Acid jam with Elektron Digitakt II, 303, Kaoss Replay, Empress Multidrive, Meraki, Lab

Please support my work on Patreon: / jayhosking
A live synthesizer jam performed entirely on hardware.
The Digitakt II is such a fantastic improvement on the original. Having 16 stereo tracks feels positively luxurious, and the new machines, extra LFO, chorus, and 128-step sequencer make the DTII capable of completing full tracks on the one device. I'm really enjoying it, even if I wish it were an Octatrack III instead.
Speaking of, I was missing performance effects with the Digitakt II, which has control-all, but not a lot else. I got the Kaoss Replay for a great deal, and thought this might be a good circumstance to try it out. While I'm fully sold on the DTII, I'm less sold on the Kaoss Replay. It's got hundreds of effects algorithms, and some of them are great, but it feels like it's missing some of the obvious stuff that you might find in a Pioneer RMX-1000. Still, it really did the trick here, and I'll probably explore it more before moving on from it.
And then finally, to add some tweakable fun, I put the 303 on the table. The Bass Bot TT-303 v2 has this incredible Pattern Lab where you can create new patterns with only the notes you want, in the style you want, extremely quickly. I love it. And with a few good effects-the Multidrive, Lab compressor, and Meraki delay-it's the 303 sound I love.
Altogether, a fun table setup. I don't normally make four-on-the-floor dance music, and it's an interesting challenge for me. And in the end, I'm pleased with the results!
Thanks for listening.
Elektron Digitakt II - 16 tracks of instruments (8 melodic, 8 rhythmic)
Korg Kaoss Replay - master-level effects on the DTII
Cyclone Analogic Bass Bot TT-303 v2 into Empress Multidrive into Union Lab into Walrus Meraki - 303 acid magic
Performed and recorded live, with EQ, compression, and limiting on the master.
jayhosking.bandcamp.com

[@PLTSOUNDS]

masterpiece feeling

[@stujay]

Amazing how such a seemingly simple bassline propels and supports the whole structure. Plus this is the first time I've seen someone play keys live into DT. Glorious!

[@BoBeats]

great stuff

[@Kumie]

Great job on this one. Really solid effects transitions with the Replay, and I loved seeing the DDII's mute cues in action.

[@redaxnela]

Oh wow, I was wondering when too see the wonderful MERAKI for the first time in your setup. And there it is.

[@jeejeeBlaps]

Great jam.

[@LuctaeMusic]

Kiasmos vibes! Nice!

[@jeffdigit]

Very nice! Perfect! 👍👍

[@kevinkearney3836]

Dayum that Kaoss Replay is a yacht.

[@JayHosking]

Yeah, it's a big solid thing. I got it before that new NTS Kaoss came out, and I wish the Replay had the customizability of the NTS, but I'm glad it feels like a reliable piece of hardware.

[@bleighhh]

the master

[@sreeeeeb]

Great effects on the 303 ! You master your craft !

[@Krilin84]

Trademark Jay sweet atmosphere! Really connected with this one when the plucky chords came in - love those kind of groovy rythmic/melodic patterns. My mind is hearing your low passed and reverb drenched vocals in this!

[@kingjim]

So immense I just stood up and clapped.

[@abnerfrost4116]

Absolutely brilliant...loved its simplicity and also its drive...beautifully crafted ❤❤❤

[@DrJ3RK8]

Nice! I was just looking at my black TT-303 yesterday, thinking I needed to do something acidic. I like those Korg transitions.

[@EricRaymondSF]

Man, so good! Can't wait to see the walk-through.

[@BlaBotz744]

4/6 on the floor, love the vibe.

[@2MinuteWarning]

Really loved this track Jay! You really mastered all the transitions here (with the mutes + Kaoss Replay) and how you enhanced the sound of the TT-303 with the Multidrive + Union + Meraki 🤩

[@MrMarcLaflamme]

The Bass Bot case reminds me of the geometry set I had in high school.

[@JayHosking]

Hah! It certainly sounds better than it looks, and I wish they'd stuck with the more litigious mk1 case

[@Deathgazeroo]

This is really an amazing piece of work. All the pieces nicely fit together and the resulting composition is just great.

