Thoughts on Elektron Model:Samples after 3 years

Another installment in my 'fireside chats' in which I focus on the trusty Elektron Model:Samples. My history with the instrument, how it became a bit obsolete, but then I found new life for it among its haughty metal-clad brethren. In this video I discuss the primary use cases I have for the Model:Samples: a songwriting sketchpad (especially for ambient), a central MIDI sequencer for up to 6 monophonic synths (Volcas, etc), and as stand-alone 6 track monophonic synth based on Wavecycle synthesis.
For audio examples and tutorials of everything I discuss in this video, see my past videos, as well as some upcoming ones focused on new techniques and pairings.

[@whiteperill]

I sold my MS in the past to buy a Digitakt instead and then i'd bought the Blackbox, and sold the Digitakt. Yesterday I bought a Model Samples again. I missed it

[@minimal.camera]

I believe it! It's got that mojo.

[@ArchieFunker]

Elektron customer service is really great. I also have a m:s and had the same issue with the keys sticking down. I contacted Elektron about it and they sent out a replacement button mat for free. I asked elektron if I should be concerned about the issue coming back, and they told me they had identified a manufacturing issue with the button mat and resolved it. It has been at least 2 years since I replaced the buttons, and I have zero issues with it. The model series machines are great little boxes. Sometimes I think I want more, but these are just so small and portable. That and I don't get complaints from the wife when I use them late at night as opposed to the click klack keys on my Octatrack.

[@minimal.camera]

That's great to hear!

[@GoMacoco]

Great video and really great out of the box thinking! Thanks for sharing your insights on the MS. I have one sitting in my shelf for quite some time and now I really wanna try some different ideas and use cases. Really appreciating the fresh air and keep it up :)

[@syglit]

What a great video! I've been thinking about buying one for a while now but I wasn't sure it'd fit well in my workflow. But you basically answered all the questions I had about this little unit.

[@minimal.camera]

Great, glad it was helpful!

[@liveanddirect100]

Great one!

[@ruidodeparamo]

Thank you :D, great video

[@NoiseCommander3DS]

I admire your ability to articulate these detailed elaborate thoughts so well. I have the model cycles and inserted tape beneath the pads as well. That only helps to a degree like you say and is the main reason I don't use it much. My shoulder and wrist are very frail and start hurting quickly from stiff pads or similar repetitive strain.

[@minimal.camera]

Thanks for the kind words! If you want to get more life out of your Cycles, consider getting external drum pads for it!

[@NoiseCommander3DS]

@@minimal.cameraI have a Midi Figher 3D for that purpose, it is quite nice!

[@fg594]

im so happy i saw this before and now that i have one (just got it a week ago) the synth workflow you described with wavetables?! so good. thank you for helping me wrap my head around this (and for ANY audio!) wtf!!??? thank you again man. do you have any more tutorials on it? i cant lie. im really into the m:s

[@minimal.camera]

You're very welcome! Check my channels playlists for more tutorials, I have them all organized there. I brought my M:S on a trip and I've been working on a new generative piece with even more complexity, so hopefully I'll find time to add another installment to that tutorial series :)

[@tybowesformerlygoat-x7760]

Your videos are great these days. Great content, style and production. (Although there's a bit of clipping on the loudest bits of this one...) Only mod I've don't to my MS is add a 3.5mm stereo output.

[@minimal.camera]

Thank you! I know, my lapel mic keeps letting me down, even when I put in the time to get levels right before recording. I really don't want to have a condenser mic in front of my face all the time, but it seems like that might be where I need to go with my mic setup....or maybe I just need a better lapel mic. A 3.5mm output on the M:S makes a ton of sense! Did you do that as an internal mod, or just adding an adapter to the headphones output?

[@tybowesformerlygoat-x7760]

@@minimal.camera limiter on the lapel mic? Internal mod on the MS - just drilled a hole for the socket and wired it across the 6mm output.

[@H_ologramic]

Great coverage! I don't have any experience with the model series, but I do own both takts. I didn't know the models do midi sequencing and audio on one track; personally I'd find that confusing. The digi's entire second row of buttons (9-16) are dedicated midi channels. With everything going on with these boxes, one button per track/lane feels like a feature not a bug. But maybe I'm just dense lol

[@minimal.camera]

I agree that is more logical, but I really like working with layering sounds from different instruments, so I like the model approach. I wish there was an easy way to do the same on the takts. I also have Syntakt, and its cool that each track can be either audio or midi, but I want an audio + midi option as well!

