Red Sound Elevata 2001 Blue/Grey

Modelled Analogue Synthesizer w/ original manual.

Elevata is a 16-voice polyphonic, eight-part multitimbral modelling synth from UK innovators Red Sound. But with a number of virtual analogue synths available at the same price point, does the Elevata offer enough to distinguish itself?

Perhaps the Elevata's single most striking feature is its, um, 'elevating' front panel. This can be used to great effect if you prefer desktop, rather than racked, operation. There are four different angles to choose from, ranging from flat against the base right up to vertical. For me, the optimum was the 65-degree setting; there was something comfortably Minimoogish about it. If you intend to rack it, the Elevata's panel should be set at right angles to its main body. It then occupies 3U of rack space, making all connectors easily accessible, unlike some desktop/rack compromises where space is wasted at the top of the unit. Angle adjustment is a simple matter of lowering the notched support arms. As these do not lock, there is a certain amount of 'play' inherent in the mechanism, and this could make it feel a little shaky if flightcased for life on the road.

A generous six audio outputs are present on the rear panel, along with two audio inputs. There's also an input for the (optional) vocoder, plus the usual three MIDI ports, an external joystick port (see the 'Wizards, MIDI Control & Arpeggiation' box later in this article), a socket for the wall-wart power supply and the red On/Off button. The headphone socket is a stereo mini-jack positioned in the lower centre of the front panel.