After a year of happy use, I’ve put my AR MKII up for sale (on a local forum in NL). I really love the sound of that thing, but more often I find myself being frustrated about the limited sampling capabilities. And at the same time I feel I am not using the analog drums/vco’s enough.
Since drones/soundscapes have become my main goto, I would like to use longer stereo samples and record my outboard fx into hardware. Also would like more mangling options. I need somerhing tactile, no ipad or pc.
So I am eying the Octa now. I really like the Elektron workflow and I have owned one before (in the beginning of my Elektron career, wanted to do too much too fast back then so sold it).
IMO the OT can do anything the AR can do and way more. I have both and I like/use the OT more. I wouldn’t ever get rid of my AR though.
I used to have a digitakt too but I did sell that because IMO OT did everything it did better.
Now the mpc (live) can stream from the card that’s an option I suppose but it’s not as powerful as the Octatrack for sound mangling imho
Octatrack all the way I would suggest
I got an Octatrack last year thinking I really liked the Digitakt and Analog Rytm so much that the obvious next step was the Octatrack.
It’s not a smooth translation of workflow skills at all when you go to the OT.
Personally I hated it and found it blocked my flow at every turn… I kept it for a while and had a couple of returns to it, but sold it.
I’m happiest with the MPC Live 2 for doing the things I can’t/couldn’t with the Analog Rytm and DT. The AR is still an important part of my setup too, and I do really like it’s workflow.
The MPC (Live) can not stream from the disc. Maybe it will come one day, but not at this moment.
The Akai Force is capable of streaming from disc. Maybe that is a option too for @Hooger
Or a SP404 MKII, I use that one for my (ambient) sampling and FX. Or if you want to go (very) small size, the M8 Tracker.
I sold my AR mk2 for the same reason – in one moment of time I recognized that I don’t like analog engine and use mainly samples (but 64mb per project… and mono… you understand). And I decided to buy OT again (had it before). Absolutely happy with it! Octa is very versatile. I connected outputs of A4 and Kaosspad into OT’s inputs and OT’s CUE output into Kaosspad input. As a result I’m able to instantly send any track of OT (including input track with A4) to fx unit with MIDI sync.
…i’m not aware of any other comparable hw option…
it’s a truu music intrument…and timeless by now…
so if u take ur time, this time…u should be all fine…
with a little luck, u can even sell ur rytm mk2 and swap it one on one for a used ot mk1 plus a used a4 mk1…and then, u can drone and whatsoeva foreva and won’t miss out on rytm’s analog flavour…
even if u have not used it that much…u gonna miss some vibe, sometimes…
and the a4 will treat u nicely in those moments…but also far beyond those moments…
it’s the better rytm, if u ask me…
that way u’ll end up with two thirds of the famous dark trinity…and u got full fledged sampling AND full fledged analog flavour all covered…
foreva…
Have been using a DT for 3 years and finally decided to go for OT 2 months ago so my advice is probably not worth a lot
Anyway, I would not (and could not) look back. I was “scared” of the depth and complexity of OT but although the workflow between DT and OT is quite different, a lot of aspects made it easier for me to learn OT. Put it this way: a lot of work is out of the way if you ever had to deal with elektron stuff before OT.
There are still a lot of things!/concepts to learn and find about but I was quickly resampling/mangling stuff from inside/outside the OT. Which is the main reason I got it.
All in all, the learning curve was not so steep for me. It looked and sounded logical.
Note: I am the kind of person who is going to read manuals before buying as well as watching tutorials online.
Edit: I am keeping DT to use it mainly as a drum machine. Also as input/fx for my DB-01 and DFAM.
Akai Force?
8 tracks of audio, streaming from disc, lots of effects, crossfader (more limited in scope than the OT), pad scenes, midi and plugin tracks.
Yep, been thinking about that one too. Watched a lot of tutorials a while back. But I am a bit afraid I would miss the Elektron sequencer and not a fan of touchscreens either.
I would advice against the force if u already own a daw. Its a very cumbersome version of ableton imo and yeah you will miss the elektron sequencer for sure!
For a non-OT option, check out the Toraiz SP-16. After having the OT, DT and many other hardware samplers over the years it is my absolute favorite. Best sound quality, best filter, easiest workflow. The sequencer is WAY simpler than Elektron boxes, less mangling options than the OT (but on par with the DT) but in conjunction with other gear like the A4 it’s a stellar piece of kit and a future classic IMHO.
