Elka-X

Name: Elka-X
Price: 59 USD
Author: Cherry Audio

by Cherry Audio · Synth · ELKA Synthex polysynth emulation

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Elka-X emulates the ELKA Synthex, a rare Italian analog polysynth from the early 1980s designed by Mario Maggi.

It has 16 voices, two-part multitimbral split and layer modes, an arpeggiator, a four-track step sequencer and over 600 presets, for $59.

Best for: Keys & Synths, Bass, Sound Design. Genres: Electronic & EDM, Pop, Ambient & Cinematic.

Keywords: hardware emulation, polyphonic, sequencer, 80s, analog, arpeggiator, leads, preset-driven, bright, monophonic, pads, 70s, basses, chord generator, lush, modulation matrix, sound design, subtractive, tempo-synced, vintage.

What it does

Elka-X recreates the Elka Synthex, the rare Italian polysynth of the early 1980s, which Cherry Audio calls "A Renaissance Synthesizer". The developer aimed to keep the Synthex's character while expanding what it can do, with velocity, aftertouch, full MIDI and a much bigger sequencer.

Oscillators: two DCOs per voice with triangle, saw, square and variable pulse waves, independent tuning, oscillator 2 sync, PWM cross-modulation and ring modulation, plus a white or pink noise generator.
Filter: a CEM3320-style multimode filter with 12 or 24 dB lowpass, 6 or 12 dB bandpass and 12 dB highpass.
Envelopes and LFOs: ADSR filter and amp envelopes with velocity and multi-trigger in mono modes, a syncable LFO 1 with six waves and a performance LFO 2 on the mod wheel.
Two parts: split or layer two sounds with a set split point and separate volume, pan and effects per layer; glide and portamento switch per oscillator, and chord memory is built in.
Arp and sequencer: a tempo-syncable arpeggiator for either layer and four monophonic sequences of up to 128 steps each, saved with the preset.
Effects: a chorus modelled on the original, a syncable echo and reverb including the Galactic algorithm.
Voicing and presets: 16 voices in poly, single voice or unison with detune, and over 600 presets from a team including James Terris and Dave Polich.

A free 30-day demo is fully working apart from periodic white noise.

Source: Cherry Audio product page

When to use it

Elka-X is the pick for the Synthex sound itself: bright, clear 80s pads and leads with a chorus that is part of the character. Compared with general 80s clones such as Arturia's OP-Xa V or Prophet-5 V, it offers a rarer voice and a much deeper sequencer, but it has no MPE. Its split and layer mode makes it more of a two-part performance synth than Cherry Audio's own DCO-106. It is cheaper than Arturia's CS-80 V, though that synth goes much further on expressive layering and modulation.

Best for: lush pads, bright brassy leads, split bass-and-lead setups and sequenced patterns.
Genres: synth-pop, synthwave, electronic and soundtrack.
Look elsewhere if: you want a familiar Roland or Sequential sound (DCO-106 or Prophet-5 V) or MPE control (Cherry Audio's Miniverse supports it).
Tip: detune the oscillators slightly to hide small differences between voices, and keep oscillator, layer and master levels balanced so the output limiter doesn't distort (Sound On Sound).

What producers say

Reviewers find it a good-sounding and affordable Synthex, more usable than the original, with a few rough edges.

Sound On Sound (Gordon Reid, 2023) said it captures the Synthex's sound and flavour "rather well", praised the clear top end and called the sequencer one of its most satisfying parts.
KVR users rate it 4 out of 5 from 3 reviews; one called it the "best sounding & easiest to program" of seven Cherry Audio synths, another a "superb simulation".
Criticisms: slight voice inconsistencies, confusing oscillator sync, arp and sequencer notes fixed at velocity 127, high CPU at high sample rates with oversampling, no MPE, and a GUI that needs scrolling in Focus mode.

Where to buy

Tutorials and reviews

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