Elektron Digitakt Review 2024 (with Syntakt comparison & Tonverk speculations)

[@Longstride]

Great video, I’m glad I found your channel thanks

[@sinewaymusic]

@@Longstride Thanks for taking the time to write that, glad the video was useful!

[@Longstride]

@@sinewaymusic gotta let the algorithm know 😂 I liked your point about being part of the community, I totally agree!

[@sojourner-kl6ei]

Digitakt + SP404mk2 is a great combo for capturing synths and textures from external gear, or soft instruments.

[@sinewaymusic]

@@sojourner-kl6ei I guess a Digitakt 2 could replace both in that duty, no?

[@sojourner-kl6ei]

@@sinewaymusic It's a valid question for sure, but I find sampling from DT to SP a relaxing experience. Its immediately on the pad. Re-sampling in SP404 is also invaluable for FX and I love the multisample PTN exporting for stems. Drag, drop files from the Roland App into DAW timeline and start editing. It's a slick workflow.

[@sinewaymusic]

@sojourner-kl6ei I totally get it. That was the thing I liked the most about the SP-404 mk2, it was so immediate to sample.

[@sojourner-kl6ei]

@@sinewaymusic I appreciate you. Thx for the quick reply.

[@karl.weaver]

A real connection made via this video, a very easy subscription.

[@sinewaymusic]

@@karl.weaver Hey, I'm grateful that you took the time to write that. Thanks! That's what I'm personally here for, the human connection.

[@Powhart]

Syntakt is my first outboard Synth/Groovebox/Drum Machine/Whatever standalone devise I've ever purchased and everytime i see some love for this box I feel happy, cause I think it's really underrated. Elektron workflow that scares people is really something You get in no time and it's really fast. I've been able to sketch out projects much quicker on this thing than any other thing I've used.

[@sinewaymusic]

Same here, and I'm glad there are more of us! I think of the "Elektron workflow" as a huge positive, not something to be scared of. :) I wouldn't say no to a Syntakt with sampling capabilities too though. 😂

[@Powhart]

@@sinewaymusic The only sampler I have is KO II and You need to check it out as well :D It has "Fun Factor" written all over it :)

[@impbox]

BTW you can just press NO while still holding TRK to reset your CTRL-ALL changes.

[@sinewaymusic]

@@impbox Yeah it's a great tip and I'm actually doing it several times in this video. 😊 Thanks for watching!

[@impbox]

@@sinewaymusic ahh so you did! sorry I missed it and thought you were always using func+no!

[@sinewaymusic]

​@@impboxNot everyone knows about it so it's great that you're sharing this tip!

[@AlkisT]

Oh shit, that’s super useful to know, I always use Func-no, which makes it a little awkward when I don’t want to fully reload!

[@harveytherobot]

I’m glad you talked about making music with just one device. So many KZbinrs talk about connecting all these devices together and I guess that’s fine if you’re in a studio, but I don’t think most of us have the brain power to track all that! And forget about sitting on the couch with all that stuff!

[@sinewaymusic]

@@harveytherobot Exactly! I certainly can't handle it and to your point, that also tethers you to a studio which limits the opportunities for spontaneous creativity. Thanks for watching!

[@AlkisT]

Depends, to be honest. Yeah, for sitting on the coach one box is great, but depending on what your workflow is you don’t necessarily have to keep track of much when you are using multiple boxes. My main setup is five synths on a reasonably portable stand, I don’t really try to keep track of things, because I just play all of them by live programming their sequencers, I don’t try to chain patterns, preprogram things etc. I would very much not have the brain power to keep track of that stuff in the way that I work indeed. If you are trying to actively compose, then things are different of course.

[@sinewaymusic]

@@AlkisT Great point. As you can probably tell from our jam videos, we definitely aim to make full sounding songs with a arrangement, structure etc. If you don't have that end goal in mind, you're right it's a totally different story. And then of course a lot of this comes down to personal preferences. I'm the kind of guy that goes to length to hide any visible cable in my house! A bit of tidiness OCD here for sure. 🤣

[@dctrecords_cz]

Digitakt is IMHO one of the best in the price-performance ratio if you don't have thousands. When someone asks me what I would recommend, I never skip Digitakt. One of the most versatile machines, including wavetable synthesis.

[@sinewaymusic]

100%, it's an incredibly versatile and, nowadays at least, very affordable device. As you can probably tell, I'm approaching the subject from our perspective of mostly making synth-based music, where I'd say there are better options. But to your point, maybe not in the price range of a used OG Digitakt. And in all honesty, if the Digitakt was the only device I had, I would still be quite happy making music. 😊

[@distantcomets]

The Analog Rytm Mk2 does combine samples and synthesis in an Elektron box with Overbridge. It's not cheap, obviously, and it reflects its ten years of development decisions and tech debt. But it does allow for samples across all 12 voices and while each of the synth voices started off as drum synths, the bottom four voices include three synth machines - two versions of dual oscillator monos and a chip synth - and the top row's hats and cowbell can be made to do musical things.

