I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to you today as I have encountered a minor issue. Recently, I have been using only these two Elektron boxes to create a minimalist and easily adaptable live system in various environments. My primary focus lies in producing Techno music, while occasionally delving into Electro sounds.
However, I have made an interesting observation and I would greatly appreciate your enlightened perspectives on the matter. When I utilize the DN as the master and route the DT’s audio through the audio input of the DN, I achieve a superior overall sonic rendition. Conversely, when I reverse the configuration, with the audio passing from the DN to the DT, I perceive a sense of muddled quality and diminished clarity. Have any of you experienced a similar phenomenon, or am I alone in this perception?
I would highly value your experiences and insights on this matter. Your reflections would be immensely helpful to me.
Thank you in advance for your time and attention. I eagerly await your responses, eager to benefit from your expertise.
Are you using the compressor on the DT? The external inputs are automatically routed through it I believe.
Conversely, the external inputs on the DN are routed through the master overdrive, but if you don’t use that, then you might feel the audio quality is better that way round.
To clarify, I do not use the compressor on the DT or the overdrive on the DN. In fact, I solely utilize the audio inputs on both devices. By changing the routing so that the audio passes from the DT to the DN, I have noticed a significant improvement in the overall sound quality
If you have any further suggestions or insights, I would be grateful to hear them.
But only based on the audio routing, the sound is better when using DT>DN, and i struggle to know why…
Difficult to determine exactly without seeing the projects in detail, but from your description I’m assuming this could be simply a headroom issue.
If you’re using DT for drums plus the lower frequency stuff like basses, maybe you’re simply running out of headroom on the main out when you add the Digitone to that on top of that. Especially when DT is taking care of the kick / low end since this is often the loudest party of a mix.
While the other way around the Digitone might have plenty of headroom left since there aren’t as many things playing simultaneously.
Just a guess.
Another option: the input mode on DT is the same as DN? Either stereo or dual mono with L and R hard panned ? If it’s on dual mono and L and R are not hard panned you’ll hear DN in mono. So make sure it’s switched to stereo input mode.
I appreciate your suggestion regarding the headroom issue. However, I would like to clarify that the project I am working on is exactly the same when testing the different routing configurations. I have ensured that the same elements, such as drums and lower frequency elements, are being used in both scenarios.
Regarding the input mode, I have confirmed that both the DT and DN are set to stereo input mode. I have double-checked the panning settings to ensure that the audio is properly distributed in stereo.
Given that the project itself remains unchanged, it seems that the routing configuration itself is the key factor contributing to the perceived difference in sound quality. When the audio passes from the DT to the DN, the overall sound appears to be clearer and more defined. Conversely, when the audio is routed from the DN to the DT, the sound quality seems to be compromised, resulting in a more muddled and less defined output.
I greatly appreciate your input and suggestions. If you have any further thoughts or considerations based on this information, I would be eager to hear them.
That’s not what I mean though :). I get that you’re using the same patterns etc. But you’re changing the routing. So I’m suggesting that what might be happening is that DN through DT is causing headroom issues whereas DT through DN is not.
Hope that makes sense.
Basically it might be the case that DN has plenty of headroom left and mixing in the DT is causing no issues. Where within DT you might be running out of headroom and adding DN into the mix is causing issues ( possible clipping).
Just use DT -> DN
Easiest solution.
Or is there a particular reason you want tobuse the other routing? I can imagine you want to use the DT’s compressor.
You could try to lower the volumes on the mix page on DT of each track and then add DN again.
Another thing I wonder: have you made sure that you’re listening to both configurations at exactly the same volume ? As louder will sound better. So if the DT -> DN setup is listened to at a louder volume it will sound better. Just to make sure
I was careful to use exactly the same parameters before doing my little tests, and I would have liked to use the master overdrive, and the chorus for a tb3 thanks to the DN and centralize all the audio in DT as a master to use the master comp…
I’m going to try to get out of this one thanks to your solutions.
