Syntakt: are 12 tracks enough? Talk & Jam

Elektron Syntakt for me has been the most plausible upgrade from model cycles. It improves my favorite drum machine in nearly all aspects while retaining the compact format. Syntakt now is more than just a drum machine, but are 12 non-polyphonic tracks enough to make it a stand-alone workstation for dawless pleasure? There will be no general answer but in this video I present some specific arguments and a midi performance feature that I find rather important in this context.
The second part of the video shows my 12 tracks demo jam recorded directly from the Syntakt stereo out using my good old Tascam DR-2d.
00:00 Preview
00:11 Intro: 12 tracks challenge
02:27 Feature: Midi Modulations
03:44 Jam: Berlin School in a box
03:49 Track 3: SY BITS
04:09 Track 2: SD VINTAGE
04:25 Track 6: SY CHORD
04:40 Track 10: SY DUAL VCO
05:51 Track 4: SY TOY
06:18 Track 1: SY TONE
07:28 Track 12: CY RIDE
07:44 Track 11: SD CLASSIC
07:58 Track 9: BD HARD
08:44 Track 8: SY TONE
08:52 Track 7: SY BITS
09:02 Track 5: SY TONE
11:46 Mixing notes
12:43 Modulation notes

[@Randuski]

I absolutely love the syntakt. I was never interested in the elektron workflow, but I had never used it. But when I needed a drum synth, I grabbed a syntakt. I immediately fell in love with it, and now I understand why everyone loves elektron sequencers. The only reason I sold it is the lack of polyphony. I need chords, and their chord device doesn’t really work for me. If they make a syntakt 2 that has actual polyphony, I’m getting it immediately

[@PeteMidi]

Thanks for the feedback! I use a polyphony workaround, with several tracks combined via Midi...

[@toffchunks]

amazing as usual!!! thks for sharing

[@PeteMidi]

Many thanks! 😊

[@minimal.camera]

Beautiful piece, really nice!

[@PeteMidi]

Thanks a lot! 😊

[@tentsio]

You made it sound glorious. Great work.

[@PeteMidi]

Thank you so much! 😊

[@andrewdoucet3029]

Thanks Pete! Killer jam.

[@PeteMidi]

Thanks a lot! 😊

[@pmc5532]

OMG Pete's back !! Excellent man hope you're ok had us worried 😁😂😇

[@PeteMidi]

😄Thanks a lot!

[@chriswareham]

Great jam! My own "groovebox" only has eight tracks and is really just a sequencer, the Roland MC50. For the music I make, those eight tracks are sufficient, but things like the Syntakt are very tempting for their "all in one box" nature.

[@PeteMidi]

Many thanks for the nice feedback! 😊

[@realzneo]

Good to have you back!! And great evolving - and inspiring jam!! Thank you!!

[@PeteMidi]

Thank you so much! 😊

[@MaterialMike]

I'm glad to see you back, you put out the best videos

[@PeteMidi]

Thank you so much! 😊

[@TH3_FURY]

Great Syntakt live !

[@PeteMidi]

Many thanks! 😊

[@suburbanheckscapes6180]

Mesmerizing Pete! Wunderbar wie immer!

[@PeteMidi]

Thank you so much - vielen Dank! 😊

[@auxarcen]

Love this, I really like the quick explanation of what you are doing to the sound

[@PeteMidi]

Many thanks for great feedback! 😊

[@robertsyrett1992]

Syntakt is ridiculously good at Berlin school, I look forward to seeing if they add any more synth engines to it.

[@weeeBloom]

Hey Pete, the content you create is very very good. Don´t stop, please!!

[@PeteMidi]

Thanks a lot for the great feedback! 😊

[@cuttygrass]

Really enjoy your jams and critical approach to the synths. Got my first hardware synth 6 months ago and I am completely hooked, definitely with some thanks to you. Really looking forward to more videos

[@PeteMidi]

Many thanks for the nice feedback! 😊

[@helixrider]

Awesome jam on a great instrument! The Syntakt is so deep, thanks for the insight in your workflow - I love the setup with the Faderfox. 😊👍👍

[@PeteMidi]

Thanks a lot for the great feedback! 😊

[@essentialdang]

Yay new Pete Midi video!

