Analog Heat vs OTO machines BOUM vs Tascam 414 (NO TALKING)

So what is the difference between Elektron Analog Heat mkII, OTO machines BOUM, and the Tascam 414 mkII? Which one sounds better? What are their features and differences? Come join me and find out!
The first 6 minutes are for those of us who are patience challenged and provides a quick overview. The following 20 minutes are for the rest of us who want to see an extensive testing of these units and how they sound against each other.
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[@Cubo1d]

Great video! I managed to score a portastudio 414 mk ii for about €100 twelve months. Nice overdrive from the preamps.

[@explodingtiger]

Thanks for he video. Nice to hear the side by side comparison of these 3.

[@lovedeathdisco]

only made it more difficult to choose🤘🏼🤣 this vid is really well put together, timed, planned. your tracks are awesome btw!

[@CassowaryToenails]

Thanks for making such a comprehensive video comparing these three. I can't say I'm any closer to making a decision on which to buy because they all sound wonderful. Guess that means I'll be happy no matter which one I choose.

[@CassowaryToenails]

Four weeks later and I now have the Analog Heat. I've got a thing for Elektron boxes and I couldn't be happier.

[@sawssman965]

​@Jared Rippey thanks for actually following up tho my g. It's actually way more helpful than people think. I went that route as well. Can't wait until it lands.

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

Just got the Heat love it and would be great to have Boum as well.

[@vintervinter282]

I like you beats !! this was very helpful

[@SE-zn2xe]

I don't think the distortion of OTO Boum sounds very good by itself. The magic happens when you mix in the dry signal and use the compressor together with the drive. Really gives that warm/fuzzy/dirty analog feeling to the stuff that goes through it and I love it :) The only thing I ever liked on the Analog Heat was Clean Boost, but then again I am not much of a distortion guy...

[@User173]

I agree, the Boum is great with it's compressor and for subtle effects, but it's not pleasing as a distrotion box and it can't do fuzz well. But I still love it!

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

@@User173 true and since I feed drums into compressor with distortion together the Boum would be great addition to Analog Heat since each device can only connect to one device.

[@joelou]

The OTO BOUM is sold out until September :o Glad I saw this now so I can start saving up

[@TheCALMInstitute]

The best effect that the Tascam provides is the tape speed control! Record at high speed(all the way right)and then play back with it all the way left. The resulting distortion is the most smooth and beautiful I have ever heard.

[@Tapepusher]

Damn, I need to hear that

[@hollsound]

Brilliant video, many thanks! I just bought a Strymon Deco and I love the new powerful sound, but I planning to buy a Boum or a Heat next to Deco.

[@DP-hw9uq]

Do you use the Deco with a drum machine?

[@hollsound]

​@@DP-hw9uqyes. I use it mainly with Digitakt and Deluge. Everything sounds a bit better. You can find some jam with Deco using on my yt channel.

[@ezmyrelda]

The tascam sound was really nice.. Also enjoyed the analog heat.. like the idea of the dedicated lfo for it.

[@dirthawk]

this video came in the perfect time for me, was about to off load some gear to get a Heat then i discovered Boum, bonus being the compressor over Heat.. but i dunno, will give this vid a few spins & then decide

[@User173]

glad to help! as you can see I ended up with several options because I could not find info anywhere other than anecdotal thoughts of which was better. so I just did a test myself. I still haven't figured out which to sell, but I'm going to make some tracks with each and then figure out which I enjoy working with best.

[@User173]

but I dont think you can go wrong with any of the three.

[@maksimreshetnikov1029]

@@User173 Do you finally decided what to keep and what to sell?)

[@XavierHoshin]

Elektron, then tascam, then oto. BTW, very nice boc style loop (on the bginning of your vid)!

[@User173]

Thanks for the comment! I'm torn, but I think I agree with your ranking. Elektron sounds fantastic, but I dig the way the OTO Machines and Tascam compress the waveform. Elektron is more spikey with peaks and valleys but the other two really give a similar/ pleasing compression. I also found that you could really get the OTO machines to sound very similar to a Tascam. my biggest gripe with the OTO Machines is that most of their distortion algorithms were annoying. more Bit Crusher than Distortion or Drive.

[@tompoynton]

So glad I kept my 424 mk iii

[@User173]

totally want one!

[@EARART]

Sold mine

[@wangjieli5243]

Cooool!

