24. June 2025

RILEY

LiamKillen’s Six-Month Groove with the Analog Four

LiamKillen gets cozy with the Elektron Analog Four over six months, blending it into his rhythm-driven setup. His melodic journey takes unexpected turns with a sound that’s more punchy than melodic, as the powerful sequencer pulls him into rhythmic experimentation. Dive in for some cheeky insights and streetwise tips.

Getting Rhythmic with the Analog Four

LiamKillen kicks off with his six-month saga with the Elektron Analog Four. Initially, he pegged this synth to shift him towards melodics, but his rhythm roots held strong. It’s all about that sweet sequencer, pulling him back into familiar tonal territory. As Liam compares it to the Vermona PerFourmer MKII, he finds the Analog Four’s sequencer packs a juicy punch. Instead of plain vanilla, this box can be a drum machine, a synth, or somewhere deliciously in between. Liam’s been teetering on the edge of keeping it or tossing it, thanks to some bland default presets. Yet, collaboration with his buddy Stereo Image brings a preset pack that finally clicks, redefining his Analog Four journey.

The Setup Groove

Sliding deeper into Liam’s setup world, he talks us through how the Analog Four grooves with his kit. He’s found a sweet spot, linking it with his vintage TIAQ A3440 reel-to-reel and the SSL Big Six. This combo bridges analog warmth with digital precision, letting Liam wade through tonal possibilities like a kid in a candy store. Despite only having four voices, Liam shows that it can lay down a banging foundation. It’s a mix of analog vibes and snappy digital controls, wielding ultimate command over sound design. Each voice gets its individual output, flowing into the iconic SSL Big Six with super analog tracks. This process transforms gear into an orchestra of righteous sound. Liam hints at exploring this harmonious setup in future jams.

Organizing The Sound Jungle

Liam’s deep dive into the workflow jungle begins, showing us how he wrangles presets. His method involves loading sounds on different tracks to see how they play ball together. It’s a multi-faceted process of throwing presets together and twisting knobs like there’s no tomorrow. The idea is to build from a robust foundation, expanding with layers and flavors. His journey with presets takes him through arrays of sound, from kick to synth, while orchestrating a dance of parameters. When he’s building beats, the focus is on spatial generosity—making those kicks occupy enough room, pushing beats into delightful odd times. It’s Liam’s dedication to groove and rhythm, leaving no stone unturned.


Kicking It in Odd Times

Liam throws us into the chaos of odd times with style, making rhythms unpredictable and fresh. Playing with sequences, he creates snappy beats that challenge traditional time signatures. It’s all about the randomness, as unexpected pattern shifts keep things lively and the listener on their toes. Liam’s focus is on experimenting with micro-timing and groove, getting tribal with the melodic tools. By subtly adjusting note timing, he ensures every sound lands just right, giving kick and bass an intertwined groove. With the Analog Four, he’s not just playing within the box; he’s stretching it. In this segment, you get a glimpse of Liam’s active experimentation that pushes boundaries and recreates a vibrant rhythm jungle.

Finding the Right Vibe

At the end of Liam’s sonic journey with the Analog Four, he reflects on the vibe he’s captured. His methods focus on building loops that may eventually blossom into full tracks. He’s all about creating groove libraries, between hardware tweaks and digital wizardry. Each loop is exported into stems and refined, waiting to find its final form in his larger music projects. Through all the knobs turned and beats dropped, Liam concludes that the Analog Four is all about endless rhythmic potential and a lush soundscape. It’s not just a synth for him; it’s a groove partner, an extension of his musical identity, seeding ideas for future explorations.


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