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IMPORTANT SAFETY AND MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS
Carefully read these instructions, follow them and save them for future reference.

1. Do not use this apparatus near water.
2. Never use any aggressive cleaners on the casing or the LCD overlay. Remove
dust, dirt and fingerprints with a soft, dry and non-abrasive cloth. More persistent dirt can be removed with a slightly damp cloth using only water. Disconnect
all cables while doing this. Only reconnect them when the product is safely dry.
3. To avoid scratches or damage, never use sharp objects near the display. Also
avoid applying any pressure to the display itself.
4. Install in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
5. Connect the apparatus to an easily accessible electrical outlet close to the apparatus.
6. In the EU, only use CE approved power cords.
7. When transporting the unit, preferably use accessories recommended by the
manufacturer or the box and padding the unit originally shipped with.
8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or
any other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.

9. Do not block the ventilation holes located on the side and the bottom of the
enclosure of the unit.
10. This product, either alone or in combination with an amplifier and headphones
or speakers, may be capable of producing sound levels that could cause permanent hearing loss. Do not operate for a long period of time at a high volume level
or at a level that is uncomfortable.
11. Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs,
convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus.
12. Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
13. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.
14. Refer all servicing to qualified service technicians. Servicing is required when
the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as liquid has been spilled or
objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or
moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.

WARNING
To reduce the risk of fire, electrical shock or product damage:

• Do not expose the apparatus to rain, moisture, dripping or splashing and also avoid placing objects filled with liquid, such as vases, on the apparatus.
• Do not expose the apparatus to direct sunlight, nor use it in ambient temperatures exceeding 40° C.
• Only use accessories recommended by the manufacturer.
• Do not open the casing. There are no user repairable or adjustable parts inside. Leave service and repairs to trained service technicians only
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the product.
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated »dangerous voltage«
within the product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.

Elektron machines are sold with a three year limited warranty, starting from the date of the original purchase. Being able to prove the date of the original purchase with an
invoice or a receipt is necessary if you require warranty service. If the machine should need a repair during the warranty period no charges will be applied for parts or labor. This
warranty is transferable to other owners should the Elektron machine be resold during the warranty period. Items belonging to the Elektron Style range of products (t-shirts,
stickers, posters etc.) are not covered by this warranty.
This warranty does not cover (a) damage, deterioration or malfunction resulting from accident, negligence, misuse, abuse, improper installation or operation or failure to
follow instructions according to either the Getting Started manual or the full Reference manual for this product; any shipment of the product (claims must be presented to
the carrier); repair or attempted repair by anyone other than Elektron or a certified Elektron repair center (b) any unit which has been altered or on which the serial number
has been defaced, modified or removed; (c) normal wear and any periodic maintenance; (d) deterioration due to perspiration, corrosive atmosphere or other external causes
such as extremes in temperature or humidity; (e) damages attributable to power line surge or related electrical abnormalities, lightning damage or acts of God; or (f) RFI/EMI
(interference/noise) caused by improper grounding or the improper use of either certified or uncertified equipment, if applicable.
Warranty service procedure for machines bought from a retailer
Please contact their support if you need warranty service. You will then be guided how to proceed with your errand. Note that the Elektron three year limited warranty is in
addition to any warranty your retailer may offer.
Warranty service procedure for machines bought from the Elektron Online Shop
Contact the Elektron Support at www.elektron.se if you need warranty service. You cannot send a unit to a certified Elektron repair center unless agreed to by
Elektron. The customer is responsible for shipping charges if the machine needs to be shipped to a certified Elektron repair center for warranty service. Elektron
covers the shipping back to the customer during the warranty period. Should the unit be dead on arrival, or if the hardware malfunctions within 2 weeks of the
original purchase date, Elektron will cover the shipping to a certified Elektron repair center.

THANK YOU
Thank you for purchasing the Analog Keys. This is our flagship four voice analog synthesizer,
conceived with the modern artist in mind. Fully analog signal path, digital controls and unprecedented playability makes this a powerful instrument for the expressive musician.
This quickstart will guide you through the basics of the machine. The full reference manual is
available as a free digital download at www.elektron.se.
We wish you a happy analog experience. Have fun!
—The Elektron Team

