Alternatives to Digitakt? 16-track Digitakt is a possibility?

Hello there!

I’m having a blast with a Digitakt, but having only 8 voices limits me too much when I’m actually trying to make full tracks on it.

I love sketching on Digitakt, it’s a very creative process. But I’m forced to multitrack it to Ableton to actually finish it. And I don’t enjoy working “inside the box” at all - I’d prefer to only mix and master in it, not actually producing there.

Now I know that we’re probably never gonna see 16-voices Digitakt MKII unfortunately, even though Elektron kinda agrees that 8 voices are an issue - I’m looking at 12-voiced Syntakt.

So I think about trying out MPC One or MPC Live. Or maybe adding a Syntakt to my setup - but using two boxes is not as straightforward and smooth as only using one.

Is it worth it? As far as I understand, it’s not so immediate and “fun” as Elektron products, but then again, I can finish my tracks there… so that’s a plus.

Any opinions from people who have tried both?

Thanks

Resample.

What limitation are you hitting with the 8 tracks? How are you currently using them?

One thing an Octatrack can do that helps a lot with this over a Digitakt is working with slices and the longer recording length - so that could be a consideration.

If you’re using the tracks melodically or rythmically then either a Syntakt or Digitone could pair well and give you a lot more power in that space.

Oh yea and that. Can’t always work of course but it’s a neat hack.

Two digitakts? Or DT + OT combo?

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Or buy my Electribe, that’s got 16 tracks.

pretty luxurious, when I look at my 4 track mc-101

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I think in your case using an OT could be a good thing and might be wiser than an MPC.
I mean the MPC is really not the same workflow.

The OT could quickly resample the DT for a pattern or just allow you to use more voice.
And you might use the OT as a mixer and a recorder as well. So if your track is not too long you can record them directly on the OT, bypassing computer.

And both sequencer have lots of similarities.

I had a digitakt and an octatrack for a short while, had I done more beat shit I would have definitely kept them. Or like, Octatrack and Rytm but the point is they compliment each other really well. Beats from the DT, atmospherics and midi control from the OT. It was amazingly fun and fast to bang out full beats with that combo, just out of samples but if you add a nice bass synth it’s just awesome.

Resampling DT = loose stereo information
Resampling OT = keep stereo and free up 8 tracks DT and move on.

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…ur only roundabout 500 bux away from all u think that’s what u need for further sonic progressing…

if ur willing to raise ur game, catch a 2nd hand ot…
if u wanna keep dreaming of a 16 track one shot mono sampler, catch a second dtakt…also 2nd hand…
or add that other great hw sequencer concept to ur ballpark, the only real alternative ur asking for…some older mpc model…that’s beyond all one shot mono sampling, too plus a different take on handling and sequencing…

but since sampling is only one side of the sonic moon, u might wanna consider a take on synthesis and better look for an a4 or a st…

I think Digitakt and Syntakt are a perfect pair.

Syntakt = Analog drum machine, all kinds of digital synths, fx bus with distortion,
Digitakt = Sampler and digital synth,
Identical workflow and

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people sleeping on rytm now :sleeping:


EDIT: have you considered it? seems like a good fit.
Has good oomph like syntakt, but also samples, and more song finishing capabilities.
if you plan on having chord/melody machine beside it, that is.

I’m doing kinda of ambient-house with weird non-4/4 grooves. Think Livity Sound - inspired stuff, if you’re into that kind of music.

Let’s see how I’m using tracks…

I need 2-3 tracks for my hi-hats (open and closed can be on the same track), rides and shakery kind of stuff. Obviously that can be resampled to one track, but with only 2 elements I need 3 patterns for those - with only rides, with hi-hats, and with hi-hats + rides.

For amtospheres I need 2-3 tracks also, otherwise it’s not “call-end-responsive” enough or just too predictable for 4-8 bars loops. Again - can be resampled, but need more patterns for that to be “playable”. Can’t be placed on one track most of the times, as it needs some polyphony for “trail”, or doesn’t sound as good.

That’s around 5 tracks/voices down the drain, which only leaves me with 3.

One is kick + sub bass stabs as I don’t really need them playing over each other anyways, so I’m ok with “auto-sidechain” one voice gives me.

So I only have 2 tracks. One is for percussion stuff and one for other (vocal chops, synths, chord etc.)

It’s pretty limiting for my taste, and I do understand that resampling is the answer, but it has two main downsides:

  • Can’t adjust the mixing, as it’s becomes “baked” into the sample
  • Limits editability, making Digitakt not as playable and intuitive, which is it’s best qualities, so it’s a hard compromise to make

So resampling is actually only on option for layering sounds - that’s cool, that works, even though I don’t do that :smiley:

I’m scared about Octo as it’s a very deep and not as “easy-to-use” machine… Also - 8 tracks again :frowning:

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I actually have an A4 :slight_smile:

Gonna sell it. It’s cool, but have some quirks I don’t like. Wish I’d stick with my DN and didn’t sell it - it was much more creative for me. Also - more voices for chords without compromises :slight_smile:

…dig a little deeper…i was also pretty late to see the full potential of synthesis party and was hooked for years and years to sampling only…a4 was a game changer…in case of doubts, collect some of the drum presets for it from the elektron site and take it from there…u won’t regret it…stacking samples with synthesis is opening a total different sonic planet…promise.

Sounds to me like you’d benefit from a dedicated drum machine. That could be a second Digitakt, Syntakt or even a Digitone tbh - could even be something outside of Elektron, dread the thought :laughing: - would depend a lot on the aesthetic you wanted - but I would say something dedicated to drums.

Sounds like you have your answer!

Having that split of drum/not-drum I think helps with the not wanting two-boxes thing as well - as it’s at least a very clear seperation of roles - mentally easier to juggle.

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I’m getting lost in the never-ending cycle of tweaking and re-tweaking my synth patches. It’s a fun way to kill some time, but it doesn’t actually leads me to making music, and that what lead me to sample-based production :slight_smile:

It’s very deep but just as easy to use as a Digitakt once you set it up. Honestly to me it sounds like an OT would work for you really well. Keep the simpler mono stuff on the DT (basically the drums) and all melodic elements, meaning bass, leads and atmospherics on the OT. Sync everything with midi and you also get song mode from the OT.

…yup, that’s the classic…dig a little deeper…ur almost there…suddenly it flips and u start to nail it right away…

Yea an OT could bring a lot of extra tools for the ambient-housy stuff too - you can do a lot more interesting stuff with vocals, and breaking out of those patterns is easier on an Octa because of the flexibility you have with the sampler.