[@AnnesYarak]

You should use the Boum also parallel.... Use the mix knob!

[@the_astro_garden]

I like all 3, they are all different flavours, I have the Boum permanently set up on my master bus but you only need the compressor to 'kiss' the audio signal otherwise it will kill the kick as you can hear. I can definitely recommend the little Boum, it really has lifted my productions. Thanks for this demo, it was excellent.

[@moana-gamba]

recusant Totally agree, I was skeptical on the first day I received my Boum, but it’s a wonderful box, I never sold it and think I’ll never sell it ! There is one thing I love to do with it : taking a flat old school drum loop from a sound toy or whatever and feed it into the Boum, instant magic ! Concerning the compressor, did you try to use the side chain ? You can also do it via midi (cc24 or via a note), and also control the drive and high cut, it’s a real game changer ! If you do side chain don’t forget to stop the gate first, otherwise the sidechain affects the gate opening.

[@the_astro_garden]

@@moana-gamba Exactly my experiences, with the dials, its very easy to blow past into ridiculous, you need to turn dials slowly. This machine is unique with its compressor, real juicy and subtle drive/ saturation with a compressor, BOUM will never leave my main mix or master bus. Whats the goal of the side chain, to not effect the kick for example? I could dedicate Digitakt midi channels to the Boum, Not a lot of information out there, I haven't tried it yet but would love to!

[@moana-gamba]

recusant Oh man if you have a Digitakt I think you can have time tweaking the Boum with Midi. Read the manual for midi CCs lit, then you’ll be able to control the way the Boum is reponding. So, I try to be clear, let say you add a midi track to your DT, with the right midi channel, then asign CC to a pot, for example the CC for the Drive. So 0 to 127 in CC correspond to the amplitude of your Drive pot on the Boum. Using P-locks, try for example to bring the drive just after the kick hits, then low it back again 2 steps later, you can do the same kind of thing with the high cut etc. It will fine tune the way your Boum operates, and that’s how you can achieve some magic. For the side chain you can use it the way we transform a compressor into a de-esser, by feeding the side chain with the sound you passed in an EQ. Let say, in the EQ you boosted the high frequencies, then the comp will compress more that frequencies, cause the highs you turned up will reach the threshold first. This way you can create a high pass filter or whatever for the comp. Hope this helped, english is not easy for me so sorry I am not clear.

[@the_astro_garden]

@@moana-gamba Thanks so much, just set this up and its fantastic, a real game changer I feel! The options now are mind boggling! Even just using the sequencer to trigger the BOUM has lifted the mix into another territory! Cheers and thank your for your timely advice.

[@JamesLevineAndSons]

my notes: makes me long for my old portastudio! Maybe after enough fiddling these other devices will get it just right! They're pretty darn good. BOUM is a sizable portion of the Heat's footprint. Might feel the difference in a gig bag, but still not the smallest of guitar pedals, and maybe bigger than the strymon deco...Boum looks more immediately easier to dial in, having gone the compressor route. Is that on the input stage? Elektron using accessible gain stages, drive, dry and wet, which I find approachable, but not as obvious to reach for a number of dials compared to a compressor. I guess that also drives more of the the sound, in-full? Happy to say they both sound like they can open up the top end and still get those harmonics...

[@Tapepusher]

I had never considered the Tascam as an end-of-chain processor. I’m thinking of getting one to use in a live performance, they’re cheaper than the other two too.

[@eyesintheskies]

Time to stop eyeing up the heat and dig out my multitracks 🤔👍

[@manuelsirotti3793]

I'm trying to figure out if it makes sense to replace the valve dbx 386 with the Boum for my guitar with digital system & a lot of effects..I like the Dbx make warmer my sound but still needs to be warmed up, compacted and also with digital systems(Mod Dwarf)I have great effects but it has too many resonances on the highs and needs more dynamics so on paper it seems ideal. Mybe is perfect combine it with the dbx but I must sell the Dbx if I want the Boum :(. Last question : Can you create & save your preset ? Thank you !

[@FoundationStepper]

So this isn’t recorded to tape? You sent the tune just thru the preamp? Nice demonstration by the way

[@User173]

yeah, I just wanted to show the preamps and how nicely they can sound. but adding tape compression would have been nice for me to show. DOH!

