And I guess with a RK002 you can play it like a poly too.
Hello Friends,
I came across this editor (posted on Matrixsynth) and thought I would share. Perhaps its already been discussed, if so, I apologize for the redundancy. I don’t have either machine or any affiliation with this company. Cheers!
https://elektron-model-samples-editor.jimdofree.com/elektron-model-cycles-editor-vst-and-standalone
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I’m super impressed with how many distinct voices you can squeeze out of this thing. I’ve had it for a week and have really found that it’s an extremely fun way to experiment with FM.
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What’re the “hidden” LFO/fx options?
Just received my Cycles this afternoon. Laughing out loud, while scrolling the presets.
Amazing duo, by the way. A 2 week holiday coming up 
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So what are your impression so far with that little machine as a solo groove box ? I’m considering getting one so I it can replace the AR when I stay at work as it’s kinda heavy and a pricey one to lose (I work on a two weeks shift, two weeks off basis in a remote area). I think I will surely add it to my setup when I’m at home. Do you have any battery recommandations while waiting for the battery handle to come out (if it comes out someday) ?
See my replies about AR vs M:C here (post 131 and 139)
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It’s great. Actually I first bought the Samples as a groovebox, because I like to be able to use my own samples. But I liked the Samples so much I also bought the Cycles last week, as a companion. Both are great at being a groovebox and when you are adventurous and push the sequencer with plocks, sample/preset locks, machine locks you will have a great time with either of those machines.
With the Samples you are limitless, but you will have to curate samples, transfer them and the little screen on the device is not the best for extensive sample management.
With Cycles you’ll get a very distinct sound, with a bit of a weak snare but with kicks right from heaven. And synthesis that can get you to a lot of weird places. Eventually it’s all about experimentation.
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it’s been pretty fun so far. after falling down a deep rabbit hole of electronic gear research, i jumped in with the digitakt, which has been pretty inspiring. my exposure to electronic music making happened years ago in college with the mc-303 when it was released, so grooveboxes have a spot in my heart. the cycles is pretty easy to jam on. i got bogged down at first scrolling through presets to assign to tracks but almost never do that now. just select a machine, tweak, and go. the sounds evolve, and there’s a ton of range considering the compact size. it’s been my constant companion on the couch or nearby while working. my 8 year old son also loves jamming on it. i also picked up a used analog four mk1, which is so deep. the two don’t really compare, but for the price and size, the cycles is a steal. if you can find them in stock, pick one up.
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I hope we will get some new machine, I found it little bIt limited sound wise
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I suppose it it were my only piece of gear I’d be tempted to agree somewhat, but it’s still amazing in my book.
@AdamJay has a presets pack that showed me there’s a lot more under the hood than I was able to coax out of it. Very inspiring to know the limitations were more me than the machine
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I think when you treat it as a standalone groovebox you kind of end up with a certain sound… its palette is quite broad but it has very strong tendencies in some directions and large gaps of things it can’t really do.
When you pair it with something else I think it’s great. Recently I’ve used it for single sounds in a track and it gives you something you don’t get from other gear. It makes interesting and often unusual sounds very quickly. Also, the kick engine is just brilliant.
My advice is to think of it percussively and in terms of texture, don’t expect conventional envelopes or filters, and don’t expect it to do everything. Speed is probably its strongest suit.
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sure minimalists would disagree, but I don’t recommend sticking to just one machine for drums (or any sound) in general. mixing and matching sounds from various machines is where you start to get your own sound. of course, this can be achieved with a sampler too…
so yeah: M:S + M:C would be great for drums (and a whole lot more besides).
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The kick is amazing I fully agree.
I found the sound palette a bit limited and always going in the same direction
I would love to have a couple of more machines and a filter to shape the brightness of some sounds.
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I’ve found myself starting to make some sample kits out of the drums on the MC, adding the LFO as FM or an envelope for drum design works pretty well along side tweaking a knob during the hit you can get some really cool unusual drums for sampling. Nice for layering drums for sampling aswell. I think the speed of use of it makes it an ideal companion with a sampler like the digitakt, often it is so much faster and more fun to build a nice layered drum on it than go searching the sample archive. It sort of lands in the sweet spot for me, much more flexible than a traditional drummachine but still retains the speed and while I have much deeper options for making drum sounds with synths none of them are nearly as quick as the MC and some extra processing on the digitakt can make things a bit more traditional also if needed. It’s a pretty nice sweet spot for not getting too bogged down but still having a ton of room for creativity.
As far as on its own it is very fun to play it solo but it has its character for sure, you can’t really run away from it but also you really can see people’s individual styles shine through, just like people using classic roland gear, its limited but also the gear doesn’t define the artist. It’s a ton of fun to tweak all the different machines at once, unexpected and awesome things appear so easily.
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I treat M:C like paprika and just dab a little over a pre-existing track. In my case I use OP-1 as the deviled egg.
I’m hungry now… 
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The one thing I do pine for on it is more chord wavetables that aren’t just that soft additive sound. But that’s my bias/preconceptions coming from the Monomachine.
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love it love it love it
Ooh gosh, yes. That’d be nice.
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Yep +1 for additional wavetables.
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