Elektron Digitone Keys vs Yamaha Reface DX - Battle of the FM Synths!

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👆 Elektron Digitone Keys 8-voice Digital Desktop Synthesizer with 37-note Keybed - tinyurl.com/y24...
Yamaha Reface DX Compact Digital FM Synthesizer - tinyurl.com/yxv...
The Digitone is among Elektron’s most popular bits of kit, and is arguably one of the most sought-after mid-price desktop synths on the market. Now they’ve supercharged it with a fresh tactile interface (while keeping it familiar and compact) and heaps of new features - oh, and did we mentioned there’s a 37-note keybed? Go forth and unleash digital chaos.
The reface series is based around 4 legendary Yamaha keyboard ranges; The CS series for classic analogue Synths, CP Series for Stage Pianos, EY Series for Combo organs and and the DX series for Digital FM synths. All featuring the same basic compact chassis, they each have their own flavour with both styling sounds, and internals taken from their original ancestors!
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[@theycallmejpj]

totally agree with Jack, the Reface series is awesome especially for the price

[@orgoneheart]

I got the Digitone box a month ago, and and as a performance tool its pretty good, yeah the learning curve is quite steep. But also as a sound designing tool that actually opens up FM synthesis (notoriously difficult) it made FM feel more normal, and makes the programming of FM more musical. I am without doubt able to say I couldnt say the same about the DX. On the Digitone it seems to lay it out more like a traditional Analog synth, so you have at least some idea of how to get what you want out of it. As for presets yeah they are not that good, i mainly use them as a dissection, look at them and learn how they were making the sound. Overbridge is out now, so that increases the ease of programming, but it has bugs as it is in beta. The sequencer is deep, and knob tweaking while playing can produce some amazing things that you would never normally get the chance to do with an FM hardware synth. But this leads me to my last point, its a 4op FM synth and I dunno... it still leaves me wanting those DX7 sounds, I will probably end up buying a Volca FM to team it up with, but thank you for the video as I had totally forgot about the Reface. For those intrested, I would recommend the Digitone if you want a musically sounding live performance FM synth, and if You also want a sequencer that can also sequence 4 channels of other gear with the deep Elektron style.

[@orgoneheart]

I forgot to add the Digitone is also 4 part multi-timbral, has delay, chorus and reverb, which you can also use with the audio inputs. For my money the Digitone Box is the best value bang for buck. Secondhand.... The 3year Elektron warranty transfers with the maschine so since they are still a new product, it will still have the warranty. I got mine on ebay in perfect condition for £490

[@Fallingoverbackwards]

Reface, just collect them all. For the price, even take out price they sound great

[@alchimerical2613]

Yeah that pattern at the end sounds pretty amazing. The DX is just for great keyboard sounds. Elektron is all about sequencing to bring sounds to life.

[@ConstantinPhillipou]

Had both. The Yamaha is awesome for it’s size. The Elektron is insane once you start pressing the key harder with Aftertouch and moving the knobs above the keys. It’s ultra addictive and a genius underrated design.

[@TheRealSasquatch]

Funnily enough Yamaha know a thing or two about FM synths..............

[@aight365]

I wish the Yamaha Reface DX was the size of the Electron Dgitone .....

[@Gainn]

or just a module.

[@BaileyHeredge]

Elektron gear's definitely got a big learning curve. I've got the Digitakt and I think if you just stick with it the workflow makes sense and they're worth the time they take to understand. sick vid o

[@joachimkenneweg3326]

Nice Vid as always. Keep that content coming out on a regular basis. Always excited when a new vid pops up in the recommendations.

[@DaraM73]

I’ve an Og Yam TGY77 rack and the reface is still a bunch of fun.

[@BarneyOram]

come for the synths, stay for the banter. quality video!

[@Skootavision]

What I like about Jack's video is he responds to instruments in a visceral way which fills in a gap you don't get from any other KZbinr. I know synthesis etc, but ultimately I am a musician who started writing music on a Casio because it inspired me, and am mega picky about how instruments 'feel'. Nice one! (RefaceDX ordered!)

