Elektron Digitone is a SOUND DESIGN BEAST

[@smguy7]

I have a Syntakt, Analog 4 and Machinedrum MKII. You've sold me on getting a Digitone.

[@SlowHaste]

😁 super happy to hear that! I’m sure you’ll do amazing things with it if you’re familiar with Elektron’s other gear

[@smguy7]

@@SlowHaste I have a Korg Volca FM2, Korg Opsix and DEXED. I want to make an all FM synthesis album and I've tentatively called it "FM Boots". Your video was excellent.

[@SlowHaste]

@@smguy7 thanks so much!!

[@raysubject]

great demonstration how versatile powerful synth is Digitone .. i would say it’s most “analog sounding” digital FM synth i ever had :-)

[@SlowHaste]

Hahaha yes I would agree!

[@automodachi]

wow it really does sound polished

[@rayderrich]

I am a bit tired of FM sounds lately but your talk about this Digitone is very clear and helpful, thanks.

[@SlowHaste]

Glad it was helpful for ya!! Methods of synthesis def get pigeon-holed into certain sound categories/genres of music, even. But really they’re all super flexible and good for many many things :)

[@rayderrich]

@@SlowHaste Very true, I just played around with FM too much lately and need to diversify to warmer/rounder sounds to calm my ears. But your video was very good.

[@poxipaul]

A surprise Box!!!! It's amazing what can you do when you know what are you doing!

[@SlowHaste]

Truly!! And sometimes when you don’t know what you’re doing 😅

[@poxipaul]

@@SlowHaste 😄😁 of course! That's we all start!

[@lundsweden]

Wow, the Digitone is such a synth! Love your ambient sounds, so atmospheric. I've owned a DX7 and Dexed but you certainly can't get these kinds of FM sounds with old-school FM.

[@SlowHaste]

Thanks! It really is perfect for that special atmospheric sauce.

[@brokensemitone]

This machine just keeps surprising me; such an elegant creation! Thanks for continuing to put a spotlight on these excellent boxes.

[@SlowHaste]

I agree! Thanks for watching :)

[@arisumego]

deeper sound design capabilities and polyphony are what made me get one over Syntakt

[@dswright91]

If looping envelopes were added this would be my all time favourite

[@SlowHaste]

I’ll add that to the list of features I didn’t know I wanted until now hahah

[@LukeLine]

Loved this, I'm going to have a Digitone day tomorrow and dig deeper 🧡

[@SlowHaste]

I love to hear that, thanks for watching!

[@PaulSalamoneComedy]

Patch around 15:09 really nice, haven't seen anyone make so much use of the envelope delay before

[@SlowHaste]

Thank you! It makes the 8 voices feel like so many more

[@peacefulpigeon7254]

Great video thank you so much! I never realised what I was getting into when I got a Digitone a few years ago - it is amazing. It would be so helpful to have an insight on how you approach making patterns and tracks. I find this a challenge especially trying to keep consistent sounds when changing patterns as I tend to keep tweaking and then have to do lots of copying and pasting! Love your music too.

[@SlowHaste]

Thanks for watching :) and yeah I’d definitely cover that in a future video!

[@peacefulpigeon7254]

Look forward to it!

[@iamjamessmith]

I love mine! I play my live set with a digitone, syntakt, and a small eurorack skiff. Syntakt typically handles drums, but sometimes I let the digitone take over drum-wise, and slam it with the Syntakt analog overdrive and filter. Sounds awesome with some grit at the end of the chain (especially when on drums).

[@SlowHaste]

That sounds like a great setup!

[@jevogroni4829]

it's a unique beast with FM and many sounds are so good you don't know they are FM (for when you don't want that classic FM sound). i think some day I will have to get it just to get all those juicy FM drums lol. but i can wait, already have a digitakt

[@SlowHaste]

I started with the Digitakt and waited a while too! Knowing the DT makes it that much easier to get into, so you’ll be able to pick it right up if you end up with the Digitone

[@matt6ix]

Thanks for being such a positive instructor. You're so good at teaching and making me better at what I love to do. So much Thanks and Appreciation.

[@SlowHaste]

🥲 these types of comments keep me going, super happy to hear I’ve been able to motivate you!

[@drewnorth3816]

I wouldn't say it's underrated; my perception is it is rated highly among its users, as it should be. I have a large synth collection, and Digitone will always be at the top of my list. It just sounds incredible, has a great experience and interface, with a best in class sequencer. There aren't any cons from my perspective.

[@SlowHaste]

Yes that’s a better way of phrasing it!! Highly regarded amongst its users, but perhaps not as widely used as it should be!!

[@NihilNovi]

Only con I personally find is inability to use the Arpeggiator for external devices.

