Digitakt 2 - Beginner's MEGA TUTORIAL

Digitakt 2 is here! My new go-to sampler sequencer instrument.
Elektron's web is probably overloaded during the launch, but visit your favourite store to find it, or check my affiliate links:
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Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:10 Hardware Overview
00:02:07 The Elektron System
00:07:12 Booting it up, dynamic loading
00:07:53 Overview of the panel
00:11:43 Play a pattern
00:12:00 Stop playback
00:12:36 Selecting patterns
00:13:46 Your samples - your style
00:14:33 The power of stereo
00:15:12 One last cuckoo pattern
00:15:33 Create a new project
00:16:58 Naming a project, files, kits
00:18:00 Loading a project
00:18:49 Exit menu
00:19:17 Factory preset kit
00:19:46 Make your first pattern
00:20:37 Keep editing while it's playing
00:21:04 Keep an eye on the rec button
00:21:23 Select another track to edit
00:22:03 Preparing to live record
00:22:36 Quantising live recording
00:23:44 Metronome
00:24:40 Changing the tempo (bpm)
00:24:55 Tuning a sample
00:25:17 Setting the track level
00:25:37 Adjusting the amp envelope
00:26:05 Exploring Track Effects
00:26:56 Trimming a sample
00:27:34 Stereo or mono
00:28:03 Clear pattern, to start over
00:28:34 Mixing with the filters
00:30:27 Set Preroll for Live rec count-in
00:31:16 Remember to turn off the metronome
00:31:40 Keep fine tuning during playback
00:32:17 Add fast hi-hats in no-time
00:32:37 Modulating a hihat - predictably
00:34:06 Modulating a hihat - randomised
00:35:33 Modulating a hihat - more modulation
00:36:36 Playing the keyboard
00:36:49 Envelope modes
00:37:36 The filter envelope
00:38:40 Multiple pattern pages
00:40:56 Set pattern pages per track
00:43:21 Preview copy paste notes
00:44:30 Send to FX per trig
00:44:57 FX settings
00:47:29 Exploring the other filters
00:49:29 Conditional trigs
00:50:34 Save project
00:50:50 Selecting samples
00:51:53 Quick loading samples
00.52:44 Loop a single cycle waveform
00:53:17 Keyboard folding scales
00:55:01 Portamento
00:55:20 Longer pattern again
00:55:53 Parameter locking a modulation
00:56:53 The perform kit
00:58:04 The master compressor
01:02:46 Copy/ Paste Patterns and tracks
01:03:25 Edit All tracks at the same time
01:03:51 Queue up pattern change
01:04:26 The two mute modes
01:06:29 Loading many samples
01:07:44 Saving presets
01:09:29 Saving presets to the Preset Pool
01:10:57 Multiple presets on one track
01:15:07 Trig modes overview
01:15:44 Trig mode - Preset Pool
01:16:56 Sampling your first sample
01:19:55 Sample a loop
01:22:30 Track machines
01:23:05 The Stretch machine
01:23:42 The Werp machine
01:26:01 Sampling again
01:26:25 Changing the tempo
01:26:57 Trig-less trigs
01:28:27 Sampling for the GRID machine
01:35:14 What's under the hood

[@solongyouth]

I must've watched the original Digitakt Mega Tutorial a hundred times, and I was really hoping you would do one for the Digitakt 2, so seeing this makes me happy. You're number 1, Cuckoo.

[@truecuckoo]

Thank yoU!!! I hope to make a few followups with more advanced use cases!

[@solongyouth]

@@truecuckoo That would be great!

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

@@truecuckoo outstanding! looking forward to it!

[@FictionalScenario]

Same all hail Cuckoo!

[@totomhavehat]

6 years ago I got my first machine ever, a digitakt. i remember watching your video and learning it during the summer each day before going to work, sitting in my bed i was waking up with the sun at 4h30 and going to work at 6. I’ve watched it several times and went back to different timings to find stuff and understand the machine, the best video on the digitakt ever. the digitakt helped me survive this summer job and made me an Elektron fangirl Lots of nostalgia watching this new one ! Thanks Cuckoo 🙏 I’m already 10mins in I know it’s the best video out there for the Digitakt 2 I was about to buy the Octa… i’ll take some time to think I guess I had to sell the 1 when i needed cash, i regret selling it every day 🥲 But kits on a takt ???? I can’t wait for the next Syntakt update, this is exactly what i want 😁

[@exmalobonum1]

Cuckoo, you are such a good teacher. I got very excited when you pushed the Digitakt out of the shot because I knew where it was going. This is so incredibly helpful for someone like me who's quite new to this. You KO II video was too - I've watched that dozens of times and it's helped a lot. I love these instructional videos! You should consider doing a 101 synth breakdown or something - I think that would do really well. Can't wait to finish this! :)

[@ReligionAndMaterialismDebunked]

Yeah, this is far more powerful than what I've normally heard about this device with the storage space, the amount of kits it's able to hold, the + Drive, etc. :D

[@HelicopterRidesForCommunists]

It sounds better than the original, and its not just the stereo. Better algorithms is helping too.

