Sonic LAB: The Big Elektron Digitakt Video

[@raysubject]

11:55 .. here is voice from future, we have 2020 and still no second LP/HP filter on Digitakt :-(

[@solaryzer]

I think Elektron need to include a Cenk with every Digitakt they sell :-P He's an integral part of the OS !

[@AName-mg2bd]

29:30 bonus point for distinguishing polymeric and polyrhythmic! hats off!

[@sdrozo]

A. Name minus points you for not knowing the difference between polymeric and Polymetric

[@freetimeprojex]

1000 pts for not giving a hoot.

[@edmontontech2008]

A. Name You sure set the bar low. Lol

[@sanjayvarma7842]

After having the digitakt for one week, it is so helpful to watch these videos to learn the workflow to take advantage of all the features. Cenk-- It would be great to see a video solely about saving, copy/paste, and file management. It's such a fundamental part of the workflow and yet it's a bit confusing because you can access those functions in different ways.

[@HotStrange]

Sanjay Varma honest question, is there a section in the manual for this? I just ordered one.

[@Claidheambmor]

@@HotStrange honest answer - the manual is available online

[@DjangoFlaherty]

We need a full DATABAT live set!

[@hellcoreproductions]

Orbital look a bit different these days.

[@halcyondaystunes]

hahaha

[@sunilsolanki]

So very good sir.

[@station2station544]

well played.

[@walkaboutphilpots3795]

No Need To Chime on about it

[@bernardlindeman739]

Hehe

[@MarctheDarc]

Every time I see Cenk rocking a Digitakt, I wanna buy one, it looks and sounds intuitive, creative and just plain great. But I think they have made one massive, dealbreaking mistake: The sample transfer is a closed proprietary system! At any given time you'll be at Elektrons mercy for being able to transfer samples to and from the computer - when those features even become fully available. You're completely dependent on their updates, or, and eventually forced to, keep an out of date computer for the sample transfer. Not to mention that despite this being cheaper than previous Elektron gear, it's still not actually cheap, and some Overbridge functions are now a paid premium. If the USB connection could be used in a class compliant mode that allowed direct computer access to the internal drive, similar to a thumbdrive, or if it had had a SD card slot for sample transfer, then it would be a complete no-brainer. But right now, imho, this spells a future without any sample transfer. Which is a crying shame! *Please add direct class compliant sample transfer in an update as soon as possible!* It was the exact same issue that killed the Korg MicroSampler! Over 1 year without a working USB driver, or any update to rectify it, meant there were no way to transfer samples to and from it - a core feature. Sure Elektron isn't Korg, but it will forever be on the horizon, closing in on that future, without that change.

[@kentmccuistion6029]

Marc the Darc 0

[@Honking_Goose]

Has there been an update to fix this? Am considering getting one of these but for me as well this is a big downside

[@EverettDudgeon138]

Biggest mistake to me was no song mode.

[@yvesaltana5732]

@@EverettDudgeon138 true!

[@MikkelGrumBovin]

Im not with you - propiretary... you use a usb cable, or direct line in ..??? isnt it normal waw-files ?

[@earthman_]

That Tip for clearing LFO Settings 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 OMG Thanx o lot ♥️

[@toslinked]

so much intelligent music has come out of elektron machines over the years, it’s unreal.

[@vmitchell1131]

Very impressed by this machine from what I’ve seen so far. It’s on my wish list for sure for the future :)

[@dallasstoneyful]

my biggest complaint about the digitakt is that's it's not in stock!! Ordered mine 2 weeks ago can't wait to finally receive it.

[@Maulleygxxx]

Concerned American joint the club. Ordered mine a month ago 😡

[@bigdap100]

Concerned American lol, 2 weeks, dude I've been waiting 6 weeks.

[@planetweed]

i ordered mine at the very end of may ... scheduled delivery:8 weeks from now :s (wouldve cancelled if it wernt for a decent deal)

[@ianeye68]

i put in an order at Sweetwater on June 1st...

[@bernardlindeman739]

Concerned American, preordered from sweetwater on jun 15th, they said it'd be in on the first of July. Then on the first they called and said they couldn't ship it until July 10th. The 10th came the i called and they told me it won't ship until aug 4th.... T.T

[@SjN7HETIK]

awesome machine, the programCC stuff is huge, as in general the seq capabilities. Incredible well made work, dear Elektron :)

[@stephenstrang590]

This is a fantastic video. Editing setup, dialogue, improvisation.

