XERXES MK2

XERXES features two digitally-controlled analog oscillators combined with a multimode analog filter, white and pink noise generators, comprehensive envelope and modulation control, and an analog BBD chorus with three operating modes. It’s an architecture that exudes warmth.

The oscillator section has been painstakingly engineered with authentic character and an expanded, stable frequency range (0.1Hz-20kHz). Each of the 16 numerically-controlled analog oscillators has the option of triangle, saw, square, and PWM waveforms with oscillator sync, variable phase control, ring modulation, and complex cross-modulation including unique Pulse Amplitude Modulation between oscillators. Everything is fully accessible on the panel, including white/pink noise sources with level, master and +/- 7 semitone tuning, plus XERXES’ unique drift controls. The digital tuning control on XERXES is stable by design, but you can dial in exactly the amount of analog-style drift you desire.

The onboard analog filters, one per voice, offer 24dB/octave lowpass, 12dB/octave highpass, and switchable 6dB/oct-12dB/oct bandpass modes. In addition to keyboard tracking and the LFOs and envelopes, you can assign filter operation to MIDI, polyphonic aftertouch, and MPE. Four-stage amp and filter envelopes also have dedicated controls. Xerxes features two LFOs with 6 waveforms each, which can be independently assigned to oscillator 1/2 pitch, filter modulation, amplitude modulation, pulse width,  and even oscillator 2 sync phase. With all those options, you’ll welcome 1320 total preset memories, including 128 factory programs, a 40-patch vintage bank, and 9 user banks of 128 patches each.

Thick, luscious chorus is a big part of the legacy of the Elka. Here, that heritage is reinterpreted with a distinctive stereo analog Bucket Brigade Device (BBD) chorus. Three fixed settings let you adjust to taste: a slow chorus, a wetter, wider chorus, or a wide, string ensemble-style effect.