Do you also use single cycle wave samples? I wonder if that would make the Deluge sound even better
The internal synth engines are ok, the waveforms are not really too bad at all, the filter is a bit meh, nothing terrible but could be better, the envelopes, LFOs and modulation sources and destinations are where it could do with some work IMHO.
The fx are just ok, reminiscent of what youād find on a budget 90ās VA or workstation, people who moan about Octatrack fx would hate the Deluge fx more.
If I were to sum up the Deluge Iād say it has 40% brilliant features, 30% meh, 30% sub par. Some of the operations are extremely fast and perfect for flow state working, whilst others are just efficient, but way too many are cryptic and illogical and donāt seem to stick, there are also lots of inconsistencies in behaviour which can be annoying, like for example changing colour of a part is done completely differently in song mode to how it is done in the arranger, etc.
I think if they made a Deluge 2 Iād definitely look seriously into buying it, because so much of the great stuff on the Deluge is actually very very good, it would have to have a better screen and less button/encoder combos though.
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^ What this guy said ^Yep.
Since you can use multi-samples (which is brilliant) I personally do not use single cycle waves, but you could use them if you want.
I think the available filters and fx are fine and giving me very musical results.
Love the saturation and delay on the Deluge. The envelopes could use some more extended modes/options though, but I am sure it will get an update eventually.
The current LFO sources/destinations are already great IMHO.
For example using a square LFO modulating the time and send amount of the delay with a depth of 25 resulting in random +12/-12 semitones pitchshifted delays that together with modulating filter/resonance with an LFO modulating the other LFOā¦ It can become experimental quickly 
I personally do not care much about the arranger and looper functions and would have preferred more (monome like) performance options using the grid instead, but hey thatās me.
Anyway, I think itās a machine which needs focus just as much as an Octatrack and with all the updates + new features itās sometimes hard to keep up with it if you lose focus and/or get distracted by all the other great gear around.
Personally my only problem with the Deluge is itās polyphony using lots of multi-samples haha.
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I bought the mxpand overlay sticker for my Deluge, it definitely helps to remind of some of the functions.
Iām also thinking of modding my Deluge with 2 push buttons wired in parallel to the UD and LR encoder switches, the idea being it will be easier to do some operations that need push twist actions etc.
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Me too itās much better readable as well 
Yeah Iād also love more performance features. A simple ableton style clip launch grid is the main thing Iām wishingā¦ the hardware is just perfect for that!
I remember why I eventually sold my Deluge, when I realised it felt to me, like a palette of great ideas built into an extremely well executed prototype. Itās like a proof of concept that this could be done, and then they went to production without hiring a human interface designer first.
But some argue that this is what MFB has been doing since the 70ās, and theyāre doing all right, so I guess itās cool
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Yeah, it is funny, I often think of selling mine but then I relearn how to use it again and remember that there are some really great things it can do. I think I just need to persevere with it, accept it for what it is and play to itās strengths, for me those are timeline audio recording and drum machine mainly.
The forum is pretty quiet, I assume most of the discussions happen on FB though, ugh, a bit of a shame really.
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The only thing on the deluge, that I miss is something that helps me understand my tracks after some day of not looking at them!
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Yeah, I tend to mostly use the arranger and name the tracks there, then you can see the name when pressing the audition button.
I really hope they bring out an improved version with even a basic LCD.
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I remember the FB forum was pretty vibrant when I was on the Deluge. The web forum was always kind of dead, even when the Deluge was hotter than hell.
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Yeah strange to have a purpose built forum and do most of the community activity by FB, sign of the times I guess.
Having said this their customer service and email response is superb.
Ha, the Deluge, it is a bit of an enigma isnāt it? But I quite like that in a way, I was thinking of an Akai One/Force but they are too DAW-like, the Deluge is ājust DAW enoughā for me. Iād love Synthstrom to do a dedicated DAW in hardware, if anyone could do it I think it would be them.
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I had a Akai Force before I bought the Deluge. Sent it back in the 30 days period, because I wanted to be DAW/Computerless and Force with all the Touch functions is just a DAW with buttons on a touchscreen device, thats way to near computer for me. As I am a bad keyboard player, I need a device that provides a god UX to add Notes, and the Piano-Roll is the best concept for me 
Yeah those are my concerns with the Akai units too, a bit too much like a computer, boot up times and so on, Deluge boot and loads blazingly quick, perfect.
And the Synthstrom crew has to be one of the nicest guys on the planet. That alone is worth a mention again, though I know it comes up here frequently. But kindness and decency can never be enough rewarded.
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Hereās my track done with the internal synth engine + drum samples (the video below). For me Deluge is a best investment so far.
I hate screens and menu diving (thatās why Iāve quit Elektrons), Akai MPC is a computer-like machine. Deluge is like a true instrument: you have to feel the workflow, the shortcuts are pure gold - I can make the complex mod matrix in couple of seconds.
The sequencer has no limits - and Itās so refreshing after all these 8 tracks or 64 stepsā¦And the arranger mode is like a DAW - you can create quite complex songs using it. Summing up: everything I ever wanted.
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Ordered the mxpand overlay as well. May I ask you if you installed it like itās described or did you found an easier and/or more elegant way? Because your layout fits perfectly like I want it to see on my Deluge!
Any hints would be great and thankās in advance:)
I did it as the instructions recommended, main thing is to ensure the overlay is lined up properly before committing, good luck!
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Thanks for your turbo fast reply! I try my best.
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