Yes, I see your point. I can see how those + the improved compressor are a solid improvement on mixing capabilities over the original DN and DT. That’s desirable since I avoid any kind of post processing/mixing in the daw with all of my will…
I forgot a big one you mentioned: the note edit/ Chord control. That’s a intriguing one from the DN2 that has my attention since I like to play the keys and input cords by myself.
In the end, for me it’s interesting seeing this Syntakt vs Digitone 2… the OGs where already very different, and the DN2 is even more DN focused than ever.
Currently have OTMKII, AHFX and ST. Used to have a DN, but felt I couldn’t justify it, so it went away. DNII has me mega GAS-y, but I just sat down with the ST in the context of OTMKII + AHFX and asked myself - why? Do I NEED the DNII?
I find that ST by itself tends to gravitate toward a certain sound, but in the OTMKII + AHFX context it really becomes a monster. I have an opportunity to get a DNII at a decent price, but after a few sessions with this setup I’m so conflicted!
For what it’s worth, I’ve been producing industrial, ambient, techno, IDM, post-punk, etc. under the name Freeze Etch for 20+ years:
And some additional studio context:
Novation Summit
Erica Synths Syntrx II
Roland SP-404MKII
Roland MC-707
Ableton Move
Erica Synths Zen Delay
Source Audio Collider
Maybe I’m just an eternal optimist when it comes to this sort of thing, but I feel like with Syntakt, it’s only a matter of time before Elektron does something better with the trig modifiers. The feature feels so unfinished, and it’s one of the most popular requests I’ve seen for ST. I don’t mean I expect it in the next FW even, but I’m certain they do read feature requests.
To echo what was already said, something like scenes would be astoundingly fun, and more useful even than performance mode on A4 (at least in the context of Syntakt’s form factor and sequencer).
But I’m easily satisfied with a device like the Syntakt that I already love. They could add a digital machine that only makes high pitched fart noises and I’d thank them for it
Yes, with all the wishlisting I’ve started over the last weeks, it already was an amazing bundle of digital and analog machines when it launched. It also got quite a few significant upgrades since, SY Raw and Swarm probably being my favorites.
I’ve been sitting on a similar fence, with an ST and DT2, and the DN2 looks really attractive.
Aannnnd, in jotting down some thoughts about my situation, I talked myself into ordering one.
I realized the new polyphony implementation in the Digi format is the killer feature for me (harmony on ST has been a series of compromises), and any hesitation about leaving behind the analog sounds of the ST … DN2 can always turn a track into midi and farm out to ST or a poly synth.
Still, though, I do have a reliably great time every time I sit down with the ST…
How true…the WANT has little to do with the NEED. I want a car that can go 120mph but WHERE exactly am I going to drive it that fast? LOL 16 tracks is great and 128 steps is wonderful. Unless I deliberately start out as a goal I’m not really not going to use MORE than that.
I ended up ordering the DTII. The curiosity was eating away at me! Waiting to receive it now.
I feel that I can only really justify keeping one or the other, so it will be interesting to see which one of these wins out. It’s entirely possible the sound of the analog engines on the ST will win in the end, but we shall see!
Did anyone make a tally list yet of how many votes in this thread for DNII, ST resp.?
Add me to the ST side.
ST would profit hugely from DN1 features and parameters like polyphony, voice stealing settings, arp, transpose.
soundwise the ST is huge and great and I love the combination of sweet spot digital machines and AR analog drums and synths including SY and esp the analog FX track.
DN IMO cannot deliver in these sound spaces and is also limited in FM synthesis compared to DX7, OP6 and even Yamaha reface DX, maybe the DNII FM has been opened but until now I saw only simplification by introducing simpler machines to choose from (the same concept that is repeatedly held against ST)
love the DN keys, though
no hopes that Elektron will give transposition or even live transposition or programmable transition in song mode to the rhythm machines (AR, DT, ST)
same for polyphony
Anyway, happy for everyone who is happy with their equipment of choice. Every Elektron machine is adorable, amicable and a true instrument and inspiration. I somehow love the fact that they they different skills and noone is „perfect“ - like many siblings in a functioning family
I have DN, AR MK2 MC and I had ST for sometime, for me ST did not bring anything new to the table.
The analog machines are cool as well as the FX track, but the digital machines are not very exciting,
I am curious to try a DN II, and I love DN keys too like you, always looking for a good second hand one,
I have been considering Syntakt vs DN2 for my next Elektron purchase, but after looking at Reverb used prices it looks like a Syntakt + DN1 used wouldn’t be much more $$ than a new DN2.
Feels like the sweet spot getting the analog machines of the ST w/deeper sound design/polyphony of the DN.
Then again an all-in-one box would still be better
+1 for polyphony. I cannot recommend enough to get some kind of poly to 3x-mono-on-different-channels midi solution (I built one in Axoloti, there’s also a Retrokits cable that does it, etc…) and playing the analog synth voices like that. Amazing sounds. Combines well with ctrl-all (if you don’t care about your other voices lol). Would be very nice if it were less of a hassle, and sequencable internally without loopback.
Just bought a brand new Digitone II for 20% off and I’m pretty excited. I definitely can’t afford to keep both the Digitone II and the Syntakt, so we’ll see which one survives.
Update: Uhg, DNII is so damn good. Leagues beyond the original, and much easier to bang out usable jams quickly.
The past several nights I’ve only had about 20 minutes to sit down with it, and in each case that was enough to get some wicked inspiration flowing, and there is still tons of new features left to explore.
Yes, it’s great with external keyboard. It adds a lot to the experience to add in velocity mod and key track mod (esp to extend a patch’s usable range) parameters, up to 4 of each, to the patch.
Iirc the manual has a caveat about recording polyphony from external keyboards, but I haven’t noticed issues recording chord progressions with added melody notes.