[@sinewaymusic]

@@distantcomets Great point, I didn't include it simply because it doesn't have Ctrl-All, which is the main feature that makes me recommend the Elektron workflow so much, aside from just being a fun and fast workflow overall. I'd assume that Tonverk would include all their modern workflow enhancements like that. But you're absolutely right about the AR2.

[@distantcomets]

@@sinewaymusic ah, I hear that. Ctrl-All is very cool, but the AR has scenes and performances that allow for some of that. Not as immediate but hey…

[@sinewaymusic]

@@distantcomets Thanks for enlightening me about the Rytm! I guess that is potentially similar to how the MPC3 now supports macros. That feature gives you an "almost-ctrl+all" feature if you take the time to set it up, but it still lacks some crucial elements like the ability to revert back with a key press. It's precisely the immediacy that makes ctrl+all so useful in my opinion. Cheers!

[@neonpop80]

@@sinewaymusicI have Rytm, Syntakt and Digitakt. If you set up performance on Rytm it CAN do the same as Digi when you want to cancel or revert. The performance knob has a mute, I just hit the mute and it’s all gone. Mute again and you’re back. Turn knob and you turn whatever parameters you like at once. You have also other options like scenes, where you can flip the track’s performance of your choice to anything and revert them back instantly. It is 100% more varied than ctrl all. BUT.. cntrl-all is more immediate for improvising and experimenting then undoing, which is valuable in its own way. Slightly different but actually the Rytm can do more technically in that regard. One needs more set up and pre planning and the other is more organic

[@sinewaymusic]

@@neonpop80 Got it! Yeah the immediacy is the strength of the Digi approach, but you're making me more curious about the Rytm for sure. 😊

[@teemunnee]

This is honestly so refreshing to hear. I also got a Digitakt to sync with my Syntakt thinking I would use it for samples - and I just don't like it. I tend to change sounds a LOT while I'm writing music, so the Syntakt is perfect for that. People have told me to layer sounds in the ST and then sample them, but by the time I have the sound where I want it, the song is pretty much done! The DT now is essentially a MIDI controller with a compressor in my setup, which is a shame. I just don't use samples as much as I thought I would. I'll likely be switching it out for a Digitone pretty shortly.

[@sinewaymusic]

Yeah, it's so important to figure out what *you* enjoy in your music and to us it's been a journey of discovery. One thing I encourage you to try is to resample parts of the song you're sketching. We often take eg an arp and then resample it and play it back differently as a sample. It can lead to really interesting and more unexpected territories but it's still very much synth based. But personally, I don't enjoy the cables so we tend to do those things on the MPC instead since it's an all-in-one piece of gear. The Digitone is amazing and so cheap these days if you buy it used. I highly recommend giving it a try!

[@sebastiancastillo8704]

Have seen a few of your videos over the last year or so and enjoy the little lore you've developed about your family hating the sound of the Elektron buttons lol

[@sinewaymusic]

Haha yeah it's a thing that definitely influences where I make music! In fact, I just got an Ableton Move and the first thing my wife says is "those are the worst button clicks ever - why do you always get synths that click so annoyingly?" 😭😂 I guess that makes the Elektron boxes more tolerable though, right? 😊

[@primarqo]

I think the first and most important thing is how serious we are about making music. If someone wants to produce music for others, it's definitely better to invest right away in higher-end gear from AKAI, Elektron, or Roland-typically those larger devices that cost 1000-2000+ EUR. In the end, you'll save money because if you buy a lot of cheaper devices, you'll spend more than on just a few expensive ones. However, it's a completely different situation if someone is just starting and wants to experiment and play around. In that case, I believe it's better to buy several cheaper devices over time. You can connect them together or use them separately, depending on what you feel like using at the moment. Add a mixer and a MIDI hub so that you can connect them all when needed. You don’t have to use every device to its full capacity-just use parts of the functionality. Multiple devices can be combined in different ways or used individually, and since they’re small, they don’t require much space. Most of them even run on batteries or power banks. It’s really more for fun than for serious music production.

[@sinewaymusic]

Great points! It's all about your preferences too, many people enjoy hooking gear together. My theoretical synth combo would be the Roland S-1 and the Syntakt, that would be fun if I enjoyed the cable mess. :D Another thing to keep in mind is that you can make most any music with just the computer too, so if you already have one, you don't necessarily need any gear at all to get started. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and for watching!

