Elektron has just dropped a bombshell on the world of electronic music production and performance: the Tonverk. True to Elektron’s legacy of forward-thinking gear, the Tonverk doesn’t just iterate—it reinvents. With a deep, modular engine wrapped in a performance-ready interface, this machine sets a new benchmark for grooveboxes and production workstations.
Let’s break down why the Tonverk is more than just the next step after the Digitakt or Octatrack—it’s an entirely new direction.
🧠 A 16-Track Powerhouse
At the heart of the Tonverk is a robust 16-track architecture:
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8 stereo audio tracks
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4 internal bus tracks
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3 send FX tracks
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1 master mix track
This structure allows for an immense level of control, especially when paired with Tonverk’s flexible routing and FX options. Whether you’re building dense soundscapes or tight rhythmic arrangements, every element can have its own space and treatment.
🔀 Four Machines Per Track
Each track on the Tonverk can load one of four "machines":
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Single: For focused, direct sound design.
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Multi: For layering or complex sound-building.
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Subtracks: Break a single track into multiple sub-elements.
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MIDI: A powerful MIDI FX engine for external gear.
This machine-per-track approach is reminiscent of the beloved Octatrack, but with far more flexibility and ease of use.
🎛️ FX Engine: Experimental and Expansive
This isn’t your average effects box. The Tonverk brings a massive FX arsenal, including:
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Infinite Flanger
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Panoramic Chorus
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Rumsklang (a lush, spatial reverb)
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Supervoid (for massive, ambient tails)
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Degrader (bit/sample reducer)
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Dirtshaper (harmonic distortion)
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...and more.
Whether you want to sculpt subtle movement or plunge into complete sonic destruction, the Tonverk has you covered.
⚙️ Modulation That Goes Deep
Modulation on the Tonverk is extensive. Each track has multiple LFOs, envelopes, and assignable modulation sources, giving you precision control over virtually any parameter.
Modulate an LFO's depth with another envelope? Sure. Randomize send levels over time? Easy. This kind of modulation matrix is rare in grooveboxes, and it positions the Tonverk as a hybrid between a modular system and a performance sampler.
🎚️ Sequencer: Pure Elektron DNA
Tonverk features a 256-step sequencer with everything you’d expect from Elektron and then some:
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Polyrhythms
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Parameter locks
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Trig conditions
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Microtiming
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Step probability
It’s one of the most expressive sequencing environments on the market, now pushed even further.
🎹 Performance Tools: Chord Mode, Scales & More
Tonverk isn’t just for programming—it’s made for real-time creativity. Features include:
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36 scales and modes
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Chord mode for instant harmony
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Keyboard mode for expressive playing
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Song mode for full compositions
Whether you’re improvising or arranging a setlist, Tonverk adapts to your workflow.
🎙️ Sampling and Sound Design
Tonverk is built to sample—both internally and externally. Its Auto Sampler lets you quickly resample internal instruments, resample effects, or bring in audio from outside sources.
And with polyphonic multisampling (at 48kHz / 24-bit), it becomes a powerful tool for both melodic and percussive sampling workflows. Think of it as your new go-to for building playable instruments from any sound source.
💡 Beyond Digitakt and Octatrack
Elektron fans might ask: where does the Tonverk sit alongside the Digitakt or Octatrack?
Here’s the answer: it doesn’t just sit—it leads.
Tonverk combines the immediacy of the Digitakt, the flexibility of the Octatrack, and the experimental potential of a modular setup—all in a more refined, powerful, and performance-friendly package.
🔚 Final Thoughts
The Elektron Tonverk isn’t just another sampler or groovebox—it’s a complete sound laboratory. From intricate sequencing and deep modulation to multi-layered sound design and lush effects, it offers a toolset that encourages exploration without sacrificing flow.
For live performers, producers, sound designers, and gear nerds alike, this is the box that could become the centerpiece of your setup.
Welcome to the next era of Elektron.
