Bought a new Digitone and looking forward to jamming on it with my other Elektrons. Now what other Elektron would you get if you already have the A4 and OT and Digitone and why? Hard to decide between a Rytm MK2, Digitakt or Syntakt.
This is the setup I am focusing on nearly 100% at the moment, along with the Heat which I’m giving another go before selling it.
If I didn’t have the TR8S to get out for more playable drums, I’d probably go with the AR, but even three Elektron boxes going at once is a lot for my puny brain to handle and I end up focusing primarily on one at a time.
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Digitakt. 100 times Digitakt
The versatility can’t be overstated
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I think the Digitakt is a great pairing with Digitone. Digitone does pretty good as a drum machine, but leaving those percussive duties to the Takt free up the Tone’s tracks to do the Poly stuff, Arps, Pads, etc… They also look great together, controls are setup very similar, and don’t take up much space.
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I’ve got a DN paired with an AR Mk2 and I think this combo works really well. The boxes complement each nicely and you have some cover for sampling duties.
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They’re all different tools - they’re all good options, really depends on what gap you’re filling or what you want out of them, they all have some cross over but different (and I assume obvious) specialities. Sorry, boring answer.
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yeah it is a tough decision and smaller form factor and lower cost of a DT versus a ARMK2 is very attractive. I also have a Roland TB03 and TR08 so think my bases are covered now considering that I also have an OP-1, A4 and OT. Once my DN arrives then will pair up with my Roland boxes and OP-1 and see how I can get them to balance out for beats, pads and bass.
Yea, I mean out of those 3 I’d personally skip on the syntakt, purely because you have a lot of the melodic ground covered already, and you’d get a more specialised drum machine out of the AR.
Digitakt is a great drum machine too but lacks some of the performance features and more advanced stuff of the AR - but i get the form factor thing. If you won’t benefit from the individual outs or analog sound design then the takt is very capable.
I mean if you want a drum machine and all of those are in the running, the AR is my recommendation, it’s the king. I have a MKI and use it over my Digitakt for drums.
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It sounds like you’re looking for something for drums, yeah? Many people use the Digitone and the A4 for drums. That plus samples on the OT and you have plenty of percussive firepower! I’m really into sampling Digitone drums into the OT lately, to free up Digitone tracks for more tonal sounds.
Personally I would wait until I had mastered all of those and then might get something else that fills a specific gap. If you just got the Digitone there’s probably plenty to explore for months or years. I’ve had one for a little less than two years, and I’m still finding new tricks it has to its sleeves.
I find it overwhelming to use 3 or more Elektrons at the same time, but that’s me. I’ve seen people juggling 4 or 5 Elektrons, but in my experience, when I add more machines it tends to “dilute” each one.
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My own personal story: Bought the Digitone. Loved it. Still love it and use it exclusively to make tracks. Bought the Digitakt to go with it last year, hardly even used the Digitakt. No offense to the DT, but I’ve simply gotten immersed in using the DIgitone.
Digitone is DEEP. Give yourself time to explore it. Don’t make the same (or similar) mistake I did.
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With A4, DN and OT I think you have all you need.
Operating more than 3 boxes is like juggling, and OT can take the drums without any problem.
Sample your synths, and go as far as you can with these excellent boxes, as if nothing else existed. Much fun to be had!
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You already have a couple of other Elektron boxes and now you just bought a Digitone. Congratulations.
So why do you feel the need to look for another Elektron box when you haven’t learned the new one you just purchased?
Is there a specific musical goal you have in mind?
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I don’t plan to buy another synth until I master the Digitone once it arrives and figure out how to integrate it with my OT+A4 and Roland synths and OP-1. I did enjoy the ARMK2 that a friend loaned me for the drum pads and so may get one next year after I have learned my new Digitone and see if I need it for beat making. Has anyone tried clocking the Digitone to other synths like OP-1 and Moog DFAM for example? Would be fun to see on adding my DFAM to the Digitone for some fun. Since the DFAM lacks MIDI, I do have a MIDI to CV host box that can be used.
I assume you are not referring to the mastery that comes after devoting 10,000 hours to a pursuit.
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No, basic mastery after several months of learning the new synth. Heck, I still have not yet fully mastered my OT and A4. Let alone my large modular setup. It’s like buying guitars and amps. Part of shiny new toys, new fun things to play with and use in new ways. Ask a guitarist why they have 50 guitars on their walls when one does the job.
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Well I get it but I’m used to juggling six large and small Eurorack synths at the same time across multiple mixers and sequencers so Elektrons are piece of cake for me and no patch cables in the way. I’ll try out DN with my A4 and OT and add my OP1 and Roland synths to the mix. That will be fun! I was clocking my Roland TR8 and TB03 with my A4 and OT the other day which was fun since I used movie and anime clips on the OT and pads/ chords on the A4 and bass/Percussion on the small Roland synths and played the OP-1 for house key stabs live.
A4, Digitone and Heat is my main setup too.
Model:Samples adds another 6 tracks where needed, usually samples from the first two. Normally drum samples.
Given the chance, I would upgrade it to a Digitakt, but it’s a solid budget option.
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nice! I plan to use with my Elektrons and maybe get a Heat later since can also run my guitars thru the Heat. But yeah the DN with A4 and OT has all my bases covered once I master them together. Throw in my portable 7u/4u modular cases and have ultimate live setup.
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The Analog Heat does not disappoint. I’d been wanting one for years and finally picked it up, maybe a month ago. It’s pretty awesome, on almost everything.
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It’s off topic, but the Heat glues and enhances in the Saturation setting - I run my Digitone through it (it’s at the end of my chain, before the MPC Live) and it doesn’t stop it from sounding like FM synthesis, it just adds character.
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