[@ady909]

Thanks, and look forward to seeing more on this! 🎉

[@joshdrift4374]

Excelent teacher. An engaging style and right at my speed so I don't need pause/replay

[@MichaelBogaMusic]

Thank you for taking the time to do this! Just got my Digitakt II and I can't wait to dive in. Your tutorials are so precious!

[@pedromerino4627]

I just never stop getting amazed by the quality of your videos! The best in the game

[@Asyouwere]

I got mine on the way!! This is great Cuckoo, thanks again for another awesome tutorial.

[@trevormalcolm4328]

I wasn’t really fussed about the OG Digitakt but the “2” seems a total beast, if it had a second set of stereo outputs I’d probably be buying one

[@vladimirussachevsky1315]

Been watching you for years., always a pleasure. Can’t wait to get my hands on one!

[@touchthatdial]

Brilliant overview as always. So good. Thank you. And what an upgrade, I love my Digitakt... and this is a whole other level.

[@BiomechTB303]

Great job, Cuckoo! Love your videos. This was a excellent introduction to the new Digitakt 2.

[@charlieplatnum82]

If I were to make a movie.........Cuckoo would definitely be in it!

[@mekaneric]

True, as a bad or good, but very deeply good guy!

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

me too I would feature Cuckoo is a live musician jamming with his band and Elektrons!

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

Nice demo and review Cuckoo! Always enjoy your music tutorials and positive happy vibe! I learned to use my first Elektron box from you :-)

[@echo_opera]

You sir are amazing. Can't wait to apply what I've learned from your great video to the new shiny shiny :)

[@hellf.o]

Wow..what a great synth era we are living in..!

[@PaulKwitekmusic]

I was just gonna purchase the blackbox and this came out . awesome upgrade from the previous version. great tutorial thnxs !

[@geusensdriesmusic]

You're the best music production teacher on all of YT! Keep 'm coming.

[@anonymous_friend]

Great tutorial. I'm ready for your next one ❤

[@caesarsheadache]

Great Mark II machine and truly a superior tutorial 🔥🔥🔥 Thank you for this 🥳🤘

[@PhilB303]

this is fantastic. really helpful!

[@smguy7]

As usual you have informed me, inspired me and sold me on this instrument.

[@eyesintheskies]

Holy mackerel , this was only leaked a couple days ago, now it’s already on the shelves. Elektron don’t mess around!!!

[@ilyandilymusic]

Incredible as always.

[@moneypits]

Fantastic work as usual :) Such a brilliant teaching style for all these types of videos. Nothing is overwhelming and the knowledge you've built up in such a short time gives the rest of us hope :) Love the 606 vinyl too - off to Discogs I go...

[@mircolange4055]

Super curious about the new platform and the updates coming. Thanks for the - as always - great video! 😊

[@truecuckoo]

Yeah I’m very curious too see where this is going too! Thank you 🙏🏼

[@FlyingPetschman]

thank you - got mine today ... now its Cuckoo time :)

[@deyoungstar]

Excellent review as always!

[@postlex]

Thanks Cuckoo, super cool and helpful, as always.

[@joserodriguez6342]

Excellent tutorial!!

[@P.L.808]

🥇Award for Well Explained and Easy to Follow Tutorial 😊 Thank you! Much appreciated

[@strangestrains.]

HE LIVES!!!

[@JoeyJordis0n19]

Mega good video, Cuckoo is the GOAT!

[@truecuckoo]

Thank you so much!!

[@hristuppiteitinu]

love this channel ❤

[@bubuAudio]

great tutorial!

[@JoshuaNeedham]

Well that's another machine Cuckoos has made me order. Awesome mega-tutorial. Next up some crazy techniques please.

[@pawekopacz593]

Love Digitakt 2 , Cuckoo👍👍👍👍👍👍🤓😁

[@anvitsharma4885]

THanky you for this. Was very helpful!