[@primarqo]

@@sinewaymusic Yes, at first I also mentioned in my comment that if someone is serious about it, one option is to invest in proper software, plugins, and samples. But I removed it since we were talking about hardware. If someone just wants to play around with sound, most MIDI keyboards or audio interfaces usually come with something like Ableton Lite, and you can download or create plenty of free samples, so there's no significant software investment needed. Regarding the S-1, I have it, and it’s quite menu-divey. As a beginner, it’s almost impossible for me to compose anything on it. There are a lot of parameters to adjust through that tiny display, and not everything is accessible via knobs. After watching your previous video where you performed on the MPC Live II, I have to say that the best investment is just to buy an MPC One, MPC Live, or MPC X, get some plugins and samples, and you’ll have everything you need. Your video confirmed for me that it's an absolutely perfect standalone device! Plus, you save money on multiple decksavers, cases, cables, and mixers, which you'd otherwise have to buy if you had several devices.

[@sinewaymusic]

@@primarqo You know, that was what was at the back of my head too when considering multiple cheaper devices vs an MPC One that can do just about anything. Very different workflow of course, but the MPC is one incredibly competent device and lots of fun to use once you've learned it.

[@primarqo]

@@sinewaymusicI'll definitely try the MPC as well, I'm thinking about getting one for Christmas, but I haven't decided which one yet. :-)

[@sinewaymusic]

I got an MPC One and really liked it. Then I upgraded to the Live 2 because I wanted the built-in battery. I bought that one used so it ended up costing the same. 😊 If you don't need the battery or built-in speaker, the One is truly excellent value.

[@matstjean]

At 10:22 ... in the couach without power?

[@sinewaymusic]

@@matstjean MC-101 with four AA batteries! 💪

[@SsgtHolland]

Selling any Elektron for another reason than a direct upgrade is a pathway to regret. And extra expense when you inevitably buy it again.

[@sinewaymusic]

@@SsgtHolland So far I've managed to make a profit by selling, but perhaps it's beginner's luck. 😂

[@jaydedofficial6574]

hello, could you give me a tip on how to create a complete track using the syntakt? I usually end up with 1 pattern and then I export it to the DAW. How does your first pattern evolve into a song? for example copy and paste several times over different patterns and then edit with control all?

[@GoldbuggMusic]

Try pressing stop and imagine your pattern in your head. Hear it (still in your head) and see where it goes. What happens? Does it change chord? Does a part drop in or drop out? Figure out where the music wants to go, not where you want it to go, and then try to recreate it with the machine. That works for me, anyway! Good luck.😀

[@jaydedofficial6574]

Tnx I will try this ​@GoldbuggMusic

[@sinewaymusic]

Hey there! This could be a video of its own, I'll consider making one. Yes, my approach is kind of like what you just described. I make a copy of a pattern, and then I deliberately change things up. Doesn't need to be ctrl+all, but often times it is. Another thing to keep in mind is that ctrl+all doesn't always lead to perfect results - some tracks might get morphed into something bad sounding. The beauty of it is that you can then revert select tracks to the original and only keep the parts you morphed into something that actually sounded great. So, ctrl+all is like this very crude/brutal tool you use to sometimes bring out the beauty in some parts of the song. The other key technique is chord progressions. I often start a sketch with some form of chord progression. The easiest form for me to then go from that to a b-section is to copy that pattern and change the bassline to an monotone version (all notes playing in the same key). Then you sort of have a potential intro of the song. This of course depends heavily on the kind of music you make, but our style of music often starts more monotone and then evolves to more elaborate chord progressions. But the actual sketching phase is typically the opposite: I "hear" something interesting in my head and program that, and then strip away from that to something more basic when I make copies. The other great thing that happens when you make pattern copies is that I tend to keep changing the sounds and mix, which means that it ends up sounding more and more refined. This inevitably means you need to do some copy/pasting to eg get that new kick sound copied over to the previous patterns, but it's quick enough of a process that I don't mind that. Hope this gives some ideas on how to progress. Thanks for watching the video!

[@jaydedofficial6574]

@@sinewaymusic thanks for the detailed response. I'm going to try to apply these tips in my workflow. it would be great if you made a video about this subject. Have a good one!

[@damelos4039]

Excellent video. 1st rime watching one from you. I agree with you on the MC101. I sold mine for the same reason. Too much meu diving. I do have an MC707 to replace it. I have the DII and a Syntakt too. Will like to see what you produce with both boxes.

[@sinewaymusic]

Thanks for the feedback on the video! Yeah, the MC-101 is too fiddly and menu divy. Sounds amazing though. To be clear, I'm not sure if I'll buy the DT2, but I definitely think it would be closer to "checking all my boxes" compared to the DT1. Never tried the MC-707, do you enjoy it?

