i recently read somewhere that it seems that some folks like the M:Samples “in some aspects” more than the DT.
What could this be ? In which aspects does / or could the M:Samples win ?
( thats my whole/main point )
I have a DT. But it sits on its place, mainly to Midi-sequenze my modular (with FH-2).
I´d see the MSamples to just load some small very selected sample sets.
probably even just my own Slap Bass samples.
I had use for a HW sampler solely dedicated for just that, for some quick tests.
( instead of dealing “for that” with the DT…which is occupied / AND: instead of doing this “also” in the computer)
In contrary to my past uses, is now the lack opf REC/sampling no longer an issue.
Sound needs to be good ( vs. single tracks). AND quick jam acess !
i´d not make any attempt to use many tracks. So less headroom for mixing won´t be an issue either
yes, the price. and they pop up right now some more
is the M:Cycles sounding in general a bit lo-Fi ?
I think that would be a deal breaker.
I had a feel that the sound might or “could” lack.
question is: is this also true if just single tracks are used ?
( mostly: no samples played with overlap, one track vs. the other )
The fact that you can easily get dirty doesn’t mean you HAVE to get a dirty sound.
It’s just that the volume above 100 turns into overdrive, which I find pretty smart and convenient personally (on my Cycles I mean, I don’t own a Samples).
If you’re not into dirt, pay attention to your levels to not overload the master, and it will be good: check some demos, you’ll see that the sound is rather clean and solid overall.
Pads: you can drum out your ideas live, no click-clack.
Selecting samples workflow: no need for preselecting a group of samples and placing them into a pool, you have quicker access to the entire library for trig placement.
More knob per function access: faster workflow for editing and sculpting sounds.
Sample Player vs Sampler workflow: instead of sampling and resampling and chopping and editing - you focus more on just playing it like an instrument after you’ve loaded a carefully curated set of samples
Note that you can do sample locks now on m:s also. The difference being that digitakt has 120 samples you can pool and use, and also 120 sounds (samples plus settings) and the m:s has I think 27, but those are per pattern, not project like the digitakt.
Auditing which sounds to use and putting them in the pool is a way better experience on the digitakt.
I always had a feeling when I owned the Model: Samples, it had more punch and glue to its sound, almost as if a small on-board compressor was hiding in there somewhere.
And the sweet spots are more frequent, given that you don’t have access to all that many parameters. It seems Elektron tweaked whatever is on board, to just make sure stuff sounded better together without you being an engineer to figure out how to find a good sound.
I had no trouble getting tracks to sound good on the M:S but easily got lost in the Digitakt, whenever I picked it up.
When transferring samples, they are converted to 16bit 44.1khz mono, which while lower than the 24/48 of other boxes, is still CD quality. So I don’t get the lofi comments.
If you are adding Reverb, Delay and track panning, it gives a very nice stereo field.
There are 3 places to adjust volume:
The main power / main volume knob which affects them all
The track level which is adjusted with the data encoder
The “volume + distortion” knob in the middle of the unit, just above T3 pad.
To get all your track levels correct in relation to each other, you should use the 2nd option - Track Level via the Data encoder.
The “Volume + Distortion” knob should be at its default, 60, when you do this, so that its loud but clean.
The great thing about that Volume + Distortion knob is that if you turn it down during playback, it’s a quick way to fade tracks in and out. You can have the LFO do this for you too.
If you want Overdrive on a track, turn it past 60 and then reduce the Track Level to get it back to where you want it.
Another great trick is to bring in a dirty, overdrive sound by keeping the Volume at 60 and turning the track Level down - then you can turn the knob up rapidly to get a raw dirty sound that gets grittier with volume.
I started off on the Model: Samples. I now use the Digitakt as my main device.
The thing I miss the most is velocity modulation. I think that the Digitakt could really use it. I’d obviously prefer if it got 4 parameters like the Digitone but just the one is really nice. I’d do things like assign it to the filter cut off on kick drums and the decay on hi-hats. You can obviously get the same results on the Digitakt but you’d have to dial everything in manually. Also, I generally don’t have a lot of use for velocity and pressure sensitive pads since I prefer to program anyway. But you can do a lot of fun and interesting things when you combine thar pressure sensitivity with velocity modulation.
The Samples also has swing per track. I’ve come around to just using the microtiming on everything. That’s also a little easier to do on the Digitakt. But what’s even easier is using per track swing get the groove you want.
On the Model: Samples you just load sounds as you go instead of loading samples into your project first. You can also have something like 4 times as many samples per project. What you sacrifice for this is being able to do things like put an LFO on the sample slot. And where the sample management gets a little dicey is when you get into sample locking. The Digitakt is super straightforward whereas the Samples has a per pattern limit and sets up an annoying folder thing for your locked samples.
Overall, the Samples is just a bit faster to work with. You’ve also got all of your parameters right there without having to page through anything. Personally, I’m very happy with having made the jump but I think that for a lot of people, the Digitakt might be overkill. It’s also more portable and you can run it off of a phone charger if you get a little 5 dollar cable.
So yeah, I think it’s pretty great. I sort of miss having one even though most days I’d have no reason to use it.
yes, thats my point. To make me think a M:Samples could serve me
I has a look at the manual.
I had the impression from there, that “this” could have advantages on the MSamples.
over 500 samples per project, But: its really just 27 samples “per Pattern” ?
But the common “project pool” is from all patterns directly accessible, right ?
so its more of a limit how many samples one could actually use “per pattern”,
while the access to the samples stays direct with quick workflow ?
( the quick acess would be here my point that counts / i might be able to live with 27 samples per pattern for waht i have in mind )
sample start- and end- has only a resolution of 120 steps, is that correct ?
that´d be quite a bit of a drawback.
Thanks for all the Feedback so far !
i´ll see. I think i grab one if i can run into a (very) good priced one.
and they pop up right now some more 
