Elta Music - Solar 42F

Wander around in soundscapes: Elta Music Solar 42 is a breathtaking analog microtonal ambient drone synthesizer with 8 voices.

IThe Elta Solar 42 is opulent, unconventional and may be confusing, but with a careful look, this seemingly complex device opens up very quickly. It is one of the rather user-friendly cases of overloaded synthesizers. From the moment it is turned on, it starts to sing and gravitate to endless exploration. You'll come upon drones or whole soundscapes, and even engage in interstellar dialogues within the cosmic stereo ocean.

But what are you going to find? We don't know. In a certain sense, it depends on you.

Solar 42 provides 8 separated voices, a mixer, and a stereo effector with cartridges to load captivating algorithms. Half of the voices have 5 sawtooth oscillators each, which can be detuned, individually muted, and modulated using an AR envelope or CV. The other two drone voices have a white noise generator, and they also include, among other things, an FM/AM option and Sample & Hold. The six drones are played via six separate touchplates or the dedicated CV inputs. The last two voices are based on analog VCOs with a total of six waveform variations. They can also be controlled via a touchplate keyboard or CV/gate and have Osc sync, morph, and FM options.

One specialty is the dual analog Polivoks filter that can be combined via a link function. This filter is known for its characterful sound and lots of pinging-fun!
Solar can´t carry its name without the 4 photosensitive domes on voices 1, 2, 6 and 7. They let the surrounding light influence your sound in a very organic and surprising way.
Additionally, you´ll find a dual effector with a slot for cartridges. You get 13 of them already in the box, each containing several algorithms. It can run either as a single stereo effect or load a different effect on each channel with flexible CV control.

The modulation repertoire, includes two LFOs, a patchable joystick, and a 5-step sequencer with an internal or external clock. Two loopable ADSR envelopes and an envelope follower reacting to the external input are also at your disposal. The external input has a solid preamp that can be used for the built-in contact mic, your guitar, or anything really.

The 12-key keyboard itself is pressure-sensitive and includes scales for effortless play. Delving into microtonal tuning will offer a unique, multi-layered atmosphere, that interplays beautifully with Solar 42's atmospheric sound-character.

Features

• 6 x drone voices (2 include white noise generators)
• 2 x VCO voices with 6 waveforms
• 2 x S&H
• 2 x LFO
• 5 step sequencer
• CV Joystick
• Photosensors
• Preamp for external signals
• Contact Mic
• Envelope Follower
• Stereo Mixer with Pan
• Two analog 12db Polivoks Filter
• Two Cartridge-Effektors with CV-Steuerung
• Two Osc Dry Outs
• Stereo Audio Out

Some changes in the new version SOLAR 42F

• Added sub oscillators in V/oct voices
• New, more stable power supply 
• Stereo distortion
• Effector bypass on each channel
• Some changes in graphics
• Tumblers replaced by buttons, for easy pressing. 
• Lo pass/band pass switches in the filter
• New firmware on keyboard, added new tuning functions, fixed bugs from last firmware, added octave switching function in Twin and Split modes.
• V/oct voice outputs now on 3,5 minijacks on the front panel (instead of the 6,3mm out jacks on previous model)