Solar 42 Ambient Machine Drone Synthesizer (White)

Elta Music Solar 42

Continuing down the path started by the Solar 50, Elta Music’s new Solar 42 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 42 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 42 compared to its predecessor.

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

Solar 42 Features

• 8-voice analog ambient synthesizer
• 6 drone oscillator voices, 2 melodic voices
• 1V/Oct inputs on melodic voices
• 12 touch plates
• External audio input
• Hi-Z input
• 2 Triangular touch plate gate outputs
• Each voice has a globular photoresistor that modulates the pitch
• AR envelope generator per voice, with CV input and output
• 2x LFOs
• Joystick
• 5-step sequencer
• 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
• Cartridge-based effects section
• 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
• Built-in envelope follower for piezo, external input, or Hi-Z input