Elektron talk: Syntakt, Digitakt, Digitone, and Octatrack - What Do We Do Now?

[@EZBOT_]

Join the discord! discord.gg/KUSBH9h My website: ezbot.live

[@manuelrioslopez]

Watching your videos makes me realise how similar my workflow is to yours and to many people: the live performance perfectionism instead of spending ages in ableton is one of them, I spend a lot of time in front of a computer for work and the last thing I’m keen on is spending more time in front of a screen to make music, I love the elektron workflow and I regret spending my first years of music production on Roland because it just didn’t inspire me as much as elektron does, you mentioned something about the mc707 and it felt like you read my mind!!! Big up to you my dude

[@MilesKvndra]

Great performance dude! And it's good to see the three Digis together although I totally get your point about having too many tracks now and the risk of overproducing.

[@EZBOT_]

Yeah, i think I need to be a bit more malleable and see if I can make this work before I start switching things up. Thanks for the kind words!

[@saturninsakowski9299]

Yeah its 32 tracks at all 😲

[@e-conrecords4665]

Looks like the Digitone knew you were speaking smack about it! “Leave me out of the new line-up… I’ll show you!”… 😂

[@EZBOT_]

Haha 😂

[@gasparpini]

It’s nice to have a channel doing such a good content . I’m trying to figure out what is better for me. An Analog Rytm mkt 2 or the digitakt + the syntak. I need one or the other to create my own drum samples in the studio.. I work a lot with sound design and in the DAW I usually use synth and sample layers to make my own drum sounds. When I say digitakt + syntak it’s because I’m thinking about syncing the MIDI of the two devices and layering the synth (of syntak) with samples (of the digitakt). Example: in digitakt a clap sample and in the syntak a synth model clap. I’m trying to figure out which choice has more sound design power. In the Analog Rytm mkt 2 I can resample… but in the digitakt + syntak it looks like there is a bigger range of sounds for me to tweak and experiment with. What would be your suggestion? Thank you!

[@gasparpini]

What would be your suggestion? Thank you!

[@gasparpini]

hey\

[@jessejarrar]

I can definitely relate to what you said about letting your compositions stay private because it is such a daunting task to finish them in a daw. I’m the exact same way. I’ve stagnated myself almost entirely due to this. My band releases maybe 1 out of 8 songs we write just due to the process being less fun. I know if I dedicated myself to ableton like I do many other instruments, my workflow would speed up and limit that portion, but I still dislike it so much

[@superdad942]

that modular briefcase setup...looks fkn AWESOME

[@lundsweden]

You know your Elektron addiction has really taken hold when you look down, and see a wide slab of black boxes, stretching to your left and right. But there still is the option of stacking vertically!

[@EZBOT_]

Haha, can’t wait to build my entire home out of Elektron boxes

[@lundsweden]

I'm already half way there! 😉

[@maquettemusic1623]

Digitone for me is so good because it can sequence my other poly synths. I use it almost more for that than its own sound.

[@F-Ly]

No MIDI arp 😭

[@maquettemusic1623]

@@F-Ly True but doesn't matter much for me as it makes up for it with chord mode.

[@tonymarrison]

V cool seeing how you build up and practice these tracks, thanks for the insight 👍

[@fulanxi6434]

Hello man . I really like your videos. I probably will go with one octatrack and 2 Syntakt this month. I am really not sure about the digitone....And i am also not sure if i have to add a MKII rythm on top? It is very hard as well to get good comparison between Rythm mkII and digitakt...Your video are really great. If you have any advices it will be cool. In the past is use to have a setup with Live ableton and a soundcard,,, I have a synth lite II some line 6 racks, a Roktron reverb, a Shermann filter bank, my drums was made on Ableton that time and i out everything on a Mackie... But this time i want just machine, i was good to understand the Gear workflow that is why i prefer this time to buy only Gears. I have a mac in case of bouncing everything to build final track. If you have a good advice for my first Gear setup it will be great. Thank you again for your content. Alex

[@dustyrhodes1655]

Mr. BOT how's that Techno template coming along? Any guess on release? Give EZdog more treats for me please.