[@rascal_rae]

nice use of the golden moog knob ;)

[@Painsoreal]

Thank you so much. It's so informative 📓

[@mekaneric]

Great review Boss, exhaustive!!! Great work! Here is the great cuckoo! Love it, Thank you

[@d3tuned378]

perform mode is brilliant! i like it better than the save/recall function on the model:cycles for destroying a sequence and then restoring it

[@planktron]

Wow things are moving fast :D

[@ManCalledMif]

Cuckoo tutorials are the best. KO2 tutorial also great

[@rascal_rae]

perform mode!!! dang that's handy

[@JUSTO33344]

legendary sequel video

[@remyvegamedia]

Okay man that 5th pattern, Luny Tuna I think, at 15:16 was both humorous and completely dope haha. I love your style.

[@truecuckoo]

Haha thank you so much. I’m having so much fun when creating that kind of music 😀

[@remyvegamedia]

@@truecuckoo I need to let that spirit into my process. It's so enriching to be feel the fun and laughter in music as much as alllll the other emotions. Good stuff, thank you for you great work. I have been curious about Digitakt and Elektron and never until this video understood the process at all besides the basic idea of the step sequencer.

[@remyvegamedia]

@@truecuckoo I need to let that spirit into my process. It's so enriching to be feel the fun and laughter in music as much as alllll the other emotions. Good stuff, thank you for you great work. I have been curious about Digitakt and Elektron and never until this video understood the process at all besides the basic idea of the step sequencer.

[@gyzzgyzz8353]

can't wait to see your gig in holland on may 31!!

[@Polyphanax]

Thanks for the great introduction to the Digitakt 2. Great job 👏 Looking forward to your follow ups! Passing this beast through my Schlappi modular rack is going to be an event. Maybe some Cuckoo ear defenders in your merch is something to think about. 🦻 🎧 😙

[@samhughes3527]

Wow man this is like asmr for me

[@ECHOS_OF_NE0N]

Thank you ❤

[@AntonioAlemanno_music]

Awesome videos as always Cuckoo! I love especially your Megatutorial! Do you know if it is possible to transfer projects via the transfer directly from Digitakt to another Digitakt?

[@zorglub69ification]

Thanks you very much. Its so helpfull.

[@KenithCopeland]

if this eventually got a update to do live looping, man, game over for me for every other piece of kit i own. i sold my original digi to buy a octatrack for live looping and regretted it ever since (love the octa but the digi is special fantastic video as always

[@ady853003]

plus one for a live looping feature - now with stereo samples, being able to somehow record a loop and have it inserted in the sequence's sample slot as soon as it's done recording would be so nice for instrumentalists. Triggering that process via midi would be a special bonus.

[@KenithCopeland]

@@ady853003 im a guitarist first and foremost, then got into ableton and then some hardware (mainly elektron) i tried the newer MPC's for live looking, hated their workflow, no guitar loopers at that stage (2015) had the ability to preset loop lengths so i got a digi then octa which i controll via midi foot pedal. the form factor and directness of the digi is amazing, the octa is great but the digi is just straight to the point. it would be a hell of a machine to have midi foot controllable live looping

[@ady853003]

@@KenithCopeland 100% agree - also a guitarist, went through octatrack, aeros loop studio, weird ableton setups & max4live devices - never was fully satisfied, there was always some hidden menu or feature. I also think that the sampler of digitakt is straight to the point, always worked. Triggering the start & stop recording via midi and having the recorded sample transferred to the current track's sample slot automatically would probably finally end my search. Then the sequencer with already-placed triggers would start playing it back :D I'd pay 1k euros for the new digitakt in that case.

[@KenithCopeland]

@@ady853003 that would make a lot of my dreams come true. most of my guitar playing is at my desk now days so i've toyed with the idea of just using ableton and a midi pedal but i do like portability for when i go on holidays (i tried taking my octa with me, just that little bit too big) with the new update for the sp404 mk2 that live looping is now possible i've been looking into that, but man, the elektron workflow is just something else (and much more intuitive for me)

[@vazio8813]

Muito bom !! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@warrenmusic]

Hi Cuckoo, insane tutorial and amazing work. During the section where you are sampling the 606, I had a question. How did you know the four bars of your vinyl loop would fit the project temp you already had? Was the vinyl sample also at the same tempo to begin with? Or did stretch it to the project tempo when you told it the length of the sample in bars? Also, do you think the Digitakt II could work well as a live audio and MIDI looper?

[@ugood8023]

Thanks Cuckoo - great vid as always. But oh how I wish it was pressure sensitive and could do manual slicing!

[@tenaciouscj]

Manual slicing is more viable than in the past, although it’s still a work around. The Trig Preset Pool at 1:15:45 - just save each “chop” (start + end point) as a preset, play/record them into your track, voila

[@pierremarty5056]

Great tutorial, thanks Cuckoo ! does the digitakt 2 normalise samples automatically or does it leaves you choice to do so ?