[@AlkisT]

Very interesting to know. I’ve got a Syntakt. Currently I have no sample playing capability in my setup at all. My whole workflow revolves around live sound design, so I’m not sure I can fit the Digitakt’s need to preload samples that I can sound design in a way that would work for me. I do not like to have to do any preparation in general. If I find a cheap one used I may give it a shot, but it sounds like your thoughts are kinda what I feel will happen if I get it.

[@sinewaymusic]

Our favorite way of using samples (besides the usual one-shots for hi hats, snares etc) is to resample a work in progress from one of the synthesizers. For example, we might create an arp with a reverb tail on the Syntakt, and then we resample that and take it into a different direction by e.g. playing it at a different speed, reverse, or using it in other ways. So you can certainly avoid the preset browsing nightmares if that gets in your way the same way they do for me personally. I'm not trying to talk you into getting a Digitakt here, but I'm just sharing some ideas of how samplers can still be very useful and creative even if your preference is to work with synthesized sounds.

[@DanChippendaleMusic]

Digitakt 2 is a very big improvement over the first one. 16 tracks feels like you'll not really run out. Paired with Syntakt, it's such a powerful pair. Ive got my 3rd Digitone arriving tomorrow. Cant wait to get those three back on my desk. Hopefully they will stay there for good 😊

[@sinewaymusic]

@@DanChippendaleMusic That's an amazing setup! Did you sell your Digitone and buy it back like me and my Digitakts? 😅

[@DanChippendaleMusic]

@@sinewaymusic ha yeah, I'm on my 3rd Digitakt (II this time though), 2nd Syntakt and 3rd Digitone. I'm hopeful that this will be my final configuration. Well until Tonverk maybe 😂

[@7177YT]

Funny, having someone recite your own peculiar preferences re music making back to you. A single groovebox to make it, back to the daw just for cleaning it up and finishing touches. Elektron boxes are perfekt for jamming generally more inspirational. The most tracks I actually release these days are made on a og polyend tracker. I'd prefer working on a synth based machine, but the arranger on tracker quite simple but blindingly fast and efficient. Cheers!

[@sinewaymusic]

Hey, thanks for sharing your perspective. My thinking is that if we both have these preferences, perhaps they're more common than we think. It's easy to watch youtube videos and think that everybody loves to connect a bunch of gear together but I'm sure there's a silent majority that we're part of that don't have the interest in doing that. :) I agree, Elektron boxes are perfect for jamming and are more inspiring in that sense. When I make music on the Polyend Tracker, I feel like it's more of a programmatic experience. The main thing missing there for me is the musical expressiveness in the moment. The performance macros are more on/off. I miss the ability to be spontaneous and subtle there. The programmatic experience isn't unfamiliar to me though, that's literally how I made music on the W-30 back in the days, and how I tend to focus on details in the DAW too. But I feel synth sounds often needs some more nuance where you have some wiggle room to be spontaneous. That's what I enjoy so much about the Syntakt and MPC.

[@7177YT]

@@sinewaymusic Agreed! It's a tradeof I suppose. Tracker's excel-spreadsheet workflow is less immediate and spontanious, but in return I don't drift away into aimless noodling as easily. I'm the type of guy who could get lost for 20 minutes manipulating a drone oscillator. (: I have yet to find a groovebox where I'm completely happy with both the synth engine and the sequencer. The industry keeps us hooked by progressively almost nailing it. (:

[@sinewaymusic]

@@7177YT You sound like my music making partner! Getting lost in an oscillator, that is. I definitely try to force us to move forward but he often finds those small nuances that can make all the difference. Oh, and there's no perfect groovebox. Or synth. Or workflow. All of these machines are as imperfect as we are. I might talk about this part more in another video actually.

[@draconianrhythms]

Great video, subscribed. My Swedish friend and I have been recently discussing things like pronunciation of ‘Digitakt’ (you are of course correct), and the meaning of the word ‘Tonverk’. This is what he said: This is a fun one Ton = Tone just as you thought Verk is short for Verket which has the industrial connotation of Work as in Works. So my best translation would be Tone Works with the sense of "Works" in this context is most like your expression of "down at the mill", blue collar work equipment. …… I’d be interested in your take on this word.. cheers from UK

[@sinewaymusic]

Hey there! I love these kinds of topics. :) You're right about 'ton', that refers to musical tones. 'Verk', however, has a broader meaning than just an industrial connotation, it means "the result of (human) work" and originates from Old Norse (an North Germanic dialect spoken in Scandinavia about a thousand years ago). Likely the English word 'work' has similar origins. An example is "Musikaliskt verk", which is Swedish for "musical pieces" and can refer to compositions, songs, symphonies, etc. So, even just something written on a note sheet is considered a musical piece, including anything composed by Beethoven after he became deaf - meaning there's no need for an industrial component. Later on in the industrial age, the work definitely showed up in those contexts too though, like kraftverk (power plant). Also there's 'bergverk', which is an old word for 'mine' (English). It's still the word in German - and in fact, about 45% of the entire Swedish language stems from German in some shape or form. Thanks for subscribing and say hi to your Swedish friend! :)