[@Pheonix0114]

Great one! Something I love about the syntakt is how different the music I've heard people make with it. Loved your jam

[@PeteMidi]

Yes, absolutely - thanks a lot! 😊

[@tentsio]

Absolutely, the syntakt seems really versatile, a must have right know (I wish) and a future classic for sure.

[@666.pastel]

ooh this is very exciting! i’ve been thinking about using my midi fighter twisted with my syntakt for a little, and also using my ipad for some samples as a live performance rig. I can’t wait to try it after seeing you use the fader fox for a similar idea i had!!!

[@PeteMidi]

Thanks for the nice feedback! 😊

[@gonemad83]

I got the circuit rhythm to go beside the tracks, 16 tracks is great! But I rarely use them all. I think my plan is to use them to transition between parts. Thanks for the video, I love the talk and jam format

[@PeteMidi]

Thanks for the feedback! 😊

[@pmc5532]

Sounds like your on a Journey of Discovery, This tune is Deep!

[@PeteMidi]

Yes, thanks! 😉

[@duketranslucent3rd]

Always a pleasure to watch your videos, Pete! How do you see this sitting alongside/differing from the Digitakt? Is it a replacement, or would the two make logical bedfellows?

[@PeteMidi]

Many thanks! 😊 The sound engines are rather different so they complement each other very well. Although for sample based tracks there are also other possible candidates 😉

[@Mr.Tubster]

this name must be unique 🙂 rock on!

[@Sicolirics]

A L U C I N A N T E ❤

[@PeteMidi]

😊

[@ph2775]

Hi there very interesting video. Music awsome. Could you make another one detailing more of your workflow (tracks' construction midi modulation etc)? It will be very nice.

[@PeteMidi]

Thanks a lot! 😊

[@ph2775]

​@@PeteMidiplease do a detailed video of this set.

[@martinausdeutschland]

Thanks for showing us some sound demos of the single engines! Is the arpeggio handmade or is there an apeggiator, like it is in the digitone?

[@PeteMidi]

Thanks for the feedback! There is no arpeggiator in Syntakt...

[@frankenfrank9553]

Great presentation and nice jam! Thanks for that. Unfortunately, the device costs 9 times as much as I paid for my little Volca Drum :-) Maybe sometime in the future when the cash is available.

[@PeteMidi]

Many thanks for the feedback! 😊 Yes, it's one of my most expensive devices...

[@Mr.Tubster]

Goodn mate 🙂 Nice work, this is motivation for me too, inspiring cause I do faster stuff, regularly

[@PeteMidi]

Thanks a lot! 😊

[@HOLODECK-MUSIC-PROJECT]

In most cases (for me) 4 tracks are enough to empower my creativity. My latest setup Novation Circuit Tracks + Korg Volca Bass is powerful and mesmerizing to work with. (Ich stehe auf kleines Gear ;-)

[@PeteMidi]

Yes, I understand very well 😉

[@HOLODECK-MUSIC-PROJECT]

@@PeteMidi so, now finally i’ve ordered the SYNTAKT- will check if i can make a challenge track, matching to your Berlin School Jam ;-)

[@SonicVibe]

Fire 🔥 what’s the 2 other devices next to syntakt

[@PeteMidi]

Thanks - faderfox EC4 for track level control, Tascam DR-2d for recording Syntakt audio output.

[@SonicVibe]

@@PeteMidi And thanks for the info it sounded great

[@hovermotion]

Cool jam ..I can hear Daft Punk

[@PeteMidi]

Many thanks! 😊

[@gaboduarte]

Hey Pete, just found your channel. Question: How did you sequence all these huge evolving arpeggios in the 4 pages that Syntakt offers?

[@PeteMidi]

Welcome! I'm working with a pattern chain here, so 4 x 64 steps on 16 pages. But I guess most of the evolving character comes from the continuous variation of sounds and levels.

[@DJ-Lazy-Lodger]

second!

[@realzneo]

First!!

[@KR4FTWERK]

Is this a model:cycles 2.0?

[@PeteMidi]

Yes! 😉