Yes, I tried both the DT and digitone before I bought my A4 MK2 and OT MK2. Did not like the tiny keys and the A4 was more fun to me. Now if I was looking for a tiny sized device and space was limited, the DT would be great box. I prefer the layout of the larger Elektron boxes for my fat fingers. Plus love using CVs for A4 to use with modular gear now and into the future.
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Thanks for the rec, will try! I’m trying to accomplish two things: first being experimental and complex one-shots that I can layer with other sounds (a-traditional, that is), and two being polyrhythmic beats, of which has not by any means been an issue so far 
. DT sequencer is incredibly satisfying. If I had to reference or attribute an artist re:one shots, it would probably be Jimmy Edgar/JETS, but they use mostly modular I believe. I also don’t mean I’m trying to recreate anything they’ve done, but I’m interested in perceived hi-fi, glassy sounds.
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It’s unfortunate that A4 MK1 can’t get as fat. I have to use 2 voice unison and really take time tweaking it to get it as round as the MK2. That overdrive circuit is so crucial.
I still like it for overall sound design though, just have to sacrifice a voice and some time when I want “that sound”, or reach for that shiny new Typhon 
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Nice! Good to know, and I think I’m convinced. I might honestly just suck it up and get both, especially since you can use an input as a osc on the A4… DN to A4 as an osc sounds amazing.
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thinking about that combo myself
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What do you mean by “fat”? I myself find the AK sound almost too thick. 
Most of the time I have to put it through the OT filters to get it tame enough to deal with in a mix. Interested in this.
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The distortion on A4 mk2 can bring it close to Moog territories, excellent addition!
But it’s the numerous modulations that make me discover new sounds each time I come back to it 
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Loving all the love for the a4! I definitely need to dig deeper with mine
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AK ≠ A4 MK1
A4 MK1 is more mid-forward.
They’re all great synths, but they’re each unique. I was jealous of A4 MK2’s overdrive until I got the Typhon. And yea, just about every synth needs some EQ of some kind to better sit in a mix.
Fat as in bottom end. Got it.
Edit: Thanks for the hint on the Alesis Microlimiter, got lucky and found one on GC used. Perfect gain limit and 90’s distortion for when I’m sequencing a bunch of random fm drum sounds on the A4 in multimode… Super grungy and it seems to tame the dynamics I was having a problem with.
Yeah the A4 is so deep in sound design, then if you add the Elektron sequencer, plus the OT arp, then sound locks, plocks, recorded automation…I’m not sure I have any idea whats happening anymore, but I like the sound of it.
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If you consider to swap a FM synth for an analogue subtractive synth, because you feel that the sound of the FM isn’t right, then it just might be the wrong thing for your music.
Having some FM and analogue subtractive synths I can tell that both species don’t compare. There is no typical analogue sound to be expected from digital FM. And we can’t expect from an analogue synth any of the harsh, cripsy, bellish, and complex sounds, which can be created with only a pair of operators. Not to mention that with more than two operators we can start to layer sounds inside one voice!
It doesn’t make sense to invest hard work to make the DN sound like A4 or vice versa. That’s the reason I use both … but for very different purpose 
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Very well put.
I really like what I have seen of the Lyra Soma and Grendel RA-99 Grenadier desktop synths. They both look like great fun!
If you have a digitone and want to explore sound design territory, my first choice would be an easy to use sampler like the digitakt. with single waves you can sculpt synth sounds as well, reverse recordings etc. then I would extend it with a mobile field recorder (tascam and zoom offer cheap and good ones) or the app voice record pro for iphone.
after that I would extend it with (semi)-modular gear. a dfam is great for drum sounds, some modules from noise engineering for digital mayhem or if you want to get experimental: a make noise shared system is of course a dream.
what I didnt get: what do you mean with „analog“ and „digital“ sound? for sound design its more a question about synthesis technics (substraction, addition, fm, wavetable etc.)
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It was just a precaution against what many think is a great synth (analog, fat, etc)
ok, for sound design i think its important to have direct access to every parameter and that a system is not more complex than your brain. then you can think about making new sounds even when you are away from your synth.
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Nice story. I want one 
Although it’s pretty old, I still love my Clavia Nord Rack 3. One of the few synths that gives you exact feedback about what the knobs are currently doing through the LEDs which I’d consider very important for sounddesign. Furthermore it is almost etirely “one knob per function” and has some nice extras under the hood that you don’t find anywhere else. Prices for the Keyboard-Version are not bad either. It even got developed by the same team as the Nord Modular G2, which is it’s “closest” relative (and not the NL2, 2X or 4).
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I recently picked up an Nord A1 and am constantly amazed by its capabilities, especially only having one LFO, and no aftertouch. I think Clavia are really smart with their programing and have just about perfected the virtual analog synthesis. Lots of ground can easily be covered.
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