[@saardean4481]

one of the most interesting and useful videos on YT imho. Thank you so much for the effort. I have the oportunity to get my hands on a 414 but not mk2 version but only the mk1. Do you think i could replicate what you do here or is the mk2 a lot better than the mk1?

[@User173]

You can do it with the mk1. I'd jump on it if I were you. good stuff. tape never gets boring.

[@saardean4481]

@@User173 thank you. Will give it a try I think

[@weepwow]

Gotta add Boss SP-303 in the next shootout. Overlooked as a monster warming FX unit. Tons of sweet spots. Just ordered a Boum tonight, have AHeat MK1.

[@intrascendente]

The Tascam is a beast, but due to the difficulty to find a second hand one, I'd say the BOUM is my choice.

[@RC_Cola2020]

I found one at a thrift store years ago. Stopped using it and sold it on craigslist for $50 🤦‍♂️

[@kalubandali2241]

would you recommend the heat? i have the 2 other elektron boxes just missing that one lol

[@User173]

yes, you can't go wrong with any of these options, but the Heat has a lot of options for sound sculpting. Just remember that it won't be something you really "play" per se, but rather something to sculpt and fine tune your mix.

[@User173]

@Zero Cool depends on how you want to use it. but yes, I'd use it to warm the final mix.

[@tendingtropic7778]

Thanks for this, great video. I have the heat, love it, but miss the compressor. would it be overkill to have both (heat+BOUM) on my master bus? what would be the best order?

[@User173]

That's totally overkill. you wouldn't need it, at all. Someone else on here suggested using the envelope follow on the Heat to mimic a compressor. I'm going to try it out and maybe make a follow up video.

[@tendingtropic7778]

@@User173 thanks for your reply, let me know once you tried it, I cant get my head around it yet, so please send me a message (or a video would be nice too!)

[@tendingtropic7778]

@@User173 any update on this ;)?

[@evenmind-music]

Check out Cenk working the heat at sonic lab: m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoK7gXSIqqiLkMk At 9:12 Cenk assigned the envelope to drive. When u assign it to pattern volume instead u have a compressor. I thought he did that at some point in the video too. Check out 35:50 too.

[@evenmind-music]

Make sure to click the link at skip to the minutes I wrote. Clicking the time stamps won’t take u to the video I meant.

[@erdosichannel]

Heat Like!!!

[@piotr803]

Thank you for the video. I have to note though that it has two major flaws: 1. Your comment about Heat being more "peaky" - that's why there's an Envlope follow that you can apply to mimic compression behaviour 2. OTO BAUM comes across as more "hot" than it can be because you can use parallel compression and dial in as much saturation and compression as you like. Because of these two, it's a bit apple & oranges comparison.

[@User173]

awesome reply, thank you! I definitely made some mistakes. will likely do a redo video.

[@piotr803]

@@User173 😉 no worries. Please do :-) I would love to see their full potential compared

[@User173]

@@piotr803 Cheers! in the meantime I did a video demonstrating the tape compression etc on the digitakt beat, if you haven't seen it or are still curious. I'll try and make the new video and share tape compression on the 414, as well as the OTO Boum in parallel with mix nob and the envelope stuff you mention for the Heat mk2. It will be fun and I could probably do a better/ shorter demo.

[@piotr803]

@@User173 oh thanks I’ll check it out 😀 would love to see another comparison. have you found one or the other device being more suited to different tasks?

[@tendingtropic7778]

@@User173 any update on when this video is coming?

[@ME-ru4hv]

Why you didn't test tape head playback compression?

[@User173]

probably because I just wanted to test the preamps. they distort nicely on their own, but I just plum forgot to do tape head compression. I might remake this video with the stuff I've learned since.

[@ME-ru4hv]

@@User173 that would be great. the tape itself breaks up nice and is a natural limiter too.. you know, within reason depending on what you want.

[@saren6538]

The Raum is fully analogue ? But doesn’t it have presets ?

[@iantanner7579]

superb demo sir, - like the material being processed too ~ I was gonna get a Boum, but after this, pretty sure I'll get the Heat... it just comes across as much more refined and versatile, plus it's balanced... the boum doesn't seem to provide the same subtlety, like it's either kissing the sound, or raping it, ~ and if used as a distortion box it seems to fail, IMO... doesn't even come close to my old Lovetone pedals in that regard... thanks

[@LittleAmbientMachine]

Me to Heat looks also a bit easier and clearer to find presets and so

[@architechproducer]

And also, no visual menu, etc. Seems easier to dive deep with the heat.