[@novakattila]

I bought this and it blew my mind. Waay cooler than all the other gear I have. My only complain is that it is a bit buggy and I managed to freeze it a couple of times too when controlled via USB, which might be a windows driver thing. Also that OverBridge is not ready so you can't record it track-by-track in a DAW which would be the ultimate goal.

[@alienanxiety]

Things Cenk mentioned that might be coming soon, but have yet to happen: more filters, some from of song mode, FX applied to the audio inputs. Still hoping!

[@ElBoxeo1]

Yeah still hoping but enjoying usb audio sampling in the meantime

[@pheotus]

i love mine. it really takes me back to the samplers of many moons ago, but with a TON of options!

[@thomaspiquet2628]

Honest feedback from the brand, I like that !

[@user82938]

The jam at the end sounded great.

[@dfreeman120]

Cenk & Nick are on another level.

[@mCKENIC]

Great demo, really interesting and feature packed bit of kit with some surprising features! But whatever it is I just cant get excited by it - dont know what it is perhaps just a gut thing. Will perhaps look at it again when some of the software stuff has matured a bit. Thanks Cenk - thanks Nick!

[@TheSlowGrowth]

Great to hear they're working on the backup functionality. Really, I've been using my Digitakt like a "field recorder" to sample something off my other gear whenever I stumbled across some good sounds. It's just so much faster than setting up a computer+audio interface. Would be great to get those recordings off the machine so I can use it somewhere else as well.

[@TheJonHolstein]

I'm sure the Digitakt has good enough D/As and your soundcard has good enough A/Ds so you can record the stuff in to the computer with any real quality loss. But sure that makes for a more cumbersome workflow. But on the other hand, I don't know what format Elektron is using, beeing able to back up the stored samples is not the same as getting them on the computer in a format that can be used within software on the computer.

[@TheSlowGrowth]

Why have an additional cycle of D/A-A/D when its not technically necessary? Also, I would have to crop the samples again, rename them again. It's just a hell of unnecessary work. Regarding the format: If they implement the backup functionality, why should they backup the files in any non-standard format? If you want to bring the files back into the machine, you will need *.wav files anyways. And rather than implementing export and import for an obscure "elektron sample file format" they might just as well implement the export to a *.wav file only

[@smguy7]

I am a big fan of Elektron instruments, even though they are a little difficult to come to grips with. I wish I could spend a weekend with Cenk, working with him.

[@TheJonHolstein]

a weekend? That is not nearly enough I think. A couple of work-weeks for me, please. On the other hand, at the same time, I don't fully understand the hardware sequencer approach, when it seems som much easier to just do it in a DAW on a computer or iPad. But I wish I knew enough to have to option. Really like the trig condition. Have to read up on it... did not get if it is step-trig only, or if it could be applied to the Parameter Lock, or Program Change only as well... that would be great.

[@dakitanmonkey]

There was a time when Cenk gave private sessions to learn more about these machines (projectdataline.blogspot.fr/), but i don't know if he still does.

[@danpreston564]

I'm loving mine. I've had to relearn a few things coming from a Korg universe into an Elektron universe, and it's missing a few really stupid things, like track solo, but it's great fun.

[@novakattila]

You can solo tracks with holding Func and press the trigger buttons

[@danpreston564]

No you can't. Holding Func just activates quick mute, doesn't solo.

[@novakattila]

Well you can solo by muting all the other tracks.

[@danpreston564]

Yeah, but that's hardly a solo mode is it? You don't always have 7 spare fingers. every other sequencer I have has got a solo mode, it's a bizarre thing to miss out.

[@vartandagreat6233]

Set a cond trig (fill) to the volume or frequency of all the tracks you want to mute, dropping the volume or freq of each. When you hold the fill button (with one finger) you will mute all those tracks and solo the others.

[@maudebouchard7614]

Cant wait to have one!!! Hopefully in the next year. Want to say thanks to Nicks, your the best, has always, but id like to give big hup to Jenks. Man, you look happy, and proud, practicaly relieve, all at the same time. Good job!!! Long live Elektron!

