Elektron Tonverk: Is This Elektron’s Most Powerful Box Yet?
For years, Elektron fans have been whispering about what could possibly follow the Octatrack. The sampler that defined a generation of experimental electronic music always felt like it was living on borrowed time, and yet nothing truly stepped in to replace it—until now. Enter the Elektron Tonverk, a brand-new flagship stereo sampler and sequencer that dropped today, aiming to combine the company’s deep DNA with modern workflows. Tonverk is an unapologetically big machine. It boasts eight stereo tracks that can split into dozens of sub-tracks, a 256-step sequencer, multisample playback, buses and sends, and a suite of new effects alongside Elektron classics. At €1,399, it’s not trying to be a budget groovebox—it’s a heavyweight designed for ambitious producers who want their sampler to feel more like an instrument than a utility.
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Features Breakdown
The Tonverk is built around a flexible track system that sets it apart from previous Elektron boxes. You get eight stereo audio tracks, each of which can also be assigned as MIDI tracks, plus four bus tracks, three dedicated send effect tracks, and a master mix channel. It’s a structure that feels closer to a DAW than a traditional sampler, letting you build layered arrangements entirely inside the hardware. Each audio track can even be broken down into up to eight monophonic sub-tracks, each with its own sequencer lane and parameters—meaning the Tonverk can handle as many as 64 individual voices at once.
At the heart of this system are Elektron’s new “Machines”, which define how each track behaves. The Single Player mode lets you run polyphonic mono or stereo samples with adjustable loop points and crossfades, while Multi Player turns a track into a multisample instrument engine for detailed, expressive playback. Combined with the sub-track system, this makes Tonverk far more than a simple sample player—it’s edging into territory usually reserved for full production environments.
The sequencer is equally ambitious. Each track supports up to 256 steps, and all the Elektron signature tricks are here: parameter locks, trig conditions, probability, micro-timing, and an arpeggiator. Even routing changes can be locked to specific steps, opening the door to sequences that evolve in complex and unexpected ways. For anyone who’s used a Digitakt or Octatrack, this feels like a massive expansion—taking the familiar Elektron workflow and stretching it into an entirely new tier of possibility.
Modulation & FX
Elektron didn’t hold back on modulation power with the Tonverk. Each audio track or sub-track comes with two dedicated voice LFOs, while sends, buses, and even the mix channel also get their own modulation options. Add in a mod envelope per voice, and you’ve got the kind of depth that makes the Tonverk as much a sound design tool as it is a sampler. The result is a machine where every parameter can move, shift, and evolve in sync with your sequences.
The effects section is equally stacked. Elektron introduced a batch of new processors, including the Rumsklang Reverb, Daisy Delay, Dirtshaper, Frequency Warper, and Infinite Flanger. These sit alongside classic Elektron staples like chorus, filter, and compressor, giving you both bread-and-butter tools and creative effects for pushing samples into uncharted territory. The fact that send effects also get LFOs means you can set entire reverb spaces or delays into motion, turning a static loop into something alive.
What really ties it together is the way FX and modulation interact with the sequencer. Since you can parameter-lock nearly anything, you can make effects change character step by step, or automate modulation rates and depths at the trig level. It’s that Elektron signature: not just playing back sounds, but sculpting them in real time, with every loop capable of becoming something unique and unpredictable.
Control & Connectivity
The Tonverk isn’t just about what happens inside—it’s designed to slot into modern setups with ease. On the hardware side you get two audio inputs, four audio outputs, and a dedicated headphone jack, making it flexible enough for sampling on the fly, routing tracks to external gear, or running multiple stereo outs into a mixer. There’s also a full-sized MIDI in/out/thru and USB-C with both MIDI and multichannel audio over USB, which means you can use the Tonverk as an audio interface or integrate it directly into your DAW workflow.
Storage and file management are handled with an SD card slot, a welcome upgrade that makes expanding your sample library straightforward. You can load in multi-gigabyte sets, manage multisamples without sweating the internal memory, and even prep projects on a computer before moving them onto the box. For anyone used to juggling banks and tight space on older Elektron machines, this feels like a big step forward.