[@iantanner7579]

@@architechproducer yeah, I bought the AH2 6 months ago, and it is a superb unit. I've been working with outboard since '86, and I have to say, rarely have I come across such a useful, and all-round sonically pleasing, unit. Some people hate it, but it is best used as an effect, and not a processor unit, and I feel that this is the reason some dislike it. Therefore, most useful results, IMO, are obtained by using a lot of dry signal, and pushing the drive, - using the saturation as a kind of halo, which depending on the setting, can still have quite a huge impact on the overall sound. - I usually follow the AH2 with a simple VCA compressor, like a Drawmer DL241, or similar, for adding a tightened punch to the overall sound. Love to ALL, feel no hate

[@piotr803]

One thing to note is that this video didn't show using the Mix knob on the BOUM, so it was less subtle than Heat, as far as I can see.

[@User173]

True, i didn't run it parallel, but I wanted to show the full wet effect.

[@lospessoofficial]

hello friends ... I'm undecided about buying ... boum or analog heat? advise me please ... many tell me heat and many boum ... help

[@aidanvinum]

You still have all of them? I am considering buying a “heating unit” for a recently purchased Octatrack. Considering the Oto Bam since it has some distortion in it....filters.... Any advice is welcome.

[@benearle271]

Looking to do the same thing (warm up either a digitakt or OT - yet to decide which) and I feel like Heat would be best for that set up just because it would be another Elektron device and would keep workflow simple, also an LFO is tempting. But I really like the smaller size of the Oto Bam.

[@User173]

They both would work great for warming up the OT. I think I prefer Bam for compression and filter, but I like Analog heat for it's eq potential, envelope, and Elektron workflow.

[@blackyb27]

for me Elektron AH MKII

[@icosikaipent]

missing bugbrand stereo compress from this shootout!

[@b.h.gargantua301]

Let's do a leapfrog: LTL SilverBullet mk2 with BB-StereoComp on the insert! (yes I know it is an expensive setup)

[@lockyp204]

I like Elektron machines. But on a whole I find their sound flat. For that reason I’m not sure I’d go with the analog heat.

[@JoseGarnelo]

I use the black trinity of elektron with boum in the stereo out and love the combination, adds beautiful grain and character to it

[@lockyp204]

@@JoseGarnelo Yeah looking forward to picking up Boum on the next production run

[@GoodAfternoonDave]

lol

[@Erdnase23]

Another win for analogue tape.

[@User173]

indeed.

[@Cubo1d]

Record wasn't engaged on the portastudio, so nothing was hitting tape. This is all the preamp circuit in the portastudio.

[@User173]

@@Cubo1d right, I just wanted to test the preamp circuit for distortion and warming up the sound. I guess I should have shown it on tape as well and how the headroom is shrunk and makes it even beefier. good call.

[@Cubo1d]

@@User173 It still sounds really nice either way. I particularly like the chords in the beginning. If I came of a bit like I was nitpicking that wasn't my intent.

[@jeanfatale]

All of them are analog, as far as I understand, and there is no tape involved (the Tascam isn't running the tape, just using the mixer).

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

Analog Heat wins easily here overall with better user interface, more features and to my ears better overall sound with distortion and LFOs. Boum is same price now and sounds too noisy and distortion grainy.

[@GoodAfternoonDave]

yeah xactly

[@reecedeyoung6595]

Analog heat has 8 drives and even the most extreme is still really mild. The oto gives you the option to nuke your sound

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

eh did not like it so Heat wins for better user interface and sound good@@reecedeyoung6595

[@Goldlion973]

+FX is out now. Can definitely nuke sounds with that.

[@dirtycelinefrenchman]

Two FMR PbC-6As in link mode for the win

[@nepntzerZer]

tascam

[@johnrobb3275]

.........................................................I really like what you've done here to feature these pieces of gear but for one massively important aspect. I didn't last long WATCHING as I prefer to LISTEN! Wouldn't it actually be easier for you to simply speak instead of adding text? It certainly would be for me! ;D ...I have an extreme aversion to staring at text on computer screen for half an hour especially while investigating SOUND with my EARS. If you used your voice to convey words then I could go to the bathroom or make a sandwich. The presence of text as you have presented here keeps me glued to the screen and incessantly stressed as my brain oscillates between listening and reading modes. Sorry, I didn't last much beyond five minutes. Videos appropriate for "No Talking" don't really need text either. This video isn't one of those. You have much worthy stuff to express with words here. I hope you utilize a microphone next time...