PANEL LAYOUT

12

11

10

9

8
19

7

20
18

21

17

22

16

23

6
5
4

15
24

14

25

3

13
12
11
10
9
8

7
6
5
26

4

27
28
3

29
30

2

31

32

Master
Volume

33

34

1

46

4

45

44

43

42

41

40

39

38

37

36

35

Power

+

2

-

1

FRONT PANEL
1 MASTER VOLUME sets the volume for the main outputs and the headphones output.
2 [SONG mode] activates/deactivates SONG mode.
3 [CHAIN mode] activates/deactivates CHAIN mode.
4 [RECORD] key. Activates/deactivates GRID RECORDING mode. Starts LIVE RECORDING if held while pressing [PLAY]. The secondary function is a copy operation.
5 SOUND SELECTION wheel allows quick access to
Sounds. It is also used to scroll through menus and set
some parameter values.
6 [PLAY] starts playback of the sequencer. The secondary function is a clear operation.
7 [STOP] stops playback. The secondary function is a paste
operation.
8 LEVEL sets the overall volume level of the active track.
9 [TEMPO] opens the TEMPO menu. [FUNCTION] + [TEMPO]
makes it possible to tap the tempo.
10 [YES/SAVE] key. Used for entering sub-menus and for
confirming choices.
11 [NO/RELOAD] key. Used for exiting an active menu and
backing one step.
12 The LCD window.
13 The [ARROW] keys. Used for menu navigation. They
are called [UP], [DOWN], [LEFT] and [RIGHT].
14 [PERFORMANCE] enters PERFORMANCE mode.
15 [ARP] key. Controls for the arpeggiator of the active
track are found here.
16 [NOTE] key. Note settings for the active track are made here.
17 [PARAMETER] keys switch between the PARAMETER pages of the active track. The upper white text legend indicates
the pages for the four synth tracks. The gray text is for the
FX track pages and the white text line beneath indicates
the CV track pages. A secod press on the [PARAMETER]
key will in certain cases open secondary PARAMETER pages.
18 DATA ENTRY knobs. Used for adjusting parameters.
19 [SONG] key opens the SONG menu. The secondary function opens the GLOBAL menu.
20 [PATTERN] key opens the PATTERN menu. The secondary
function opens the pattern SWING settings.
21 [TRACK] key opens the TRACK menu. The secondary
function opens the CLICK menu.
22 [SOUND] key opens the SOUND menu. Secondary function accesses the trig-activated track muting.
23 [KIT] key opens the KIT menu. The secondary function opens the POLYPHONY configuration menu.
24 [PAGE] selects the active pattern page in grid recording
mode. The active pattern page is indicated by the four LEDs
above the key. The secondary function accesses the SCALE menu.
25  LEDs indicate how many pattern pages
the active pattern consists of and which pattern page
is currently active. The led flashes on the pattern page
currently playing.
26 [TRIG] keys are used for entering sequencer trigs, as
well as choosing patterns.
27  LED indicates if bank group A-D or E-H
is accessed by the [bank] keys.
28 [BANK D/H] accesses pattern selection for either bank
D or H. The secondary function opens the PARAMETER
SLIDE menu.

29 [BANK C/G] accesses pattern selection for either bank
C or G. The secondary function opens the NOTE SLIDE menu.
30 [BANK B/F] accesses pattern selection for either bank
B or F. The secondary function opens the ACCENT menu.
31 [BANK A/E] key. Depending on the selected bank
group, this button selects patterns in either bank A or
E. The secondary function opens the TRIG MUTE menu.
32 KEYBOARD spans three octaves and has 37 semi-weighted
aftertouch and velocity sensitive keys.
33 [OCTAVE UP] shifts the KEYBOARD range up one octave.
34 [OCTAVE DOWN] shifts the KEYBOARD range down one
octave.
35  LEDs shows the octave transposition of the
KEYBOARD.
36 JOYSTICK for up to 15 custom assigned parameters,
such as pitch bend and modulation.
37 [HOLD] key holds all pressed KEYBOARD keys until
deactivated. Secondary function activates/deactivates
KEYBOARD transpose according to sequencer track
settings.
38 [MIDI EXT] activates/deactivates KEYBOARD and DATA
ENTRY knob MIDI control of external equipment. Secondary function opens the MIDI CONFIGURATION menu.
39 [MULTI MAP] activates/deactivates the custom mapping of the KEYBOARD. Secondary function brings up
the MULTI MAP CONFIGURATION menu.
40 [FUNCTION] key. Press and hold to access secondary
functions. Secondary functions are generally written
in red text on the panel of the Analog Keys.
41 [TRANSPOSE] key transposes the sequencer track.
Secondary function is transpose lock.
42  LEDs indicate the active track and muted tracks.
Red is active, green is unmuted, off is muted and yellow is
active but muted.
43 [TRACK] keys select the active track. Four synth tracks,
one FX track and one CV track are available. [FUNCTION]
+ [TRACK] mutes a track.
44  LED indicates if the transpose lock function is activated or not.
45  LED indicates the selected PATTERN
mode (sequential (off), direct start (red) or direct jump
(green)).
46 [BANK GROUP] key. Selects the active bank group (A-D
or E-H). The secondary function toggles between different PATTERN modes.

REAR
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

Power on/off switch.
Power in (100-250 V AC, 50-60 Hz).
Full-speed USB 2.0 Connection.
MIDI Thru.
mIDI Out.
MIDI In.
CV outputs c and d.
CV outputs A and B.
Audio input l/r.
Individual stereo outputs, Track 1-4.
Main Out l/R.
Headphones Output.