[@draconianrhythms]

@@sinewaymusic Holy damn, this is a wealth of information! Thank you so much for sharing these thoughts. I shall relay to my Swedish friend, along with your salutations ;) I do wonder if this 'leak', which I think came from China, is really just one of a number of prototypes that Elektron has in their own development workflow; it seems to be a bit of a jack of all trades from what I can see from the labelling, maybe it's their own internal skatchpad, so to speak. I enjoy the speculation, but will divert all my real energy into learning this damn Octatrack that sits on my desk haha Peace & Love, synth-brotha

[@sinewaymusic]

@@draconianrhythms One thing speaking in favor of this thing being more than just an internal sketchpad is that they went out of their way to file a trademark application for 'Tonverk'. That suggests they're serious about it, but only time will tell. In the meantime, have lots of fun with the Octatrack! ❤

[@draconianrhythms]

@@sinewaymusicgood point … I’m fully Elektron now, so I’ll hope for the best (ie a new platform). Peace ❤

[@ChumpyDumps]

The current official statement on Tonverk from Elektron which was posted on the Elektronauts forum in the Tonverk thread was that Tonverk was a prototype, one of several different prototypes, and that one is likely not going to be released. That said, Teenage Engineering said that the Medieval was an AI generated image like one week before it was official released.

[@sinewaymusic]

Hey there! Yeah I'm a frequent poster in the thread where they made that official reply, but I wouldn't say that they're implying that it's not going to be released - that's just one possible interpretation. What I think they're doing, which is the only sane way of handling a leak, is to take the edge off of it by saying that they work on prototypes of their instruments all the time (which is true) and that not all of them made it to fruition (which is also true). Then they redirected the focus on the gear they are able to sell, like the Digitakt 2 and said Overbridge is coming soon. I couldn't think of a better way of handling it to be honest - but it doesn't mean that Tonverk isn't possibly a very real product meant to launch soon, or not so soon. :)

[@DanChippendaleMusic]

Tonverk 100% confirmed then! 😂

[@GusAlZabri]

Even if Tonverk is a prototype that wont see the light of day, the leaks give an impression that elektron are looking to developing products that combine sythesis and a sampler in one device. maybe a groovebox that combines the beautiful worlds of DT & ST.

[@sinewaymusic]

@GusAlZabri Yeah, and that is already great news! 🙏

[@jantuitman]

Another alternative of an all in one groovebox that is very portable and has both synths and sample based sounds is the Yamaha Seqtrack. I have yet to make a good track with it, and it definitely has its limitations as it is a budget device, but the sounds it makes are top notch.

[@sinewaymusic]

@@jantuitman Hey Jan, indeed there are lots of other options like the M8, Circuit Tracks, etc. I only wanted to mention gear I've owned myself and I haven't tried the Seqtrak. Is it good, fun? I got the impression at first glance that it would be a bit too limited for my needs plus some comments about the build quality made me hesitate to give it a try.

[@jantuitman]

@@sinewaymusicthe Seqtrack is super fun to play. It is also reminiscent of the Syntakt in many ways: they have about the same number of tracks (Seqtrack has 11, Syntakt 12) and combine mostly drum sounds with some melodic sounds, and you can tweak the sounds of the instruments by parameter locking on both devices. The differences: the build quality of the Seqtrack definitely feels cheap and plastic compared to a Syntakt, the sounds on the Seqtrack start much more from presets than on the Syntakt where they start from engines. The only exception to that rule is the FM track which contains a really deep FM synth that truely revolves around the engine rather than the presets. The places where the Seqtrack outshines the Syntakt: the 3 melodic tracks support polyphony and polyphonic sequencing, the fx are very very many and very deep, there are 3 sliders that can be used to trigger performance fx in real time. You dont have an affect all on a random parameter, but these global performance fx with sliders make up for it.

[@Kung_Fu_Jesus]

I have a Takt2 and Syntakt, the upgrade on the Digitakt was what I was waiting for, the Takt1 always sounded one dimensional. Coming from an MPC Live as my main sampler I can now put long wavs to make deep and rich stereo pads and textures that evolve, that was pretty much impossible on the Takt 1

[@sinewaymusic]

Exactly! You can't really sample a rich pad and keep the magic when it's summed into mono. The DT2 would be really fun to explore, perhaps I'll buy one at some point. 😊

[@scottfrost317]

But what are you replacing it with?

