Well, now that almost all of the biggest offending bugs have been resolved for this device to the point where it’s usable live and (hopefully) overbridge is coming soon, and I have a solution for backing up samples (record them on pc first, then load to digitakt), I decided to buy another one. I toiled for a month whether I needed the extra functionality to justify the price of the AR MKII and in the end I didn’t. Between modular and my A4 all my analog drum sounds can be created, then sampled into the digitakt. I kinda wrestled between the TR8s and the digitakt for the reasons of simplicity and fun vs features and complication but in the end the digitakt one because I know the sequencer and I can sequence my modular with it.
How are some of the ways people are using the Digitakt in their setups? Looking to see if I can draw excitement and inspiration from that.
The thing I’ve done that really piques people’s interest is sequencing Ableton drum racks with it. Then the Digitakt extends its strengths directly into the machine(next best thing to OB for the time being).
I also have stopped looking for samples to put onto it as its more fun and to the point to just record whatever into it and work from there.
my plan for my next payday is to buy a chromatic tuner, plug into it through the headphone out, and plug the main outs into the Digitone so that way I can directly/easily tune the samples on the DT to match the sounds I’m sculpting on the DN.
shit! that’s something I didn’t even consider! And not even just drum racks, but sequencing soft synths in Ableton as well! Then recording midi of the sequences! A great way to sync your hardware performance to your computer too! Thanks for the tip!
Sequencing soft-synths absolutely- But to apply the polyrhythms and conditional trigs(and also be able to p_lock the macros, obviously) really takes it to the next level.
And since the Drum Racks work by translating a midi note to a track you can sequence up to 32 different hits simultaneously.
But yes, for soft synths- each midi track can play up to 4 notes at a time. you can always combine midi tracks to expand the number though.
Another idea- for a very simple setup is, if you have an iPad, you can sequence it and sample it all from/in the DT.
I haven’t been able to use mine much lately but I think about it and “scheme” about things a lot while working (I work from home and get to stare at it on the other side of the room all day long, without being able to touch it… it’s torture)
My current thought process that I’m going to focus on for a while and see what comes of it, is to use iPad apps or computer synths for inspiration/idea generation, then record the phrases into the Digitakt and use it as more of a large-sample trigger and mixer rather than sequencing in all the individual notes and hits.
I’m particularly fond of apps that lead to super fast idea generation (like Figure, Gadget), or that have interesting randomization features:
Figure again, since every time you start a new song it sets up a random set of sounds and random BPM and song key - forcing me out of my “120 bpm C minor” approach to everything…
Korg wave sequencer synth, forget what it’s called. Can make some super cheesy stuff but some of it ends up sounding really cool.
Animoog.
SeekBeats, randomizer is awesome for weird synthesized drum sounds.
Sector for IDM/glitch drum sequences.
Probably going to eat up drive space pretty fast though…
Not really sure if I’m in time with my answer to the original post, but still.
I use DT as drum+SFX base of my tracks - conditional trigs allow for some nice evolving beats. Plus I use it to launch sequences on my Pyramid.
Sometimes I use it as an additional source of midi channels with conditional trig sorcery - if I can’t get everything that I want/need from Pyramid alone.
That app sounds good! But I don’t know what I’m doing enough to partake in an oscilloscope- I only want the tuner to prevent against embarrassment when I share songs and the tuning sounds off
-also two clashing scales will give me a headache and make me feel like a lousy musician and I want to use sample magic with my FM wonderland
I like to layer sounds (using midi loop) then resample - and then export that sample to RYTM where I play with the analog filters.
I’m happy to say that Digitone plus Digitakt plus RYTM is all I need. Plus the Digitone and Digitakt work well together in terms of midi. I can send extra lfos and modulation both ways plus sequence cond trigs etc.
I wanted to sequence Abletons drum racks with my digitone.
In Ableton I set receive midi from to digitone and the channel to five so that it matches with the internal settings of the digitone.
However, when I hit a key on the digitone in its keyboard mode, Ableton receives a midi input and plays the sound from the drum rack on c1, but when I program a sequence on the digitone and press play, Ableton does not receive a midi input.