See page 18 for recommended connectors.

5

FIRST STEPS WITH THE ANALOG KEYS
SETTING UP THE ANALOG KEYS

Make sure you place the Analog Keys on a stable support, such as a sturdy table with sufficient cable space or a synth
stand capable of a 10 kg load.
1
2
3
4

Before you connect the Analog Keys to other equipment, make sure all units are switched off.
Plug the included AC cable into a power outlet and the Analog Keys.
Connect the main out L/R from the Analog Keys to your mixer or amplifier.
Switch on all units.

STARTING THE ANALOG KEYS

Switch on the unit by pressing the Power rocker switch located at the back of the unit. Before restarting the unit, wait 2
seconds after the LCD backlight goes out.

THE USER INTERFACE

The center of Analog Keys editing is the LCD display. The main interface screen is shown below.

1

2

3

4

5

7

6
1 Bar indicating the main volume level setting of the active track.
2 The current tempo displayed with one decimal.
3 The playback/recording status of the sequencer indicated by the standard »record«, »play«, »pause« and »stop« symbols: .
To the right is a counter displaying how many bars, beats and steps the sequencer has played.
4 Information about which PARAMETER page is active. The line above the text indicates the active sub page of the PARAMETER
page. A fully drawn line means no sub page is available.
5 Up to ten track parameters. They show what the DATA ENTRY knobs control and also indicate the current parameter values.
Press and turn a knob to adjust its parameters in larger increments (whole octaves, for instance, where appropriate).
6 The currently active pattern.
7 The currently active kit. When turning a DATA ENTRY knob, the full name of the parameter being adjusted is shown here.
All windows can be closed using the [NO/RELOAD] key.

6

OVERBRIDGE

The Analog Keys is a highly capable standalone instrument. Since the introduction of Elektron Overbridge, however,
there is a complementary way of interacting with it. All that is required is an Elektron Analog instrument, a USB cable, a
computer running Overbridge, and a DAW.
The Overbridge software suite enables a tight integration between the Analog instruments (Analog Rytm, Analog Keys,
Analog Four) and a computer DAW. If you want to hook up multiple machines to a computer, we suggest acquiring the
Elektron Overhub, a Multi-TT hub tailored for Overbridge use.
When using the Overbridge setup, the user interface of your Analog device will present itself as a clearly laid out plugin window
in your DAW. Sync your device to a software sequencer, record multi track audio, browse and organize sounds, edit kits, and set
up modulation and performance macros via a simple point-and-click workflow. Access, edit or automate all parameters for sound
shaping on screen.
Overbridge is available as a complimentary download on the Elektron webpage.
1 Install Overbridge.
2 Make sure the OS of your Analog Keys and the OS of Overbridge match. You will find the most recent versions of
both operating systems included in the Overbridge download package.
3 Set your Analog Keys device to Overbridge mode on the USB CONFIG screen. You will find this setting in the SYSTEM
menu, located at the far south of the GLOBAL menu. Press [YES/SAVE] to tick the box and activate OVERBRIDGE MODE.

7

EXPERIMENTING WITH PATTERNS
The Analog Keys is shipped with several preset patterns, kits and Sounds. To immediately start experimenting, just
follow the instructions below.
1 Switch on the Analog Keys.
2 Press [PLAY] to listen to pattern A01.
3 Select pattern A02, which is the second demo pattern, by first making sure bank group A-D is selected. The  indicates the selected bank group. If A-D is not selected, press the [BANK GROUP] key.
4 Pressing [BANK A/E] + [TRIG] key 2 will make pattern A02 play once the currently playing pattern finishes. Pattern
A03 is selected by pressing [BANK A/E] + [TRIG] key 3 and so on.
5 Mute tracks by pressing [FUNCTION] + the [TRACK] key of the track you want to mute. Unmute by repeating the procedure.
6 Press [STOP] to stop playback.

PERFORMANCE MODE

The PERFORMANCE mode makes it possible for the DATA ENTRY knobs to control several PARAMETER page parameters
at once. These parameter mappings are called a parameter macro.
1 Make sure a pattern is playing.
2 Press the [PERFORMANCE] key to access PERFORMANCE mode.
3 Turn the DATA ENTRY knobs and listen how the sound of pattern changes.

ADJUSTING PARAMETERS

Each track contains six PARAMETER pages. Parameters affecting the sound of the track are found here.
1 Make sure a pattern is playing.
2 Press the [TRACK] key of one of the four synth tracks..
3 To change the cutoff of the ladder filter, press the [FILTERS] key. The FILTERS page will open. The parameter labelled
FRQ changes the cutoff of the ladder filter. Turn DATA ENTRY knob A to change the parameter value.
4 Try out the rest of the PARAMETER page parameters to experiment with the sound shaping possibilities.
5 To reload the Sound to its original state, press [NO/RELOAD] + [SOUND].
6 To reload the whole kit to its original state, press [NO/RELOAD] + [KIT].

