I had a DT before getting DT2, Syntakt, Octatrack and DN2.
I have been so happy with Elektron, and I just love the sequencer and workflow.
However, after the release of DT2 and DN2 I can’t help but feeling let down.
Lots of bugs on DT2 and Overbridge on DT2 taking forever was the first let down. Now it seems to take some time on DN2 too, which I would think should be quite similar to the DT2, so I don’t understand why. No manual slicing on DT2 is also a weird decision. There’s also a lot of bugs on DN2, and I am currently afraid of performing live with these machines, because they are so unreliable.
I totally understand that there will be bugs in new devices, but I think they either should release them after more carefully testing and fixing bugs, or at least be faster to fix them.
I really love both the DT2 and DN2, and I am currently making a new live set with them, but at the moment I don’t know when I can start talking to places to play it, because I would never perform with them as they are now, and I have no idea when things will be fixed.
did you get the DT when it first dropped? or after it had been out for a year? because there was bugs in the beginning and like 99% got ironed out over the years.
It sounds to me that you probably shouldn’t buy brand new gear. Give it a year, let it stew. If anything, the fact that Electron has track record of actually fixing their machines gives me faith in their devices, not the opposite.
I think the original incarnations of the digi boxes were beset with early issues that eventually got ironed out. I cant speak for the older machines as that was before my time using this stuff, but perhaps someone can chime in on those too? But point is, this is the risk you take being an early adopter (in the case of the DN its only been out, what, 2 months?). Pretty much most new products have teething issues that need to be addressed, some more complex to fix than others.
as i understand it the beta testing stage is pretty exhaustive, still doesnt mean that everything is going to get caught. Again, same for any other manufacturer/product
this would depend on the complexity of the issue. i highly doubt elektron are taking their time to make important fixes because of complacency
Maybe, but tbf there has never been a suggestion that they will change this, as divisive as it appears to have been with many people. so its a bit weird to take umbrage at this particular feature when you would have known about it prior to purchasing the machine
For a live performance focus, I wouldnt rely on bleeding edge electronic gear at all, definetly dont sell your current kit used in live sets to fund new unknown pieces. Keep those tried and true pieces around but test new gear in a studio setting
On faith, I wouldnt put faith in any company to release a bug free complex electronic device, that is just a recipe for constant frustration. Bugs always pop up, I’m sure they are trying their best, but their schedule may not align with your needs for your live set. Choose gear that is ready today.
Nope, not in the slightest way. I think they rock big time.
I’m very happy with the Digitone II. I think they totally delivered and it exceeded my expectations. Elektron pays much attention to their users and really want to fix bugs etc. but they have to take their time to get it right. Still, I don’t know of any other hardware instrument company that keeps fixing bugs in their products and delivers updates with new features at the rate they do.
I’d say the behavior of releasing products which are about 90% stable goes back to the Machinedrum. of course that was a totally different team and their first major 100% digital product; so TONS of new challenges for them. but the products have also gotten more complicated since then, with a larger user base, and higher expectations…
either way… yeah don’t buy brand new gear (especially very deep gear) and expect to build a live set on it. give it some time. you wouldn’t have bought a brand new Macbook when Apple switched to M1 chips and performed a set on it, right?
Trying to read this from a company perspective, and I don’t think they want their customers to wait until all bugs are ironed out. What would that lead to…?
I wish we lived in a world without constant firmware updates, where machines are released finished and in their optimum form.
But I reckon I’m an outlier, as all the synth companies are releasing gear pretty much still in beta. If you buy music gear that’s been out less than 2 years, you’re probably buying gear with bugs and unfinished features*.
Just think yourself lucky you didn’t buy a Torso S4.
*Apart from the OP-XY, obviously, which is perfect.
It reminds me a bit of Spotify business model - or YouTube. To be in the game: you have to release often and a lot - quality comes second and timeless it’s not a value as much as it was. New product - influenza in videos build up the hype, people buy, show off on Instagram, brand is trending and on to the next. *I’m not saying Elektron is like this - more general comment - had Octa, DT 1, now DT2 - apart from mono sampling, seems as complete to me as possible.
Honestly, I wouldn’t buy a new instrument from any synth manufacturer. I fully expect every piece of gear to either be relatively stable a year after release, or abandoned, and at that point I can make an informed decision about purchasing.
With regards to the sample chopping thing, the capabilities of the DT2 were clearly stated at launch and to be blunt, if you purchased a piece of gear for functionality that it doesn’t have, that’s on you.
As for losing faith in Elektron, I have a DT1, and DN1 and an AK sitting here that are the core of my music making. The DT2 and DN2 are better in almost every way than what I have, and in a year or so they will likely be better without reservations.
If money was no object, I’d also have an Octatrack and a RYTM.
I didn’t say that I thought there would be manual slicing and I feel lied to. I knew very well that there would be no manual slicing when I bought it. What I am saying is that it is a weird decision, for a device that could very well be the ultimate sampler. But in my opinion it can never be that without manual slicing.
And yeah, I guess times have changed, and these days people are totally okay with devices being released with major flaws and every software you use is a subscription.
I got the DT1 about two years ago, so it is somewhat comforting when people say that also had a lot of bugs in the beginning.
Nope. Not losing faith. They’ve made some amazing updates and are actively supporting their boxes. Do I think they take too long with beta…yes. Oh well, there ae PLENTY of alternatives out there I can pick. I’m not defending them, just being realistic.