Solar 42N Ambient Machine Drone Synthesizer

Elta Music Solar 42N

Continuing down the path started by the Solar 50, Elta Music's new Solar 42N is a refinement of their Ambient Machine concept: a thoroughly explorative synthesizer with increased emphasis on melodic playability. The third iteration of Elta's Solar 42 design, the Solar 42N continues to refine the already verdant grove of musical possibilities with subtle enhancements, an added speed switch in the LFO circuit, and a return to the simplified, original cartridge loading design.

While Solar 50 was a massive, 10-voice drone synthesizer with a whopping 50 oscillators, Solar 42N offers a slightly more streamlined set of eight voices but with more variation among each of them. For starters, voices 4 and 5 feature 1V/Oct pitch inputs—something that was entirely absent from Solar 50—supporting melodic pitch control via sequencing or external controllers. Voices 1, 2, 6, and 7 provide the same flavor of swarming drone oscillators from Solar 50, but now voices 3 and 8 offer noise generators, FM, and other ways to coax more timbres out of Solar 42N compared to its predecessor.

Adding even more ways to interact with its powerful sonic potential, Solar 42N features expanded controller and modulation features, including an updated touch interface and a new five-step sequencer. Now featuring 12 touch points, a joystick, and switch keys for each of the drone oscillators, you can easily trigger and control as many or as few of the Solar 42N's voices as you'd like. Also returning is the famous Elta effects cartridge slot, with a simplified loading procedure that uses the original design to ensure effortless access to these captivating, card-swappable effects.

Like the previous iteration, released as Solar 42F, the updated 42N version brings many welcome improvements to the instrument's form, function, and sound. In addition to stabilizing the filter circuit and reducing noise across the board, subtle modifications to the panel layout and labeling lead to more intuitive and immediate interactions. Additionally, completely new features like the stereo distortion circuit and sub-oscillators on the 1V/Oct-capable voices extend your sound palette even further.

If you're seeking an ambient synthesizer like no other, Elta's Solar 42N is the ideal vessel for your sonic journeys into the beyond.

Solar 42N Features

• 8-voice analog ambient synthesizer
• 42N version (MK3) with added LFO speed switch and return to original cartridge loading design
• 6 drone oscillator voices, 2 melodic voices
• 1V/Oct inputs on melodic voices
• 12 touch plates
• Color-coded knobs for easy visual indication of function
• Each voice has a globular photoresistor that modulates the pitch
• AR envelope generator per voice, with CV input and output
• 2x LFOs with speed switch
• Joystick with LED indicators
• 5-step sequencer
• 2 Triangular touch plate gate outputs
• Each voice has an overall pitch detuner that introduces FM between the 5 oscillators
• Each oscillator has its own tuning knob
• 12dB analog filter inspired by Polivoks synthesizers
• Stereo distortion
• Cartridge-based effects section
• Bypass switches for each channel of the FX processor
• 3 effects parameters open to control voltage manipulation
• 2 Dry outputs, Left and Right, are for the respective touch plates allowing for stereo operation
• Independent Wet output
• Headphone output
• External audio input
• Hi-Z input
• Built-in envelope follower for piezo, external input, or Hi-Z input
• Includes 12 cartridge kit + OCHRE NEW card