Trying to get over the line on the DN2 but here’s my quandry:
I’m much more drawn to warm, VA-style sounds than chilly digitial ones
However, I’m drawn to the DN2 for its versatility, multi-timbrality and the classic Elektron workflow
So with this in mind, I’m wondering if any DN2 owners can confirm its ability (or lack of) to come up with VA-style sounds. I haven’t really found much when searching for this sort of thing, and I’m conscious I may be trying to hammer a square peg into a round hole.
But if anyone has any vids/audio of specific patches - particularly of lushious pads - I’d be very interested.
You may be frustrated by the inability to change envelope curves from the digital exponential one. Of course, there are workarounds. It’s great for making electronic music, though!
I think @hadron has demonstrated that similar sounds can be achieved with a digitone and therefore a digitone 2 should not be too far off, but as you mentioned the square peg takes more effort and probably experience to fit into the round hole than a tool of the same shape. In the price range maybe a slightly older access virus sequenced by your current elektrons would make for a better pairing? I don’t know, just guessing, I’m still on the old digitone.
Geometry soundpacks for DN1 sound really good from the demos, but everyone’s ears are different, and he stated he hasn’t picked up a DNII yet, so I don’t know if there is something immediately compatible.
Might give you an idea of some sonic capabilities though! Some of it is definitely in the range of VA. Some is not so skip around until you hear what you like.
I haven’t done a lot in the VA realm with DN2 yet, but from my brief explorations, I think these are the factors in your favour:
The new Wavetone engine, which is pretty classic but with some nice additions, like phase distortion and the possibility of using the additive harmonic waveforms from FM Tone (the old DN1 engine);
The Swarmer engine, which is like a supersaw but more flexible (choice of waveforms for both main and aux oscs);
The FM Drum engine, which has some nice melodic tricks up its sleeve;
Positioning of per-track overdrive before/after filter;
New multimode filter, parametric EQ, and two comb filters;
Master overdrive and compressor.
I think this is a pretty good set of tools for getting away from chilly digital if you want, while retaining the option (the links above show how close the original DN can get, so you have quite the range to choose from).
You should compare and contrast with a Roland SH-4D which can be found for under $400 used if you are patient. Out of the box warm sounds and multi-timbral.
Sequencer is meh but you could sequence it easily from another Elektron.
DN2 is excellent for warm fuzzy analogish sounds. Wave tone is fantastic and can get very analog sounding. Swarmer is pretty cool for certain things. The FMtone and FMdrum can both make beautiful warm sounds too, just takes a bit more effort and knowledge to get there, but the other two engines are instant gratification if you want warm va style sounds.
I like the Digitone because it can sound like a proper VA but the beauty is that you don’t have to stop there but you can add distorted layers on top of that sound and get much more expressive. The warmest sounds I made come from the Digitone, this is one example:
I can confirm DN2 is capable in that concern with some work, but I think it should be improved; Overdrive sounds very digital, Swarmer is basic as is, unison detune is too much if you want a wider stereo spread…
For monotimbral richer warm pads with more complex matrix modulations I definitely prefer Hydrasynth or Micromonsta 2.
I can second this suggestion. It’s by far may favorite preset pack for the DN. The patches have great performance features baked in, with mod wheel routings, etc.
I guess it depends on how much of an analog snob you are and whether you’re willing to invest some more time to get these sounds. An analog synth will always sound „warmer“ and „richer“ out of the box. But you can dial in some settings on DN II that will get you close. Consider you have three LFOs that can go a long way to introduce slight imperfections. On the other hand, a characterful analog synth will give you these out of the box. But that lack of character can also be a plus, since the VA sounds from your DN will probably be easier to mix than a wild analog synth that’s hard to tame.
And the drift parameter on Wavetone can add a lot of life. I got an Analog Rytm some weeks ago and I love the dual VCO machine with FM, it can creates moving, slighty chaotic but gentle tones that I can’t reproduce with Wavetone.
This is spot on. I also really like the Wavetone parameters. But the wildly drifting oscillators and filters on AR are just another world completely. Both are nice and sound analog though, so it depends on what exactly course looking for.
Well Wavetone has no FM, and the two FM Machines on the Digitone don’t offer a real Saw wave. I hope DNII get’s a 2OP FM Machine that offers sine, tri, saw, pulse each OP. And a Wavefolder dayum
