I’m a complete newbie to ALL recording, and I plan to the following;
Into Ableton, Garageband or Logic.
So, really dumb/simple questions…
1.) How do I use DT with Ableton ? Do I USB or Midi ?
2.) How do I physically link DT, Push 2, NI Control 6 ?
3.) Any unofficial guides or Videos to help me ?
Thanks in advance for any help, advice or links 
Hei, welcome to forum and congratulations on your first topic here, Wazmeister.
What you would need is a simple Audio Interface and Midi Interface conected to your imac over USB, thunderbolt or firewire. Something like popular Focusrite Scarlett 2i4. Digitakt will be connected with Midi Interface using standard MIDI cable. OP1 and other devices you mentioned can be connected directly with imac using USB cable (using USB Midi). Audio signals can be feed to Audio Interface using TR cables. For easier learning I suggest to start working with just one machine (why not to start with Digitakt) and add other devices later. Be aware of the correct MIDI channels and audio levels. Best of luck!
Since you are completely new to this, you are gonna have to learn whatever DAW you choose (Ableton/Garageband/Logic) and how to set up external devices and all that. Best advice I can give is read the manual for whatever you choose and go through any builtin setup tutorials etc.
DT can connect to computer via USB and send MIDI control through USB, so that’s probably what you’ll want to do. Can also connect via actual MIDI cable if you have an audio interface with MIDI ports on it.
As far as “linking” the DT, Push and Control? I don’t know much about Push and Control (not sure what that is?) but it looks like Push is just a control device for Ableton and not a standalone instrument in its own right? I don’t think there’s anything to have to “link” to the DT. Also this brings up another thought, if Push is meant for Ableton then that kind of determines what DAW you should use right there. Dunno if Push can be used with other DAWs but it is definitely an Ableton product so I imagine that’s what it’s best used with anyway. If you are thinking of a different DAW then you should look into whether Push can be used with that so there’s no funny surprises.
For the DT specifically, you’ll just need to add it in your DAW as an external MIDI device, then choose to send MIDI Clock Sync to the DT. Within the DT MIDI options, choose to Receive Clock. That’s about it for the basics. If you want to use the internal DT MIDI tracks to sequence other equipment or VST synths, it gets a little more involved but I suggest not thinking about that until you get more familiar with the basic setup.
There probably won’t be any videos or guides for “merging” all of these things specifically. Also if you really are completely new at this, I would suggest focusing on one thing at a time. As exciting as it might be to think of this orchestra of instruments all working in unison, once you have it all hooked up you might just stare at it all going “ok, now what?” The DT and OP1 are both fairly unique instruments and can each provide endless hours of exploration, fiddling and learning on their own. Add onto that the fact that you are going to have to learn DAW basics and these other control devices you’re talking about, you are definitely gonna have your hands (and brain) full.
I will basically reiterate what others have said. But first are you a newbie to making electronic music or just an Elektron newbie?
If it’s the former then I would learn your gear in the following order:
4)Push 2 is the icing on the cake really. It will make using Ableton more fun. If you have gone for one of the other DAWs you could still use a lot of its functionalty but it would involve a lot of setting up etc.
hope this helps.
We I started my journey into the world of audio a few years ago, I started with Ableton on my windows pc using the built-in audio card and my computer speakers.
My next purchases were a proper audio interface (in my case, a Focusrite Saffire pro24) and some low-cost but decent powered monitors (Mackie MR5). Purchased at different times, I noticed a huge improvement with each of these additions.
Bottom line here is that if you have a serious interest in audio, it is very much worth the investment to getting some proper hardware dedicated to audio and not assume that your computer (or consumer computer speakers) will provide the quality of audio that you would need to do any meaningful audio work.
Good headphones could be substituted for powered monitors, but plug them into your audio card, not the computer…
Another worthwhile piece of hardware is a good, basic mixer to collect your audio streams and pass into your audio card. I recommend you choose the audio card and mixer with some growth in mind - new hardware and instruments seem to keep coming into my studio and I’m glad that I planned for growth…
Getting the whole system set up properly can take some time and head scratching. Ableton (or any other DAW) have their own learning curve - I recommend spending some time with the software and learning the basics of routing, project management, etc. within the software. Then routing external audio into your DAW and working with it in a meaningful way will be much easier.
Good luck! The Digitakt is a great little box, but prepare yourself for its learning curve (and have fun).
Oh, I forgot to mention…
Since the 'takt (and I assume the OP1) have a headphone output - you could work with the hardware independent of the computer/software world.
Guys,
Well, my first time in this forum and I’ve had some superb, specific and easy to understand help !
Many thanks…
I’ve got a focusrite scarlett 2i4 incoming tomorrow (thanks to Amazing)…
Any recommendations for a small mixer ? (space is an issue for me)
Mackie makes some very good, compact mixers… you can search this forum for threads on Mackie mixers and also a visit to the Muffwiggler’s forum (General Gear section) for threads on mixer recommendations.
One thing to consider when looking at mixers is the number of stereo channels (although you could devote to mono channels to achieve the same effect, you’ll quickly run out of channels on a compact mixer…).
