By Tug·July 12, 2026·8 min read

How to Record an Elektron Syntakt into Your iPhone

The Elektron Syntakt records into an iPhone over USB with no computer, but there is one setting that stops most people before they start. Out of the box it may not be in the right USB mode, and unlike some Elektron boxes the Syntakt has an Overbridge option sitting right next to the one you actually want, which is easy to pick by mistake. Flip the correct setting and it just works. This is that setting, the right cable for USB-C and Lightning iPhones, and the couple of things worth knowing about levels.

What you need

Four things and one setting change that matters more than any of them.

An Elektron Syntakt on a recent OS. If the USB AUDIO/MIDI option below is missing, update its firmware first.
Its PSU-3c power adapter. The Syntakt is always mains-powered and is never powered over USB, so it needs its own plug.
An iPhone, plus the right cable for it. The Syntakt has a USB-B port, so the cable differs for USB-C and Lightning iPhones.
A recording app. Reel is the one I make and use for this, but any class-compliant iOS audio app works.

Flip this one setting first (and avoid the Overbridge trap)

This is the step everyone misses. On the Syntakt go to SETTINGS then SYSTEM then USB CONFIG. Unlike some of its siblings, the Syntakt gives you three options here, MIDI, USB AUDIO/MIDI and OVERBRIDGE. Pick USB AUDIO/MIDI. That is the class-compliant mode your iPhone can record from.

The other two will not work with a phone, and this is where people slip up. OVERBRIDGE sits right there in the same menu, but it is a computer-only thing and your iPhone gets no audio from it. MIDI sends notes but no audio. So if you connect the Syntakt and your phone hears nothing, you are almost certainly on OVERBRIDGE or MIDI. Set it to USB AUDIO/MIDI.

USB-C iPhone: the cable

The Syntakt uses a USB-B port, the squarish printer-style connector, not USB-C. So for a USB-C iPhone (iPhone 15 or later) you need a USB-C to USB-B cable. The USB-A to USB-B cable in the box will not plug into a USB-C phone on its own.

Plug the USB-B end into the Syntakt and the USB-C end into the phone. That is the connection.

Lightning iPhone: camera adapter

For a Lightning iPhone (iPhone 14 or earlier) use the USB-A to USB-B cable from the box together with an Apple USB camera adapter. The Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter is the one to get, since its extra power port lets you keep the phone charged while you record.

Connect the adapter to the phone, run the A-to-B cable from the adapter to the Syntakt and plug a charger into the adapter's power port.

Power is always mains

Unlike a battery-powered box, the Syntakt is never bus-powered by the phone. It runs on its own PSU-3c adapter into the wall, full stop. The USB cable carries data only.

This is actually simpler than gear that can draw power from the phone, because there is no risk of draining your iPhone battery or under-powering the instrument. Plug the Syntakt into the wall and forget about it.

Set your app to 48kHz

The Syntakt runs at 48kHz, 24-bit. Set your recording app to 48kHz so nothing has to resample on the way in. In Reel this happens automatically when the Syntakt is connected.

Over class-compliant USB you get a stereo pair, the main mix, not each of the twelve tracks as its own input. True multitrack streaming is an Overbridge feature and Overbridge only runs on a computer, so on a phone you capture the stereo main. The Syntakt does let you choose what feeds that stereo pair, so you can send specific tracks or the external inputs to it, but it is still one stereo stream, not per-track recording.

Record it and mind the levels

With USB CONFIG set to USB AUDIO/MIDI and the cable connected, the Syntakt shows up as a stereo input. Arm a track in your app and hit record. In Reel each take lands as a clean 48kHz capture you can overdub and mix.

One thing to watch: the Syntakt runs hot, more so than most, because of its analog drum engines and the analog drive on every track. Keep an eye on the input meters, and there is a USB TO MAIN level in the USB CONFIG menu that sets how loud the USB stream is, so pull that back or drop your track levels if it is clipping rather than pushing your app's gain up. Monitor from the Syntakt's own outputs or headphones for zero latency while the phone records.

Bonus: run other gear through it

Because the Syntakt passes its external inputs over USB, it can double as a small interface for another instrument. Plug a synth or drum machine into the Syntakt's INPUT L and R, and you can record that source and the Syntakt together into your phone over the one USB cable. Elektron's own demo runs a TR-606 in this way. It is a handy trick when you only have one cable to the phone.

See how Reel works

Reel is the app I use to record these takes, so if you want to see the workflow before you buy, here is a quick overview of how it works.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Elektron Syntakt work with an iPhone?

Yes. The Syntakt is a class-compliant USB audio device, so it records into an iPhone with no drivers. You must set SETTINGS then SYSTEM then USB CONFIG to USB AUDIO/MIDI first. If that option is missing, update the Syntakt's firmware.

Why does my iPhone not see the Syntakt audio?

Almost always because USB CONFIG is set to OVERBRIDGE or MIDI. Overbridge is computer-only and MIDI carries no audio. The Syntakt has all three options in one menu, which is easy to get wrong. Switch USB CONFIG to USB AUDIO/MIDI and the phone will see it as a stereo input.

Can I record all the Syntakt's tracks separately into my phone?

No. Over class-compliant USB the Syntakt streams a stereo main mix, which is what an iPhone can record. Full multitrack is an Overbridge feature and Overbridge runs only on a computer. You can choose which tracks or inputs feed the stereo pair, but it is still one stereo stream.

What sample rate should I record the Syntakt at?

48kHz. The Syntakt runs at 48kHz, 24-bit, so set your recording app to 48kHz to avoid resampling. Reel matches it automatically when the Syntakt is connected.

What cable do I need to connect a Syntakt to an iPhone?

The Syntakt has a USB-B port. For a USB-C iPhone use a USB-C to USB-B cable. For a Lightning iPhone use the included USB-A to USB-B cable with an Apple Lightning to USB Camera Adapter. The Syntakt is always mains-powered, so it also needs its own PSU.