Then there’s the routing architecture. The four bus tracks and three send tracks let you shape complex signal flows inside the machine—think parallel processing, FX sends, or layered bus compression—all without needing to leave the box. Coupled with the master mix channel, the Tonverk behaves less like a sampler alone and more like a compact digital studio. Whether you’re plugging it straight into monitors or dropping it into a larger hardware rig, it’s built to be the hub of your sound.
Toneverk and the Elektron Lineup
Elektron already has a strong sampler family with the Digitakt II and the still-beloved Octatrack MKII, so the big question is where Tonverk sits. The short answer: above both, as the new flagship. Where the Digitakt II aims for immediacy and compact power, and the Octatrack leans on its reputation for experimental live mangling, the Tonverk feels like a no-compromise workstation designed to handle everything from production to performance.
Price also tells the story. At €1,399, Tonverk is significantly more expensive than a Digitakt II, but it’s clear Elektron doesn’t expect this to replace their smaller boxes. Instead, it’s carving out a new tier: the all-in-one powerhouse for people who want Elektron sequencing and sampling without the limitations that come with a smaller box. If the Digitakt is your everyday tool, the Tonverk is your studio centerpiece.
It’s also worth noting how Tonverk overlaps with—but doesn’t cancel out—the Octatrack. Live performers who love the Octatrack’s unique crossfader scenes and looping tricks won’t necessarily swap overnight. But if you’ve been craving polyphony, deeper modulation, and a modern workflow with proper I/O and storage, Tonverk makes a strong case to be the future of Elektron’s sampler lineup.
Alternatives to Consider
The most direct comparison is still the Octatrack MKII. For over a decade, it’s been Elektron’s experimental sampler of choice, and it remains unmatched for live resampling, looping, and the famous crossfader scene workflow. But it’s also notoriously complex and limited in polyphony compared to modern expectations. Tonverk doesn’t duplicate every Octatrack trick, but for many users, its stereo architecture, sub-tracks, and expanded effects will feel like a more forward-looking answer.
If you’re after something smaller and more affordable, the Digitakt II is the obvious sibling. It delivers much of the Elektron sequencing DNA with a faster, more approachable workflow and costs considerably less. What you give up is polyphony, the advanced routing, and the sheer depth of modulation that makes Tonverk such a heavyweight. For beatmakers who don’t need all the extras, the Digitakt still hits a sweet spot.
Outside of Elektron’s world, the Akai MPC Live II / One+ and the Roland SP-404MKII are the other natural competitors. MPCs lean more into a DAW-in-a-box workflow, with touchscreens, plugin instruments, and linear arrangements, while the SP-404MKII thrives as a performance sampler with its own cult following. Tonverk positions itself somewhere else entirely—it’s neither a touchscreen workstation nor a lo-fi performance box, but a hands-on sequenced instrument designed to build evolving, multi-layered arrangements.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Eight stereo tracks with sub-tracks for up to 64 voices
Powerful 256-step sequencer with classic Elektron tricks
Deep modulation: multiple LFOs, envelopes, and FX modulation
New effects (Rumsklang, Daisy Delay, Dirtshaper, etc.) alongside classics
Modern connectivity: USB-C audio, SD storage, MIDI I/O, 2 ins / 4 outs
Flexible routing with buses, sends, and master mix track
Cons
High price compared to Digitakt or SP-404MKII
Learning curve: dense workflow not for beginners
Bigger footprint than Elektron’s compact boxes
No direct replacement for Octatrack’s unique crossfader scenes
The Verdict
The Elektron Tonverk is one of the boldest sampler releases we’ve seen in years. It takes everything people love about Elektron—deep sequencing, creative modulation, and a commitment to sound design—and expands it into a machine that feels like a full production environment. With its mix of stereo tracks, sub-track polyphony, new effects, and modern connectivity, it’s clearly designed to be the centerpiece of a serious studio or live rig.
That said, Tonverk isn’t for everyone. Its price and complexity put it firmly in flagship territory, and casual users may find the Digitakt II or Roland SP-404MKII better suited to their workflow. But if you’re the kind of producer who wants to push sampling to its limits, build intricate arrangements, and treat your sampler like an instrument, the Tonverk is a huge statement piece—and one that finally answers the long-standing question of what could follow the Octatrack.
This site contains affiliate links. If you book or purchase through these links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support the site and keeps my content free. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.