OVERVIEW OF THE ANALOG KEYS DATA STRUCTURE
128 PROJECTS

4 GLOBALS

16 SONGS
4 SOUNDS

+DRIVE

+DRIVE SOUND LIBRARY
4096 SOUNDS

128 PATTERNS
CV

128 KITS

SOUND POOL
128 SOUNDS

FX

The +Drive is the non-volatile memory of the Analog Keys. It keeps up to 128 projects (thousands of patterns, kits and
songs) stored internally. The +Drive also gives access to the +Drive Sound library, capable of storing 4096 Sounds. Every
project has access to these Sounds.

8

PROJECT

A project contains 128 patterns, 128 kits, 16 songs, 4 global slots, and a project Sound pool consisting of up to 128 Sounds.
Generic settings and states (tempo, mutes, et cetera) are also stored in each project. When a project is loaded it becomes
the active working state of the Analog Keys. From here it is possible to edit the patterns, kits, songs and globals of the
project. The Analog Keys always retains the active working state, i.e. the active project. Projects are saved, loaded and
managed in the GLOBAL menu, accessed by pressing [FUNCTION] + [SONG].

KIT

Kits contain up to four Sounds, one for each synth track, as well as settings for the FX and CV tracks. Each project of the
Analog Keys can host 128 kits. A kit is always linked to a pattern.

SOUND

A Sound consists of stored synth track parameter settings. Each synth track hosts one Sound. Sounds can also be stored
in the Sound pool of the active project or in the +Drive Sound library. The Sound pool can host 128 Sounds and the +Drive
library holds up to 4096 sounds. Sounds are loaded to the kit from either the SOUND BROWSER or SOUND MANAGER
menus. Access these menus by pressing [SOUND].

BANK

Eight banks exist for each project and each bank hosts 16 patterns.

PATTERN

For each of the 8 banks 16 patterns are available, meaning 128 patterns are always readily availble. A pattern consists of
sequencer data like trigs, parameter locks, time signature and individual track lengths for the synth tracks and the FX
and CV tracks. They also contain the BPM setting as well as ARP and NOTE page settings.

SONG

16 songs are available for each project. They are used to sequence the playback of patterns. Songs are built from chains.

CHAINS

A chain is a sequence of patterns. Up to 256 pattern slots are possible to allocate between 64 chains.

GLOBAL

The GLOBAL menu contains project management, settings for the synth and sequencer, Analog Keys MIDI setup (including custom mapping of the KEYBOARD), CV functionality, OS upgrade and SysEx data handling. Four global slots are
available and each slot can have its own specific settings. Access the GLOBAL menu by pressing [FUNCTION] + [SONG].

ABOUT THE TRACKS
THE SYNTH TRACKS

The synth tracks consist of track 1—4. To edit one of them, press [TRACK] key 1—4. Sounds are loaded to the synth tracks.

THE FX TRACK

The FX track controls the Analog Keys internal master effects and external audio inputs. To edit the FX track, press the
[TRACK] key 5.

THE CV TRACK

The CV track is used for controlling external equipment capable of receiving analog CV and Gate signals. To edit the CV
track, press [TRACK] key 6.

9

EDITING THE TRACKS

The six [Parameter] keys open pages that are used for editing the tracks. They contain different parameters depending on
the track type. Edit parameters using the DATA ENTRY knobs. Press and turn a knob to adjust its parameters in larger
increments.

KITS AND SOUNDS
Kits and Sounds are the basic building blocks of the Analog Keys. Kits can be regarded as a collection of Sounds as well
as other settings. A Sound is essentially a synth track patch. Sounds can be loaded to any of the synth tracks.
A Sound that has been loaded becomes a part of the active kit. Any changes made to a loaded Sound will not affect the
loaded Sound per se, but rather the active kit. A pattern, controlling the playback of the kit, is always linked to a kit.
Changing patterns therefore means the kit might be changed as well.

LOADING A KIT

1 Open the KIT menu by pressing [KIT].

2 Use the [UP] and [DOWN] arrow keys to select LOAD KIT. Press [YES/SAVE] to open the menu.

3 The LOAD KIT menu contains up to 128 saved kits. The currently active kit is indicated by inverted graphics. Select
the kit to be loaded by using the [ARROW] keys or the SOUND SELECTION wheel.
4 Once a kit has been selected, press [YES/SAVE] to load it. The active pattern will be linked to the loaded kit.

