Digitakt vs Analog Rytm mk2

for a rythms only!

Since you have both, why not try them both and see what happens?

1 Like

Depends a bit on your needs really - they’re both very capable drum machines!

I have both and use both, the main highlights I’d mention from my personal experience:

Digitakt
:white_check_mark: 8 Dedicated MIDI tracks
:white_check_mark: 2 LFO’s per track (1 on RYTM)
:white_check_mark: Sample machines (Slice + Werp)
:white_check_mark: Smaller, cheaper
:white_check_mark: Mix screen

Analog Rytm
:white_check_mark: Individual outs
:white_check_mark: Can send its audio track triggers over MIDI
:white_check_mark: Choke groups
:white_check_mark: Kits
:white_check_mark: Performance macros
:white_check_mark: Synth engines
:white_check_mark: Better effects (imo)
:white_check_mark: Pads
:white_check_mark: Mute cueing
:white_check_mark: Accents, Swing and Slides
:white_check_mark: More dynamic retrigs

I’m probably missing stuff but they’re my highlights. AR is definitely the more powerful and full-featured drum machine, but you may not neccessarily need or want the additional features it has, in which case the Digitakt is the better option at half the price and size.

I have an AR MKI - Digitakt has the advantage of being able to sample directly, but the MKII AR can do that so I didn’t mention it in the above list as that’s the one you mentioned. Although tbh I don’t care too much about that for a drum machine as I load in one shot samples. I’d be using my OT for actual sampling.

I don’t play the pads on the AR but they’re pressure sensitive and make the performance macros very… performative - and I think they’re more engaging for the other features like mutes - maybe a personal preference thing.

I’ve not really used the song modes on either device (shocked pikachu) but I gather they’re different? If that’s something that matters you might want to read the manual for both.

1 Like

I’ll take a different view.

Digitake
Having quick fun
Composing
Connecting to the Eurorack for quick beats to back up my sequences

Analog RYTM
Studio Work
Most final recordings
Making sounds to sample and use on the Digitakt

Digitakt is the one I grab when having some quick fun or tying to the modular. It is not the one I would grab to take to the studio.

2 Likes

Explain the concept of kits to an idiot (me) in as few words as possible. A4 uses them also, yes? This is where you’re stuck with what you assembled before the project?

Does AR use the concept of machines?

Kits are like pre-assembled sets of sounds, essentially, you can have 128 per project. Makes it much easier to save and recall a complete ‘drum kit’. It includes the FX settings too. At the basic end it allows for easier sound management, but it can also enable more creative workflows.

And yes, I referred to them as synth engines but they are indeed machines, like those found on the Syntakt :ok_hand:

I didn’t mention but another benefit of the AR is that you can layer the sample over the synth machine, it’s not either or - which is very powerful. For example you could have a synth kick with a sampled rumble, or a rain field recording backing your claps, or whatever. So for each of the 12 tracks you can have a synth machine, a sample or both.

1 Like