[@Jesoteric]

My Dx will be delivered tomorrow, this little thing is cool

[@CarlosCuevasCantautor]

Great! Although I love my Volca FM all the way.

[@hakonsoreide]

Are you, as it seems, only comparing presets? What kind of comparison is that?

[@godders7594]

Honesty, bloody priceless, sometimes people and manufacturers forget its about playing and having fun, sod Boris, Jack for pm

[@InkyDaCaT]

Jack your not on your own....I own digitone...and I still don't understand it😂🙌

[@patcummins1405]

Stop kidding yourselves; the digitone sounds miles better! Much more of a rich, deep sound. I found a DX secondhand for £180 and honestly it’s the most fun I’ve had with a synth for a long time, I love it. The digitone is much more of an investment and a learning curve, but the rewards would be massive, as shown by that outro demo. Maybe I’ll grab one some day, but for a synthhead on a budget, the DX is a no brainer

[@AlexFell]

Try another bank from the Digitone. There's a whole bank of 256 presets with aftertouch and modwheel pre programmed

[@obwanz1921]

Would like to see a comparison this and Yamaha MODX/montage since they are 8 operatorFM synths!

[@Alan_Chapman]

Different beasts lol. Just the amount of algorithms, effects routing, EQs, control assignments, motion sequences, arpeggios, multiple LFOs, massive polyphony; and that’s just in one part. The Montage/MODX is in a completely different conversation. Then again, arguably so is the Digitone Keys.

[@Roboprogs]

Digitone is a 4 operator synth.

[@aight365]

Man where can I learn about all this?

[@KunchangLeeMusic]

Would you choose the Yamaha reface dx or the korg opsix?

[@stevemartyn203]

Yamaha DX Reface for me any day. Cheers for the video

[@dennisristow2102]

The DX and the CP Reface units are a perfect pairing. All the Reface series boards are good quality sounding and the mini keys are surprisingly playable and don't take too long to get used to the feel. Can get some really interesting and deep inversions with mini keys that your hands can't normally reach on full size keyboards.

[@monomakes]

DT keys, apart from the individual outs is quite pointless - especially when considering the price and how much you could get a second hand DT for (to use with the MIDI keyboard you probably already have). Nice jamming as usual Mr. Duckworth!

[@Tripwelleverday]

Nothing touches the Digitone keys it’s the most amazing fm synth I’ve ever played it’s more like a dx5 than a dx7 but it’s better to me because of the timbrality

[@angeldc54]

DX all the way for me, thanks

[@nixonkutz3018]

Great demo, Jack, as always. I own a DX - Jack's one line sums it up: "on a limited keyboard." But remember when you could buy a midi keyboard that had DIN plugs (not USB)? With one of those, the DX rocks. Guess what I use as my midi keyboard? Another Yamaha ...

[@jazzsecrets]

can you plug the DX to a clavinova and use the keys of clavinova with the sound of DX É

[@JuNoKun1]

jazzevolution sure you can

[@jjr007]

I have a Yamaha sy77 that I bought used that sounds great when you play it dry, but push the effects button, and it goes wonky, like a crash of thunder.

[@enfinitymusic6007]

Definitely want to see a deeper video, comparing these the way you did isn’t quite... there for me. Presets are one thing but aren’t they both 4 operator synths? So couldn’t you actually program in the same patch? Comparing presets is the cheap way out- different sound designers for one thing. And let’s not forget everything else the Digitone is capable of such as the sequencer. Any first time buyers looking to this video might leave with an incredibly skewed vision. (Although...there’s probably not too many watching this one) this seems like trying to compare two different pairs of shoes without wearing them. “But this looks cool!” But are they comfortable? The DX might be quick to find cool sounds but if the digi has more then that might matter note to a performer thinking about how long they plan to keep this in the arsenal for years without becoming repetitive of the same few sounds. Idk. I’m rambling at this point. Still love the channel, this one just fell short for me as far as comparison videos go. Anyhow.. on to that prophet xl one you guys posted a few days ago.

