Album Notes

Contagion Funk

A Weird Experiment with Elektron Digitone Keys and E-mu Emulator III

This track is an experiment with the Elektron Digitone Keys, a unique Swedish FM synthesizer and sequencer. Although it may seem limited in some ways, its power within those constraints is immense. I enjoy pushing minimalist setups like this to their limits, especially when it comes to squeezing out funky, skweee-like grooves—something I’ve made my specialty over the years.

For this experiment, I only used one of the four available channels on the Digitone. The Digitone is a 4-channel, 4-operator FM synth, and I focused on using that single channel to generate experimental percussion sounds. Meanwhile, the remaining four MIDI channels were tasked with sequencing an E-mu Emulator III (Eiii), further adding depth to the jam.

E-mu Emulator III: The Funky Beast

The E-mu Systems Emulator III is a funky beast of a machine. This 16-bit sampler is equipped with 16 discrete analog filters, which gives it a uniquely warm and gritty character that can get pretty “stanky” when pushed. Those filters impart a richness and depth to the samples that make it perfect for funky, experimental sounds. In this track, I used the Emulator III voice all the synth and 80’s drum machine sounds, layering its analog filter magic over the crisp, digital precision of the Digitone’s FM backing percussion. The contrast between the two instruments—Digitone’s tight, modern digital sound and the Eiii’s gritty, analog warmth—gives the jam a rich, multidimensional quality that I really like.

The MIDI channels from the Digitone were responsible for controlling the Emulator III, bringing its vintage textures into harmony with the synth’s rhythmic foundation. The result is a fun little jam that blends modern digital FM synthesis with the raw, analog power of vintage sampling technology.