SAVING A KIT

1 Open the KIT menu by pressing [KIT].

2 Use the [UP] and [DOWN] arrow keys to select SAVE KIT. Press [YES/SAVE] to open the menu.
3 Select the position to which the kit should be saved by using the [ARROW] keys or the SOUND SELECTION wheel.
4 Once a position has been selected, press [YES/SAVE] to save the kit. The naming menu will appear. Read more about the
naming menu on page 13

10

LOADING A SOUND TO A SYNTH TRACK

1 Select the synth track the Sound should be loaded to by pressing [TRACK] key 1-4.
2 Open the SOUND menu by pressing [SOUND].

3 Use the [UP] and [DOWN] arrow keys to select SOUND BROWSER. Press [YES/SAVE] to open the menu. The SOUND
BROWSER shows a list of all Sounds residing in either the +Drive Sound library or the Sound pool. Scroll the list by
turning the SOUND SELECTION wheel or by pressing [UP]/[DOWN].

4 By factory default, the +Drive Sound library is being browsed. If the Sound is to be loaded from the Sound pool, press
the [LEFT] arrow key. The SORTING menu will open. Highlighting the first option in the menu and pressing [YES/
SAVE] switches between browsing the +Drive Sound library and the Sound pool.

5 Load a Sound by pressing [YES/SAVE].
The SOUND BROWSER can be accessed directly by pressing or turning the SOUND SELECTION wheel. Turn
the wheel to select the sound of your choice, then press the wheel to load a sound.

SAVING A SOUND

1 Open the SOUND menu by pressing [SOUND].

11

2 Use the [UP] and [DOWN] arrow keys to select SOUND MANAGER. Press [YES/SAVE] to open the menu. The SOUND
MANAGER can be regarded as a more powerful version of the SOUND BROWSER. Here Sounds can be saved, loaded,
tagged, locked et cetera. Scroll the list by turning the SOUND SELECTION wheel or by pressing [UP]/[DOWN].

3 By factory default, the +Drive Sound library is being browsed. If you wish to save the Sound to the Sound pool,
press the [LEFT] arrow key. The SORTING menu will open. Highlighting the first option in the menu and pressing

[YES/SAVE] switches between browsing the +Drive Sound library and the Sound pool.
4 Select an empty slot. Press [RIGHT] to access the SOUND OPERATIONS menu. The available operations will affect the
currently highlighted Sound.
5 Select STORE TRACK SOUND. Press [YES/SAVE] to store it to the selected slot.

6 The NAMING menu will appear. Read more about this menu on the next page.

PLAYING A SOUND

Playing a Sound is done using the KEYBOARD.
1 Select the Sound that should be played by pressing [TRACK] keys 1-4. The information on the LCD display showing
which kit is loaded will briefly change to reflect the name of the loaded Sound.
2 To change octaves, press the [OCTAVE UP] or [OCTAVE DOWN] keys. The KEYBOARD key range spans three octaves
and one note. The first and last KEYBOARD keys play by default a C note. The  LEDs indicate which octave
is selected.
3 Sounds can be played polyphonically. See POLYPHONY below.

POLYPHONY

The Analog Keys is capable of four voice multitimbral polyphony (or unison). This is possible thanks to the powerful
sound engine that can change sound instantly and allow completely dynamic voice allocation. The sequencer is fully
polyphonic, allowing overlapping notes and chords to be programmed on the tracks. Any track can play up to four notes
using its own track sound. Notes are distributed to the synth voices according to a user-selectable allocation method.
Certain synth voices can also be poly disabled, allowing tracks to have their dedicated, monophonic synth voice available at all times. The poly configuration is stored per kit, for maximum flexibility.

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1 Open the POLY CONFIG menu by pressing [FUNCTION] + [KIT]. Select the menu options by pressing the [UP]/
[DOWN] arrow keys.

2 Select any combination of the four VOICES to be poly enabled by using the [LEFT] and [RIGHT] arrow keys. Tick or
untick a box by pressing the [YES/SAVE] key. Voices that are not set to be poly enabled will be dedicated monophonic voices for their corresponding tracks. These will never be used for polyphonic playback. Voices that are set to be
poly enabled will be allocated dynamically by any of the poly enabled tracks.
3 ALLOCATION changes the allocation cycle of the four voices, or sets all four voices to play simultaneously (RESET,
ROTATE, REASSIGN or UNISON, respectively). Select mode with the [LEFT] and [RIGHT] arrow keys.
4 Select USE TRK SOUNDS if you want to force the selected voices to use the Sounds of the four tracks, instead of letting
the voices use the played Sound in a dynamic way. Tick/untick box to activate/deactivate using the [YES/SAVE] key
or the [LEFT] and [RIGHT] arrow keys.
In the POLY CONFIG menu, you can activate/deactivate voice 1-4 directly. Just press [TRIG] key 1 through 4.
When in the POLY CONFIG menu, the red LEDs above [TRIG] key 1-4 will be half-bright. When a voice is activated, the corresponding LED will light up full-bright.

