New Gear Review: Model:Samples from Elektron

Is it a drum machine? A sample playback unit? Elektron refers to Model:Samples as a “groovebox”—can it find a home in your arsenal?

With a history of deep and versatile machines like the Monomachine and Machinedrum, Swedish instrument maker Elektron has upheld a reputation of providing musicians with premium sonics at a premium price.

Most of the company’s offerings—like the well-loved Octatrack or the sturdy Analog Rytm—carry price tags starting at over $1k. But for that cost, users of Elektron gear (or “Elektronauts”, as they are commonly called) get tools that go deep.

The past few years have seen the company change direction with the introduction of the less expensive yet still critically acclaimed Digitakt and Digitone, a drum machine/sampler and FM synth, respectively. Each has managed to expand the company’s user base considerably.

Now, with the release of their most affordable product yet, Model:Samples, Elektron seeks to continue that trend. So how does the new kid on the block fare against its older siblings, particularly the Digitakt?

Features

By definition, Model:Samples is a six-track “groovebox”, though you can think of it as a sample playback and drum machine. It’s important to mention early on that it is not a full sampler, as the unit doesn’t sample on its own (or even have input jacks). Where it stands apart from its siblings is the clear ”knob per function” philosophy used in its design, something very different than the pages and tabs that are inherent in other Elektron gear.

Model:Samples boasts a sixteen-step sequencer at the bottom of the interface, six velocity/pressure sensitive pads (more on those later), and fourteen knobs on its surface. The hardware itself is a matte white plastic, quite unlike the black metal boxes of previous Elektron instruments.

There is a stereo out pair, as well as a headphone output, and two mini MIDI jacks for out/thru and in. Frustratingly, the first batch of units shipped with only one MIDI adapter, so if you own one from this production run and you’d like to use it with a more complex MIDI setup, you’ll need to order another from Elektron. The company notes that the units now ship with two adapters.

The rear panel boasts a micro-USB port, which sends class-compliant audio to your computer. Unlike the Digitakt, there is no option to use Elektron’s Overbridge software with Model:Samples, so the input and output settings are much more limited than its big brother. The machine comes with a power supply, and is surprisingly light and portable—one of its best attributes. Supposedly a battery pack is on the way as well.

The screen on the top left is functional albeit a bit small, and not nearly as pleasing to use as the Digitakt screen, which is a delight from any angle. The Model:Samples features 1GB of total storage for samples, and comes pre-loaded with a wealth of nicely recorded drum hits, waveforms, and sound effects from Splice.

There’s a lot of ground covered by the pre-loaded samples. Like most of the Elektron lineup, sample format is 16-bit/48kHz, and there’s a proprietary application for transferring samples to the machine, which works effortlessly.

Model:Samples boasts six audio tracks, each of which can also be used to send monophonic MIDI information. This works well for sequencing leads and bass lines, but not much else. The Digitakt’s MIDI implementation is far deeper, with eight polyphonic tracks total and the ability to control CC values with a MIDI LFO.

Each track on Model:Samples utilizes a simple one-knob decay envelope, a multimode filter with resonance, a volume control with built-in distortion, and reverb and delay sends—both of which are global effects and sound great. Knobs for adjusting sample start point, length, pitch, and LFO speed are also available, as are two of Model:Samples’ best features: Nudge and Chance. More on those later as well.

In Use

The Sound: It’s very easy to get lost comparing feature sets, but if the raw sound of a machine isn’t worthwhile, you’re probably not going to utilize that piece of gear very much. So I’m happy to report the sound of Model:Samples is very good—crisp, booming, deep, clear, and dirty when you want it. The filter can emulate a nice squelch, and both effects are of very high quality. Sending percussive hits into a long reverb setting shows the Elektron pedigree quite clearly, a mighty good thing in this case.

The Sequencer: Like the Digitakt and Digitone, Model:Samples features a highly adept sequencer, one of the clutch elements of the Elektron workflow. Despite Elektronauts being known to carp about the learning curve inherent in using anything emblazoned with an Elektron emblem, you’ll probably be able to pick up the workflow right away even if you’ve never used any Elektron products.

Model:Samples provides the ability to record on or off the grid by tapping in parts via the track pads, or by playing a part chromatically using the sixteen-step sequencer buttons below (inputting notes via MIDI is also possible). After note information (or “triggers” in Elektron lingo) are added, it’s possible to nudge the timing of those triggers with the dedicated “Nudge” knob, as well as adjust quantization and swing per track after recording. Furthermore, Model:Samples carries over the probability-based sequencing from its older siblings, which means that you can select the probability of each trigger being played, allowing static sequences to morph dynamically over time.

