I own AK. To me, the MK2 I always play in my local shop sounds better, but I think a lot of questionable things are true. Maybe I just like the factory patches better on the mk2. I own a Prophet 6 and I just “know” that the prophet 10 sounds better. Despite having watched a comparison video and failing to really tell one from the other.
What I can say is that I love sequencing other synths with AK - one on the FX track, another on the CV track, a third via the external midi mode. My contribution to the “it’s like modular in one box” talk is that AK is like a MK2 with a keystep inside of it—as if by magic.
1 Like
Yes, this is also my experience with A4.
Thinking about it, I ended believing that A4 it’s a damn hard instrument to play. To achieve a good sound it’s not enough to mess around with vco-filters-envelopes and vca. A4 ask you to manage a more complex scenario, including onboard effects, voice routing, sequencer tricks, performance macros and so on. Vco-filter are weack all alone. To create an enjoyable patch it needs an hard work. Today I play mostly an eurorack system and I like complexity, but remembering A4 my rack seems a child’s toy 
3 Likes
Heyyy! Love your proggie stuff on the A4 w/ your fellow drummer
2 Likes
you should know that the only difference in sound with both units is, that the MK2 by default operates with a fully open Filter, this Leads to the impression that it sounds richer.
it’s MARKETING
check your INiT sound and you’ll see that the Mk1 starts with a slightly closed filter, by default.
Elektron Genius Trick
1 Like
The overdrive is the biggest difference from what I can tell…
turning to the right is the new one on mk2 it fattens up the bass much more
than the left side (original overdrive)
the MK1 makes a criss cross wavefolding process in both directions of the overdrive settings and starts at 24 or -24 respectively, until this point 0-24 it’s boosting the signal like a normal overdrive would do.
I prefer the mk1 grittiness a bit more as it’s in between both filters and I like how it folds like hell or young god. 
To be fair it’s not marketing …
The ladder filter and overdrive are definitely different but the init sounds are similarly unremarkable … the different default filter settings will be their attempt to provide a suitable neutral starting point, it’s in no way a tweak to trick anybody. The MK1 had a number of vanilla sound versions by the way
I don’t think anybody is deluded here that the A4 is a substitute for synth X, but equally there’s no substitute for what the A4 offers. It’s arguably not even as juicy as the Rytm for some basic synth sounds, its VCO( and ensuing path) is lovely.
I have a bunch of analogues which sound great and some are somehow still appealing at almost every setting. There’s something pleasing about synths like that, no question, but the A4 has its strengths and if you look at it from the perspective of ‘what can I do with this’ as opposed to why doesn’t it do this like this then you can have a lot of fun. I’m not hung up on it not being as gorgeous as a Pro1 for vanilla sounds because I don’t need the A4 to be that when I can sequence one with the A4 - it has other strengths that little else of that size can touch. It’s not for everyone though and there’s no denying it can lack that something but it’s so easy to add movement to due to its depth and when you accept the sequencer as a part of its DNA it comes into its own for sound/track design
We don’t need to debate the perceived sound issue, after all Elektron have given it two circuit evolutions to ‘address’ this area. But despite it attracting this criticism, it is a tremendous bit of peformance gear which can deliver really great tones too - it is astonishingly flexible and it can get you places (in an instant) you’d never get with any other gear - so looking at it from what it offers makes more sense than picking apart the perceived issues imho
Having one should ideally necessitate sequencing analogue gear from it too, you pay for that functionality of course, so inserting your own classic mono voice or two for those pure tones is a doddle - the point is that comparing it to synth x is missing the point and it definitely isn’t for everyone … as, in my case, the ‘classic’ moog sound isn’t either … i’m also hanging onto the Mk1 forever even though the Mk2 is supposed to be better because it’s also still an amazing peerless instrument for my expectations
12 Likes
if it would be a neutral setting it would be the same on both units, the marketing effect starts when the people react to it like, the MK2 sounds def richer…playing them for 10 minutes using only defaults not checking the different settings but uploading material of all kinds, saying so.
1 Like
I did not like the A4 sounds (too less deep and without character). I sold it and bought a minibrute 2s, which was a good choice.
1 Like
Funny, I know some ppl who say the exact same about the Minibrute 2S…
Well I guess it’s a matter of taste.
1 Like
Has anyone ever done a teardown of the A4? I bet there’s just a Digitone in there.
2 Likes
…minibrute…!?..doepfer…!?
somebody really missed out on handling the swedish mindset for real…
just more knobs while not even half the options…
3 Likes
That just seems like a lot of math.
1 Like
Yes indeed
This.
Just in my case its any other synth I own. What do I need 4 monos in one box for if none of them can deliver just a solid punchy bass line?
individual outs? boosting the Signal.
your favorite mono synth does the same, just internally.
Amen!! 
They are more than capable of delivering solid punchy bass sounds c’mon. 
8 Likes
Unison
this, and gain(boost) the signal (on the external mixer). A4 has tons of headroom, which is usually the reason people are saying the bass is not deep or “punchy” enough.
Gained signal on a big system will tear your roof off, but make sure you have all the other higher-freq channels on 20% or less.