AR as a sampler drum machine only (no synthesis)

Elektron Gear Analog Rytm
#1

OK, so I’ll get it out of the way that I’m just not super into “analog” drum sounds. I have a MD and the sound is perfect to my ears. So, lets just agree I am insane, and move past that…

How is the AR as a straight up sampling drum machine? What kind of mileage would you get out of it using only samples? Would it still be worth buying for its performance features and sequencer? Would an octatrack be the better route if samples were all that I wanted to use, despite the lower track count? Any examples of sample only AR?

Cheers and forgive me.

#2

If you got a Mac then with SDSDrop app sampling into AR is easy as fuck. You’ll also benefit from analog filtering and overdrive. However, it’ll still be limited as there’s no timestretch or sample accurate start/end points. Then again this gentleman doesn’t seem to be bothered by that https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DQoOxFQ72dI
But if you’re a finger drummer you’ll be gutted about pads, too stiff

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#3

:sob: thanks for the heads up!

#4

I bought an Octatrack first and loved it then i bought a Rytm and loved that a bit more my friends just got a MD and I love the sounds on that. I cant imagine that if you just bought it for playing back sampled sounds that you wouldn’t find yourself using the synths as well, and analogue or not I bet you would design perfect sounds for your self. Do your research download the manuals watch the videos and its sort of got the same number of tracks as the octatrack, eight of the pads are pairs that cant sound simultaneously.

Either way theres going to be somethings that you love and other things you wish for…

#5

Don’t know about Octatrack, but AR is the sickest machine i’ve used with sample capability.
Check this topic for timestretching and if you go experiment with the provided settings sh*t gets off the hook real quick.
http://www.elektronauts.com/t/timestretch/8257/67136
For some reason i’ve never been a big fan of sampling until i got this machine.
Only gripe imho is that if you start using long smpls, in stereo, memory eats up a bit fast

1 Like
#6

Aren’t stereo samples converted to mono the moment you transfere them to the AR?
The Octatrack plays stereo samples. This might be another big difference.

#7

Aren’t stereo samples converted to mono the moment you transfere them to the AR?
The Octatrack plays stereo samples. This might be another big difference.
[/quote]
samples, in stereo, ain’t necessarily stereo samples ! #twotracks
.

I can’t help OP, I have both but rarely use samples on AR (because wood is better than plastic) - but even though the OT is infinitely more flexible than the AR in sample utilisation it just doesn’t quite have the special sauce the AR seems to have, it does sound magical
.
the synth side is so strong on AR and it’s a big wedge of the cost, I can’t help but imagine the OT may be a better bet … as mentioned, stereo gets monofied in the AR and mono gets stereofied in the OT, so you have 8 voices in each, 8mono(inc 4 choked) in AR and 8stereo in OT plus more usable i/o on the OT

#8

Aren’t stereo samples converted to mono the moment you transfere them to the AR?
The Octatrack plays stereo samples. This might be another big difference.
[/quote]
samples, in stereo, ain’t necessarily stereo samples ! #twotracks
.
[/quote]

Right. But whats the point?

Take a 1.6 mb 16 bit 44100 HZ aif stereo file and transfer it to the AR.
After the covertion the file size on the AR will be… 0.78 mb.

Now take a 1.6 mb 16 bit 44100 HZ aif file with #twotracks and transfer it to the AR.
After the covertion the file size on the AR will be… 0.78 mb.

Now take a 1.6 mb 16 bit 44100 HZ aif mono file and transfer it to the AR.
After the covertion the file size on the AR will be… 1.56 mb.

So… “long samples in stereo” will not eat up more memory than mono files because they were converted into mono files. No matter if stereo or #twotracks.

#9

Aren’t stereo samples converted to mono the moment you transfere them to the AR?
The Octatrack plays stereo samples. This might be another big difference.
[/quote]
samples, in stereo, ain’t necessarily stereo samples ! #twotracks
.
[/quote]

Right. But whats the point?

Take a 1.6 mb 16 bit 44100 HZ aif stereo file and transfer it to the AR.
After the covertion the file size on the AR will be… 0.78 mb.

Now take a 1.6 mb 16 bit 44100 HZ aif file with #twotracks and transfer it to the AR.
After the covertion the file size on the AR will be… 0.78 mb.

Now take a 1.6 mb 16 bit 44100 HZ aif mono file and transfer it to the AR.
After the covertion the file size on the AR will be… 1.56 mb.