[@EZBOT_]

Its a long process, I am working on it though!

[@dustyrhodes1655]

@@EZBOT_ thanks man!

[@teckno_senpai]

17:39 imagine doing that kind of transition during a live performance LOL "hm" *crowd goes wild*

[@EZBOT_]

haha, yeah there was a recording of silence on that track. I bet folks would have gone bonkers!

[@teckno_senpai]

@@EZBOT_ lol yeah it was just a funny moment to me. your live streams are real good. keepin it raw and 100 ! I'm learning so much. I'm 6 months into my MPC One + SP404 mkII + Arturia MicroFreak. but I realize my style of performance is much more tactile like a computer engineer. Then i discovered you.. Elektron stuff is what I truly need... dammit

[@e-conrecords4665]

Just watching this video and I noticed something that has given me a weird theory. I think Elektron will release a 4th & final box for their second tier units, Digitakt, Digitone, & Syntakt. Just looking at the colour of the track buttons (T1 -T4) on Digitone and how they correlate to the function buttons on all 3 units… each unit is represented. Except one. The purple one! 😂 #justsayin’

[@EZBOT_]

Haha i love this

[@e-conrecords4665]

@@EZBOT_ lol.. and it’s purple so it’s just going to be a sequencer 😂

[@Toni_veniceberg]

Dope song

[@tapsy]

Wouldn't an SP-404mk2 work better than the OT in this setup? Having 5 fx in parallel, essentially. (EQ on the input, to adjust for the sound system, 2x bus FX for live mangling, and 2x master FX/compressor/vinyl/cassette sim) ?

[@EZBOT_]

That’s a decent argument and definitely one that I have had with myself many times. The short answer is no, it’s not better for me. Might be better for you though! There is a long answer to thoroughly explain why but I’ll save that for a live stream.

[@tapsy]

@@EZBOT_ Will be waiting for your arguments! :)

[@defnlife1683]

I'm going to buy the template and figure out the setup. 1. OT as center. 2. Digitone. 3. Model Samples. 4. Circuit Mono Station. - CIrcuit into Digitone. - Digitone into OT. - M:S into OT. But I love Digitone Drums. Hmm.

[@pierrefitch]

Is this easy to all get connected together and sync together I have digitone key and digitakt and syntakt -- I’m thinking about the OCTATRACK Mkii

[@EZBOT_]

Totally!

[@RealBassPhat]

Hey EZBot! Love your channel! I have question - hoping you can help and / or do a video on this question: I have a Digitakt (slave) going into a Syntakt (master) and I'd like to record a performance into a DAW via overbridge. I use Ableton. I notice that Ableton sending clock causes the Syntakt and Digitakt to be out of sync with one another and am having a bunch of other annoying problems. Do you have a video showing how you might multitrack a setup like this into a DAW so you can perform and keep as much separate for post production as possible? If not, can you make one please? Thank you!

[@EZBOT_]

Currently working on my own workflow for this idea as well. Have you tried using your DT or ST as master clock. Also try using the through output from one box to the other so it’s the same signal.

[@RealBassPhat]

@@EZBOT_ Yes I have the Digitakt outs going into the ins of the Syntakt, and then the Syntakt is connected to Ableton via Overbridge, with each channel going into a separate track for recording. Since my prior comment I set the Syntakt to be the master for Ableton as well, and that does work better, the sync with the Digitakt is much better.... however, it's not as tight as when Ableton / Overbridge is not in the mix. My general view of Elektron gear is tons of love, but the multi-track recording aspect has always been a bit frustrating (especially lack thereof with the OT). I've got an Akai force which records performances and renders stems internally. Also in gear-lust for a Polyend Tracker for the same reason, ability to render stems. Wish Elektron gear could do that! If you have any pull with them, ask them about it! Thanks!

[@solongyouth]

is the pad at 24:55 from the Syntakt?

[@EZBOT_]

Yep!

[@solongyouth]

@@EZBOT_ thanks! i love that track, great work.