[@northerncatto]

Caved in and ordered one... Now the waiting game begins D:

[@doodletownpipers]

aw the waiting game sucks, let's play hungry hungry hippos!

[@deerfeeder]

I don`t know when this video was taken but you can set repetion time in chain mode. so one pattern can be played like four times before it goes to the next one.

[@sonicstate]

+Balazs Sziklai last week. Surprised that Cenk missed it.

[@JOHNG_TV]

Balazs Sziklai Elektron just needs to updated it so we can recall the pattern chain!!! From the look on Dataline's face I'm sure he "demo" the Elektron gear some much & he performs....I'm sure he will miss a thing or two from time to time.

[@deerfeeder]

Well I got it for almost a month now and I`m still finding new stuff almost every day even though I have an AKeys too. I`ve found a couple of annoying stuff (like the 'strobe' lights when its dark in my room), however this maschine is worth every penny/cents. If someone can`t make a bitchen track on this one thats not about the gear anymore...

[@deerfeeder]

@sonicsstate Even though he says this is much easier to approach than other Elektron gear is still like linear algebra when you dig deeper. :D

[@TheJonHolstein]

Perhaps he is not always running the latest version on his own gear, as that often means adjusting the workflow. So perhaps he takes time now and then, go through the updates and learn them. I guess that is an issue for smaller makers, they have to push products out and can't keep them cooking in a lab to be feature complete on release. Even bigger makers to come out with software updates, but usually at most one major, that actually changes anything, and between that perhaps some bug fixes.

[@JacobPadlock]

That little jam at the end was straight fire.

[@MeatyController]

🔥En FUEGO!🔥

[@LordMcMPA]

11:55 it's 2021 now. Maybe a little bandwidth filter in there would be feasible now?

[@Satwamassive]

Right Said Fred have let themselves go.

[@sonicstate]

haha! We're too sexy for our synths...

[@brhodes0]

We are now entering a time warp...please be careful...enter at your own risk!

[@bitley]

Completely amazing demo - it kind of answers 1000 questions in ultra rapid so I guess I'll have to watch it for another... um 996 times ... to learn how to use mine. Two of the nicest guys in this industry - lovely when some features creates a big grin on Nick - the tech savvy legend with all his intricate questions. Cenk truly knows the ins and outs of the machine so he's almost too fast - yeah that function you're mentioning was just what I did there but let's move on to another pattern... Ultra rapid really. :-) Wonderful and extremely impressive. (I am sorry some people are too lazy to follow and too familiar on how to press on thumbs down; that's not fair guys. This deserves many more thumbs up.) As a seasoned Reasoned guy I can see the amazing power Elektron has come up with here - and this machine will be able to free me a bit from the computer. For the first time since 2000 really / been stuck in Reason since then!!! I am thinking of setting up Reason and my (mine) WBF R2 sound bank as a sound module and see what can be done here, mixing in about 15 hardware synths. The power is in this box. By the way: for the Program change trick I made a track that way in Logic many many years ago controlling a classic Juno 106 and it really was VERY responsive - so this "limit" of 8 tracks truly isn't so much of a limit really. Since Elektron's tracks are a completely different thing compared to anything else due to all automation. No 106 left in my garage nowadays (sold the last one I had for €500 and now they're up at €1700!!!) .... but I will put my .... around €500 DM6 to test tomorrow. ;-) All in all THANK YOU for this fantastic tutorial deluxe. Love! And! The swedish nod at the end of course warms my heart a little extra! ;-)

[@bitley]

(By the way Nick - I'd love to demo WBF R2 for you!)

[@j.scottharris5541]

Love Sonic State and finally have a Digitakt on back order here in Canada. Mr. Batt thanks for all you do. Cheers from Canada.

[@dakitanmonkey]

Thank you Nick and Cenk for another good review !

[@timijandrpicminatti7506]

"And these are velocity sensitive pads, right?" "Unfortunately they are not, no ... and no aftertouch either."

[@Malladak]

This is the tutorial I needed. Nice run through. Cant wait to try out these functions. Thanks!

[@synthieboys8406]

I love how elektron stuff talks are full of "The crazy stuff" and "Can it do that? - Yes it can" . That gear is so full of potential, even after years of owning it it blows my mind.