[@pollohertz1428]

Once again, super lush and beautifull everything right there! Super inspired by this one!❤

[@MilesAwayOfficial]

Beautiful track! Also stoked you got the Meraki, absolutely obessed with that pedal for synths.

[@docjoesweeney]

Amazing work, as always.

[@retlasd]

Great tune. Really nice progression especially on the acid line. Really feeling inspired to get making again by this. Gotta find some time. 🤟

[@GloveBunniesVideos]

Such good fun! Thanks so much.

[@HuntedHunter811]

Wonderful chill sound, enjoyed every second.

[@TheBeatlesfan013]

Awesome track, just beautiful work!

[@brjuanmd]

hell yeah jay:) thanks for inspiring us!

[@jon_gee]

Incredible. Badass. Right on Jay!!

[@Algonaut]

Epic

[@babybluesound]

WHOAH. Just whoah. ❤ Imagine some more words please.

[@shachar87l]

Wow, that was so big and complex while all been contained in one pattern - limitation are out of the window

[@s3nd3r5]

Fantastic! I was dancing the whole time 😅

[@petercane6376]

That was bloody amazing! I wish to God I could do that. ( And had the wallet to get all that gear) I watched your other vids whereas you used a Walrus Slöer with ambient. I bought a Walrus Slöer. Came yesterday. So I AM listening! You are very skilled. Fantastic music.

[@vyrvygora]

Damn, I love the TT-303. Gotta buy one now

[@rodptr7902]

wonderful ! Congrats =D

[@David_Banner]

Love it!

[@philphilphil]

Dawless master. Beauty.

[@kirkdecker6228]

Never stop Jay! Bring back the hydra synth...

[@moolder]

Awesome!

[@kikkirow]

Very relaxing. Ready to ship to a record label :)

[@BluePhoenixChill]

I'm getting up to speed with my newly acquired Digitakt II. It's a pretty amazing little box.

[@kokopeline]

Awesome

[@RaquelFoster]

A mixer is also good for bringing parts in/out 😀

[@tobimm2]

How do you afford those monthly "all new gear" - Setups?

[@JayHosking]

Many things I buy used. Anything that doesn't work for me in the long run gets sold, usually for about the same price as I got it.

[@tendingtropic7778]

hi jay, what do you think about the digitakt II vs the octatrack? kinda annoying the DT doesnt do (custom) slicing huh?

[@JayHosking]

The Digitakt II has some advantages over the Octatrack, namely in having more sample tracks, better sound-shaping tools, and a 128-step sequencer. But the Octatrack's handling of time stretching and slices is much better, yeah. More importantly for me, the Octatrack is still far superior in terms of performance, thanks to the slider, scenes, and more audio inputs. The DTII's control-all is OK, but nothing beats the OT's scenes.

[@darkwave22]

I see that you've connected the Replay to the Digitakt's Midi thru, is there a setting to use that as an additional midi out, or does it just send clock?

[@darkwave22]

Also, really nice jam!

[@JayHosking]

I think it sends clock. Unfortunately, the Kaoss Replay doesn't actually show you that it's receiving any MIDI, nor does it show the BPM when you have it set to external sync. So I think it was receiving clock (delays and such seemed synched) but it's impossible to say from this setup for sure.

[@darkwave22]

@@JayHosking I see! Thanks for explaining!

[@LunchBandit]

Cool jam... however, I have a korg kaoss quad that can do pretty much everything you did on the replay but for a fifth of the price ($200 used). I was excited for the kaoss replay till they announced that it's $1k. I'd pay $500 tops for it.

[@JayHosking]

Yeah, I got a decent deal on the Kaoss Replay, and I'm not sure I would have tried it otherwise. I'd agree that its most important features (to me) could probably be replaced by other devices. That said, I've tried a few other devices (e.g. Pioneer RMX-1000) and not gotten results I like as much as this. I haven't tried the older Kaoss pads, but maybe I will at some point.

[@DJ-Lazy-Lodger]

where its coming from:-)

[@Canadianblaken]

Hmmmm kaoss replay

[@JayHosking]

I can see a place for it in some setups, though I'm not sure if it'll stick around in mine or not. Glad to have had it for this one, since I find performing on the DT somewhat challenging.

[@sbm5822]

This song has one big problem: it ends.