[@fredsavagegarden698]

I want it!! Gimme! Lol I just heard about it and you guys got the. Lol naw I know we need your vids cuckoo 🎉

[@cleareyes4032]

jag älskar dig cuckoo

[@truecuckoo]

Åh vad härligt att höra Cleareyes ❤️

[@turbotambourine]

Probably from the original but having the dual mute modes seems awesome!

[@emos1978]

Thanks

[@loathe4116]

omg the digitakt 2 is real

[@truecuckoo]

miau 🐱

[@hillbilly8621]

The next thing I would like to see on this new platform is a Analog Four in the Takt/Tone form factor. They could call it the Analtone 😁

[@Noname7401]

Dose it not have the hardcore time stretching stuff that the octatrack can do? Dose it allow you to modulate every parameter? The warp time ect with probability?

[@YISHENG-xr9er]

Hello Cuckoo thanks a lot for the video i am wondering something i see with the pitchbend, breath control, velocity , mod wheel ,aftertouch MODS an opportunity to get PERF mod like the rytm.... Midi out in midi in and then use a midi track to control them but i am wondering if the four parameters that you can assign could be over different tracks or only one ? (i read the manual but cannot figure it out). Cheers !

[@vincentalaphilippe5191]

Thanks a lot for your incredible tutorials. Quick question : Is the data structure explained in the chapter 3 similar to the one implemented in the Digitakt 1 ? It looks quite the same to me. But I never fully understand this area.... Best regards !

[@truecuckoo]

It’s basically the same structure in all Elektron machines. But the memory is heavily upgraded. And the flexibility of the 16 tracks improved. 8 banks of sample slots instead of 1 etc.

[@goodnota]

CuckooTakt is live!

[@Camoutlaw]

Thanks!

[@truecuckoo]

Thank you so much! 🙏🏼

[@electronicbagatelle]

🤗 yesssssss

[@dush79]

Is there a separate track for the inputs to the mixer... is it possible to use volume & fx only for the stere input while direct monitoring?

[@bjamminsincebirth3494]

I really want to see how the midi keyboard 🎹 works. Does it give you velocity sensitivity? Can you play chords?

[@demazy]

Hey! Super great videos! Even for someone that is not into music production. But a tech nerd for sure. Great explanations that are mesmerizing and that box is so beautiful. But below beginner’s level question: what is the difference between this and your syntakt then ? Thanks!

[@truecuckoo]

Thanks. The Syntakt is generating audio through synthesis. Both analog and digital synthesis. But it can’t play samples/ recorded audio files. The Digitakt series is playing samples only. It doesn’t have any other synthesis on board.

[@demazy]

@@truecuckoo Oh different source material, different freedom, different limitations… but why not making 2 in 1 ? Or am I missing a core logic in your culture ? Like it has to be separated modular boxes somehow ? Too confusing, complex ? Power limit? Jack of all trades ? Limitations facilitate creativity ? Thanks for your reply

[@ReligionAndMaterialismDebunked]

Early crew. I know the SP-404 MK2 (which, I don't have, but I've wanted) is far more powerful, but I'm still interested to learn more about it. Hehe. Shalom.

[@alienanxiety]

16 track is so much that I think I’ll reserve 3 or 4 tracks for chords. Or I guess you could have the bottom 8 tracks be the same melodic sample across one full octave.

[@MagiCarpetRide]

Dude Thanks for doing this....Something strangely appealing about how you do your videos....LOL

[@AM-ui9mc]

What I really hope to see is to have global channel settings per projects or bank as an option. I’d like to switch between patterns while carrying my jam over to the next pattern without skipping all my sounds. I’d just like the “drummer” to play a different groove but with the same sounds.

[@user-tm8ff8xf4w]

not sure i understand fully but i feel like this may be what the new ‘kits’ feature is trying to achieve

[@AM-ui9mc]

@@user-tm8ff8xf4w actually I saw now in another demo it can do it! There is a performance mode that lets you skip between patterns without changing the parameters!

[@s_kosto]

Early to the party! >>

[@GR1MMDJ]

I’ve had the rytm for a few years, and it can def sound cool by processing samples with the analog engines. I’m interesting in mainly getting more interesting unique textures / fx out of my drum patterns and samples to compliment my tracks in ableton. Can anyone that has owned both recommend if the digitakt might fit my workflow more than the rytm?

