Elektron Analog Four MKII - How to Send the Sequencer's MIDI Out

We show you how to send the MIDI note and velocity data from your Elektron Analog Four MKII sequences to external MIDI controlled hardware. You can do the same for your MIDI tracks inside of your DAW.
Lets us know which Elektron machine or feature you want to see next!

[@ElektronVideoKlub]

Question: Now that you can send MIDI on the FX track, can you still use the external inputs for external audio at the same time? Answer: Yes. The external inputs will still be able to pass audio with FX even when sending MIDI track data to an external device.

[@MartinStuertzer]

Aaaah thanks! I was stuck there for a while. Hiding the Midi Send in the track menue is an interesting design choice!

[@AvianBreak]

This was super clear and high quality, keep it up! This helped clarify that I should keep my Digitone as my MIDI master, but good to know the A4’s update has some new skills.

[@Lincoln6echoLSE]

Thank you, appreciate the info and the quality of the presentatiom. Something so simple but I was messing around for ages trying to get it work before I found this video.

[@Lincoln6echoLSE]

subbed

[@Tapepusher]

Nice to see an instructional video done properly :)

[@mauromantovani5937]

Wait. But can you sequence the Peak polyphonically this way? I was kinda hearing a chord there. Or was it some oscillator tuned?

[@SKimbrough]

Nice explanations and super clear video especially of the screen close up! Thank you for this video. You seem pretty knowledgeable about the A4 Mk2. What type of camera system did you use that was so clear AND kept away the refresh lines? Your video felt like we were right there with you. Please keep the instruction and simplicity. I just picked one up and am about to get started but I wanted to share some of my videos with family. Glad to subscribe!

[@ElektronVideoKlub]

Thanks Sandy K! We are using the Sony A6600.

[@Judasz696]

Can you use note slide and accent level or is it disabled when sequencing externals?

[@diegodurs]

This is the video I was looker for 🙏

[@Steve-Tr1Bz]

You really should do a comprehensive how to connect external intstruments to the A4.. your missing alot more info

[@Raumweiter]

For clarification: -mk1 and mk2 have the same MIDI capabilities from this update? -it is 6 tracks x 4 Voices = 24 voice polyphony in total? -You can switch midi tracks to mono tracks (each hit cuts the previous note)? -You can set this behaviour to Last/high/low note? -It can record incoming CC from a controller for example and send it out? -when the arpeggio is played and you record while the sequencer runs, it records normal notes or the arpeggiated version? Thank you so much, great video anyway!

[@semilumi]

I realize this is an old question. I'm just getting to know the A4 myself and looking for answers also. All I know that the A4's polyphony is max 4 voices total, that is the internal analogue synth engine's limit. MIDI send track's polyphony is added to this, and is coming from the connected hardware. So i'm seeing this as 4 internal voices + 2 external voices = 6.

[@blackhallmusic]

@@semilumi you can record 4 notes of midi per track x 6 tracks. But you can only trigger 4 analog voices MAX at any time. Analog voices sound are triggered with midi when midi is active. You can turn down or mute the analog track if you don't want to hear it.

[@midinerd]

That outro sequences 2 chords sounds very Twin Peaksy Badalamenti

[@audiolego]

A4 is how I write riffs now to sequence out my 2600 and Virus TI2

[@daftdj123]

It would be really perfect if it was able to sequence CC as well 😪

[@stevengr4]

Sounds good.

[@tendingtropic7778]

Thank you so much for this! One problem: I followed your instructions, and can now 'control/play' the external synth via the FX or CV track (using the built in keyboard on analog four). However, when I record a sequence and play it, it does not play the external synth. Do you know what I'm doing wrong?

[@varnishyourboard]

Pretty sure this one of the limitations

[@j0ju]

Thanks for this, I am just starting to explore midi out on my A4II ... much I do not get here ... How is there a sequence to output on the FX track? I have not seen a sequencer on it, and will it still function for FX at the same time? Also, it is not clear how many of those sounds come from the Peak and if any are from the A4? If so can I have the patch for that bass sound?

[@kuldeepgohel29]

Question: I wanted to get Octatrack MK2 so I sequence 3/4 of my external hardware gears. But I refrained from getting it as it doesn't allow over bridge / multi track recording. Hence I ended up reading about the Analog Four MK2 having the over bridge possibility. So now the question is can I sequence 3/4 of external gears with this and then record the external gear's audio on separate tracks on my DAW via over-bridge? Kindly reply. Thank you very much.

[@neonpop80]

THANK YOU!

[@johng.l.4251]

Hey good morning togehter ✌️ Have anyone of you an idea, why it works with the Tracks 1-4 to send midi to my other devices but not for my fx and cv? Does this function works only with OS 1.50? Greetings from germany

[@ElektronVideoKlub]

Yes this function has been available since version 1.40.

