Elektron Model:Samples

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FM VERDICT

8.2

Model:Samples is

immediate and affordable,

but still retains much of

Elektron’s deep and creative

sequencing tools

PADS: The six sample triggers

are velocity sensitive, allowing for

nuanced playing and recording

CONTROL ALL: Edit a parameter

across all tracks simultaneously. The

Reload function can quickly undo/

recall any changes

ROTARIES: The front panel gives

hands-on access to all of the major

parameters. Each of these can be

automated too

CHANCE: Conditional Triggers get a

dedicated control here, making it easy

to dial in variety

and delay – each of which can be

tailored via its own front panel rotary.

Where Model:Samples really

shines, however, is in its sequencing

workﬂ ow. Each track can be

programmed or live recorded into a

pattern of up to 64 steps, and

sequence length and speed can be

set individually for each track to

easily achieve polyrhythmic results.

Model:Samples also makes use of

Elektron’s Parameter Lock system,

allowing parameter automation to be

assigned to each sequencer step. The

Sample Lock capability takes this

further still by letting users change

the source sample for each step in

the sequencer. This drastically

expands the capabilities of the

instrument’s six channels, allowing

multiple sounds to be programmed

on any one audio track.

Model:Samples also inherits

Digitakt’s fantastic Conditional Locks

feature. This lets users conﬁ gure

whether individual sequencer steps

ﬁ re off, based on conditions such as

probability, whether Fill mode is

engaged or how many times a

sequence has played. It’s a really

excellent tool for adding extra

variation and unpredictability to your

patterns. Other sequence-reﬁ ning

tools come across from Elektron’s

higher end gear too, such as the

ability to nudge triggers off the grid,

assign quick rolls to individual steps,

and edit a parameter across all tracks

at once with the Control All mode.

It’s these sequencing tools that

bring the Model:Samples to life. You

can argue that, for the price,

Model:Samples’ core sample engine

is a little simplistic – with no direct

sampling, no timestretching, fairly

basic envelope shaping – but the

creativity offered by the sequencer

makes up for any sound-shaping

limitations. What’s more, Elektron

have mostly done a stellar job of

keeping the workﬂ ow simple, with

little in the way of menu-diving and a

pleasingly shallow learning curve.

The one misstep here comes from

the browser. As with other Elektron

Samplers, Model:Samples uses the

brand’s ‘+Drive’ system whereby the

onboard memory is divided up into

multiple Projects, each of which can

contain up to 96 Patterns and 576

Samples. The Projects level feels a

little like an unnecessary layer of

complexity in an instrument designed

for immediacy; a simple system of

Samples and Patterns would work

just as well. Assigning sounds to

tracks can be a little unwieldy too.

The factory sound library is organised

into Kits, which allows full six sound

instruments to be loaded at once, but

without a tagging system there’s no

easy way to audition multiple sounds

of the same type. If you want to try

out a variety of kicks, for example,

you’ll need to navigate in and out of

the sub folders for each individual kit.

The factory sounds themselves are

high quality throughout though. While

they lean towards house and techno,

there is a decent amount of variety on

the whole and producers of any genre

will ﬁ nd plenty to get their teeth into.

On the whole then,

Model:Samples is a welcome

departure for Elektron. It’s a far more

streamlined instrument than the rest

of their range but still has enough

complexity carried down from those

higher-end instruments to bring

something new. Conditional Locks

and the extensive parameter

automation feel genuinely fresh at

this price, even if the sample engine

itself doesn’t offer much to set itself

apart from similarly-priced rivals.

For my money, the biggest

competition Model:Samples faces

comes from Elektron’s own Digitakt

sampler. Digitakt is currently selling

in the UK for around £600 – roughly

£200 more than Model:Samples.

While this is obviously a signiﬁ cant

step up, given the additional tracks,

built-in sampling workﬂ ow and

Overbridge DAW integration, I’d be

inclined to hold out and try and

scrape together for the extra outlay.

While Model:Samples is undoubtedly

more accessible, the ﬂ ip side of this

is that intermediate producers are

likely to meet limitations.

That simplicity may be

Model:Samples’ biggest selling point

though. Live performers will love

having so much control from the front

panel, and those seeking hands-on

creativity at a good price will ﬁ nd a lot

to like here.

PADS:

The six sample triggers