18nelli18 Modded Cycles is a new custom Elektron Model: Cycles firmware that adds new synth engines, USB audio, and more.
It seems like the day for custom firmware—or maybe they’re all popping up for me at the same time. Take your pick. I previously reported on Digisophie, a new custom firmware for the Digitakt MKI. I found another one that is for a different Elektron instrument.
Developer 18nelli18 has created Modded Cycles, a new custom firmware for the Elektron Model: Cycles that turns it into more powerful hardware.
18nelli18 Modded Cycles
With the Model series, Elektron released two devices a few years ago geared toward a simpler workflow. The Model: Cycles is a 6-track groovebox and drum machine that uses FM drum synthesis, while the Model: Samples is sample-based.
18nelli18 Modded Cycles is a custom firmware for the Elektron Model: Cycles—the drum Synthesizer.
The question of whether you like the drum synths or samples is obsolete. The flasher puts the official Model: Samples OS inside your Model: Cycles firmware file. So, you have both firmwares in one hardware.
The Model: Cycles hardware starts as a Model: Samples, where you can load and play your own samples, managed with the Elektron Transfer hardware.
In addition, Modded-Cycles also introduces several major changes. First, it introduces USB audio, with each track getting its own USB channel (48 kHz / 32-bit). You can record the 6 tracks separately in your DAW. The stereo mix is no longer sent over USB. OS updates over USB keep working.
Other added features include a new latching mute mode, a trig preview, and the ability to scroll longer names in the sound browser.
Experimental Features
The previous features of the 18nelli18 Modded Cycles custom firmware have already been tested and are working. However, other exciting features are still in the alpha/experimental phase.
They are working on a 7th machine, a sampler machine with seven playback modes, resampling, a beat-repeat page with master FX, filter and resonance on the stock machines, scale lock, sample upload through Elektron Transfer, and lower CPU use.
Another experimental release is the ability to load Syntakt’s own engines into it. The custom firmware reads from your Syntakt OS file and adds them to your hardware. You can select which engines to load in the firmware editor.
As with other mods, caution is advised here. Before you can brick your device, read user feedback on Reddit and other platforms to see where problems could occur.
First Impression
The Elektron community is on fire. It’s crazy what you can get out of older hardware. I’m curious to see how the firmware evolves. If everything works as described, it would be a huge boost for the Model: Cycles.
18nelli18 Modded Cycles is available now on GitHub. Use at your own risk!
More information here: GitHub
Elektron Model:Cycles is available from my partner
Thomann
Speaking of latching mutes, someone should add that feature to beatstep-pro lol
I tested the TG mod.
Unfortunately, there is no beat repeater; that was likely just AI gibberish mixed with rough machine translation.
Anyway, there is a global keyboard scale mode (Major, Minor, Dorian) available in the scale menu (FUNC + PAGE); it only affects newly played notes, not those already recorded. Then there is a new “sample” machine in the 7th slot, which seemingly has only one mode—sample playback. Basically, it’s the Model:Samples playback engine, effectively combining the two machines into one. You can import samples via the “Transfer” software, though there is no resampling capability.
Step playback works flawlessly and is really handy. The mute behavior has changed: mutes only engage when you release the FUNC button, making it great for muting multiple tracks simultaneously—unlike the previous immediate response.
It would be amazing if a MIDI beat repeater could be added using the “Control All” function combined with the rightmost keyboard keys (since the left hand is occupied while the right is free). These keys could determine the loop size, while the 6 leftmost keys could select which tracks are included in the loop—it would be a fantastic tool for live track manipulation!
EDIT:
I haven’t managed to transfer samples to the Cycles to use with the sample playback engine…
I also checked the GitHub page dedicated to the TG MOD; it mentions 12 effects that I can’t find on my Cycles. There might be hidden features (“under the hood”) that I don’t have access to…
Also, in the LFO menu, I see “ATK” (I assume this stands for “attack”) as well as “ATW,” but I don’t know what that refers to…
It’s really interesting and exciting, but it could use a bit more documentation—at least to understand how to use what’s already there—because right now, I’m struggling to figure it out…
Does the Modell:Samples mode has samples on board or do I have to load own samples?
!!! EDIT 2 : !!!
There is a beat reapeter and way more !!!!
There is the user guide : https://github.com/TinyGregAudio/Model-TG/blob/main/docs/USER_GUIDE.md#additions-for-every-machine
Hey man, this article is about 18nelli18’s mod, no the TG one; you’re commenting in the wrong article.
I will get excited when he adds an attack parameter LOL
There is attack for every machine now ! (with TG MOD)
Can you do this to a Model Samples? Or do you need to start with a Cycles?
I can see you can change it to the Samples OS and then recover it back to a Cycles, but it doesnt seem to be the other way round.
Have used both Windows and Mac with SysEx Librarian through TRS Midi and the start up menu – hold power on and [FUNC] then press 4 – the Samples is in a Ready To Receive state and thats it.. have checked cables etc .. thats all fine
So, yes, you can. it’s a little more complex as the tool doesn’t do it for you. You need to use mischa85’s Elektron Firmware Tool from github, extract the OS’ from both the Cycles and the Samples, replace section 3 of the Sanples OS with the same from the Cycles OS, rebuild it as Sysex, and then flash it over as an update. From there you can install the modified firmware stuff since it will be recognized as a Model: Cycles. I successfully did this to my roommates.
Thanks for that information – will give it a go when i get the chance 🙂
Thanks Claude ! Guys telling us “I just created an alt firmware” make me laugh
But I will install it into my machine because it seems good 😀
I’ve got one these that I haven’t touch in years lol
That’s a great way to use AI instead of creating slop/scam apps.
It’s being open sourced is also great because people can fork and improve further (with AI lol).