So… “long samples in stereo” will not eat up more memory than mono files because they were converted into mono files. No matter if stereo or #twotracks.
[/quote]
eh ?
.
One extracted Left track of a stereo file panned left and one R track panned right using two separate L & R mono samples therefore spends twice the RAM - simple, no !
.
the point is that for whatever reason, someone may wish to retain the stereo image of a stereo sample and that’s the only way to do it = two tracks = twice RAM
.
it’s not for me, but that’s what he meant !
.
fwiw - i’d pre-convert or create all my source material to 16/48/mono

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#10

I just wanted to point out that the AR only plays mono samples.
This might be relevant if someone compares the ARs track count with the OTs track count like the OP did.

If you pre-convert your material… fine.
I just choosed 16 bit 44100 HZ as an example to point out pre and post convertion.

#11

I would suggest the Octa is a much better fit for you. I had an AR and sold it. The sample management is a pain in the arse. So slow. Very frustrating in 2016!
I love my Octa. So much in getting a second. It’s a perfect sample mangling machine and beautifully complex. It sounds very punchy too. The sample management via Compact Flash is really easy and can host an enormous amount of samples compared to the AR.
The only reason you might want an AR is if you really HAVE to use analogue filters. The Octa filters are really good imho though.

#12

With pseudo round-robin, velo mod matrix and stellar wavetable synthesis, your mileage can be substantial. Octa does not have trig conditions does it?

But rest assured that you’d be compelled to use the synthesis section as well (and if you insist on digi purism at the sound source level, you could use the new impulse and noise machines)

#13

Samples sound beautiful through the ar and its analog pathway.
haven’t used enough to say that actually all samples benefit of it.
With the limited ram I think a drum machine just based on samples would be too expensive for what you get out of it.
however when you use the ar anyway the sampling engine just rocks. as the tom sounds of the ar are just shit there are a couple of slots for you to drop your samples in.
would be good to get a collection of transients and other elements which compliment the analogue engines

#14

Getting an AR for sample playback is a bit like buying a car for the chassis and wheels only, with little interest in the engine.

That’s fine if all you want to do is go 4-wheeling through some rough terrain, but you could be putting a lot of money down for a key feature (8 voice analog synthesis) that you have little use for.

And keep in mind, while the Rytm has 12 tracks, it only has 8 voices, just like the OT. But greater on the OT as the samples are stereo, and further greater on the OT when you include the 8 track MIDI sequencer.

OT + Strymon Deco would be a better solution, I think.

1 Like
#15

My first elektron was an analog rytm. Basicly I used it only for sample playback/mangling. The analog sauce over the samples is really great and sounds very nice. I used it only with samples of my own voice, I had big fun, check my YT what I did…

https://youtu.be/r5SaiynXWIo

I sold it in the end because I didnt use it as drummachine but as a sampleplayer/mangler I found good alternatives (octatrack e.d.) and as a sampleplayer the rytm is way too expensive compared to an sp-404/mpc1000 e.d. I think you have to see the rytm as (drum)synth, aspecially with the latest update…

If I win the lotery… The rytm is the first piece of gear I will buy… Again…

#16

i do agree with the two previous posts…
if looking for a sampling machine, look for something different than an AR, which is a drum computer with sample playback capability
lots of people are using it just fine though, to me, all the slow process of loading the samples on the machine and the few options (good nonetheless) available for sample mangling, don’t make it for nice and smooth workflow…unless one day the AR will be able to sample straight away or be able to drag&drop samples into it…until then: i’ll still be wanting an OT or similar alternatives for that

#17

I have a question.

Is there some way you might be able to transfer samples from an Octatrack to a Rytm without using a computer?

I know the answer is probably no. It would make a really neat ecosystem… One can dream though i guess.

Lately I’ve been really vibing on an OTB workflow, particularly during composition.

Very tempted to get an Octatrack for deeper sample control, and general multi-layering and record.

#18

most of the time i use the analog synthesis to produce the transients for my samples masking and layering . i never start out with the synth. The samplesare much harder to tweak and i find re sampling them to a new wave is often the best move

#19

Is there a trick for recording samples sounds from AR to DAW in stereo? I mean, doubling the track, etc. I’m a complete ignorant in these matter. Thanks!

#20

You can use Live’s utility audio device to allow only the Left side to pass through, render for Left side.
Then repeat for the Right.

Import both samples to Rytm.
Choose one sample on a track, sequence, pan, copy track, paste track to another track, change sample slot to the opposing sample, invert the pan.