Elta MusicSolar 42F Ambient Machine Drone Synthesizer

Elta Music Solar 42F

Continuing down the path started by the Solar 50, Elta Music's new Solar 42F is a refinement of their ambient Machine concept: a thoroughly explorative synthesizer with increased emphasis on melodic playability. While Solar 50 was a massive, 10-voice drone synthesizer with a whopping 50 oscillators, Solar 42F 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 42F compared to its predecessor.

Solar 42F 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 42F's voices as you'd like. Also returning is the famous Elta effects cartridge slot, offering independent and interchangeable effects for the left and right channels.

Though originally released as Solar 42 (sans F), the updated 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 voices extend your sound palette even further. 

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

Solar 42F Features

• 8-voice analog ambient synthesizer
• 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
• 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, stabilized operation in F version
• Stereo distortion added in F version
• 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