[@varnishyourboard]

I'm getting some wierd random note omissions (almost like a 80% trig condition). Weird.

[@KiR_3d]

Hi! Is A4 sending the _polyphonic_ MIDI out by DIN5 to any capable synth? I was trying to record chords on some T-track of A4 mk2 (internally in a pattern) to sequence my Microfreak. But seems that by some reason it was putting only single notes in a sequence for one track. Is there some "secret" setting to do this? BTW I was playing on Microfreak via MIDI using A4 keyboard and it was sending multiple notes without a problem. This makes me think that I'm doing something wrong.

[@awpMusic1]

Does this work with USB as I can't make it happen! I'm using audio and midi over USB with Overbridge.

[@KILLABOMB_UK]

I don’t suppose the knobs of A4 can control an external synth? Is it just the sequence that send MIDI out?

[@ElektronVideoKlub]

You can control an external synth with the knobs from the A4, but you can't do all the fun parameter locking with the sequencer like you can with the A4 sounds internally. Only sequencer note on/off and velocity data can be sent to external synths.

[@KILLABOMB_UK]

@@ElektronVideoKlub Thxxx

[@armenbazarian2212]

Hey thanks for the video. Noticing that you only have one midi cable coming out from your A4. How is that being split to both your D-05 and the Peak?

[@ElektronVideoKlub]

Peak has a MIDI Thru that is going to the MIDI In on the D-05.

[@armenbazarian2212]

@@ElektronVideoKlub Oh amazing! Thanks for the response. So essentially the Peak is sending a copy of the channel 5 information to the D-05?

[@ElektronVideoKlub]

@@armenbazarian2212 No. MIDI Thru is an exact copy of the data present on the MIDI In. Analog Four can send separate MIDI channels to the D-05 and Peak from its MIDI out. Connect a single cable from the Analog Four MIDI Out, to the MIDI In of your instrument, and then connect that instrument's MIDI Thru output to any other MIDI controlled device.

[@armenbazarian2212]

@@ElektronVideoKlub Excellent - thanks so much for the clarification :)

[@michaelrobinson6612]

If you use a track to sequence midi out, does it mean you can't use that track locally? I'm coming from the Digitakt which has 8 local tracks + 8 MIDI tracks. With the update is the Analog Four MkII now 4 local tracks and 6 external MIDI tracks of sequencing or 6 total divided up as I choose between local and external sequencing?

[@ElektronVideoKlub]

You can use tracks locally in addition to having 6 MIDI tracks. It does not negate a track if you use the MIDI which is why there is a checkbox to engage/disengage MIDI notes being sent out.

[@Funkbutterfly]

My understanding is that the internal and external sequencer are the same. So the most logical thing is to pick and choose which tracks will be dedicated for external gear and which for the internal synth engine. Having both on only makes sense if you want to play the same melody on both the internal synth and an external piece of gear.

[@sebastianesquivelv]

Unlike the Digitakt that has 8 Audio Tracks + 8 Midi Tracks, the A4 and the AR don't have dedicated MIDI channels. Meaning that the same sequence of the audio track, is the sequence you'll be sending out on MIDI. You either sacrifice a channel by sending only MIDI, or you can make make an ext synth play the same notes from the sequencer.

[@hanspeterpanne8802]

thank you for your video! is it possible to send a polyphonic sequence with the fx or cv track?

[@ElektronVideoKlub]

Yes up to 4 notes.

[@colonelpercival2832]

Is it not possible to do this with the analog keys version? Would love to know...

[@ElektronVideoKlub]

It is possible with Analog Keys and Analog Four MKI: www.elektron.se/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Analog-Four_MKII_OS1.40_readme.html

[@smyr1981]

can you do the same with Analog Rythm??

[@everpuremusic]

Yes, except only 1 note per step, instead of max. 4 notes per step on the A4.

[@izme4700]

So can you only use analog four play ‘live’ so to speak once you’ve dedicated your six tracks of MIDI to other stuff?

[@ElektronVideoKlub]

Sorry Im not sure I understand your question. Could you elaborate?

[@imarpushlo]

Hi, did upgrade 1.4 for my analog keys, doen't work via midi with my other gear ( behringer K2 and volca keys), did the setup as shown, only with my DAW it works

[@ElektronVideoKlub]

Hey Imar. If it works over USB but not MIDI, try checking your MIDI Port Config settings and make sure the Output is selected as USB+MIDI or MIDI.

[@imarpushlo]

Hey @@ElektronVideoKlub, figured it out, K2 works on all 6 midi tracks on the ak, the problem is the volca, thanks for your reply

[@douglascarmichael4582]

Can you send program changes/MIDI continuous controllers from the Analog Four?