[@sinewaymusic]

@@scottfrost317 Hey there Scott, we're not replacing it at this time. It's worth noting that we have a lot of gear (MPC, Push 3, Syntakt, Polyend Tracker+, Tracker Mini) so we don't feel the *need* to immediately replace the Digitakt. Most of the gear were bought used so I personally think of it more as renting gear to try out different workflow and see what sticks. 😊 I'm intrigued by the new Ableton Move device though, looking forward to seeing what it's about. And the Minifreak is on my short list. The GAS never end, does it? 😭😂

[@dudeseriously79]

Vindicated. Thank you for that. I've always called it digi takt.

[@sinewaymusic]

@@dudeseriously79 Haha, welcome to Sweden! ❤️

[@Bobo]

Nice video and I agree about the Syntakt.. it has almost everything except samples haha but I also sold my Digitakt but that was to buy the Digitalt II and I like it a lot too. I’m more considering if I should sell my Tracker+ now and get a Mini sometime later or just stick with the DT2. Sooo many good options.

[@sinewaymusic]

@@Bobo Hey Bobo, yeah samples would make the Syntakt more or less complete, right? 😂 How do you like the DT2, do you use it together with the Syntakt or separately? Personally I'm leaning more towards the Tracker Mini between that and the Tracker+ simply because it's another use case. When I'm at home, I'd rather use the Syntakt or the MPC. So I can see why you're considering it.

[@Bobo]

@@sinewaymusic I use it mostly stand alone like you. ☺️

[@sinewaymusic]

That's the way. 🙏

[@ChipWarden]

1. Great video. 2. I, for one, would love to see a video on the Tracker+/Tracker Mini (especially the Tracker Mini). 3. I am an "ugly American" and will continue to pronounce Digitakt with a soft "g" EXCEPT when I am in Sweden. 😃

[@sinewaymusic]

@@ChipWarden 1. Thanks so much!! 2. Will definitely get to that one soon. It'll likely be a shorter video though but hopefully still useful. 3. Haha, well in all honesty, I mostly made the pronunciation joke to give myself a pass for continuing to speak like a toddler. 😂 Let me know when you're in Sweden!

[@abletonflow4673]

I've heard a couple of your jams. I agree that your style is 80% Synths. I have DIGITAK - DIGITONE and SYNTAKT. I understand your point and the last box I bought was the DIGITAKT because it was the one I least thought I would have. But now I think it's the last one I would sell. But I like the ORGANIC HOUSE and the PROGRESSIVE HOUSE where I feel that DIGITAKT works better since I try to use the least amount of SYNTHESIS since to my taste it is too cloying. But those are personal tastes. Lastly, although I am in love with the ELEKTRON boxes, I think that with time I will end up doing everything within Ableton using only STOCK VSTs. And in case I want to make music in bed I will take my 13" Macbook Air with me. I add more : Also a Digitakt and a Syntakt or Digitone. They could shine. The problem is that you don't want to be so bulky to carry to the bed or the couch because otherwise that would be insurmountable for you.:

[@sinewaymusic]

@@abletonflow4673 You're absolutely right, it's all about what style of music you're making and the Digitakt makes a lot of sense with house genres. I can see why that's a great fit you. That's one hell of a trio too, do you use them all together or separately? About going all in the box with Ableton, if I could, I would. It's honestly easiest that way, but I personally find it less fun so I avoid it. All our songs ultimately end up in Ableton though, but typically only for those final touches. Thanks for listening to our music!

[@abletonflow4673]

@@sinewaymusic I have a big problem with procrastination and buying equipment. That's why I came to the conclusion that with just an Ableton suite you don't need anything else, not even sample packs. It's all there. The thing is that I don't like to face my limits and I look for excuses to waste time buying things. The only machine I wouldn't sell would be the Digitakt even though I know I don't need it. I'm too lazy to connect the trio, I've bought the cables for it but I never did it and I think I'll sell Syntakt and Digitakt before that happens. I just hope I can face my limits, I've already looked at all the Reviews and Tutorials Existing. God help me!! LOL

[@sinewaymusic]

@@abletonflow4673 Realizing that is already progress. Honestly, working purely ITB is the best way for many and it might really work for you. Procrastination is something I think a lot of people struggle with, myself included. Downsizing the hardware is a good step towards getting past it.

[@oculist]

Don’t forget how powerful an iPad is either, often with the same third party “VST” instruments and FX as on your MBP for a fraction of the cost.

[@sinewaymusic]

@@oculist Yeah, you can easily build an entire studio worth of "gear" from free plugins.