[@Art-zs6sl]

He's comparing 300$ synth vs. 1300$. Worked for me. Now I will see who has gotten deeper into the electron!

[@daniyalahmed97]

Could someone please tell me what song jack's referring to at 6:00 i forgot the name and im dying lol :P

[@geoffwebber8272]

I'm a Believer - The Monkees (you have to be old to know it)!

[@daniyalahmed97]

@@geoffwebber8272 hahaha luckily my dad introduced me to alot of old music when i was just a kid

[@cresshead]

yamaha sounded more like an 'instrument' digitone more like a vst :)

[@henderthing]

Am I the only one who thought that the Digitone sounded better on pretty much every patch? Also-- we're completely ignoring a super-advanced built-in sequencer? And a full-featured graphical patch editor with tons of modulation capability?

[@adriannunez8868]

Elektron or Volcan FM tho?

[@henderthing]

@@adriannunez8868 My point is that the Elektron shouldn't really be compared with these less expensive synths on a cost basis--because it's also a very deep sequencer with very deep modulation control. So--it also shouldn't be compared with the Volca FM either.

[@adriannunez8868]

@@henderthing you rightttt

[@adriannunez8868]

@@henderthing probably get a Digitone. Really need a sequencer.

[@MinimalWave1982]

what a nonsense comparision the patches or not even the same...

[@fpolloa]

This comparison doesn't make any sense. Comparing apples with oranges.

[@onderbox186]

nah

[@Art-zs6sl]

I don't want just a touch of FM. I want a beast of an FM poly synth. Seems like MODX is the way to go

[@Christof_Classen]

*Not realy, the "Dtronics DT-RDX" works 10 times faster and BETTER than your MODX ;)* *So, Dtronics DT-RDX + Yamaha Reface DX = 600€ = The Monster FM Poly Synth ;)* *You cant have more Fun with FM and you cant make FM Sounds faster !!*

[@Christof_Classen]

*Dont forget to buy a "Dtronics DT-RDX" for your Yamaha Reface DX for 299€, without you only scratching the Surface ;)* *Even the MODX cant top this Combination ;)*

[@Alan_Chapman]

Reface DX is a beast and a bargain. The only problems I have are the lack of a modulation slider and they didn’t include onboard memory locations for user patches. You have to overwrite the 32 presets (which can be easily reverted to factory, but still). Your only other option is connect your phone via MIDI cable and use an app (which could one day be unusable via OS updates etc). The modulation you can live without by opening the LFO page and using a digital slider on one of the parameters. You can do a lot with 4 operators and 8 notes of polyphony.

[@ge48421]

Alan Chapman The MIDI command set is documented well enough, it should not be hard to save and restore patches with 3rd party tools.

[@Alan_Chapman]

Gé Weijers 3rd party tools usually cost something extra. Yamaha already provides a free tool for saving and restoring patches. That’s the app I mentioned, but who wants to use an external tool with a mobile mini keyboard? I want to create a patch right on the board, store it on the board, and recall it easily right on the board without having to overwrite a factory preset.

[@paulpsilas294]

@@Alan_Chapman Unfortunately, Yamaha cheaped out with memory on the DX, and even more so on the CS (unforgivable on the CS). For android there is the free 'midi commander' software which loads up sysex with ease, though. Funny to think that with an empty board, the Alesis Micron/Akai Miniak can store up to 1795 patches total, yet, 12 years later, Yamaha can only offer 32. For shame, Yamaha.

[@adriannunez8868]

Digitone or Volca FM tho?? 😴

[@Temporalmixproductions]

The Yamaha did way better than I thought it would. FM8 is still my fave though.

[@ozybrks]

I have to grow a beard...

[@13opacus]

I guess there is no workplace drug testing at Andertons? :)

[@yewgong1248]

CBeebies is trying too hard these days

[@ThatJerseyBloke]

FATALITY! Digitone wins.