[@ElektronVideoKlub]

So currently, no. Each track can send note on and off and velocity data over MIDI but no program changes or MIDI CC values.

[@douglascarmichael4582]

@@ElektronVideoKlub Just did some research in the manual and you can set "PARAM OUTPUT" and the "ENCODER/MUTE DEST" parameters in the MIDI "PORT CONFIG" menu to send CC or NRPN data from the encoders and track mute/unmute settings. (Look at pages 57 and 58 in the manual.)

[@ElektronVideoKlub]

@@douglascarmichael4582 Ah my mistake. I thought you meant from the MIDI tracks and not generally from the A4. Thanks for the clarification :)

[@douglascarmichael4582]

@@ElektronVideoKlub Just confirmed on Elektronauts that the CC/NRPN data is only sent out when you turn the knobs, not from the sequencer.

[@jetpacksnake9741]

It would be amazing if plocks could send cc

[@4thumbsdown]

can you show the A4 MK2 recieving midi and audio input from a device??

[@ElektronVideoKlub]

We like the idea Harry! We have been hard at work on a few other videos but we will try to get to this soon. Thanks!

[@pistazienglace4899]

but why doesnt the keyboard send midi?

[@ElektronVideoKlub]

Keyboard DST controls whether the [KEYBOARD] keys will send MIDI note data or not. When set to INT, no MIDI data will be sent. When set to INT+EXT, MIDI will be sent internally as well as externally. When set to EXT, MIDI will only be sent externally.

[@pistazienglace4899]

@@ElektronVideoKlub yea i had this setting from the beginning, but most important is to set OUTPUT to Track Channel and not Auto Channel

[@djangofett4879]

Roland really should re-release the D-05 without those dumb ribbon controllers, spread the interface out a bit with bigger buttons. Maybe even a bigger JV-2080 style editing screen. The ribbon controllers were such a dumb idea. They dropped them with some of the newer boutiques.

[@Johnnyhaag79]

How much polyphony on the midi send tracks?

[@ElektronVideoKlub]

The sequencer can store up to 4 notes of polyphony whether that is for the internal sound engine or the shared MIDI track.

[@Johnnyhaag79]

@@ElektronVideoKlub Thanks for your reply. hmmm. So if i use all four analog tracks (1-4) and use all 4 voices on those... that's it? I was hoping to do that and add a poly synth like the peak and sequence some chords in addition to the 4 analog voices. ??? So I am I completely limited to 4 voices or is that possible

[@ElektronVideoKlub]

@@Johnnyhaag79 You can also use the CV and FX tracks and send MIDI notes to your Peak that way.

[@Johnnyhaag79]

@@ElektronVideoKlub Yes i know? So how much polyphony can i have? 4 on the analog tracks... and how much sending out? I want to use all 4 analog voices on the A4 AND also send out chords (poly) to the peak.... which means like 8 voices or so. Is that possible???

[@Johnnyhaag79]

@@ElektronVideoKlub So 4 notes polyphony per track? Example- track 1 4 poly all analog. track 2,3,4,fx,and cv - 4 note poly each? So I could hook up 5 synths to it, each getting a track, and each could have 4 note polyphony? yes?

[@Johnnyhaag79]

HOly Wow! my dream come true. So the midi send is how much polyphony?????

[@ModernDevotion]

Monophonic it’s a duplicate of the internal tracks so you can layer or mute the internal voice but you don’t get “extra” tracks for midi

[@Johnnyhaag79]

@@ModernDevotion not looking for extra tracks more like more voices. The a4 is limited to 4 analog voices because of the circuitry. But if on the other two tracks you send out 4 midi notes as well. This should work yeah?

[@ModernDevotion]

Johnny Haag if you send c4 on track one you’ll send c4 on midi channel 1 assuming your channels are still set to the defaults. I don’t have an A4 or rytm anymore and can’t recall what the fx and cv channel trig menus are like. But my point is that you can’t use external midi to add extra notes. It’s a replication of what’s entered for the internal tracks. Think of it like layering the other synths on top not as other melodies.

[@TR-707]

i feel like Elektron hired someone to just sabotage the usability and make it totally bizarro and menu divey also f this arpeggiator - its totally unconnected to Midi out. Also you cant overdub record the sequencer? So if you lay down one sound for a basskick then putting in a snare will overwrite it unless you do finger gymnastics in step record

[@harveytherobot]

Well, it is four monophonic tracks, so yes, you can only have one sound on one step per track.

[@smyr1981]

Can you do same with Analog Rythm??

[@TEHBILB]

you've probably figured it out by now but for anyone else - yes the tracks can send midi, however they are monophonic so you can't play chords on external gear (unless you send multiple tracks to the same midi channel)