Explore Elektron’s Affordable Electronic Music Gear
When people ask me what to get if they want to dive into electronic music production, I often point them toward Elektron’s affordable Model:Samples and Model:Cycles grooveboxes. While they may not steal the spotlight like some other brands, and even get overshadowed by Elektron’s more advanced gear like the Digitakt or Octatrack, I still find myself returning to the Model series despite having a collection of pricier instruments.
Newcomers to grooveboxes often gravitate toward well-known names like Korg or Roland, and many on forums will recommend the Novation Circuit Tracks, which I personally find a bit confusing and lacking in sound quality. This could be partly due to the reputation Elektron gear has for being complex. If you’re an experienced music maker who isn’t put off by a steep learning curve, you might lean toward a more powerful Elektron model, like the Digitone or Syntakt. This leaves the Models series in a bit of a limbo, which is unfortunate.
The main distinction between the two Models is that the Model:Cycles utilizes FM synthesis, while the Model:Samples focuses on playing samples. However, it’s worth noting that it’s not a true sampler since it can’t record samples directly; they must be loaded via USB.
The Model:Cycles is powered by a streamlined version of the engine found in the Digitone, which is one of my all-time favorite synths. This modern FM synthesis can produce the classic cold bells and icy pads reminiscent of legendary instruments like the DX7, known for its iconic ’80s sound. It also excels at creating contemporary glassy keys and punchy EDM bass.
Despite their differences, the two models share a lot in common. Both are six-track grooveboxes equipped with six velocity-sensitive pads and a plethora of knobs for hands-on control, and they have a similar aesthetic. Most importantly, they come with Elektron’s renowned step sequencer, but without the intimidating complexity of the company’s higher-end offerings.
The sequencer operates using what Elektron calls “trigs” and “locks.” Trigs are essentially events that trigger notes, while locks are specific settings for each step. This straightforward concept significantly enhances the capabilities of these instruments beyond what you might expect at first glance.
Six tracks might seem limiting at first. Once you’ve loaded a kick, snare, and hi-hat, you’re left with just three tracks for bass, melodies, and additional percussion. However, sound locks allow you to change samples or presets on a per-step basis. This means you can have your kick and snare share a track, while dedicating another track to hi-hats and other percussion, leaving the remaining tracks for everything else. This is just one example of how locks can expand the creative possibilities that might initially seem constrained.
The sequencer can function as a basic step sequencer, allowing you to lay down a four-on-the-floor kick and a snare on the backbeat. But as your skills develop, it grows with you, enabling more intricate compositions. Trig conditions let you set rules for when certain steps are triggered, such as only every third loop, only when a fill button is pressed, or only if a previous condition is met. This feature allows for a vast array of variations within a single 64-step pattern, and you can chain multiple patterns together to create complex arrangements that are hard to achieve with most gear in this price range.
The Models series is also incredibly enjoyable to use. Unlike Elektron’s other devices that often require extensive menu navigation, the Model:Samples and Model:Cycles are user-friendly and designed for live performance. It’s simple to trigger a drum fill with a button press, adjust a knob to open a bass filter, or add a splash of delay to a lead melody.
One of the most exciting features is Control-all, which allows you to manipulate all tracks at once. You can drown your entire track in reverb while cranking up distortion and lowering the pitch of all samples for a chaotic breakdown, then instantly revert everything and drop the beat again with a quick button press. The Model:Samples and Model:Cycles promote jamming in a way that many electronic music devices don’t, making the experience a total blast.
Of course, they have their downsides. The pads are somewhat lackluster, the need to load samples via USB instead of recording them directly is a drawback, and the lack of polyphony (each sequencer track can only play one note at a time) can be disappointing. However, at $349, it’s hard to complain. You can even find them used for as low as $200 on various platforms. Overall, they represent some of the best value in music hardware and are an excellent starting point for anyone looking to produce electronic music.