EDITING A SOUND

1 Select one of the synth tracks by pressing [TRACK] keys 1-4. The Sound of the active synth track is the one that will
be edited.
2 Adjust the overall volume level of the active track with the LEVEL knob.
3 Edit a Sound by adjusting the parameters found on the synth track PARAMETER pages. Access these pages by pressing
the [PARAMETER] page keys. If a page contains a subpage, press the [PARAMETER] page key again to access it. Use
the DATA ENTRY knobs to change the parameters.
OSC1 controls oscillator 1. Contains one sub page for the noise generator.
OSC2 controls oscillator 2. The sub page hosts parameters relevant for both oscillators.
FILTERS controls the two filters and the overdrive. One 24 dB/octave 4-pole lowpass ladder filter and
one 2-pole multimode filter are available, connected in series with the overdrive between them.
AMP contains parameters for the amplitude envelope. Effect sends are found here as well.
ENV offers two freely assignable envelopes. The first one also controls the filters. The second envelope is located in a subpage.
LFO is where parameters for the two freely assignable LFOs are found. Contains one subpage.

EDITING THE FX AND CV TRACKS

Editing the FX and CV tracks is very similar to editing the Sounds of the synth tracks of the active kit. The PARAMETER
pages contain parameters relevant for the two types of track.

THE NAMING MENU

The naming procedure is identical for the various naming menus that will appear when Sounds, kits, et cetera are saved
or renamed.

13

1 Use [LEFT] and [RIGHT] arrow keys are to navigate between the letters.
2 Turn the SOUND SELECTION wheel or press the [UP] or [DOWN] arrow keys to select the letter.
3 Press [YES/SAVE] when you are happy with your name.

When naming, you can also press and hold [FUNCTION] to access the HI-SCORE naming menu. Navigate between
the letters in this menu using the [ARROW] keys. Release [FUNCTION] to insert the letter.

THE SEQUENCER
BASIC PATTERN OPERATIONS

The sequencer of the Analog Keys stores information in patterns. A pattern controls the playback of the synth, FX and
CV tracks and various aspects of these tracks. Adjustments made to the active pattern are saved automatically. However,
you are advised to manually save treasured patterns (and Kits) regularly, especially when working on several patterns
at the same time.

SELECTING A PATTERN

1 Press the [BANK GROUP] key to choose the bank group. If for example bank group A-D is chosen, patterns in banks
A, B, C and D can be selected.
2 Next, press a [BANK] key followed by a [TRIG] key (1-16) to select a pattern within the selected bank. Patterns containing data are indicated by half-bright red  LEDs. The currently active pattern is indicated by a full-bright
red  LED.
3 To select, for example, pattern B05, select bank group A-D using the [BANK GROUP] key. Then press and hold [BANK
B/F] and press [TRIG] key 5.

PATTERN CONTROL

Pressing [PLAY] will start the playback of a pattern. Pause by pressing [PLAY] again. Pressing [STOP] will stop the
playback of all tracks. After a pattern has been stopped, pressing [PLAY] will make the pattern start playing from the
beginning.

TRACK MUTING

Muting tracks is done by pressing [FUNCTION] + the [TRACK] key of the track that should be muted. Only the note trigs
of the sequencer are muted. It is still possible to play a muted track manually using the KEYBOARD.
The  LEDs indicate the mute status. Unlit  LED indicate the muted tracks. Green  LEDs indicate
audible tracks. A red  LED indicates the active, audible track. A yellow  LED indicates an active, muted
track.

PATTERN RECORDING MODES

The Analog Keys offers two main modes of inputting trigs when creating a pattern: GRID RECORDING mode and LIVE
RECORDING mode.

TRIG TYPES

Two types of trigs, note trigs and trigless locks, can be entered in the RECORDING modes. Note trigs trig notes while
trigless locks can be used to apply parameter locks without trigging notes. Note trigs are indicated by full-bright 
14

LEDs and trigless locks are indicated by half-bright  LEDs.

GRID RECORDING MODE

GRID RECORDING is a method of composing where trigs are added by using the [TRIG] keys.
1 Enter GRID RECORDING mode by pressing the [REC] key. A lit red  LED indicates GRID RECORDING mode is
active.
2 Select the track to which you want to add trigs by pressing the relevant [TRACK] button.
3 Place note trigs on the sequencer by pressing the [TRIG] keys. To add note values to trigs, press and hold a [TRIG]
key while pressing a key on the KEYBOARD. To add a trigless lock, press [FUNCTION] and [TRIG]. To shift all trigs
a whole step left or right, press and hold [function], then press [arrow] key left or right.
4 Press [PLAY] to listen to the sequence.