This works in conjunction with the “Chance” knob, a new feature that applies to the entire track and is a fun and very easy way to add a bit of randomness to your patterns. Adding to the flexibility of the sequencer is the ability to program individual step length and individual tempo multiplier per track. This feature, which has since been added to the Digitakt’s OS as well, means that Model:Samples can work in both polymetric and polyrhythmic modes—very fun. The rhythmic options are really endless here despite the seemingly limited six tracks.

Similarly to the Digitakt, one of the most useful functions on Model:Samples is the ability to control all of the tracks at once while holding down the “Track” button (a function called Control All), and then being able to instantly return to a saved state via the Pattern Reload function. It’s very easy to morph a pattern beyond recognition within seconds, and then immediately return to your starting point.

The most recent OS update, now available for download, added one feature that’s already been highly requested: The ability to swap samples per step on each track, greatly increasing the number of samples available per pattern. This feature, called ”Sample Locking”, is carried over from the Digitakt, and means that instead of being limited to the six samples assigned to each track, every single step in the sequence can have a different sample, as long as that sample is loaded into RAM.

The Pads: Given that Model:Samples is only the second Elektron device ever to have velocity-sensitive pads (the first was the Analog Rytm), it’s worth taking a closer look at them. The six pads are both velocity and pressure sensitive, just like pads on MPCs. The fact that the pads are pressure sensitive as well is important for use with the retrigger function, which can be set per pad and has an auto-on feature.

Retrig settings are stored per pattern, which is really convenient. At first use, I was a bit surprised with how stiff the pads were, and thought they could have used a little more give, but of course this is going to be subjective based on your experience with other pad-based controllers.

Digitakt vs. Model:Samples: As already mentioned, despite being the cheaper option, Model:Samples has a leg up on the Digitakt in a few ways. First is the aforementioned dedicated Retrigger button. Digitakt’s sequencer does have the ability to enter retriggers, but only after the note has been played, not while you are recording in the style of MPC-type sequencing.

A view of Model:Samples’ sleek and minimal back panel.

Furthermore, the knob per function control of Model:Samples means that tweaking parameters can happen more quickly than on the Digitakt. This is especially true for reversing and looping a sample, both of which have dedicated buttons on Model:Samples. It’s also very convenient that the step sequencer buttons are separate from the track pads, unlike on the Digitakt where a single set of buttons shares both purposes.

To Be Critical

While Model:Samples certainly offers a plethora of ways to create, there were a few things that I found lacking. Just like on Digitakt, there is no Song mode. Temporary chains of patterns can be created but they can’t be saved and they are lost when the power is turned off.

The hardware itself, while sturdy, didn’t inspire as much as the refined, elegant look of previous Elektron machines. The pads themselves, as mentioned, are on the stiffer side, and while it’s possible to turn off the velocity sensitivity function, I didn’t find them as responsive to the touch as I had hoped.

The greatest omission in Model:Samples is the lack of a standard ADSR envelope, both for the volume and filter. It’s possible to fake a slow attack using the LFO, but having full envelope control would be preferable and much more powerful. Similarly, several functions of the LFO are hidden behind a menu, although holding down the LFO button and turning a knob selects that knob as the LFO’s destination, and simultaneously changes the depth of the LFO applied. This is a nice touch and speeds up workflow when using the LFO.

There is also still no quick way to lock the delay time to the BPM of a given sequence, which is something that old Korg Electribes could do over a decade ago. It’s possible to do if you remember set numbers that correspond to time ratios, but a more user-friendly way to do this would be preferable.

Summing it Up

Despite any critiques, Elektron’s Model:Samples feels like more than the sum of its parts. The crystal clear sound engine matched with the highly refined sequencer provides a lot of inspiration and power, even without such things as a full envelope control for its six tracks. I found myself getting lost in patterns with just a few samples, and before I knew it, half an hour had gone past.

As a live jamming groovebox, Model:Samples succeeds by miles. The sound and flexibility, as well as the overall streamlined workflow, means that this box is going to see a lot of time on future stages and in practice spaces, just like the Electribes of yore.

Less certain is Model:Samples’ role in the studio for constructing full tracks, as some of the MIDI limitations become more frustrating, specifically the lack of polyphony. And unlike the Digitakt, Model:Samples can’t sample by itself, so it feels like a slightly more closed-off world compared to its big brother. Somewhat vexingly, I found that Model:Samples shined the brightest when used with the Digitakt, as opposed to instead of it, providing secondary rhythms and allowing more spontaneous ideas to come up while letting the Digitakt handle primary beatmaking and MIDI sequencing duties.

Priced attractively at $512 USD, there’s a lot to love about Elektron’s new groovebox, and I’m certain that it’ll be a big hit with both seasoned live PA veterans or those who wish to dip their toes into Elektron’s waters for the first time. Here’s to some creative couch jams!

Leo Maymind is a producer, DJ, and writer living in Los Angeles, CA. He is obsessed with sound, and you can reach him at lmaymind@gmail.com.

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