[@spzcero]

Hola C! Pls, one question! If I want add at the pattern beginning the default "Preset 12" sound, like sound the entire sample during all the 4 pages, how I can do? Because right now, I add the "Preset 12" sample into "1 Button" but, the sound don't stay reproducing the entire Page. Do u know what I mean? Thnx in advance for your a.m.a.z.i.n.g constant work ;D

[@draztiqmeshaz6226]

Instant like

[@truecuckoo]

♥︎

[@alejandrokuha2728]

How compatible will the new DT be with the DN since they have a different step length?

[@dspmusik81]

I would probably watch these even if I wasn’t a musician. Even if only for the electronic mouth noises and FPV mirror. It’s the little things.

[@ToyKeeper]

I got an original Digitakt like 6 years ago, to do drums and drive a table of synths. Over the next couple years, I grew to loathe the workflow, limitations, and basic features locked behind proprietary companion software. It was good for making quick loops, but if I wanted to do more than that it took a huge amount of effort. So eventually I got an Akai, and it was like a weight was lifted. Suddenly I was actually finishing songs, and doing so in less time than it'd take me to build just a couple patterns on a Digitakt. So I'm glad to see it got some upgrades, and I always love a video from Cuckoo, but I'm happy to leave it on the other side of the screen.

[@GeorgeL909]

Time to bust out the Syntakt and pretend it's the Digitakt 2 but I accidentally permanently loaded it with Syntakt samples and the usb port broke so I'm stuck with syntakt sounds. You know, anything to not buy this right now 😂.

[@truecuckoo]

Always use your machines to the absolute max! Only then are you allowed to look at other machines 😌

[@mmmodular1878]

@@truecuckoo I need to frame that quote on my wall

[@turbotambourine]

@@truecuckoosuch wise words!

[@AtticusBleep]

Great idea actually! Can’t see it stopping me though!

[@superom]

49:47 have you noticed ? there's a new condition LST / notLST !! ( the manual says: "The trig plays the last time the pattern plays before changing to another pattern"

[@FuZZbaLLbee]

Can you place a record trigger to record a perfect loop, like on the octatrack?

[@truecuckoo]

Good question. Not sure. Let’s check the manual and see who finds it first. What you CAN do that I know of, is to set the recording length to bar lengths. And arm the recording to start by audio threshold. This way you can at least be sure that a recording is always a perfect length.

[@FuZZbaLLbee]

@@truecuckoo the problem with using the threshold is that.if the thing you want to sample doesn’t start on the first beat, that you will have to place a playback trigger on a different position, for different loops. But yeah it’s a sampler not a looper, maybe elektron can add a looper in the future

[@jonathonkiner7415]

I'm just gonna sit back and wait for the new Octatrack.

[@atommachine]

same

[@brian3kb]

While I would have loved to have seen slice start/end points, this at least means Digichain will still be useful for prepping sample chains for Digitakt II 😂

[@Bocaca49]

Cuckoo man try Korg kross 2 synth we need your reaction

[@hakonanthonsen3543]

I'm getting this! how long can the samples be?

[@slimpickins6007]

66 seconds

[@AM-ui9mc]

Is the video in MONO for this demo?

[@philmakesnoise]

Do your presets persist if you delete the originating samples? Like are the samples copied to a preset? That would be swell tbh.

[@rafa787]

only wish Elektron could add a cue aux output on dt 2 or implement it on the headphone output

[@1UpBebop]

For grid samples could you just sequence the midi device with a Digitakt midi track, then sample as it plays, thus giving you perfect, played on the beat, exactly spaced out notes? Midi track is polyphonic so that could be an easy way to get a bunch of chords in the Grid machine.

[@hillbilly8621]

yes! and because it is midi data you could tweak some parameters on the synth you are sampling and sample again. or another preset, or a whole other synth, and keep a consistent note/chord spread so you can pick a different sample chain and have it still be the same notes/chords but a different sampled sound

[@dmorris909]

Hello are the projects and patterns interchangeable between Digitakt 1 and 2, or do you have to scrape your Digitakt 1 projects in elektron transfer app?

[@truecuckoo]

The transfer app evolved at some point. So now whenever you make a backup of a project, it automatically bundles all the samples used in the project, into the backed up file. The file size will indicate how much sample data is bundled into the file. Then later when uploading the project to a new device, it will automatically put the bundled samples into the same file structure, and load when opened. This is a powerful feature I didn’t even know about until very recently.

[@truecuckoo]

Digitakt 1 projects can play on the Digitakt 2. It’s backwards compatible. But not the other way around.

[@dmorris909]

Thanks.

[@moonbob_chris]

Is there a release date on this bad boy?

[@niklasjohansson9739]

Still no custom slices on longer samples?