Elektron Analog Heat
Elektron’s new Analog signal processor promises to both enhance and destroy your sounds
To date, Elektron’s Analog range has focused entirely on instruments, in the form of the Analog Four and Keys synths and Analog Rytm drum machine. Now, with Analog Heat, the Gothenburg-based brand are adding an effects processor to the line-up too.
Designed, according to Elektron, to both enhance and destroy audio signals, Analog Heat combines eight different distortion circuits with a resonant multi-mode filter and two-band EQ, all of which feature stereo, analogue circuitry. The range of distortion circuits have, purportedly, been designed to complement one another, offering an assortment of treatments from gentle saturation, clean boosting and enhancement through to fuzz and high-gain. Drive amount, Wet Level and Wet/Dry controls allow each to be dialled in to taste, while an assignable LFO and envelope facilitate modulation of the Heat’s various elements.
Hot connections
Connection-wise, Analog Heat features a stereo pair of ¼-inch jacks for both input and output. There’s also a pair of jacks for a control input, along with a single ¼-inch headphone out. There are MIDI In, Out and Thru ports too, the latter two of which are also labelled Sync A and Sync B, offering a pair of DIN sync outputs.
Finally there’s a USB connection for hooking Heat up to a computer. While Analog Heat is an entirely standalone unit, this USB connection offers integration well beyond simple MIDI sync. With Elektron’s Overbridge software – which already facilitates DAW control of the Analog Four, Keys and Rytm – Analog Heat can function as a VST/AU plug-in, allowing it to easily process sounds from your DAW signal chain without the need for an additional audio interface. Speaking of which, Analog Heat itself can also be used as a 2-in/2-out interface.
Analog Heat is due to arrive this autumn, priced at £679. You can hear it in action via an interactive demo at www.elektron.se