Sounds like he didn’t maybe spend a huge amount of time with it, maybe it was a gain staging issue. IMO it takes some effort to hit the sweet spot on the OT mixer when compared to my interface.
Timestretch on makes samples sound grungy. Timestretch off is clean as a whistle.
The effects are definitely from the Elektron old school, not the new school.
Hey aquinas, you should check out sample chains. Sounds like you have missed this…
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When I tried to replicate the dark, explosive and filthy character of the Industrialelectric RM-1N on my Octatrack, I really had to work at it, because the OT is pretty transparent - to my ears - by default. You have to use LoFi Bundle, EQ, etc to dirty up the OT. Not quite as effortless as simply turning on the RM-1N and getting instant grunge.
I later got a real RM-1N and quickly found how far off the mark I was. 
Don’t me wrong, the SRR, BRR and distortion in OT’s LoFi Bundle work pretty well for adding grunge if you want it, as well the rest of the OT’s considerable toolkit for mangling the crap out of sounds. But the RM-1N’s pre- and post-gain distortion circuits plus the Belton Brick reverb add up to a whole different beast.
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Hits :
Jomox Alphabase : I decided to ditch the drums from the modular and buy a proper drum machine. I wanted something simple but with the same amount of synthesis options I had with individual modules on the modular. I was never quite perfectly happy with the kicks and especially the hats I got before. The Alphabase really sounds great, the flavours of kicks I like are easily reachable, it’s easy to tweak, and the hats are super punchy and the tones you can get are endless what with the samples or noise at the start + filters/VCA. It has the flexibily of a drumsynth with the interface of a classic drum machine.
Elysia Xfilter Qube I’m running everything through it since it got it, it’s permanently on the master. It allows me to boost or cut exactly where I needed before and saves a ton of time carving out the mud, while boosting the lows and highs. It sounds GOOD. The Qube sort of helps not getting sucked into the 500 format and is actually very portable.
Barefoot Footprint 02 This is probably the best purchase I’ve made this year and for the years to come. They sound amazing, they look very good, it’s a real pleasure. Such an upgrade from the Genelecs 8010, upgrade isn’t even the word.
Don’t think there were any misses this time. I’ve sold many euro modules but that was because I decided to lose the drums and go multitrack route through Live 10 so I didn’t need as many sequencing/mixing options. I’ve consolidated the modular case in a 90% Verbos one and there aren’t any misses here either. The modular gas has almost been reduced to zero now.
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Miss: Buying a model samples
HIt: Selling model samples to buy a digitakt
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My prediction for your 2021: selling the digitakt to buy an octatrack
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for your quadraphonic acid set
I have used it! It’s weird though, I sampled my favorite digi drum sounds I’ve made into the OT, sliced and ready to go, but just couldn’t adapt to the work flow of it. Do you use them a lot? I made a chain based off a kit, but I could see value in separating them into things like kicks and snares… but you’d still end up though with the same problem, which is not enough tracks. So now I just use the digitakt as the drum machine and leave everything else to the OT.
Haha I only started making music recently in general, might be too big of a step but at this rate who knows! Definitely would like to work up to it! Need a synth right now and am thinking of getting a digitone
Hits:
Bitwig Studio
Expert Sleepers ES-9
Sold most of the misses from last few years in 2020.
2021
will be checking out some eurorack filters and performace modules for the 2021 rig (OT+BitwigStudio+Euroskiff)
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Gonna go ahead and file this one under misses, sadly.
Returned, as it just doesn’t fit my setup. Made me wish it had sounds it didnt, and frustrated me that the TR-6S had those sounds, but not the fun probability sequencer. So MS wins again.
I don’t think really anything else can fit the setup I currently have: OT / MS / Typhon / Blackhole / Pro2 / MF Twister / NI M32 + NKS-VSTs
It does all that I need, and every piece of the puzzle is powerful in its own way.
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Hit purchases for 2020:
Poly Effects Beebo - what’s not to love about a four-in-four-out modular effects pedal loaded with Mutable synths, a convolution reverb engine, a truckload of midi routing options, intuitive interface and the best phaser I’ve ever heard on a digital device.
Push 2 - upgraded from a Push 1. Love the screen feedback.
MOTU 828 Mk2 - over 16 years old but still works on Mojave. Hats off to MOTU for continued support of legacy devices (cough Presonus, Avid).
Misses for 2020:
Novation Nova - wanted to love this VA from the early 2000s but frankly my iPad sounds better and is easier to program.
Zoom G3N - for a newer take on the G3X/CDR series of pedals this has less parameters and options.
Behringer generally - they’ve had a great opportunity to build their brand by offering unique takes on old classics at scale but instead have reverted to form and annoyed anyone who thinks ‘business’ and ‘ethics’ don’t have to be mutually exclusive concepts. I’ve kept my TD3 for now but sold my Boog and have no intention of buying anything from them again.
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It is crazy right?
My Traveler MK1 is the same. And it still sounds real good too!
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I use it a lot. I seldomly use simple one shots. I have the sounds sorted by type mainly. Kicks, snares, hats and so on. Then I have special kits like tanzbar, 909 etc.
I find this really great to work with. I do the same on my rytm.
Lots of things on it can make things grungy, but it doesn’t have to be. I suck at gain staging, so my OT is grungy or whatever
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I just purchased an Analog Four. So far, it’s a hit for me.
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Really depends on what you are using your Digitakt for I think. Having had an Octatrack before I wouldn’t exchange my Digitakt for one.
My use case:
- Use a few tracks for drum / percussion elements
- Use a few tracks for bass / lead / noise tracks - based on waves or random samples mangled a bit
- Quickly generate some nice beats
- Take into Ableton to finish as a track
To me the Digitakt is a lot faster for me to get to a nice beat than the Octa ever was. It’s also more portable and takes up less space. The only thing I miss is “chopping”. I’ve given up on the Octa as “the brains” of my setup. When I need to arrange and finish a track I prefer the workflow of Ableton.
If I was playing consistently live I would perhaps consider an Octa for live-looping / live-mangling capabilities.
Just what gels with me 
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Ohh. I haven’t actually used the phaser on mine as I’m normally not a fan, I’ll have to give that module a try later!
Hits:
-
Dreadbox Typhon: price, sound, FXs…I dont need a poly anymore.
-
Model Cycles: for the price, hard to get a better groovebox. Although some people here says that the sound variation is a little bit limited, for an amateur like me is more than enough for now. and its sequencer…Brilliant!
-
Bastl Dude: perfect mixer for a small/portable setup, battery-powered.
Miss:
- nothing, all I bought this year is in the list above.
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