LIVE RECORDING MODE

LIVE RECORDING mode is the second method of adding trigs to the tracks. In this recording mode, the KEYBOARD can
be played in real time to input trigs to the tracks. It is also possible to enter parameter locks in real time.
1 Hold [RECORD] while pressing [PLAY] to enter LIVE RECORDING mode. The sequencer will start to play and the
 LED will start to flash.
2 Enter trigs to the active track in real time by pressing the keys on the KEYBOARD.
3 Press [PLAY] to exit LIVE RECORDING mode while keeping the sequencer playing. If LIVE RECORDING mode is active
and [REC] is pressed, GRID RECORDING mode will be entered.
4 Press [STOP] to stop both the recording and the playback of the sequencer.

SEQUENCER FEATURES
PARAMETER LOCKS
Parameter locks is a powerful feature that allows trigs to have their own unique parameter values. All note trigs of a
synth track could for example have different pitch or filter settings. Parameter locks can be applied to all types of tracks.
1 In GRID RECORDING mode, press and hold the [TRIG] key of a trig to apply parameter locks.
2 Adjust the parameters you want to lock using the DATA ENTRY knobs. The graphics in LCD will become inverted for
the locked parameter and the locked parameter value will be displayed. The  LED of the locked trig will begin
to flash rapidly, indicating the trig now contains a parameter lock.
3 Remove a single parameter lock by holding [TRIG] + pressing the DATA ENTRY knob of the locked parameter. By
removing a note trig and entering it again, all parameter locks will be erased from the trig.
4 In LIVE RECORDING mode, turn a DATA ENTRY knob to input parameter locks to the active track. Note trigs will be
locked accordingly and trigless locks containing the locks will be placed on the sequencer steps not containing note trigs.

TRACK TRANSPOSE

Tracks can be transposed in real time. The tracks that will be affected by this functionality are set in the NOTE SETUP
menu, which is accessed by pressing [FUNCTION] + [NOTE]. The TRK TRANSPOSABLE setting in this menu needs to be
activated for the track to be affected by the transpositions.
To transpose, press and hold [TRANSPOSE] + a KEYBOARD key. Select a different octave range to transpose to by pressing [OCTAVE UP] or [OCTAVE DOWN].
If [FUNCTION] + [TRANSPOSE] are pressed, the transpose lock functionality will be activated. Transpose lock is indicated
by a full-bright  LED. When this function is activated, the [TRANSPOSE] key will act as if constantly pressed,
enabling one-handed transpositions when pressing the KEYBOARD keys.

MULTI MAP

Multi map allows custom mapped keyboards splits, pattern trigging per key, Sound trig per key, MIDI trig of external
synths, and more. In the Multi map mode, for example, full analog drum kits, bass lines, and lead sounds can be played
simultaneously. Ideal for performances and live improvisations. The internal multi map trigs can also be recorded in the
sequencer. To activate the default multi map of the KEYBOARD, press the [MULTI MAP] key. To deactivate, press again.
A red LED above the button indicates if the multi map is activated (full bright) or deactivated (off).
15

FACTORY RESET

When performing a factory reset on the Analog Keys it will overwrite and re-initialize the active project (including all
pattern, kit, sound pool and global data). The +Drive project slot 1 will be overwritten and re-initialized. Sound bank A
and B will be overwritten with the factory Sounds. Factory preset patterns, kits, Sounds and settings will be re-initialized.
If you wish to keep the active project, remember to save it to a +Drive project slot higher than 1 before you perform a
factory reset. To perform a factory reset, hold [FUNCTION] pressed while turning on the Analog Keys. In the menu that
appears, press [TRIG] key 3.

16

TECHNICAL INFORMATION
SPECIFICATIONS
THE SEQUENCER
4 synth tracks
1 FX track
1 CV/Gate track
128 projects (+Drive)
4096 sounds (+Drive Sound library)
128 patterns (per project)
Up to 64 steps per pattern
128 Sounds (per project)
128 Kits (per project)
16 Songs (per project)
6 × arpeggiators
Individual track lengths
Swing, slide and accent functions
Track transpose
Micro timing
Parameter locks
Live friendly Performance mode
Sound-per-step change
Instant kit, pattern, track and Sound reload
Full real-time control

SYNTH VOICE × 4
Fully analog signal path
2 × analog oscillators
Variable waveshape on all waveforms
Oscillator AM and Sync modes
2 × sub-oscillators
1 × noise generator
1 × 4-pole analog lowpass ladder filter
1 × 2-pole analog multi-mode filter
1 × analog overdrive circuit
Filter feedback
2 × assignable LFOs
1 × dedicated vibrato LFO
2 × dedicated waveshape LFOs
1 × amp envelope
2 × assignable envelopes
2 × dedicated LFO fade envelopes
1 × dedicated noise fade envelope
1 × dedicated vibrato envelope
1 × dedicated autobend envelope
3 × individual effect sends
Full MIDI control

