)

Analog Drum Tracks (×3)

• Machine Selection: 19 selectable machines per track
  • 7× Bass drum
  • 5× Snare drum
  • 2× Rimshot
  • 3× Tonal synths
  • 1× Impulse
  • 1× Noise generator
• Effects per Track:
  • 1× Analog overdrive
  • 1× Analog multimode filter
• Modulation: 2× Assignable LFOs per track
• Alternative Mode: Switchable to MIDI machine

Analog Cymbal Track (×1)

• Machine Selection: 13 selectable machines
  • 6× Hihat
  • 3× Cymbal
  • 2× Cowbell
  • 1× Impulse
  • 1× Noise generator
• Effects per Track:
  • 1× Analog overdrive
  • 1× Analog multimode filter
• Modulation: 2× Assignable LFOs per track
• Alternative Mode: Switchable to MIDI machine

FX Track (×1)

• Delay and reverb automation
• Analog stereo overdrive
• Analog stereo multimode filter
• 2× Assignable LFOs
• Assignable to each track
• External input processing capability

Send Effects

• Delay (global)
• Reverb (global)

Sequencer Features

• Pattern Length: 64 steps per pattern and track
• Tempo Range: 30-300 BPM
• Step Length: 1-64 steps with varying note divisions
• Individual Pattern Length: Per track customization
• Time Scale Multiplier: Individual per track
• Parameter Locks: Full parameter automation per step
• Trig Conditions & Trig Chance: Probabilistic and conditional triggering
• Retrig: Speed range from 1/1 to 1/80 note divisions
• Micro Timing: Precise timing adjustments per step
• Euclidean Sequencer: 1× Generator per track
• Song Mode: Pattern chaining for complete song arrangement

Performance Features

• Trig Modifiers:
  • 1× Retrig modifier
  • 1× Velocity modifier (4 levels)
  • 2× Assignable trig modifiers (any parameter)
• Keyboard Mode: 36 different selectable scales
• Analog Effects Block: User-preset analogue effects insert routing

Memory & Storage

• Projects: 128 total
• Patterns per Project: Up to 128
• Banks: 8 per project
• Total Pattern Storage: Extensive (128 × 128 potential patterns)

Audio Specifications

• Audio Outputs: 2× ¼" impedance balanced jacks
• Audio Inputs: 2× ¼" jacks
• Headphone Output: 1× ¼" stereo jack
• Converters: 48 kHz, 24-bit D/A and A/D
• External Input Mixer: Integrated for processing external audio

Display

• 128 × 64 pixel OLED screen

Controls

• Smooth encoders and colour-lit keyboard-style buttons

Connectivity

• USB: Hi-Speed USB 2.0 port (Class Compliant USB Audio)
• MIDI: In/Out/Thru via DIN connectors
• Sync: DIN Sync output
• Software: Overbridge enabled (free Elektron software suite)

Physical Specifications

• Chassis: Sturdy steel casing with black powder coating
• Dimensions: 215mm (W) × 176mm (D) × 63mm (H) / 8.5" × 6.9" × 2.5" (including knobs and feet)
• Weight: Approximately 1.53 kg (3.6 lbs)
• Mounting: 100 × 100mm VESA mounting holes (M4 screws, max 7mm length)