It’s finally a fully tweakable, Elektron-style effects box. The new Analog Heat +FX builds on the original – audio interface with multiple analog distortions – with new digital effects, rearrangeable routing, and expanded modulation.
It’s like the effects answer to the Syntakt – complete with the UI/UX refinements we’ve seen in recent gear. Let’s break it down:
Heat: 8 analog distortions. The same excellent formula from the original is back: eight different analog stereo distortion circuits, 7 filter types, 2-band EQ, noise gate.
Digital effects. New: warble, chorus, delay, reverb, bit and sample rate reduction, compressor. Tons of options here, too – like the ability to use “bass focus,” setting a crossover and then processing low end as mono with the rest as stereo field, among other options.
Flow. Cute name – but yeah, now you can rearrange the signal path, meaning the new box is essentially your customizable pedalboard, but Elektron-style (and stereo/desktop).
Modulation. Expanded modulation. Envelope follower, 3 LFOs, each LFO with two destinations.
Don’t know about you, but I’m really keen to try this one, especially given how much the Syntakt has won me over.
Since it is Superbooth, it’s also easy to see how useful this is with gear, including modular. I’ve looked at some supposed “last stage” processors for modular. I didn’t come away with a single one that made sense to me in that context. It makes way more sense to me to go with this and do some refined finishing with digital preset recall (ahem), at line level, as the actual last stage. The same is absolutely true with desktop gear rigs. There’s a lot of gear I absolutely adore that has … let’s say less-than-professional master effects, in terms of quality, number of slots, routing, the works.
On a computer, it’s a little less obvious – you can easily add these effects in your software, even if the distortion won’t be “true analog.” But on the other hand, if you want a box that does double-duty with gear and software and can act as an audio interface it makes sense.
US$999 / 999 EUR. So yeah, this is basically a “for mortals” version of that Black Corporation device I wrote about yesterday.
That’s a huge amount of value, given it’s only marginally pricier than the MKII Analog Heat.
Full specs:
Sound processing
8 × stereo analog distortion circuits
Stereo analog multi-mode filter (7 filter types)
2-band adaptable stereo analog EQ
Noise Gate
Reverb
Delay
Chorus
Warble
Bits
Compressor
Bass focus
Modulation
1 × assignable envelope generator/envelope follower with two destinations
3 × assignable LFO (with two destinations per LFO)
Storage
512 user preset slots
Hardware
128×64 pixel OLED screen
MIDI In/Out/Thru with DIN Sync out
2 × ¼″ balanced audio out jacks
2 × ¼″ balanced audio in jacks
1 × ¼″ stereo headphones jack
2 × ¼″ CV/Expression pedal input jacks
48 kHz, 24-bit D/A and A/D converters
Hi-Speed USB 2.0 port
Audio outputs
Headphones out level: +19 dBu peak
Headphones output impedance: 36 Ω
Impedance balanced main outputs level: +19 dBu peak
Main outputs impedance: 440 Ω unbalanced
Audio inputs
Balanced audio input level: +19 dBu peak
Audio input impedance: 39 kΩ
Control inputs
Input level: -5 V – +5 V
Accepts CV, expression pedals, footswitches
Physical specifications
Sturdy steel casing
Dimensions: W215 x D184 x H63 mm (including audio outputs, knobs and feet)
Weight: approximately 1.5 kg
100×100 mm VESA mounting holes
Miscellaneous
Overbridge enabled
Class compliant USB audio
3 year Elektron warranty
Included in the box
Power Supply PSU-3c
Elektron USB cable