r/Elektron

Digitakt II vs. Digitone II as an Elektron entry point – torn between the two, would love community input

Hey everyone,
I’m trying to decide between the Digitakt II and Digitone II as my first Elektron device and would love to hear your experience/opinion.

Here’s my current setup and thinking:

Ableton Live 12 Suite, Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, MicroFreak, MicroKorg, Arturia Keystep 37 MK2, Endorphin.es Evil Pet (granular). Plus an Akai MPC Sample that I’m planning to sell.

Why the MPC Sample is going:
I don’t get along well with the pad-performance workflow of the MPC — I’ve realized I’m more of a step-sequencer person (explicit step-by-step programming rather than live pad performance). On top of that, it bugs me that you can only put one effect on a sample — if you want to add more effects, you have to resample every time, and in doing so you lose access to the parameters of the previous effects.
This is why I’ve been eyeing the digitakt 2 for a while, since it basically offers everything I’m missing in the MPC sample.

My case for the Digitakt II:

+ Would directly close the sample-modulation gap I have with the MPC Sample (P-Locks, 5 playback machines like Werp/Repitch/Stretch/Slice/Grid, filter section, LFOs per track)

+ Able to sound extremely versatile depending on what you feed it, could use my current hardware + possible future synths, field recordings etc as sound sources

+ Currently available as B-stock for €829 (Digitone II only available new starting at €939)

+ Can also drive external synths/Evil Pet via MIDI tracks

- no direct polyphony** **on a single sample track without a work arround if you sample a synth

What’s making me hesitate:
I’ve read (including here on this sub) that the Stretch/Werp machine still doesn’t sound particularly great, and that many people recommend warping loops in Ableton beforehand and then transferring them over. That would undercut part of the Digitakt’s advantage over the MPC if I have to go through Ableton anyway for clean timing. I might just use Ableton all the way for sampling and arrangement then.

This is why I started being more and more interested in the Digitone II. I watched pretty much every synths YouTubers videos about it and I’m pretty impressed by its sound sculpting abilities and overall versatility.

My case for the Digitone II:
+ could make a wide variety of sounds right out the box

+ Great sound source to pair with the Evil Pet (generate FM textures → process further with granular)

+ Can also act as a MIDI sequencer hub for Evil Pet/MicroFreak/MicroKorg via MIDI tracks

+ could potentially replace the microfreak entirely. (
Not the MicroKorg though, I love it vor its vocoder that I can feed into Granulator III or the evil pet)

- I guess would always somehow sound like Fm synthesis, unlike the DT II

- wouldn’t have a hardware sampler than (for now)

Time factor / “truly master one box” instead of half-mastering many:

What I care about most right is sound design and developing my own sonic aesthetic. But I generally have very little time to make music since I’m pretty busy, which is why the idea of having as much as possible in one box — one I can actually learn properly instead of owning several devices I only half-know — really appeals to me. I get that the Digitakt as a sampler can sound extremely versatile depending on what you feed it, but that also means relying on external gear that you first need to learn yourself. The Digitone, on the other hand, gives you everything in one box you can take with you and use to build interesting sounds from scratch, once you’ve mastered the machine itself.

So my Questions for you all:

  1. How much of a dealbreaker is the Stretch/Werp quality in daily use really — or is it overrated if you lean on Repitch/Slice instead?
  2. In my situation (step-sequencer preference, no live performance ambitions, final arrangement happens in Ableton), would you get the Digitakt or Digitone first?
  3. Which one of the two is the more powerful sound designing tool in your opinion?

Tysm if you made it to this point of my inner monologue, I’ve been thinking about this way too much, the GAS is serious and I can’t keep annoying my Wife about this Topic any longer, since I’ve not been talking about anything else this weekend. So your answers and opinions are highly appreciated!

View Poll

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u/Background_Wash_6988 — 12 hours ago
▲ 45 r/Elektron+1 crossposts

Organic Dub & Chill garden session 🌿 Live handpan, synths & outdoor atmosphere

A short preview from our upcoming live session Imagination.project.

We recorded this Organic Dub Chill Beat performance in our garden using live electronic instruments, handpan, Dyvia and Ocarina.

The full session premieres this Wednesday at 8:00 PM (UTC+3):

https://youtu.be/_9ilOdwtjZs

If you enjoy Organic Chill, Psybient, Organic Dub and outdoor live performances, I'd love to hear what you think. 🌿

u/ShivaOmArt — 12 hours ago

Octatrack issues

I hope someone can help me with my problems

All the projects what I have saved. And l load then later on I get the same machines in the same order.

Even with some projects from EZbot mixing templates , what I have bought are the machines in this order.

I load new projects, and go to change. And load the new projects from here

What do I di wrong here
Am I doing stupid things again or what?

I also don’t see all the new projects in my octatrack what I uploaded from mine MacBook

I really hope someone can help me with this

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u/Ramon951046 — 8 hours ago

Sanity check for live setup

Sorry if this is a really stupid question. I started out DJing in ableton with an APC40 a while ago I've been producing in Ableton for a little bit and wanted to start doing more immediate and live compositions as I really miss that live feel of constructing things as you go.