[@oscaraullon]

Yep, I spend hours only listening and tweaking presets, just for it awesome sound. Some day I will have to consider record something and use it in my productions. Really love this machine but I am still a beginner of Elektron Synths.

[@r3dsnow757]

​@@oscaraullonMe too, i get frustated fast but i think it has more to do with my own skills (or lack of) rather than my gear. I tend to forget that fast, so hopefully i am patient with this device.

[@oscaraullon]

@@r3dsnow757 My problem is that I am allways working with computer DAW and I am not patient. But I will take a look to the VST Overbridge, I think this is the clue to take profit and integrate into the DAW. Cheers!!!

[@MkUltra612]

I've been planning to pick up a Digitone soon as my first Elektron box / FM synth. Always cool to see stuff like this. Thanks for the video!

[@SlowHaste]

Glad to hear! You’ll love it if you decide to go for it

[@PaulSalamoneComedy]

ps what's really fun is doing layers, then the patches get even MORE complex. and tying this to velocity, AT etc and using an external controller even more fun

[@SlowHaste]

I recently discovered that layers exist and made a vid on it hahah, they’re so cool. Def need to explore aftertouch options with my keystep, too. I haven’t spent much time tooling with that!

[@automodachi]

i was curious about this, nice

[@SlowHaste]

Thanks!!

[@DawlessHouseMusic]

Even though this is my desert island synth, I haven't touched mine in months so I hope this reminds me to get it going.

[@SlowHaste]

yes, go for it!

[@pfmmodule5144]

Excellent presentation. I have the Digitone Keys, really enjoy making sounds on it. Complements the Prophet X nicely and plays well with the Octatrack

[@SlowHaste]

Oh wow, I can see it being a perfect companion to the prophet. Thanks for watching!

[@jonathanwingmusic]

Great explanation and straight to the point which I appreciate! I've been reticent about the Digitone or really any FM synths because so many sound demos either sound like very cheesy 80s music or soundtracks (which are just not my taste), or chiptune style video game music, which is kinda charming in a nostalgic way but nothing I would ever make myself personally. This is one of the first examples I've seen of this synth and I can really see the potential for it. Thanks for making this!

[@SlowHaste]

That’s great to hear, I’m glad you found this video! I had a similar feeling when I was looking to get it myself and am still finding a ton of useful & tasteful sounds from it (my most recent vid is all Digitone on the synth parts!)

[@SphericEl]

Nice little walk through of how you use the Digitone. I like the way you take us step by step with your own working methods of the Elektron gear, it's friendly and honest, always something to pick up. (I will try a bit of algo 3 when I next switch on).

[@SlowHaste]

Awesome, glad you found it useful :) thanks for watching!

[@0scill8r]

I have been using my digitone keys to control an alesis micron for a while. That way I have more polyphony available for chords and harmonies. One thing that helped open up my experiences with it was putting the preset sounds and sounds I’ve collected into my own banks based on their vibe. That way it’s really easy to get some similar sounds working together and make a kind of Uber performance patch.

[@EBoot-yp9mm]

Thanks for making this! Super helpful.

[@SlowHaste]

Glad I could help!

[@freejazzbone]

very good, thanks for sharing

[@SlowHaste]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@vagueversatile]

Nice. Mine is for sale since this morning. I have the Digitakt and I feel one Elektron machine is enough. I had the Digitone first and used to like it but finally I prefer more analog sound engines.

[@SlowHaste]

That’s a totally reasonable reason to let it go!

[@vagueversatile]

@@SlowHaste i think I will keep it in fact. I don’t totally master it

[@gdrdm]

Damn, I've been intensely considering selling either my Peak or Hydrasynth to get a Digitone -- spent the day yesterday watching Digitone videos -- and this video drops...

[@SlowHaste]

Just saw another commenter is looking to sell theirs 😈

[@sadwizard9386]

Great and really underrated channel, glad I've found it. As a death-industrial/power electronics producer myself I'd like to mention that Digitone is somewhat unique in a way that is rarely talked about - you can get really really ROTTEN and GROSS sounds from it while still sounding musical and interesting Love that box, truely one of a kind from the sound variety standpoint

[@SlowHaste]

Thanks for the kind words! Totally agree about the musicality of the Digitone, too

[@clothshorse]

Digitone is quickly becoming my next purchase. Love fm. Great vid thanks

[@SlowHaste]

Awesome, thanks for watching!

[@Two-Eyed_Boy]

Great sound designing tour of the grounds! Main takeaway is that understanding the Digitone is the little cat, and FM synthesis is the tiger behind it!

[@SlowHaste]

As always, a lovely analogy/metaphor from the 2EB :)

[@piotrnyczka2444]

Humble in form, but beast of a synth. On paper doesn't look that impressive, but when powered up. That's another story

[@SlowHaste]

Couldn’t agree more!