SEND EFFECTS
Wideshift Chorus
Saturator Delay
Supervoid Reverb

FEATURES
Up to 4-Note Polyphony/Multitimbral/Unison
Dynamic voice allocation for the 4 tracks
+Drive enables multiple (×128) projects

IMPEDANCE BALANCED AUDIO OUTPUTS

Main outputs level: +19dBu
Output impedance: 440 Ω unbalanced

UNBALANCED AUDIO INPUTS

Input level: +19dBu maximum
Audio input impedance: 9 k Ω
Digital S/N Ratio: 102dBFS (20-20.000Hz)

HEADPHONES OUTPUT

Headphones out level: +19dBu
Output impedance: 55 Ω

STEREO INDIVIDUAL TRACK OUTPUTS
Output level: +19 dBu
Output Impedance: 1.2 k Ω

ELECTRICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Acceptable power supply: 100-250 VAC, 50-60 Hz
Unit power consumption: 14 W typical, 25 W maximum.
Power inlet type: IEC 60320 C8
Recommended power cable type: IEC 60320 C7, rated for
240V and at least 2.5A

HARDWARE
122 × 32 pixel backlit LCD
MIDI In/Out/Thru with DIN Sync out
2 × ¼” impedance balanced audio out jacks
2 × ¼” audio in jacks
1 × ¼” stereo headphone jack
4 × ¼” individual track stereo outputs
2 × ¼” dual CV/Gate outputs
37-key semi-weighted, velocity sensitive Keyboard with
aftertouch
Assignable omnidirectional JOYSTICK with pushbutton
48 kHz, 24-bit D/A and A/D converters
Flash-EEPROM upgradable OS
Electrically isolated USB 2.0 port

PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Aluminum casing
Dimensions: W660×D309×H93mm (26×12.2×3.7”)
(including, audio outputs, knobs and rubber feet)
Weight: approximately 5.4 kgs (11.9 lbs)

17

CREDITS AND CONTACT INFORMATION
PRODUCT DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT
Oscar Albinsson
Magnus Forsell
Anders Gärder
Jimmy Myhrman
Jon Mårtensson
David Revelj
Mattias Rickardsson
Daniel Troberg

ADDITIONAL DESIGN
Thomas Ekelund

FACTORY DEFAULT SOUND DESIGN
Daren Ager
Richard Devine
Nicholas Lem
Jimmy Myhrman
Jon Mårtensson
Cenk Sayinli
Alex Schetter
Charlie Storm
Daniel Troberg

REFERENCE MANUAL
Ufuk Demir
Thomas Ekelund
Jon Mårtensson
Daniel Sterner

CONTACT INFORMATION
ELEKTRON WEBSITE
www.elektron.se

DELIVERY ADDRESS

Elektron Music Machines MAV AB
Sockerbruket 9
SE-414 51 Gothenburg
Sweden

TELEPHONE

+46 (0)31 743 744 0

RECOMMENDED CONNECTORS
Power in (100-250 V AC, 50-60 Hz): Use the included C7 power cable, or equivalent, connected to a power outlet.
Full-speed USB 2.0 Connection: Connect using the included A to B USB 2.0 connector cable to a computer host.
MIDI Thru: Use standard MIDI cable to connect another MIDI unit in chain. Duplicates incoming MIDI In data stream.
MIDI Out: Use standard MIDI cable to connect to MIDI In of an external MIDI unit in order to control it.
MIDI In: Use standard MIDI cable to connect MIDI Out of an external MIDI unit in order for it to control the Analog Keys.
CV outputs: Connect to external synth with CV inputs. Use either standard ¼” mono phone plug or ¼” insert/Y cable.
Audio input L/R: Use standard ¼” mono phone plug to input sound from other synthesizers or mixers.
Individual stereo outputs Track 1-4: Use ¼” insert/Y cable in order to access both left and right channels.
Main Out L/R: Use either ¼” mono phone plug (unbalanced connection) or ¼” stereo (Tip/Ring/Sleeve) phone plug
(balanced connection).
Headphones Output: Connect standard headphones with ¼” stereo phone plug.
This Getting Started manual is copyright © 2012—2013 Elektron Music Machines MAV AB. All reproduction without written authorization is strictly prohibited. The information in this manual may change without notice. Elektron’s product
names, logotypes, titles, words or phrases may be registered and protected by Swedish and international law. All other
brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

FCC compliance statement
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this
device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to
provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not
installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not
occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment
off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

European Union regulation compliance statement
This product has been tested to comply with the Low Voltage Directive 2006/95/EC and the Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive 2004/108/EC.
Meets EU RoHS 2 Directive 2011/65/EU.
This symbol indicates that your product must be disposed of properly according to local laws and regulations.

Elektron Music Machines MAV AB, Sockerbruket 9, SE-414 51 Gothenburg, Sweden | +46 (0)31 743 744 0
www.elektron.se
20



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