I am planning on running a Behringer TD-3-MO, and maybe one or two other synths and using whatever Elektron thing I buy to sequence the TD-3-MO.

What do I buy here? An Octatrack? Later on i'd like to try to incorporate some of this setup into other DJ sets i do with some cdj's where i can bring individual elements in and out instead of being constrained to one full track on the cdj's.

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▲ 27 r/Elektron+3 crossposts

Tonverk hip hop shamisen jam 👺🤏

hope you guys like it. still learning new stuff on that thing. So far really loving it for the type music I want to make

u/Adwdi — 1 day ago

does anyone here make or have examples of people making non-techno electronica with Elektron boxes?

I am referring to sounds like those of Spacemen 3, Sonic Boom and Spectrum, Joe Meek, the more experimental of dub reggae, Animal Collective, Panda Bear, post-debut MGMT, Kraftwerk and electronic kraut rock in general etc etc

Keen on hearing the Syntakt most but keen to hear any of them

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u/SurrealistRevolution — 2 days ago

Tonverk - potential use for perform mode

So I'm not saying that the perform mode seems a tiny bit redundant with with the memorise/recall functions but it did make me think...

The Tonverk has a button marked perform. The Tonverk also has 8 entry data knobs and 8 instrument tracks.

Just imagine if perform mode brought up all of the macros of one type and you could perform on the macros with the data knobs. Surely this would be super simple (implementation wise) and would be one of the biggest upgrades for live performance.

(as an aside, can anyone suggest some uses where perform mode gives you advantages or different use cases vs memorise/recall?). I get that it does in affect give you 2 states to revert to (but in a somewhat limited way) but this does seem somewhat niche.

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Overbridge plugin changing velocity to a value of 1 on some tracks (DN2) in logic pro

Anyone experienced this and solved it?
Recording Digitone 2 in Logic Pro using the overbrdige plug in.

Tracks 1-9 suddenly had their velocity value change from 100 to 1. Tracks 9-16 were unaffected.

Disconnected DN2 from USB. Fixed the velocity values for the affected tracks, saved project.

Powered off the DN2 and reconnected to USB and reopened the logic project, and upon playing the song, the velocities reset to 1 on the same tracks, 1-9.

(For context some of those tracks have trigs, but most do not).

Troubleshooting: Disconnected from USB, created a brand new DN2 project and through some trigs down son track 1 and track 9.

Saved the pattern and project. Closed Dn2.

Hooked it back up to USB.

Created new Logic project. Played it from Logic. No issues. All velocities stayed at 100.

BUT THEN!

I opened the mixer window in logic and clicked the little + on the channel strip to create aux tracks for the Digitone software instrument. Then when played the pattern again the velocity value for tracks 1-8 changed to a value of 1. Tracks 9-16 stayed at 100. (This is slightly different from the issue for the other project where tracks 1-9 were effected instead of 1-8.)

Overbridge is most current version.
DN2 is 1.10E
Logic is 11.2.2

What the hell is going on?!!

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u/Cpegan — 1 day ago
▲ 19 r/Elektron+1 crossposts

my setup, Korg Minilogue XD & Elektron Digitone II

love it here, this is my happy place!
don’t make much atm since i work (more than) full time & college but it’s nice to wake up in the morning make a quick jam then do some other stuff with my day.

minilogue XD absolutely rocks i love the user oscillators.
digitone II is like a dream. i previously owned a digitakt II but sold it because i honestly hate working with samples and would rather craft my own sounds. fm synthesis took a bit to wrap my head around but i love how i can get lost in this machine forever.

i see a lot of people making techno with their elektron stuff but im aiming for a more sweet trip - esque shoegaze idm sound (from their velocity design comfort album) and the digitone fm synth engine is perfect for that. mess around with the algorithms and unison and you can basically destroy the sound in the best way.

cheers !

u/ResidentMammoth7533 — 2 days ago

New OLED or just the front plastic?

I’m trying to figure out whether this Syntakt would need a completely new OLED screen or just the plastic screen cover on the front.

I don’t have the Syntakt yet. It’s part of a trade deal I made with the current owner, and I’ve been told the issue was caused during shipping, but the unit is still in fully working order. I’m open to solutions, so I’d really appreciate any advice from people who’ve dealt with this before.

u/klayschwarz — 2 days ago
▲ 70 r/Elektron+2 crossposts

I keep getting impressed by Syntakt

Hi everyone, every time I power on this gem, I’m amazed by what you can achieve with it. From percussions and melodies to basslines, even those with a bodzin-like glide (I can share a demo), it’s truly impressive. I suppose its limitations lie in your sound design capabilities. However, with the added ability to play samples, the possibilities are endless. From all the gear I own, this one is definitely not leaving my studio (I almost sold it within the first month of owning it). So...here are my thoughts for anyone considering getting one.

u/aleksandergreat — 2 days ago

Elektron Analog Rytm mk2 full track

Hey everyone!

