So, first of all, hello!
I would really like to buy an Elektron instrument, but at the moment i’m only able to select one of them.
I wouldn’t see myself using the Digitone or Analog Four, so for me it’s between the Digitakt, the Octatrack and the Rytm
Can anyone help me decide on what i should choose?
100% Digitakt - Cool with a decent learning curve
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Most definitely the Digitakt, although the Rytm isn’t much more difficult. The Octatrack is an awesome machine but hard to learn.
Digitakt. Best learning curve/features balance hands down.
Digitakt is really immediately gratifying, easy to use and sounds amazing; while still retaining enough of the Elektron “DNA” that it will prepare you for the more complex machines. Like any Elektron, it has some limitations, but in general they are reasonable ones (main ones that affect me are mono sampling and only LP or HP filter).
I just picked up an Octatrack and I am glad that I’d worked with several other Elektron machines beforehand as it definitely has a learning curve, and will still be using the Digitakt a lot for drums etc. as it is so quick and well suited to that, plus the FX sound better.
I’d say Digitakt. Second hand prices are decent and they come with a three year warranty so if cost is an issue, you can get one pretty cheap with reasonable peace of mind. You can always sell it but I guarantee you will get sucked in and want to buy one of every Elektron 
Just to add my experience- I’m not by any means experienced with electronic music hardware and haven’t used a Digitakt. I’d only used an MPC2000XL until about a year ago. I plunged straight in and purchased an Octatrack. I’ve found it incredibly interesting and exciting, and I’ve used approximately 0.1% of the machine’s capabilities.
Yes it can be challenging to understand, but there are plenty of helpful videos and folks here to help. And honestly, you can start by using it for something simple like a drum machine, if that’s where you want to start, then explore from there.
Maybe it depends on how much time you plan to spend with it learning/exploring? Plus: what do you want to do with the machine you purchase? Make beats or…?
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Wait for Namm 2019.
I heard Elektron will release something much more user friendly, beginner’s dream !
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My first elektron machine was a Digitakt. Sold it because I realized I was more in need of a synth than a sampler, and eventually bought a Monomachine. Even though the digitakt doesn’t vibe with me personally I gotta say, trying it first sped up the learning process of the Monomachine by magnitudes. So I second the notion of learning the Elektron style workflow with the Digitakt. Only if you’re really sure you need a sampler though. If you’re more in need of oscillators I’d assume a Digitone is the next best option
The digitakt makes a decent synth using single-cycle waveforms, you can even get polyphonic voices with a smart midi cable some other people have shared on this forum. Obviously not as flexible as a dedicated synth, but not a reason to rule it out.
To OP: I highly recommend the Digitakt, it was my first piece of hardware a few years ago and I haven’t looked back, still finding new uses for it daily.
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I definitely use it as a synth all the time. Both single cycle type of sound designs as well as resampling the digitakt or other synths (but just a C note) and then messing around with the filter/LFO settings.
I really like the sound of the filter so long as you don’t go too heavy on the resonance.
True. Just from memory of how great the Digitakt’s sound engine is in general, I can say even it’s basic synth functions probably sound amazing
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yeah maybe waiting hmm
it all depends on what you’ve used before
And wht you like to use: Box or keyboard
I’m one step further down the rabbit hole - bought a Digitakt instead of an Octatrack about 6 months ago, now, as I’m starting to notice the limitations (while admittedly not having explored the box 100%) I’m looking at getting an OT.
Will do my best to keep the DT, it’s magic:sunglasses:
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Nearly exactly the same here…started with a DT and added an OT. Love em both
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are you me?
i’ve been considering getting an OT and borrowed it from my friend to try it out and make my mind up, and i decided no. some time later another friend of mine showed me the DT. god, i went to the shop the next day. now i have DT and OT, it all seems so different.
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I’ve used everything but the Octatrack at this point, and I agree with everyone here that the Digitakt (or the Digitone for that matter) would be the best starting point. They’re VERY easy to get around on comparatively, and lend themselves well to immediate exploration. They also aren’t deficient in any way, so as you grow, they’ll grow with you. There are tons of cool tricks to be pulled off with them.
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I would say DT is an easier box but honestly the OT is not as complicated as people think. If you know you have the time to learn the boxes by using the manual, youtube, forums…etc then just go straight for the OT.
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Digitakt.