First of all, yes i know about how cool the Elektron sequencers are (well, i don’t like them too much but that’s not the point).
I’m considering using the Digitone as a regular hardware synth.
Make sounds, recall them, play them.
It brings a few questions :
pgm chng changes pattns, so you’d save empty pattns (with at least one plock trig somewhere inside the pattn, in order to qualify as an edited pattn) with your preferred sounds assigned to the tracks.
As for syncing LFOs, delay times etc… MIDI clock comes to mind 
I gotta say, you will be losing quite alot of power by doing this… but hey, whatever works for you.
Thanks !
It’s all hypothetical for now.
I think it could be worth it though. I’m not aware of any comparable hardware synth in terms of sound. Am i missing something ?
Basically, i am fond of Ableton’s Operator but i’d love to replace it with hardware.
Thinking further, i think that the pattern approach could be great in a live situation, with the “Reload Pattern” combo.
Tweak sounds, and bring the original back.
Did i spot a hint of condescendence in your post ?
Elektron machines are very sequencer-oriented. For instance, no dedicated filter knobs. That tells a lot about the machines. And that’s why, for instance, i got rid of my A4 that i intended to use like this but couldn’t “feel” it.
And yes i read manuals. That’s actually one of my favorite ways of spending time when i’m traveling.
@chapelierfou Elektron boxes are indeed heavily relying on the sequencer.
You can try to control a DN with external gear, but IMO you would have a lot of fun letting yourself dive in the Elektron workflow and use the internal sequencer…
If you ever go to Rennes, contact me so that I can offer you a beer and show you the marvels of the Elektron way 
I use the heck out of that feature live, its great! Also what is great about the elektron sequencers is that you can change presets of the sounds on every sequencer step. This feature is vital for coaxing max mileage out of the (usually) limited voice / track counts IME.
Nice.
The whole point of the topic is that i’d like to play with a keyboard. You know, like in 1915.
Digitone seems to be especially focused on the Elektron workflow, I wonder if you will be more comfortable with it than with A4, in this regard.
Let us know if you ever end getting one and enjoying it !
From an above post 
If you just want it for it’s sounds and don’t want to use the sequencer, I recommend just getting a yamaha reface DX. They’re pretty cheap these days, they also have 4 op fm, and they have a wee keyboard stuck on the bottom! For a lot of people who alrady have other elektron gear I would recommend the same as you can sequence it via midi and still use parameter locks etc.
Yeah, well, i’m also interested in using the sequencer, well aware of its strength (even if…no number of steps par pages !!!).
It’s just that i don’t play always the same kind of music. Sometimes i love to sequence stuff. Sometimes i like putting my hands on a keyboard and play sounds.
I know, I was referring to it, meaning if you haven’t gel with A4 you might feel a bit too constrained by DN workflow as well…
Anyway, let us know if you end having fun with it, très cher.
i’m already having a lot of fun !
DSI Prophet 12, only 2 channel but more options and polyphony
You can totally connect an ext MIDI keyboard and play the DN with it. You can even use the ext keyboard for recording into the seq. In fact I do this constantly with my A4. In the last bank on my A4 project, I have 16 patterns that recall polyphonic patches just for playing with the keyboard, with macros configured for easy use during playing, stuff like cutoff mapped to the modwheel etc. You can easily do the same with the DN.
It’s not an either/or thing, it can easily be both.
By the way, does DN scales play well with the keyboard ?
When one live record a sequence, is the note scaled or note ?
scales and chords are recorded in realtime rec, but haven’t yet tested if ext MIDI keyb inout also gets chorded/scaled.
I just tested.
Notes that are not included in the scale just produce no sound, they are simply ignored. I have no opinion if it’s a good design choice or if a “force to scale” would be better.
The scale selection, according to me, does only make sense when you’re entering notes with the knobs. When you’re playing, either with the “internal” keyboard or a midi keyboard, it doesn’t really makes sense since it doesn’t force to scale. Wait, that was an opinion, wasn’t it ?
HYou say this because you’re an accomplished keyboard player
I am pretty poor at this exercise, and largely prefer a “force to scale” behavior, either hard, or soft.
Or even better, to be able to switch quickly, same as quantization.
Off topic : have you tried A4 mk2 ? The slight changes make a whole difference to me, I’m loving this synth !!
And also : if you need a big knob for a parameter (and this is true for DN as well), maybe you should add a little controller mapped on this parameter?
You already own the Digitone or you tried it in a store ?