[@markwilliamson6884]

Nearly missed the Nick & Cenk duo at the end! excellent. Love my Digitakt - it has become the core of my setup

[@shapeshifta3431]

great review. Loved the ending with them both jamming out, do we have a possible future collaboration to look forward to?

[@HotStrange]

Love the Digitakt. And that Sub37 sounds killer in the outro. That bass is DEEP.

[@OrangeJackson]

It'd be cool to invite Data onto SonicTalk. He'd be a good guest I think.

[@justindrakecroft]

Living for the jam at the end.

[@OscillatorSink]

If you want to see a great example of the power of conditional trigs, you should check out Red Means Recording's video on the subject. It's amazing what you can do with 16 steps...

[@mcdance1311]

super knowledgable both of you- thank you, just got mine and messing around today

[@patricketp8356]

Great. Thank you. Nice jam at the end

[@elliotdavidson7137]

This looks fun , love the screen. A basic, Mono octatrack without ; crossfader or insert effects which are not that good anyway. The only comparison to the RYTM though is that it plays the same mono samples other than that the ~RYTM is analog (including the badass filters) . Love the poly sequencing on the DIGITAKT - shame its only on the midi side (but that's the same as the OT)

[@TheJonHolstein]

They could have done a poly internal mode that locked up a user selectable amount of tracks, and used note overflow to print the notes on to the other tracks. With a selectable choice of linking all the parameters to all the tracks, so it could be polyphonic, using the same sound on a number of tracks. Or they should have limited the sampling feature, so it would not make interesting sounds that users would like to play polyhonically.

[@thirdsmusic]

FUNC + Knob turn = quickly return to 0 setting on a parameter Parameter button + clear = return all settings to default on a parameter Thanks Cenk!

[@BandarSayyed]

Nick, I wish you had longer version of the jam at the end of video uploaded on yt

[@tomfurstyfield]

This thing is so good, my most favourite piece of gear ever. I sold 4 samplers and a beatstep pro when I got this, they're all redundant to me after getting this

[@GB3770]

Loadatat wow no way....high praise

[@hopeindope9757]

at this point an electribe does the job for one shoot samples and you can buy it with 200 quid, this would be great with more storage capacity

[@Claidheambmor]

I had an Electribe 2S and honestly the Digitakt blows it out of the water. Sampling on the Electribe is horrible. It has a strict 16 step grid resolution. The pads feel like rocks and the effects suck. It's great as a tool for a beginner and I recommend them in that respect, but the Digitakt is the more capable instrument.

[@richardwilliams1310]

As a standalone instrument for performance, the Digitakt is great. I'm sure I am not the only one wondering, will Overbridge open up the capabilities of the Digitakt when connected to a pc/mac? Unlimited sample length (gb or tb of hard drive storage), stereo mode, etc??? as a budget audio interface and daw can do this and the Digitakt isn't exactly cheap.

[@Unifono2012]

Great video overview. One note: you can program mute states and bpm per pattern in the arranger of the octatrack.

[@inthefade]

I dig it. The poly sequencing is weird, though I think it would work for the most part, and being able to set triggering percentage or triggering every given number of repetitions... Well that is just rad. I'll have to give it a several-hours try in-store.

[@RecMirage]

The price went up? it says 679 USD on the website, which is 578 euros.

[@Knardsh]

I get velocity sensitivity when controlling DT from a midi controller but when i record that same part in, its gone on playback... why cant it be recorded if it can be played???

[@Dougie-]

I love my Digitakt. Will love it even more when it stops crashing when using MIDI tracks and when they, hopefully, add an arpeggiator and some timestretching ;-)

[@rodrigolaporte274]

Indeed an amazing machine!!!!!!!

[@breauski7513]

really liking the interface and sampling workflow

[@foggydrifty]

Nick digs it.

[@TheJonHolstein]

Is there are Elektron Acadamy? There should be, travelling different countries. A week or two learning the Elektron way. Then Elektron could give certain reviewers a free education, for them to easier review the Elektron gear. I would be very interested to see what Nick would think of Elektron gear if he had the chance to properly learn them. I could see nick finding a place for this in his rig, if he got the chance to really get to know it.

[@NiharSavala]

Finally, after watching zillions of vids, I figured out, midi track is essentially an Arppegiator & not a full fleged midi track.

