ELEKTRON SIDSTATION
By Mark Vail
Sixteen
years ago the Commodore 64 computer was a hot ticket. It was popular in part
thanks to a built-in synth chip called the 6581 Sound Interface Device (SID).
The C64 is long gone, but the SID chip lives on in the Swedish-made SidStation.
Considering its age, the SID's specs are impressive: three ADSR envelopes, osc sync, ring modulation, a single resonant 12dB/octave low/band/highpass and band-reject analog filter, a separate amplifier for each oscillator, and four independent LFOs with tri, saw, ramp, square, random, and flat waves. The modulation routings are surprisingly powerful, and the filter has a sound all its own. The SID's three oscillators are capable of producing a 0.1Hz-4kHz frequency range, triangle, sawtooth, and variable-width pulse waveforms, and noise; a 32-step wavetable function sequences through waveforms like a Waldorf Microwave, but with more of a percussive result. Three-voice polyphonic and mono modes are supported.
Encased in a sturdy, two-pound metal cabinet that measures 9.6" W x 8" D x 3.25" H, the SidStation includes four realtime control knobs that address parameters of the programmer's choosing and send MIDI CC#s 16-19. Dang, no volume knob.
The SID makes a rather crude sound, but the SidStation's programmers have squeezed a surprising variety of dazzling timbres out of it. Included are beefy, cutting mono leads, punchy basses, thin and reedy polyphonic pads, wild sound effects, and patches that incorporate note echo or use multiple arpeggiators -- one per osc -- that kick in only when you play multiple notes. The arpeggiators, LFOs, and wavetables can be synced to MIDI clock.
Alongside its mono 1/4" output, the SidStation includes a 1/4" line input. Incoming signals are routed through the SIDıs filter. Overdriving it can result in some pleasantly gnarly distorted sounds.
Two things bug me about the SidStation: (1) Itıs rarely, if ever, absolutely quiet, even when you arenıt playing it. (2) It pops loudly when you change patches.
The SidStation won't appeal to everyone, but itıs a cool little synth that makes unique and effective sounds.
AUDIO FILES
Since an audio
demo wan't available from the manufacturer, Senior Associate Editor Mark Vail
received permission from Elektron to record the following nine passes using
factory presets.
| 1) Example 1: "Anpanman," by Daniel Hansson |
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| 2) Example 2: "Floating-7," by Daniel Hansson |
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| 3) Example 3: "Paddan," by Daniel Hansson |
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| 4) Example 4: "Mental FX by Daniel Hansson |
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| 5) Example 5: "8bitOrchst," by Izik Levy |
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| 6) Example 6: "Body drive," by Mikael Ralm |
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| 7) Example 7: "Nebula pad," by Mikael Ralm |
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| 8) Example 8: "P Icy Synth," by Klaus P. Rausch |
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| 9) Example 9: "Weird One," by Klaus P. Rausch |
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