[@anthonytalley55]

I didn't ask for this

[@edwardferry8247]

The Heat doesn’t have a compressor like the Boum. I added an external compressor into the chain with the heat and it’s very controlled and rich, as my compressor (as it only does that one thing) is much better than the one in the Boum. Both lovely boxes though, than you for the video.

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

true but my mixers all have compressors and I like the user experience better on the Heat plus Overbridge and more options.

[@GoodAfternoonDave]

while not a compressor per se the envelope follower can function as one quite effectively

[@nooksimpletouch9606]

What compressor did you add?

[@edwardferry8247]

@@nooksimpletouch9606 Walrus Audio Mira Optical Compressor

[@nooksimpletouch9606]

​@@edwardferry8247 Thanks! Are you ok with this compressor being mono? Because all the gear mentioned here are stereo and I wouldn't sacrifice stereo image by adding the compressor, especially on the master.

[@anthonytalley55]

A 🤥

[@deelux5519]

6 months later....the Analog heat still sounds BAD!

[@GoodAfternoonDave]

6 months later you still have no ear training

[@deelux5519]

Yeah, the Analog Heat is a piece of crap. It's basically a few cheap guitar pedal circuits running through a suspiciously digital sounding filter, and a decent but TWO BAND EQ....the cheaper "guitar pedal" version of this product offered a THREE BAND EQ...Thanks Electron...At any rate, those of us unlucky enough to have bought one already know it's a piece of crap......Oh! And the FINAL INSULT! Elekron went out of their way to alter the MIDI code, in use since 1981, to make sure that the heat could not pass MIDI note info, therefore intentionally crippling the device, so it cannot function as a MIDI interface....let me stress the fact the Electron had to actually go OUT OF THEIR WAY to make sure we were not afforded this stock feature. Not only does this unit sound bad, but it features multiple "middle fingers" to anyone silly enough to buy it. Which I'm ashamed to say....I was....But I learned my lesson. NEVER BUY ELEKTRON PRODUCTS...they INTENTIONALLY cripple their gear to encourage the sale of other products and further ensnare you into their senseless ecosystem of crippled units. The Analog Heat sounds BAD, it's not accident that Elektron have had little to say about the unit since its release. It was a cash-grab, from the start. Stay FAR away from Elektron unless you enjoy being scammed.

[@squirrelvalhalla9386]

Hmm. I would definitely disagree... Have been performing with Elektron Digitone and Digitakt since they were first released and havent found anything much better for techno/electro. Both are very deep, very functional machines. Digitone is bound to be a modern classic, as far as FM synths go. I also have the Analog Drive (the guitar pedal you mention). I don't really like that pedal much, tone is too limited and thin.. and the buffered input more or less kills the vibe. General Elektron pros: Awesome sequencers for live work, very nice 'in the box' digital effects, and the recent firmware updates have been VERY good. General Elektron cons: Digitakt is a mono sampler. The key-combinations take a bit of time to learn (but once you do, using them is fast and effective). Digitone and Digitakt do not pass pitch bend and modulation to its MIDI tracks, only notes. Bummer.

[@deelux5519]

@@squirrelvalhalla9386 Wait.....so you DO agree with me regarding the analog heat?

[@danield_sounds]

Wow , that’s an angry user

[@lockyp204]

Your post is kind of extreme. It sounds like you’ve had a bad experience with Elektron. Although to be fair, you are correct in that there is a dullness to the sound of Elektron machines- no doubt. And there is always functions lacking, which forces you to buy multiple machines- that is true and no doubt kind of frustrating. In the end though, there’s enough positives and ways around things to make whatever individual machines you choose work for you. I’d never just have an all Elektron set up though.

[@deelux5519]

@@lawrencebiancardi9363 Then why haven't hey EVER been used on ANY commercial releases? Why is it ONLY G.A.S'res that have anything good to say about them? Because they aren't made ro make hits....they are toys for ammeters to play with. Professionals have nothing to do with that brand.