Just wanted to share another video featuring my favorite Elektron Analog Rytm. Once again, the entire track was made exclusively on this machine.

At some point I really fell in love with its master overdrive, and I've also become a fan of using its pads for my (slightly cringe trance leads 😁). I know those pads aren't exactly popular with a lot of people. Maybe that's just because I haven't really used the pads on any other drum machines, so I don't have much to compare them to. 😄

Anyway, I hope you enjoy it! I'd love to hear your thoughts and feedback. Cheers!

youtu.be
u/IndividualWall7608 — 2 days ago

digitone II send effects not working / not being applied

for some reason my digitone 2 send effects are not working. when i press func + Fx to go to the send effects page no matter what changes i make nothing is applied, when i press Func + mod to go to the mixer page and turn the send effects up, nothing is applied.

when i scroll through presets however, whatever fx are on the preset still work but no changes to the send effects do anything.

i’m on the latest firmware, has anyone run into this? does anyone know a fix ?

u/ResidentMammoth7533 — 2 days ago
▲ 23 r/Elektron+9 crossposts

Techno Live Set: Routing, Setup and Improvisation - Tutorial

​

Semi-improvised techno live setup with Octatrack, SP-404MK2 and TB-03: breaking down my routing, machine settings and how I use improvisation to turn prepared grooves and loops into a different live set every time.

Enjoy!

with love .noir. ❤️

youtu.be
u/noirofficialreddit — 3 days ago
▲ 43 r/Elektron+1 crossposts

Algo oscuro, lento, pero con flow

Buenas es mi primera aportación, así que espero que os guste.

No soy musico, para ara mí esto es un reemplazo a jugar con la Playstation. Paso el tiempo y me divierte. Acepto críticas constructivas que me ayuden a hacerlo más fino.

P.d. imagino que esto se traducirá así que lo mismo no tiene nada de sentido cuando lo estés leyendo.

u/Historical-Ad-6359 — 3 days ago
▲ 5 r/Elektron+1 crossposts

Advice on Dawless set up

Hey there! I am new to the dawless process, been using an Ableton Move in combination with a field recorder + live instruments for about 2 months now. still learning all this but i can already tell that i want to stay dawless and expand my arsenal.

I want to upgrade my setup but am unsure of which direction to go in, and don't have enough money to just try multiple. The main issue with using the move right now is that i want more effects/live mangling, more control over arrangement and mixing live, and more tracks. From what i have heard, the Octatrack is largely an answer to my problems, but i want something spontaneous and that doesn't take a lot of setup during the process (more then happy to learn and spend the time reading the manual/setting up template, but if i just sit there during the creation process setting up a channel, i might as well be in a daw).

The Move's major plus in my opinion is how simple and spontaneous it is. Can the Octatrack also be spontaneous, after proper learning and setup? or would i be better off with using another sampler (Tonverk or Torso S4, though i have heard they can be slower/latency) and running that into the move? is there some sort of magical tool or combination of tools that suits my needs?

Thank you so much for any help, and have a good one!

edit: most of what i record is live insturments (my piano & guitar) rather then synths and other midi gadgets (which are more occasional)

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u/Blocktane_official — 3 days ago

Wouldn’t it have been better to give the Tonverk dual stereo Inputs instead of two Outputs?

Elektron packages the Toneverk with a chart illustrating how powerful its routing is, including the use of outboard effects. The mix busses can be used to sequence effects both internally and from send / return outside effects.

If a pretty robust mixer and a bunch of effects are built into it, a big part of what makes it new… ??? It would be great to plug 2 stereo paths / 4 channels Into that. Just one input but two stereo outputs seems less useful.

I know part of the thinking is Tonverk -> outs to outboard effects -> wet Tonverk signal back into Tonverk -> final stereo outputs

Which brings up really it would thrive on 4 stereo pairs to support the above + mix in and effect say a moog that’s being sequenced by the Tonverk.

Am I missing something? Even with “we couldn’t fit that much I/O on the box”, 5 TRS outputs including headphone jack and 2 inputs doesn’t seem like the best approach.

reddit.com
u/General-Reserve9349 — 3 days ago

Best pedal for DT2+DN2,

Hey,

I started building my setup this year with the goal of creating live act music. First, I bought a DT2, and then a few weeks ago, I added a DN2 to it. I absolutely love them; I think it’s brutal how versatile they are and how well they can be used and combined together.

Currently, my workflow is set up so that the DT2 handles the drums and other instrument samples, while the DN2 takes care of the basses, pads, and leads (or you could say the DT2 handles the analog-style sounds, and the DN2 handles the digital ones). I definitely want to expand this setup with an effects pedal, because I feel that for live acts, I need master/main effects to make transitions between different patterns much smoother.

Right now, I’m eyeing the Chroma Console—based on videos, it seems like a highly versatile device. My question is: what kind of pedals do you use for a similar setup, what would you recommend, or if you happen to use the Chroma Console, how has it worked out for you?

reddit.com
u/lordbokody — 3 days ago