I’m wondering how long OP even used it before coming to this conclusion. I had to buy and sell 3 Rytms before it clicked with me. Agree with the comment above. I wish you could freely assign voices to pads, kinda more like MD workflow. But other than that, the RYTM slays in my book.
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I feel the opposite, it’s probably my favourite, I think its limitations are it’s strength in a lot of ways. When I first got it (mk1) I was initially a bit disappointed that you could only use the bottom 4 pads for the most interesting engines, but it forces you into creative ways of working around it.
I think the pads are pretty rubbish, the performance/scene modes fairly pointless, but aside from that I really love the thing and it always great to me. I think the 8 voice polyphony is fine, you can achieve a lot with those 8 voices that would be impossible on any other drum machine. It’s actually an amazing achievement imo considering it’s mostly analog pathways and yet has a sample engine built in. I also own a DN & an A4, I’ve owned an OT and a DT, and I reckon the Rytm is top of my Elektron charts.
Are there any other analog drum machines that are as flexible? It has an LFO for every channel, analog drive, the gorgeous filter and an envelope. Yeah I love the thing despite its faults 
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I thought I’d use the oscillators to play more bass parts than I currently do. But other than that, I’ve discovered more things I CAN do than CAN’T with RYTM. Preconceived notions about gear change quite a lot once you have it in from of you. It’s deep and the more time I spend dialing stuff in rather than expecting it to be a preset loader, the more I love the thing.
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I had an MK1, sold it and bought the MK2 when it came out, so quite a while. But someone else said the more you own, the less you may value the RYTM. I think this may be my big issue. I really like the Elektron sequencer, but Roland is not that far behind now with probability on notes and the ability to change LFO rate per note on the MC-707. OS2 for the TR-8S was a big boost with the addition of FM. Meanwhile the big advance for RYTM is Overhub which is also wonderful, but it does not address the limitations.
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That may or may not be true, but every “something else” wouldnt do another thing nearly as well as the AR.
I personally don’t want to hear much more of the TR sounds, so lets say the Alpha Base is a better sounding drum machine: it’s sequencer pales in comparison. Maybe the MPC is a better sampler / player: no analog sound engines at all…and the sequencer pales in comparison.
Even if an MD could be had for sane money, I would never give up the AR sequencer.
I agree there are something that could be better. But I don’t think that should take away from how much is already there.
I’ve come to value my MKI (MKII too big) more over time. It’s truly singular.
But as Daren said, if youre not feeling it, shift it. Little money lost; peace of mind gained.
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Off topic: Thanks man! Still doing sample based hiphop on the Rytm. You can find some stuff on my youtube channel:
For the sake of this topic: I couldn’t have made this on any other machine I think.
- I used some samples from vinyl which are warmed by the filter/overdrive.
- The kick and clap are made using the analog engine and some layering.
- The bassline is made using a dual vco sound layered with a subbass sample.
- I recorded some Rhodes into the machine which I shaped using the lfo, delay and filter.
Using an mpc would give me more sample chopping options, and I probably could’ve gotten better analog sounds from some other drum machine or synth, but to me the combination of these elements, including their limitations, are what make this machine so inspiring.
I guess the point that the AR is great by itself but loses some of it’s appeal as part of a larger setup might be the key to why some people like it and others don’t…
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The Rytm is awesome. I wish I still had mine. Should never have sold it. But coin is coin. In truth I bought it when I couldn’t afford it, and have never been able to fit one into my budget since. It’s so immediate and fast. I love it for that. It does have some cons, for sure, I personally love the synthesis machines. I’m constantly scouring second hand marketplaces for a reasonable deal, prices for a mki tho are still super high, it’s a bummer
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You are 100% entitled to your opinions and feedback…
But…As someone who was raised on a Boss DR 550…You don’t realise exactly what an awesome bit of kit you have in front of you…
The ARMKII is my favourite bit of kit ever.
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What do you consider super high for a mk1? I’m looking into getting one.
I was on the edge of finding the AR a bit boring when I used it in a (too) large setup. It was only when I started using it on its own, playing in a duo where I mainly do the rhytmic and percussive part that I began understanding its power in terms of live tweaking, sequencing, modulating, reverting back to saved states, using the performance macros, etc.
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Lots of complaints about the Rytm (or any machine for that matter) often are about features who weren’t there in the first place, like the number of pads/lfo’s, the features in the sample engine etc.
I find that an odd way of appreciating a piece of gear. When I bought the Rytm I knew all of those things, just like any other person could have known. For me the lack of full ext midi sequencing was a let down, but nothing to complain about after purchase.
Love the Rytm, by the way. Now exploring it as an ambient machine. The combination of analog voices and samples + the elektron sequencer and scales + performance macros makes that a great journey!
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I’m in Australia so I don’t know what makes sense for you.
I bought mine I think for $2400 here, but after the Mkii’s we’re announced the secondhand market dropped dramatically in 2016 or 2017 or whenever it was - I sold mine for $1500. 4 years later I don’t see them for less than $1500 too often. There’s one locally for $1850. Comparatively, the A4mki sells for around $1000, maybe a bit higher or lower.
I was just looking through my archives and found a jam I did - makes me want the Rytm back bad… it’s not a perfect jam I kinda crap out at the end and mess up the reload but u get the idea
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cool stuff as usual, thanks for posting. Nice to see people working outside the norm with different gear. That stand with arm rest is extremely nice too
Here’s a track I made even with it’s limitations it’s a pretty awesome machine I need to try make another on just the Rytm again
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There’s an mk1 local for 720 bucks. Looks like it’s in great shape, latest firmware. I’m tempted to grab it, that seems like a good price!
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Alpha Base, Jack of all 
It’s all opinions of course. I sold my RYTM MKII didn’t do anything for me personally.
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Rytm jack of all trades ?
None sense it sucks for hats so ha ha! 
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DnB not my style of music, but I really liked that, mastery of the machine right there.
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Reminds me of some old moving shadow stuff……niice…