Andrew Huang’s Solar 42N: A Pink Slab of Sonic Mayhem

Right out of the gate, Andrew Huang introduces the Elta Solar 42N as a synth that’s anything but shy—a chunky pink monster that claims to be an ‘ambient machine’, yet it’s itching to cause sonic chaos in any genre you can throw at it. With eight voices—each one a quirky character—you’ve got the sort of versatility that’d make a kangaroo dizzy. The drone voices, in particular, pile on the oscillators for a wall of sound that’s as thick as a meat pie at the footy.

This isn’t just about endless drones, though. The Solar 42N’s controls and modulation options mean you can tune, mute, and detune your way into wild territory. Those oscillators can modulate each other into weird, massive tones, and with just a flick you’re sending everything into lush reverb or experimental FX. Andrew makes it clear: you’re not limited to gentle pads—this rig is just as happy serving up gnarly textures or experimental soundscapes for the next warehouse rave.

The Solar 42N’s touch keyboard is a real show-stealer. Andrew demonstrates how this responsive touch plate isn’t just for playing notes—it’s a playground for expressive performance. Whether you’re gliding across it for smooth pitch bends or tapping out rhythms like a caffeinated wombat, the interface begs for hands-on experimentation. You can split the surface, set independent modes, or even arpeggiate and sequence like you’re running laps around a sand dune.

Pressure control adds another layer of mischief, letting you wrangle voltage outputs based on how much of your finger’s squashing the plate. Randomised envelopes, looping modulations, and scale-based transpositions keep things spicy. The Solar 42N respects your musical scales, so even when you’re going off-piste with the arpeggiator or sequencer, you won’t tumble into a musical faceplant. It’s a hands-on, sweaty-palmed kind of synth—perfect for the performer who likes a bit of unpredictability in their set.

If you’re after flexibility, the Solar 42N’s modular patch points and effects cards are like a BBQ buffet—there’s something for every taste. Andrew dives into the 13 FX cards, each loaded with three distinct effects. With the flick of a switch, you’re swapping between delays, reverbs, filters, distortion and more. The trick? You can even mix and match effects across stereo channels—even after removing the card—making for combinations as unpredictable as Melbourne weather.

The modular side isn’t just a side salad either. Contact mic input, envelope following, and dozens of patch points mean you can reroute, modulate, and experiment to your heart’s content. The addition of classic LFOs and a joystick brings in tactile performance controls. For those who love to tinker, hack, or build wild live rigs, this is the synth equivalent of an open invitation to get grubby and go wild.

Andrew doesn’t just talk the talk—he put the Solar 42N through its paces making a new album and a full sample pack. Using a ‘collisions’ format, he’s curated a set of recordings designed to slot together in fresh combinations, showing off the sort of creative mischief this synth encourages. If you want a taste of what this pink slab can really do in the hands of a master, those links in the video description are your ticket to the show.