[@stofbug]

I like minimalism and simplicity and therefore having to deal with samples and sample libraries is completely not my thing. I just like to create my sounds in the box, and the Syntakt is perfect for that. The biggest downside of the Syntakt is lack of polyphony, so I got a second-hand Digitone and Roland S-1 to help me out with that. It would be nice if the TonVerk would a hybrid of the Syntakt and Digitone and you basically have those two machines in one box. In that case it would be an instant buy for me. But so far it looks to be something completely different and also seems to deal with samples and stuff, so I'll wait and see what it will be (and what the price tag will be 😄). But in the meantime, even with just the Syntakt you can create some killer tracks, as you, and other Synthtubers, have proven.

[@sinewaymusic]

Thanks for those words. You're right, the Syntakt on its own can do so much, and lack of polyphony is the main limitation. I agree about samples and sample libraries. How we use samples on the MPC is creating them through resampling. I really like that approach because it means no sample browsing and it generates textures and sounds unique to the song you're working on. It definitely looks like Tonverk will lean heavily into sampling, but hopefully it can combine the best of both worlds. Let's see what comes out of it. 😊

[@sinewaymusic]

Oh, and if I had to plug one device into the Syntakt, it would definitely be the S-1. That seems like the dream combo (minus all the cables). Imagine a future where they all talked wirelessly and you only had to keep the S-1 on and close to the Syntakt for them to work together. 🙏

[@mherman90]

Kul att OG digitakten håller! Som du säger, DT2 känns definitivt standalone. Att sitta med den i soffan och ha 16 stereo kanaler, har den även ersatt min A4 i studion ett antal gånger då jag kan skruva till feta synthljud direkt från samples med filter + FX etc.. så DT2 blev mitt bästa köp :) dock nyfiken på syntakt! Allt gott!

[@sinewaymusic]

Kul att höra ifrån dig! Jag är glad att jag fick möjligheten att temporärt släcka GAS-törsten med din gamla DT. :) Och ja, DT2 måste vara grumt rolig att jobba med, en dag kanske jag köper den. Syntakt är mycket rolig, även om det tog en hel del tid och energi innan jag började få den att låta som jag ville. Rent ljudmässigt är den kanske inte min favoritsynt, men jag gillar utmaningen att få den att *inte* låta som en Syntakt. :D Ha det gott!

[@J-Hz]

Polyend video would be cool

[@sinewaymusic]

Will definitely make one! Thinking about what angle to take with it (eg plus vs mini, or polyend trackers vs other grooveboxes). Maybe both. 😊

[@Drrolfski]

Seems to me that when you own a Digitakt 2, the Digitakt is going to eat dust anyway so there's little reason to keep it. I'm really curious about the Tonverk though. If it turns out to be a groovebox that can do a lot but is still fun to use then I might consider trying out the Elektron workflow for a change. Ableton is also about to release their Move. If that turns out to be a handy Ableton device that can do a lot more than Ableton Notes then it will definitely be interesting. The portable audio tool market is really exploding atm. Speaking off, what are your experiences so far with MPC 3?

[@sinewaymusic]

@@Drrolfski To be clear, I haven't decided if I'm getting the Digitakt 2, though I suspect I would have lots of fun with it. 😊 Tonverk could be the ultimate Elektron groovebox, but only time will tell. Haven't heard much about Ableton Move but my biggest gripes about my Push 3 are that it's way too big, and the buttons are too hard to press. If Move is a portable version of it, I'd be really intrigued! Honestly I haven't had time to test MPC3 yet but I intend to. The problem is that we depend quite a bit on the MPC plugin, so testing MPC3 means having to revert back to 2.x when doing any real production work since MPC3 is standalone only at the moment. But I'm still eager to give it a try. 😊

[@Drrolfski]

@@sinewaymusicOn the Ableton website they have a Move tab which is a teaser page for an October 8 launch. A "Push Go" was really what I was looking for before ending up buying the MPC Live 2 (best buy ever btw) so I hope the Move will be just that. As for MPC 3, the moment you start up the plugin/MPC Software and switch to controller mode on your MPC, it will switch back to the MPC 2.5 interface so you can perfectly work with it that way, while working with MPC 3 when in standalone mode. Also, you can downgrade with only a single buttonclick so I can really recommend trying it out AND using it as a plugin. As an Ableton user I think you'll love it.

[@sinewaymusic]

@@Drrolfski I look forward to learning more about the Move next week. 😊 The MPC is amazing indeed. My best buy too. The problem with MPC3 is that any future project made in it would be stuck in standalone for me. I assume there's no way to export an MPC3 project to MPC2, right?

[@Drrolfski]

@@sinewaymusicCompatibility is one-way only AFAIK but you can export MPC 3 projects into Ableton or route audio channels into any DAW of course. And once they finalized MPC 3 in standalone you can bet that they're going to prioritize MPC Software/ Beats next as this is a key feature of the platform.