[@compucorder64]

Maybe one way to look at the Digitone for you now, is one 8-voice FM polysynth. Because, I don't think you'd really want to use up Digitakt voices for polysynth. And honestly, I think once you get used to the Syntakt, I suspect you might find it's a bit limited as a polysynth. That's not it's strongest feature. It's not exactly four sound devices if the Octatrack is mainly a performance mixer/fx. But, it sounds like you might prefer the soundworld of an analog poly (which you already have, the Take 5). Or, a more powerful wavetable synth; a dinky Hydrasynth Explorer with the PE might sound great, but also be a great midi controller.

[@mrp9308]

I got syntakt 2 weeks ago to go with digitakt & digitone I'm having the same problem track overload it has slowed down worklflow at the moment.

[@saffetesen7559]

How can i connect digitakt digitone syntakt analog heat fx combo with out octatrak 🙏

[@boygood]

Where is your OT template? LINK. Please.

[@EZBOT_]

ko-fi.com/s/ab45b130a3

[@alice_orcmommy]

old thread, but I'm curious what your opinion would be: sequence DN with SY or sequence SY with DN?? I really can't decide

[@EZBOT_]

I would sequence the DN with the DN. Why use another sequencer?

[@alice_orcmommy]

@@EZBOT_ so just use Syntakt as brain for clock, transport, prog ch (or vice versa) and let sequencers be

[@EZBOT_]

@@alice_orcmommy imo, yes 100%

[@Syntax73]

Is there a wiring schematic anywhere for this setup?

[@harbourphotography2152]

I’m tempted to get a Syntakt for my first Elektron box. I currently work on Maschine but am looking at other gear. Would you suggest the Syntakt for a good first box? I was previously thinking of the Rhytm mk2..

[@dizzydroo2704]

I got a Syntakt as my first Elektron instrument and I’m glad I did. I was a complete novice with music. I watched the TrueCuckoo and the XNB Tutorial and I mastered it within a few months. It’s a jack of all trades. Another huge plus is the 8 digital 4 analog tracks, so you never get boring beats. I’d highly recommend it. Digitakt/Digitone are slightly more complicated. If you are more into sampling, go for Digitakt. If you need a good synth, go for the Digitone. If you want a Groovebox that does most everything but sampling, go for Syntakt.

[@harbourphotography2152]

Thanks. I am going to pick one up in the near future.. it looks very versatile

[@ThomasBotte]

Is there any difference between ot mk1 and mk2 besides the looks? I have the chance to get an Ot mk1 and I ask myself if it’s worth buying one this time

[@charlesbronson2806]

Is that vocal just created using the digi internal effects?

[@EZBOT_]

Usually in conjunction with the Roland VT-4

[@charlesbronson2806]

@@EZBOT_ nice. I have a vocoder built into my shapeshifter module. Need to use it now.

[@saturninsakowski9299]

Hi. Thanks for your movies. I hawe a question : how you connect yous elekron ? Midi and audio thru one by one or you hawe to using midi hub ?

[@EZBOT_]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/n2ecpZ1qbduZrq8 :)

[@goodnota]

too bad Elektron name is gone from OT2 & ST. Looks evergreen

[@Popart-xh2fd]

Hi, what do you think about the new Roland SP-404MKII?

[@EZBOT_]

Lovely music making device!

[@Popart-xh2fd]

@@EZBOT_ For me, the big limitation with the Digitakt is that they should have made it with 12 audio tracks and just 4 midi tracks. Midi tracks aren't as useful as audio tracks in a sampler so 8 midi tracks seems a waste to me!

[@EZBOT_]

@@Popart-xh2fd Totally agree with you. That would have been better imo too

[@thatmidlifevlogger4463]

Ok stupid question. If you only use Syntakt and digitakt or maybe model samples then I don’t need a OT wright?

[@EZBOT_]

Yeah you don’t need one either way, it’s just better if you do imo

[@koalemos1679]

Do you experience a lot of bugs with the digitone?

