SYNTIZ for Elektron Octatrack
A track machine with six models: stacked saws, pulse, ensemble, 32 single-cycle tables, morph and choir.
Module version 0.1.0-experimental. Base firmware: 1.40C.
About this module
SYNTIZ is a synthesizer you choose for an audio track, as you would choose FLEX or STATIC. Its six models range from stacked, detuned saws and a width-modulated pulse to an ensemble of up to four notes and 32 single-cycle tables of the author's own, crossfaded, morphed or sung as chords. Its sound goes through the track's own filter, AMP envelope, LFOs and effects, like a sample's, and PTCH plays like FLEX's.
- Six models picked from a list opened by a double tap of the track key: SAW, PULSE, ENS, TABLE, MORPH, CHOIR.
- 32 single-cycle tables computed from formulas, with crossfades, hard sync, bit crush and chords.
- DRIV into an anti-aliased saturator and RTRG in every model; a square and a sine sub in most.
- PTCH plays like FLEX (chromatic keys, scales, locks); OCT moves the register three octaves up or down.
How to use it
- Hold FUNC and press SRC on an audio track, go DOWN to SYNTIZ and press YES.
- Tap the track key twice to open the model list and pick a model with YES; LEFT goes back to the machines.
- Shape it on SRC and SETUP, then with the track's filter, AMP, LFOs and effects, and play it like a FLEX sample.
Controls
- PTCH
- SRC A in every model: the note on FLEX's scale, an octave down to an octave up; chromatic keys, scales and locks as on FLEX.
- DET
- SAW: detune of the inner pair (default 24). PULSE, SETUP E: detune of a detuned pair (default 16).
- UNI
- SAW: the inner detuned pair's level. PULSE, SETUP F: the detuned pair's level.
- WIDE
- SAW: an outer pair at twice the detune.
- PW
- PULSE: pulse width.
- PWM
- PULSE: depth of a triangle sweep of the width.
- PWS
- PULSE: speed of the width sweep.
- NOT2
- ENS and CHOIR: a second note, -24 to +24 semitones, or OFF.
- NOT3
- ENS and CHOIR: a third note, -24 to +24 semitones, or OFF.
- NOT4
- ENS and CHOIR: a fourth note, -24 to +24 semitones, or OFF.
- SHAP
- ENS: the notes' shape, saw, square or narrow pulse.
- CHOR
- ENS and CHOIR: the chorus.
- TABL
- TABLE and CHOIR: one of the 32 single-cycle tables, its name on screen (CHOIR starts on VOWA).
- MORF
- TABLE: a crossfade from the table toward the next.
- MSWP
- TABLE: the crossfade sweeping by itself.
- SYNC
- TABLE: hard sync.
- WAV1
- MORPH: the first table, its name on screen.
- MIX
- MORPH: the mix between WAV1 and WAV2.
- WAV2
- MORPH: the second table, its name on screen.
- WID
- MORPH: WAV2 up to two octaves higher.
- TIME
- MORPH: the glide when a table changes.
- BIT1
- MORPH, SETUP E: WAV1's resolution, 12 bits down to 1.
- BIT2
- MORPH, SETUP F: WAV2's resolution, 12 bits down to 1.
- SUB
- A square an octave down (SRC E in SAW and PULSE, SRC F in TABLE, SETUP E in ENS and CHOIR); silent below 25 Hz.
- SUB2
- A sine two octaves down (SRC F or SETUP E/F by model); silent below 25 Hz.
- FINE
- SETUP A in every model: ±64 cents.
- OCT
- SETUP B in every model: moves the two octaves you play, three octaves down to three up; C3 at PTCH 0 and OCT 0.
- DRIV
- SETUP C in every model: drive into a smooth anti-aliased saturator.
- RTRG
- SETUP D in every model: OFF lets the oscillators run free, ON restarts them on each trig.
Compatibility notes
- Needs the Modwerk base over USB (beta), in a version that knows SYNTIZ (WV 1-15) and has room for eight machines in the chooser. Card firmware cannot include it.
- On a base that does not know SYNTIZ, switch the unit off only after loading a project without SYNTIZ tracks: the power-on restore would refuse the bank.
- Chromatic keys, MIDI and recorded notes cover two octaves, as on FLEX; OCT, a SETUP control, moves them for the whole track.
- Before a note it asks the base which trigs a mute module drops (ev_trig_muted); not yet tried with a mute module.
- At most three SYNTIZ tracks in a Part: a fourth is refused. On the author's MKII one render takes up to 37 % of a frame, so three heavy tracks holding long notes make the base drop renders (a crackle); two heavy tracks with filter and chorus play clean beside a THRU, three samples, a NEIGHBOR and a master compressor (7 November 2026).
- Another module installed but never played can take SYNTIZ's margin: on the author's MKII, another installed module made the SYNTIZ tracks crackle lightly and a third sample track no longer fit; removing it cured both (one A/B, 7 November 2026, mechanism unknown).
- CHOIR on VOWA is quieter than the other models. Not tested: the MKI, a mute module's muted trigs, a MIDI flood.
Test evidence
Host: 5,376 extreme renders of the six models under sanitizers, levels, DC, aliasing, pitch within 1.5 cents of stock's curve, every knob byte, package rebuilt byte for byte (verify.py). Emulator: chooser, pages, model list, notes for every model. The author's MKIIs, 28 Oct to 7 Nov 2026, this package since 31 Oct: six models over USB, projects back after power cycles, a fourth track refused, his live set measured with the base's guard (two SYNTIZ tracks beside a THRU, three samples, NEIGHBOR and a compressor: 74 % of a frame, nothing heard). Open: MKI, mute module, MIDI flood.
Module source and documentation