Compact mixers do usually not shine in terms of audio quality. Mackie and Yamaha tend to be not so bad in this category. Something like Mackie 402 VLZ4 or 802 VLZ4 can get you off the ground pretty cheap. These are pretty decent also for adding external instruments like guitars or microphones and also adding external effect boxes.
There is almost infinite combination of functions you can get from modern mixers. Some mixers can have built in effects. Some mixers can record audio (also multi-channel audio) on board or send it to computer, acting as Audio Interface (also as MIDI Interface). Some audio recorders can act as mixers. Etc.
One of the alternatives to consider for combining multiple instruments, is using Audio Interface with more recording channels. Common interfaces can have 2, 4, 8 or 16 channels. The benefit is to record several tracks at the same time directly to DAW. No mixer needed in this setup.
Regarding a mixer, what do you plan to use?
I ask this because with the gear you have mentioned you might not need one.
Both the Digitakt and NI Audio 6 have 2 mono/1 stereo inputs so you could say route the OP-1 through the Digitakt (you will need to use Overbridge) and use the Audio 6 for a mic and guitar etc. Therefore you currently can record 4 seperate busses (channels) into you iMac and mix them independently in a DAW of your choice.
If you need more channels bare in mind that most mixers sum the inputs into a single buss (single output). Mixers like this are plentiful and include the ones mentioned. Behringer also do a whole range of cheap mixers for less than £100.
If you’d like the mixer to output channels independently so that you can edit each track individually in your DAW then something like the Zoom Livetracker will do the job. But it costs about £600. Or as t3h states get an audio interface with more inputs. All the inputs in an audio interface are treated as seperate channels in your DAW.
Ha, that’s a good one (suggesting a product which is not available for Digitakt yet and has also no release date published).
So I shouldn’t mention it?
Of course mention it. It will be a viable option when it becomes available.
But a small disclaimer that it is not available yet might be also quite useful (especially when the OP declared himself a Digitakt Newbie).
The Elektron marketing has already spread enough misleading information on that topic, isn’t it?
(for example their usage of present tense on the website and on packages when in reality they are talking about a none-available product)
When you explain it like this then yeah it is a valid point worth mentioning. But when I am writing quite lengthy posts there will always be things that I have to leave out otherwise it is just too much info - my rationale for leaving this bit out was that Elektron will implement it eventually and in the meantime getting used to feeding the OP-1 into the Digitakt inputs is a good idea I think. The point of a forum is that people ‘chip in’ with info together and correct where necessary. Why not just explain this overbridge issue you have in a single post rather than poke fun at me leaving it out?
So folks, THANK you for all your advise and help thus far…
This is where I am at, after some Amazon spends !!
1.) Apple iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015)
2.) Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 (got a Focusrite Clarett 2Pre incoming as well to try tomorrow)
3.) Genelec 8010
4.) Trying Logic and Ableton - just to get sound in and set up. Will then major on Ableton…
All the Focusrite is working, sound thru the Mac and Genelecs.
How do I (specifically) set up Ableton and Digitakt to get midi to work ???
I just cannot seem to work it out at the moment !
I’m a member of a few forums, and this has been one of the most helpful thus far. I really appreciate it guys, and thats to all who have helped and commented thus far.
Waz
The thing about MIDI setup is it really depends on what you want to accomplish.
Not an Ableton user here but I know there is a new user tutorial built in the help system that walks you through setting up audio and MIDI devices, so definitely go through that for the Ableton side of things. Or Google “Set up MIDI device in Ableton” might get you there quicker, I dunno.
First thing, make sure the DT is plugged into the computer via USB or MIDI cable.
I’m going to assume the main thing you want is for the DT to play in sync with Ableton. So, once you get to where you’re adding the DT as a device in Ableton, the main thing you’ll want to look for is “Send MIDI Clock” and make sure that’s enabled.
Then on the DT, hit the gear icon to get into settings. You should see a top level menu with Projects, MIDI config, System, etc. If you don’t see those you might be deeper down in a sub menu and need to hit “No” a few times to back out to the top.
Check under MIDI Config or Sync, I forget which it’s in, for “Receive Clock” and make sure that’s checked by highlighting it and pressing “Yes” (by the way, “yes” in menus is more like a toggle on and off, so if you want to turn it, or any other toggle, off, you hit “Yes” again… kind of strange but you get used to it)
That’s the most basic MIDI setup where Ableton will control tempo and clock start & stop, and the DT will play in sync.
Well, Ive persevered - mainly to the wonderful, friendly and patient response from you guys on this forum
Indeed, Ive taken a step forward and a step back.
Im abandoning Ableton (for the moment) and are just focussing in the Digitakt. Ive bought the MacVideoPro series for Digitakt, watched Cuckoo et al, and Ive started to write my version of the manual !__ I may even Pdf it when complete…
The step forward ? I bought a mint used Digitone, and that is waiting in the wings… and I love that already !
A big thanks for the help and warm welcome.
cool me too! Started with Ableton and Push then a friend loaned me his old Elektron MD and saw guys using hardware devices and that got me interested.