[@sinewaymusic]

@@Drrolfski Yeah it's only a question of how long that will be. The "problem" is that we've gotten really used to bringing in the MPC plugin into Ableton and routing the audio virtually using the 32 outs rather than exporting stems. It's a much faster workflow where I can quickly fix an issue in the original MPC mix using the MPC hardware in real time if it's a simple fix like adjusting levels or eq. This means that the final mix of the MPC project file itself remains close to the Ableton Live project file, which really helps when providing the projects to Patreon members. So, having to resort to the old audio stem export of each track feels like a pretty major step back in our process and would make mixing slower and more tedious. So it means that MPC3 will probably just be a sketchpad kind of environment for us until the VST is also available. We'd continue to make the full productions in 2.15 most likely. For now, that is. 😊

[@mrrafsk]

Alternative samplers.. chopping unquantized samples on the DT is impossible. The MPC’s, Maschine, SP’s or Abelton are great for this. The push can’t chop on standalone.

[@sinewaymusic]

Yeah, I was approaching the subject from the point of someone whose music is 80-90% synth based. Proper sample chopping (an art form I haven't even attempted) is a whole other ballgame which needs its own comparison and set of recommendations. That's better done by someone like Malo or similar. 😊

[@alexconroy696]

toneverk is 100% a wavetable/fm synth

[@sinewaymusic]

It's anyone's guess at the moment, so 100% is a bold statement. :)

[@alexconroy696]

@@sinewaymusic the green button is the same one from the digitone. The sample import button is more than likely for wavetables. People have been screaming for a monomachine revival the past 3 years now and this is has to be it 100% because the only parts anyone cared about in the mono was fm, va and the wavetable engine in the mk2 models. My statement is bold but I think the idea of elektron putting a sampler in the tonverk is ridiculous considering the line up of instruments they have. They want u to collect all they’re gear, not just be happy with one machine All that being said I firmly believe that tonverk will be basically serum in an elektron box which is excellent if I’m correct.

[@sinewaymusic]

They already have instruments that do both sampling and synthesis though, so Tonverk wouldn't be first in that sense.

[@wilkkick]

Digitakt 2 solves all the problems, in my opinion syntakt is more limited even than d mk1 and at the end of the day it sounds samey

[@sinewaymusic]

@@wilkkick I get what you mean. Technically the Digitakt can sound like anything since it's a sampler. But it has its own workflow and for a synth nerd, it's more limiting than the Syntakt. Compare our latest Syntakt jam (Awakening) with something from Dissonant Witchcraft and you might agree that the Syntakt can actually sound quite diverse. 😊

[@wilkkick]

@@sinewaymusic syntakt is recycled model cycles a4 and rhythm, don’t get me wrong I have syntakt and i enjoy working on it but since it never gets any updates ( like digitone ) and since it engines are just copy paste form other elektron gear it’s pretty hard to love it, digitakt 2 is game changer

[@sinewaymusic]

@@wilkkick Appreciate your take on it! Let's see, I hope new machines for it are in the pipeline. 😊

[@wilkkick]

@@sinewaymusic updates don’t make money - they generate cost - I feel like elektron is getting a bit greedy recently, they also moved production from Sweden , models were made in Estonia and new digi is made in Poland, nothing against this countries ( I’m polish lol ) but for this money I would prefer to buy equipment made in Sweden, syntakt mk2 - for sure! Updates ? Who knows

[@sinewaymusic]

@@wilkkick My Polyends shipped from Gdansk so I love Poland too. 😅 Maybe you're right that they've gotten a bit greedier, or maybe they just don't have as much time to spend per device given that their arsenal is growing. But actually updates do generate sales, there's a flood of marketing they get as a result from it from youtubers etc.

[@lwtest2851]

better to make music instead of long talking comparisons. CTRL all demo not convinced me by sound.

[@sinewaymusic]

@@lwtest2851 Thanks for the feedback. I'll try to keep it more concise next time and maybe demo more.

[@ghostcoder3342]

you talk like you know nothing about sampling ans sound design :D i hope you talking just for your self..sampling is not just about loops and drum samples.

[@sinewaymusic]

@@ghostcoder3342 Hey there, I don't think I even mentioned drum samples and loops in the video. I did mention that our style of music is very synth heavy and that shows up in our Digitakt music too obviously.

[@leftmono1016]

For many years I didn’t bother much with sampling, but it can be so creative. Love it now.

[@sinewaymusic]

@@leftmono1016 We love it too! Our favorite is to resample parts of a new song embryo and messing it up with effects and/or chops.

[@leftmono1016]

@@sinewaymusic - yes exactly like this. I took a section of track I was working on, the synth parts minus drums, and sampled it into my old Yamaha A3000. The A3000 has a feature called Loop Remix, which is basically like random locks on an Octatrack. Very quickly you get a lot of useable new loops!