[@Zeal808]

Nihar Savala sequencer..

[@drumatic]

Was wondering why chains don't save as songs? Can they at least introduce a "chain save" feature next update? "Please note that the chain will be lost when you create a new chain or when you select a new bank / pattern. Also, chains cannot be saved and will be lost when you switch the Digitakt off." 10:p35 / manual

[@austinbru]

Loved that jam at the end! Want to hear the rest of the noodle lol

[@umusachi]

Fantastic video, as always! Thank you for the in-depth look :D

[@umusachi]

The only downside.... I have to buy one now :p

[@dfreeman120]

I’m curious to hear what Cenk & Nick have to say about the Syntakt when they review it. Great work as always guys.

[@WARDISWARD]

00:30-00:34 Me thinks cenk had some ' how to smile and keep smiling ' workshops Part of the elektron Public Relations Program

[@my4trackmachine]

I want more nick and cenk jam sessions.

[@AgustinDavidF]

Amazing and very instructive review! Thanks a lot

[@emmanuelreuven7350]

Best Digitakt review ever, thanks

[@MatheusLeston]

DATANICK at the end!

[@DjangoFlaherty]

Matheus Leston Or Databatt! That was so cool. Wish it was longer.

[@inf0tr8r]

best part

[@yamansitar6153]

hi , im thinking of buying and drum m/c -sampler to play live with my MainStage i use loops in MainStage , would you recommend the digitakt or the circuit ,will they play in time with my MainStage on my laptop ,thanks love the videos

[@manne3d]

how about mapping cutoff knob on the bass station 2 or DSI mopho...NRPN possible to be mapped on them 8 midi cc# thingies?

[@techpsy]

Big Like! The Jam at the end!!

[@livelifeimprovisationallim8314]

No midi fx afterall??? I was of the opinion we'd have a reverb and delay as midi fx as well; did it miss out on something in the video..?

[@Auxinelectro]

hi Nick looking for the video where you suggest using one of the korg electribes for sampling stuff... thought it was this one but just keen to hear ur thoughts on the older electribe sampler.. just trying to look at cheaper alternatives etc.. would appreciate it if you could point me towards the video or maybe comment with the model u liked.. thanks very much Gareth

[@aileenmorgan8276]

13:27 - Oh, that's nice

[@triplebacon1]

Best review I have seen on the capabilitys the machine has to offer ;-)

[@ThinkerThunker]

You can't backup all that work ...? Hmmmm, I"m gonna have to wait for that upgrade.

[@marcmistermarc]

I like the filter. Much more affordable than their other range.

[@bitspacemusic]

Can you sequence sample start points like at 10:27 in Ableton?

[@brettmarshalltweaksource]

Yes.

[@cresshead]

pads are not velocity but does it record velovity via midi?

[@Depuratumba]

the app is Xynthetizr :)

[@grandmasterjo1]

The way I use the Digitakt midi is to connect just one unit from Digi midi out to ext midi in and then use different 8 midi ch Fr different voices. I seen Cenk connect three ext midi gear to his Digitakt. Does he daisy chain the units ? Or could anyone tell me the midi connections. Thanks 🙏

[@hrnekbezucha]

That looks really awesome and he's presenting it super well. But I know my brain would explode within a minute of using it

[@soundfx68]

About 16 mins in, patterns. Can patterns be sequenced via DAW? C0 etc. or midi cc.

[@girlinagale]

Has device back-up been updated yet? Back-up for me is more about security of material than accumulating loads of materials.

[@brennainlea6146]

"hopefully in the future we'll be able to add that" or not because they're all features that keep octa, rytm from being obsolete

[@ogasi1798]

Brenayin buy it or don't but it, don't bitch and complain like a little child about what the more expensive gear has. Grow the fuck up. You need extra functions then buy the OT or rytm.

[@deroden724]

Pretty much.

[@deroden724]

If you get that angry over a well-reasoned comment, you might want to consider an anger management class or ten.

[@novakattila]

The Rytm has (pretty powerful) true analog drums, this is all digital. If anything the new Rytm can make the Digitakt obsolete depending on it's sampling capacity.

