Spectralis 2 Tutorial: Turn any digital poly synth into a paraphonic hybrid analog synth.

video upload by MIDERA

"Do you have a Spectralis 1 or 2 (they are identical for this tutorial)?
Do you have a polyphonic synth that you'd like to do something new with?
With a Spectralis, you can use it's internal filters to create a paraphonic hybrid synthesizer by sending the external audio inputs into the Spectralis. Here I'm bringing the Access Virus TI Polar into the Spectralis 2 and processing it with the analog (and digital) filters. The Virus is using a very basic initialized patch that you will hear at one point during the video.

Now, WHY would you want to do this? Simple. Let's say you have a digital synth with no analog filters and want to give it new punch. What if you WANT to have a 'paraphonic-like' sound? This is one way to achieve that. Perhaps, for no other reason than to do it, because it sounds good. Mixed with the internal oscillators, it sounds a lot like my Yamaha SK30. You can do so many things - why would you not want to try this if you have a Spectralis?

I say that this is creating a paraphonic 'hybrid' analog synth - but if you use an analog synthesizer going into this, I guess it would no longer be hybrid, it would be a fully analog paraphonic synth. I don't think it matters either way.

Is it paraphonic in the first place? I don't want to get into this debate. Frankly because I don't care about full or partial articulations. To me, it just means multiple voices that go through a single filter and VCA. That's all I mean.

This requires you to have your synthesizer with Local ON, on the same MIDI channel (1) as the internal part you are using.

I think you could do something similar with the Elektron Analog Heat. BUT - I think the Spectralis does a lot more, because you can sequence the sounds you are creating, you can add internal oscillators, you can FM the filters using the oscillators, and a LOT more. It may seem complex, but it's feasible to do and hopefully this video helps guide you on how to approach that.

Given that the Spectralis 1 and 2 seem to go for around $800-$1200 (in 2022), and all that it does - it's really worth it's price. This does mean it's twice as much money as an Analog Heat (which probably does other things really well - I've never used it and fully understand why you'd go for that instead of the Spectralis - BUT if you already have a Spectralis, this is a great way to experiment with it. Furthermore, I found using this setup to sound VERY similar to my Moog Matriarch. You've got multiple filters, that can be panned and modulated in a ton of ways. I'm not saying Spectralis + another synth = Moog Matriarch, they're different. BUT the sound seemed very similar to me, with the paraphonic aspects.

I fumbled around a bit - because I had to learn things on the way as well, which goes to show that even after owning this thing, I'm still not a true master of using it."

Triumvirate | IDM with Elektron Monomachine, Machinedrum UW+, Analog Keys, and Microcosm

video upload by MIDERA

"Three Elektron boxes - the Monomachine, Machinedrum, and Analog Keys. The Monomachine is going through the Hologram Microcosm. Analog Keys is going through Eventide Space."

Elektron Analog Keys and Korg ESX-1 Electribe IDM tracks from 6/20/21 live-stream (recorded version)

video upload by MIDERA

"I made a set for a live-stream (which did not turn out too well due to technological glitches on my end) using the Analog Keys and Korg ESX. I went back and re-recorded the set, although abridged.

This features the AK and ESX and Eventide Blackhole VST for FX."

Descension

MIDERA

Elektron Analog Keys
Korg ESX
Roland SH-101
Korg Polysix


Eventide Blackhole VST

Radikal Technologies Spectralis 2 monosynth demo

MIDERA

"Another demo of some stuff you can do with the Spectralis 2 Monosynth engine. This is a hybrid synth in that the oscillators are digital, but the filter is analog. Elektron Machinedrum was used for a simple beat to go over the synth part."

The wayward path

MIDERA

Elektron Analog Keys
Korg ESX Electribe
Yamaha SY77
Embertone Concert D Lite VST
Eventide Blackhole

Elektron Monomachine, Machinedrum, and Analog Keys IDM demo

Published on Feb 6, 2020 MIDERA

"Usedthe Machinedrum, Monomachine, and Analog keys for this track. All were sent to separate outputs. The MD drums were routed through the Spectralis for use through its multimode filter."

MIDERA: The landscape of war

Published on Feb 2, 2020 MIDERA

"I traded a delay pedal for this Landscape Stereo Field device... I'm not sure about it yet. My apologies as I test it out for a while. Unfortunately I've stolen the drums from another one of my tracks to do this one. Oh well.

Landscape FM Stereo Field
Elektron Analog Keys (pads)
Elektron Machinedrum (routed to the Stereo field)
Elektron Monomachine (keys)
Eventide Blackhole vst"

MIDERA: A function of distance - Elektron Analog Keys and Machinedrum

Published on Jan 25, 2020 MIDERA

Elektron Analog Keys (melodic parts)
Elektron Machinedrum mkii UW +drive

MIDERA | Eye of Khalaza

Published on Dec 27, 2019 MIDERA

"Elektron Machinedrum (sampled drums and plucked notes and synthesized drugs)
Analog Keys (melody)"

Elektron Monomachine (drum synthesis) and Analog Keys

Published on Jul 24, 2019 MIDERA

"I became frustrated with the Machinedrum's delay in mute/unmute - some say it's not there, but I don't have this problem with the Monomachine - and then I remembered how amazing the Monomachine is as a drum machine, and then just had fun with it."

Elektron Monomachine (drum synthesis) and Analog Keys

Published on Jul 23, 2019 MIDERA

"I became frustrated with the Machinedrum's delay in mute/unmute - some say it's not there, but I don't have this problem with the Monomachine - and then I remembered how amazing the Monomachine is as a drum machine, and then just had fun with it."

MIDERA | An inward journey

Published on Jul 19, 2019 MIDERA

DSI PROPHET REV2
Elektron Analog Keys
Eventide Blackhole VST
Canon 5D2 (which decided to stop recording after 30 seconds, thanks POS)
Canon 60D (overhead view)

"Originally, I was going to test how the two sounded compared to each other, but then I thought I'd rather just write something."

Elektron Monomachine | Pelog mode

Published on Jul 12, 2019 MIDERA

"The Elektron Monomachine (with Machinedrum). The Analog Keys was used as a midi controller. Eventide Space was used for reverb."

MIDERA | The Seiche

Published on May 6, 2019 MIDERA

Elektron Analog Keys
Korg ESX

"My camera stopped recording - I had recorded about 20 takes, I gave up. Sorry."

Update: Re-Published on May 7, 2019

"had to reupload because the video and audio weren't synced properly"

MIDERA | Berkeley Paradox

Published on Apr 1, 2019 MIDERA

Elektron Analog Keys
Korg ESX

MIDERA | Duality

Published on Mar 30, 2019 MIDERA

Elektron Analog Keys
Korg ESX (with Eventide Space)

MIDERA | The distance is silent

Published on Dec 9, 2018 MIDERA

Elektron Analog Keys
Korg ESX with Eventide Space

MIDERA | The last wake in Moldova

Published on Sep 28, 2018 MIDERA

Elektron Analog Keys
Korg ESX

MIDERA | The weight of two

Published on Aug 31, 2018 MIDERA

"Performed using only the Elektron Analog Keys. No external effects."