[@RJ_Eckie]

Great video, thanks

[@SlowHaste]

Thanks for watching!

[@averageenthusiast7616]

I much, much prefer the deeper singular synth engines of the digitone and analog 4 (and kind of the octatrack if you count deep sampling ability) over the more simple machine based synth engines. It just feels so much more flexible and dynamic, I love being able to create a snare patch and then completely change it to some other crazy percussive sound with param-locks within just one pattern. You can’t just go anywhere from where you are in a machine based workflow.

[@dezem7]

Great stuff , very helpful, with learning my DTK.

[@SlowHaste]

Awesome, glad I could help!

[@EVILJAMARR]

You hit that first chord and I thought, “sold”.

[@SlowHaste]

Hahah it’s an inspiring machine for sure!

[@RealBassPhat]

Great video! Amazing, loved this so much!

[@SlowHaste]

Thanks for watching!

[@grindedfranz]

The only thing im missing is another or possible lowcut while using a highcut filter. Im a little scared that it can get messy quickly as fm tends to it. Maybe it can be solved by using a higher fundamental?

[@1111undici1111]

Thanks for this video! It's really inspiring!

[@SlowHaste]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Tapepusher]

Very good vid, thanks. I love all the features of this but I wonder is it lacking an analog character that an analog synth would have? I'm eyeing up the Elecktron A4 too

[@SlowHaste]

It’s definitely not an analog synth, but it’s not lacking in depth or richness at all. At the end of the day it depends on what type of sound palette you want!

[@85bryanc]

Your video might have convinced me not to sell mine and get a Hydrasynth explorer. I am envious of the poly aftertouch though. I know they are different beasts but an input from owners of both?

[@sleepi4689]

the only thing about the digitone (and a lot of modern devices) that is soooooo annoying and i can not understand is why there is one delay and one reverb as a send effect. different delay timings/filter and reverb settings for each track is a huge soundsculpting advantage on any device.

[@SlowHaste]

I totally agree!

[@isaacanthonydj4124]

I don't know if you have a keyboard with aftertouch? But a lot of the patches with this could be even better with after-touch!

[@SlowHaste]

I do!! Tbh I’ve never patched anything with aftertouch because I just don’t remember to hahah - I’ll have to try it soon though

[@isaacanthonydj4124]

@@SlowHaste get yourself a keystep37 and thank me later! ;)

[@ProfilerGman77]

1st patch is lovely - can you share? 😁

[@scottmcdiarmid8196]

shame the ratios aren't' algorithmic, then they'd been more like wavetables when moving between them

[@Schtoopot]

If i could only keep one piece of gear it would be the D tone

[@SlowHaste]

Not a bad choice at all :)

[@iamjamessmith]

Samesies

[@lostipod12]

The pad sound at 1:32 sounds like the pad used on 'Logical Animals' by Trisomie 21 (1983) kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKanXnaobtmsoZY

[@SlowHaste]

It does!

[@synthebo]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏😁😁

[@SlowHaste]

:)

[@mooted5513]

Hydrasynth would like to have a chat with yoi

[@SlowHaste]

I’d love to mess around with one! I’ve yet to dive into wavetable synthesis

[@boombap08]

Stupid that elektron hasn’t put in the other filters yet in their update like the DT and also track mutes. Like what is their reasoning for that? I love them but come on guys those filters are more useful in the digitone…

[@Timbrrrdoodle]

Holding the “FUNC” button and pressing a track button mutes the track

[@boombap08]

Oh thanks! Im an idiot I don’t know why i wrote that. I think i was gonna make separate points. But i do want those digitakt filters.

[@iamjamessmith]

@Sean what filters do you mean? Digitakt and Digitone both have main filters and base/width filters, per track.

[@boombap08]

@@iamjamessmithyes they do but the Digitone doesn't have the EQ - 1 to 5 bell curve filters. it just has the LP 2 and 4 and and a HP. they are good for sweeping which would be nice to have to be able to cut out the mids and highs which the digitone inherently has.

[@iamjamessmith]

@@boombap08 Riiight, good point.

[@crustaceouspark]

less talking

[@SlowHaste]

Okay!

[@Daphoid]

I mean, the video is structured as an educational / tutorial video - not a sound demonstration / "no talking sounds only" video. It's hard to do the former without talking (I know some people do their own closed captioning but that's a ton of effort). That said, a better comment would've been "I love the music in this, did you by chance record it separately? If so I'd love to listen to it somewhere without the voice over, great work" :)

[@SlowHaste]

@@Daphoid ^the comment I didn’t have the energy to type out ☺️

[@HelicopterRidesForCommunists]

Coming from the Octa/Digi/Syntakt its a bit jarring to see you play chords