[@ivanestades5903]

Dude you are Faramir

[@KailashThakur0z]

This ! 😊

[@katilinetv]

from where u got that crazy stickers? it looks awesome.

[@minimal.camera]

oversynth.com

[@tommyk88888]

Did you ever get weird looks while taking it out in public? I just realized it looks kinda like an explosive with the powerbank and the cables 😅 Great content btw, love yout videos 🙏🏻

[@minimal.camera]

Ha, not yet!

[@schipbreukeling]

Can you/somebody explain the tape modification behind the drumpads? I have the M:S and it would be great if I can make it more responsive for fingerdrumming

[@minimal.camera]

Yeah, its pretty simple, you just take it apart and put some tape on the backs of the rubber drum pads, to make them a bit thicker, such that they trigger the underlying pressure pad with less force. I tried it with electrical tape of different thicknesses, and I found 2 layers of tape felt right to me. Honestly though, the mod make a very minor difference, to the point where I'm not sure it is really worth it if you have no other reason to open the unit. Instead, I recommend in the pad settings changing every pad velocity depth to around 64. This cuts the velocity sensitivity in half, and makes the pad response feel a lot more natural. This has a much bigger effect than the tape mod, and doesn't require opening the unit, so its totally safe to do.

[@_c_y_p_3]

I will write a thank you at the front cuz Im taking you with me to the kitchen to make cofee and wake n bake and don’t wanna forget when my flea brained attention span gets moved on afterward to some distractive YT nonsense 🙃

[@_c_y_p_3]

That midi adapter is really awesome!

[@Charlieboy2680]

If you like volcas check out the Roland Aira compacts .

[@minimal.camera]

I've played the S-1 briefly, I like it!

[@jdssurf]

if i can only get one right now, cycles or samples? i have no drum machine at the moment, i use ableton

[@minimal.camera]

Yeah tough choice, it really depends on the type of music you make. Obviously Ableton handles samples just fine, so that makes me want to recommend the Cycles, but it has a more unique sound that doesn't work for all genres. If you are making hip hop or pop I would suggest the Samples, if you are making more EDM, IDM, or ambient I would recommend the Cycles.

[@Oljekristen]

What's the most pratical way to paste 120 singel cycle wave forms into a wave table file

[@minimal.camera]

Great question, I would probably do it in a DAW, or actually in my video editor (Davinci Resolve, free version) as both of these will allow you to snap the samples together without gaps in between. And of course trim them down if needed. Audacity also works, but I don't remember if it has that snap function.

[@Anubeandhisgear-7777]

What is that orange 5 pin midi adapter to mini a b? I can’t find it

[@minimal.camera]

Retrokits RK-TRS-X retrokits.com/shop/rk-minimidi/ They ship internationally, but if you are in the US, Perfect Circuit now sells these as well. I highly recommend them, they are awesome!

[@MoeShinola1]

What kind of battery is that? Is that the Elektron battery they teased about?

[@minimal.camera]

No, that Power Handle accessory never happened. This is just a regular USB battery, I can't link you to the exact one as it is also discontinued, but really anything will work. The Model:Samples takes 5V via the rear input, or 4V - 10V via the side input. I'm using dual lock tape to secure it to the side and make it easy to attach/remove.

[@Charlieboy2680]

Where do i get the colors you put on there? Are they stickers?

[@minimal.camera]

Its an overlay from oversynth.com (plus a few stickers)

[@SonicVibe]

i loved my cycles but didn't get along with the samples

[@pineneddlepucka]

what ripcord did you buy for the model samples?

[@minimal.camera]

You don't actually need a Ripcord for the model:samples, you just need USB to DC barrel cable (and the DC barrel sizes are listed in the manual). That should be a $5 cable, much cheaper than a Ripcord. However, if you have a Ripcord already, any of the ones between 4V and 10V will work in the side input, without an adapter. So I'm using the 5V one for my side battery pack, but its really not necessary.