So I’m in my 30-day return period for the Digitakt, but not for long.
Been already idly contemplating whether a DT or OT is preferable for my needs, but with the striking look and slightly improved workflow of the Octatrack mkII, this seems like a question I really have to consider. I’ve never used an OT so don’t really have a sense of what features they offer that the DT doesn’t/won’t.
Can someone help lay out the comparison better, with the mkII’s (largely but not entirely) aesthetic update in mind? Will have some notes/questions below from my still-beginner understanding…
-Loading samples - easy with the DT, bulk transfer of entire folders by USB. seems to be same with OT?
-DT has small on-board storage capacity, but should be plenty for one-shot samples. OT’s larger CF cards are better suited for long samples, making it perhaps more ideal for non-percussive uses - mangling long field recordings for drone/ambient tracks, for example? can still do that with DT, just not as much storage for it
-Building up songs - dedicated song mode in OT. ad hoc mangling and tweaking with the DT, intended to build up songs in more of a jammy, organic way (honestly this is what I do with the MD and A4 - song modes are offered but I’ve mostly ignored them. however I can much more easily see a use case for a sampler/sequencer like these boxes being the centerpiece for creating full tracks)
-MIDI sequencing external gear - DT is in the process of implementing/patching this. OT does this too it appears
-form factor - love the smaller form of the DT, appeals to me in a way that “just feels right” whereas the shape of traditional Elektron is more clunky. could even curl up on the couch with DT and work on stuff for hours comfortably
-sequencing - conditions and probability triggers are a big deal for me as I think pseudorandomness really adds liveliness, and I’m in for the Autechre-y feel of never allowing anything to exactly repeat if I can help it
-firmware - DT very much evolving rapidly now. OT seems finished, unless Elektron starts upgrading OT firmware again (would be amazing) (edit: appears this won’t be happening)
-button layout - the 8x2 layout of the DT makes more sense to my brain than the 16x1 layout, more intuitive for chromatic stuff and the like
-project workflow - with DT you just hit “save proj” and forget - with OT and traditional elektron there are the separate metaphors of projects and kits that need to be accounted for and saved on their own, right? that always felt frustrating - just something I’d rather not think about…
-lots of stuff I don’t understand yet, but might be cool - flex and static, scenes, etc. not sure?
-DT has less modulation/tweaking parameters. Master section is empty right now. no timestretch or slicing, which is surprising (OP-1 has these in various forms, as does ipad app Samplr). this is a big question mark for me - is DT too shallow ultimately to do the kind of deeper modulation and editing work I want? is this the main selling point of the OT over DT?
-forgot to mention, Overbridge on DT but not OT. since it’s not implemented yet I’m not entirely sure if it’s a gamechanger. using the DT as a sound card is intriguing as well.