[@brennainlea6146]

lol jamie I would almost never be able to fully utilize the capabilities of the OT and I think the Digi would work perfectly for me. I'm not complaining about what it can do, it's brilliant. It's just funny to see him say they hope they can add certain functionalities when its quite obvious they're not going to. cool down

[@tiffanzsolti]

What MIDI keyboard is shown in he video?

[@cresshead]

max bar length of a pattern? and you append patterns together light 1987 yamaha rx5?

[@solongyouth]

I'm guesing there's a mixer off screen for the audio from the synths?

[@UserName________]

Always thought this was a drum machine but I was wrong. More like a little Octatrakt?

[@station2station544]

People complain about it being mono but I have news for you folks, so is your voice coming out of your mouth. So is a Minimoog Model D. Stereo is a post-process thing. Modulate your pan width with an LFO or randomize it.

[@dionysiaex5538]

How many people do you think have a Minimoog?

[@crimsun7186]

Neither of these two things are related.

[@marcmistermarc]

No problem in mono for me.

[@station2station544]

over 10,000 own a minimoog, not including over 2000 sold of the re-issue.

[@station2station544]

right. My point exactly

[@Digiphex]

Very smart to leave off the card and and a capable memory which would eliminate the need of an Octatrack for me.

[@agauerm]

Roland TR-8S video brought me here, cause in the comment section people were comparing with digitakt... To me very different machines. I personally prefer the new roland drum machine, it seems way easier to program and jam, more like an instrument. I find gear like this digitak very tedious to work with, I prefer doing all this sample recording and editing in the DAW. Then you can just import everything to the roland and really focus on the music creation.

[@monkeytheo]

This!

[@nym053]

I don't find volume, decay, pitch and one asignable parameter per sound enough.

[@sevrin1965]

to me I think the Digitakt is much more a studio machine with all the menu diving, very powerful, but also quite tedious, the TR-8S seems to be much more an instrument and a live performance tool ;-)

[@Takusanmizu77]

Is the Digitakt a different variation of black than the Analog Heat, Rytm mki and A4 mki? In this vid they look different. Also great demo as usual. I think Im going to pick one up...

[@lovtscho]

Best video on the Digitakt. If I would not already own it I would buy it LMAO

[@dionysiaex5538]

The main problem with the Digitakt is its been deliberately compromised by Elektron so as not to have features it should have but doesn't because then it would overlap with other products. No song mode? You're joking right? Stop putting out compromised products which you could easily make better but choose not to. (Not just an Elektron problem by the way.)

[@vladimirussachevsky1315]

Waiting for Analog Keys/Four MKII with new screen!

[@j.j.1172]

5:27 wtf is that voice-over lol? Don't think that was a sample from the digitakt.

[@internalreality]

its a sample, theres another presentation video where Cenk is sampling radio stations and it seems that he kept it

[@nicolabertoli5904]

what about arpeggiator? does it have one ?

[@impurfekt]

Superb demonstration and play out. You two gel so well it's uncanny. When will you start a band and what will it be called?

[@deroden724]

I hope this is a review and not a sales presentation. Curiously, there have been a lack of reviews of the Digitakt.

[@sonicstate]

+deroden hopefully you approve of the end result

[@mike_savi]

deroden Sonicstate reviews have the word "review" in the title of the video.

[@TheJonHolstein]

The problem with elektron gear is one can not review them without knowing their workflow well. and even then each machine has its own set of features. That makes it really hard for people that are not elektron users to review it. And for those that are elektron users, they are usually so in to elektron gear that they lack some objectivity. At least Cenk was honest with some features missing. But the thing with hardware like this is, that features missing is part of what makes them alternatives to computers. if they had every feature under the moon, then they would still lack in terms of flexibility compared to the computer. And they would certainly lack a lot in terms of worlflow and interaction, where the mouse isn't perfect, but it is a great compromise when cramming a lot of features in to a single device. But they also rely on the person using it to invest a lot of time. usually there is stuff in the computer or other hardware that does the sounds better. But for someone that learns to use it properly it can be a very creative tool, that has limitations that limits you some in terms of creativity but still allow for a lot of variation in what you come up with.

[@schepler2]

Jon Holstein So, in other words, every Elektron review you see is bogus, for one reason or another?

[@Claidheambmor]

@@schepler2 In a blatantly untrue and blinkered way, I suppose on some distant plane of reality you may be correct.