[@EZBOT_]

Not really, just some pops and clicks now and then

[@manastorm193]

the octa is already a sampler.. why have 2 samplers? kick the digitakt and digitone and add another syntakt to keep it at 3 machines maybe? i like what youre doin with that syntakt! i feel having a digitakt "just" for voice samples is something you could probably skip all together. and get a bitstream for your octa ,)

[@EZBOT_]

All of the tracks on the Octa are being used so I can't use it to be a sample player. I'll look into the bitstream :)

[@manastorm193]

@@EZBOT_ You will love it! You can set up multiple pages and control all your other gear with it and use it as a midi-mixer for all your devices, map your most used effects to the knobs above every channel. I've mapped the knobs to control delay and filter. Channel 8 knobs control the master EQ. You also have mute buttons for each channel. It was a bit tricky and I needed to use a bunch of midi splitters and mergers to make it work.

[@DayflightTrok]

An OT plus a Syntakt is far enough to produce good f.e. Techno Tracks

[@Lo-fi_Hi-brow]

Just gonna be honest: It drives me *bananas* that the Syntakt doesn't have a yellow screen😫

[@EZBOT_]

Same

[@danyuld]

Just returned the Digitone this am for this reason - Loving Digitakt/Syntakt combo much more.

[@EZBOT_]

I do love the Digitone but if I had to pick for my style of tunes I think the Syntakt is what I would choose at this point.

[@stan6066]

The music you produce is excellent, really great, I love it 🙂.I watch your videos regularly but unfortunately for me, I'm French, and my English isn't perfect. Otherwise, you would have to speak in French. I laugh!! Your tech is powerful. Peace!☮️

[@rz9305]

❤

[@elifan2523]

For me monomachine and octatrack is plenty

[@mikenoface]

gawd I wish they would just make a black MK3 Monomachine and release it at a reasonable price.

[@elifan2523]

@@mikenoface Or just produce the original, but Elektron is not the same company as it was back then, not to worse but just different. I think the MnM is their coolest design

[@defnlife1683]

The answer is to kick out the Digitakt and add another Digitone. I'm a simple man.

[@blueberry2a]

Digitakt is for me the Best Elektron device and since I own à Syntakt I got the same setup configuration problem to perform live. My digitakt use to be the brain….. but « only » 8 midi Channel for 16 Tracks (12 syntakt + 4 digitone). I have to choose… is there any tip configuration set up you can show us with those 3 babys?

[@hmmty]

Why not just sync up the Syntakt and DTN to the DT and use the patterns on them?

[@blueberry2a]

@@hmmty much more easy in a Live session to control mute and un mute on the digitakt. But with 8 tracks I cant use the 16 tracks available between Digitone and Syntakt. That’ s not even really à problem. 16 tracks is a lot !!!!

[@Djunkisup]

One of my cats' names is Gemma

[@Molluszk]

Can we say that Syntakt can do all (and more actually) what Digitakt can, except sampling? Thx

[@none6555]

We can say that digitakt can sound like syntakt and many other drum machines because it can sample them. Where’s syntakt can synthesise drums like model cycle + analog rytm, but it haven’t compressor, that fact make syntakt useless for me even more then fact I dont like cycles/a.rytm at all

[@DayflightTrok]

To many voices will damage your clear straight forward. As I said the Syntakt is meanly a copy of well known other boxes. One OT is enough.

[@zoltn]

I just sold my Digitone Keys. Long live the Digitone! 🍻

[@EZBOT_]

Long live the Digitone!

[@crust616]

Just get rid off em all and make syntakt only music 👍

[@gasparpini]

It’s nice to have a channel doing such a good content. I’m trying to figure out what is better for me. An Analog Rytm mkt 2 or the digitakt + the syntak. I need one or the other to create my own drum samples in the studio.. I work a lot with sound design and in the DAW I usually use synth and sample layers to make my own drum sounds. When I say digitakt + syntak it’s because I’m thinking about syncing the MIDI of the two devices and layering the synth (of syntak) with samples (of the digitakt). Example: in digitakt a clap sample and in the syntak a synth model clap. I’m trying to figure out which choice has more sound design power. In the Analog Rytm mkt 2 I can resample… but in the digitakt + syntak it looks like there is a bigger range of sounds for me to tweak and experiment with. What would be your suggestion? Thank you!