Best MIDI controller for Elektron boxes?

The Lounge Other Gear
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TL;DR: Has anybody here found a good MIDI controller that works well for them with their Elektron boxes?

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Hey everyone. :slight_smile:

I only make music for fun and a couple of years ago stumbled into the Elektron-realm.

Got a Digitakt at first, which was okay-ish for me, but I guess I don’t enjoy sample-based workflows too much.

Then I got a Digitone which sounded amazing jut didn’t work too much for me, since I couldn’t play the keys at all.

THEN I got the Syntakt and it finally clicked and opened up a lot for me. Just hours of fun.

Due to work and other things I wasn’t able to make much music last year, but the past few months I finally delved back in.

With that I also had a bad case of GAS though, aquiring a bunch of gear, not using it that much, aquiring the next etc.

This month I finally realized
Hey everyone. :slight_smile:

I only make music for fun and a couple of years ago stumbled into the Elektron-realm.

Got a Digitakt at first, which was okay-ish for me, but I guess I don’t enjoy sample-based workflows too much.

Then I got a Digitone which sounded amazing jut didn’t work too much for me, since I couldn’t play the keys at all.

THEN I got the Syntakt and it finally clicked and opened up a lot for me. Just hours of fun.

Due to work and other things I wasn’t able to make much music last year, but the past few months I finally delved back in.

With that I also had a bad case of GAS though, aquiring a bunch of gear, not using it that much, aquiring the next etc.

This month I finally realized that it’s really both the Elektron sound, UI/UX and workflow that work for my scatterbrain.

What I often wish for with those is a bit more hands-on control though, so I am looking for a good MIDI-controller, that works nicely with the Elektron devices.

I have thought about the Novation Launch Control XL MK3, but read mixed reviews about it.

The Neuzeit Drop seems nice, but perhaps a bit overkill?

Then there are a myriad of other options.

Has anybody here found a good MIDI controller that works well for them with their Elektron boxes? :slight_smile:

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The Faderfox UC4 is a classic, particularly handy for the Octatrack though should be useful for all of them.

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i’m gasing on this one for a long time, it’s small , seems sturdy but a little bit pricey for a classic controller. i’ m not entirely sold since there’s some new controller that can do much more than being a basic knob and fader let’s talk about
Faderpunk https://faderpunk.cv/
Monolith https://www.lightreft.jp/product-page/monolit
oxy e16 https://oxiinstruments.com/oxi-e16/
neuzeit drop Drop

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Using the Drop here to control Elektron boxes. Absolute dream for instance…

Fader 1 for example - I an assign channels 1,3,5 in Digitakt 2 and on the same fader I can control 2,4,6 on Syntakt or anywhere up to 8 per fader.
Knob 1 for example - I can control the Digitakt 2 and Syntakt filters that leaves me 6 more assignments on 1 knob… the possibilities are endless.

So we have 32 knobs on Layer A = 256 possible midi cc’s then you have 8 faders each allowing 8 midi cc’s per fader = 64
Then we have 8 buttons for mutes etc…

Then you have Layer B so double all the above.

I can just assign the filters of all my 6 synths to 1 knob for DJ type FX and still have 2 slots left on 1 knob lol it’s crazy but the best thing I bought in a long time :ok_hand:

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That sounds fantastic indeed!

How did you connect it all?

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My recommendation: get something where you can edit /set the controlled parameters on the device directly without using an extra app. Its a lot directer that way - if you want to change your layout - its a hassle to reconnect it to the computer to set it up.

An application for initial setup is surly handy, but further edits should be possible on the device itself. For me that rules out the Novation, as its paramters are configured only on the application. (I have an old MK1 version, maybe its different for MK2 - not sure.)

I have a very good expierience with Faderfox EC4 if you want on device edit, and 16 controllers.

My recommendation for Syntakt is get a device with ideally 12x 8 Knobs, if you choose fewer - then there is less direct control. (96 Knobs sounds a lot - but it isnt actually if you want to control 12 tracks, that is 8 parameters -

per Track Cutoff, Level, Synth Parameter 1-6 , Amp Envelope, Filter Envelope - even with 96 direct controls you need to sparse the paramter you control with it.

Unfortunatly the large Faderfox interfaces are currently out of stock - and maybe you have some fixed tracks, where you dont need to control much. (I.e. only decay and level on hihat, only level for kick, only level for bass.)

It makes sense to make a spreadsheet and to identify what you would like to control, and which aspects of it, then decide on the right amount of control - i.e. should it be a fader or knob. (Knob is cheaper, but not as visible - also changing the pattern often means, the values are not fetched - how do the controller cope with that ?)

Maybe you macro up all your sounds, that means on the Syntakt: CC1, CC2, Aftertouch , Pitchbend , Track Levels. ( 12x 5 = 60 rotary controls.) (Its a bit of work, but worth it.) (Be very consistent with the macros, that makes your live a lot easier later on.) (CC1 always filter, CC2 modulation, Aftertouch modulation /or pitch etc…)

Honestly it needs organization, if your brain is scatterd - a spreadsheet helps.

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I was looking for an easily programmable MIDI for my Syntakt and Octatrack…ended up building my own DIY MIDI controller that works with a web app via USB to change CC parameters. happy to share more

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Please do! :smile: I am a regular lutker of r/synthdiy.

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grafik
grafik1920×749 149 KB

Faderfox PC12

I use it to control a bunch of different things on the Octatrack and the Bluebox at the same time. Or, sometimes, I use it to control almost an entire A4. (Although there are a few parameters for which you need an EC4…)

I’ve just seen that the PC12 is no longer being sold… That’s a bit of a shame, because it has dual MIDI assignment and large jacks.

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I like Faderpunk

I’ve used a 16n Faderbank in the past, but this adds tons and tons of new features to that, LFOs, Euclid, Turing, CV to Midi, and someone is doing a Grids conversion right now …

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This Faderpunk is controllable only via an extra app? Or on device?

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Control? For example?

On the Web App, you choose which channel is which “App” (they call it “App” instead of “function”, “channel function” or such) is loaded into the channels as well as general configuration. That is of course then remembered.

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Ah dang, that sucks tbh, i didnt like the nb32 either, because of the web application - i need to have internet - but i dont have it in my bunker studio, so no on the fly changes. A local install would be the smalles denominator.

I personally prefer devices which have local setup. (Oxi is a contender, Faderfox a possible solution.) I belive the Neuzeit drop also does local configuration. For my usecase its of high importance to be independant with such configuration tasks. ) What is when their small business goes out of business, can you locally host the configuration editor? I personally think it devalues the device itself.

On Faderfox the editor is locally hostable, and is optional.

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No problem with ‘going out of business’, it’s all open source: GitHub - ATOVproject/faderpunk: The Eurorack and MIDI controller with a mohawk. · GitHub

Which also means you could make a build to run locally.

And there’s already a community around it making new “Apps” for it, like the mentioned MI Grids conversion.

I wrote a review about this device Test: ATOV Faderpunk, Sequencer, Modulator, Controller - AMAZONA.de

Edit: And there’s a thread ATOV Faderpunk

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I like its form factor, currently in the market for some faders, possibly a DAW controller /motorized fader. Midi plus also has oled screens, that reflect midi settings, and everything can be configured as standard midi messages - but i am not aware of any catch parameter, or midi return information - there is too few information out there to really make a decision on it. That catch parameter /scene thing sounds good tho.