Thanks everyone. I’ve listened to everything here (some great tracks and sound packs) and concluded I probably am trying to hammer a square peg into a round hole so the DNII is not for me. But I appreciate all the replies and info.
(Stay tuned for next week when I show up on here with a brand new DN2. Gear decisions and me = difficult.)
If I were looking for a VA synth, I would go for a Nord Lead.
Very cool track!
I basically agree with what was said earlier here, that if the VA sound is very important, then maybe another synth would be more suitable. But there are a lot of possibilities in Digitone in this area as well. I made this music last year, full of a lot of analog-like sounds. And I only used a Digitone, nothing else.
If you are on the fence, try a DN1 for cheap. I owned the device for years, but always ended up using analog4, because … its more analog. When DN2 came out, i said i dont buy DN2 because i didnt used DN1 too much. I started sound designing as much as possible on DN1, and well, i really started to love the engine. Its with all of the electron stuff the same, the more you dig, the better it gets, even when its strength needs a bit of diggin, the reward is there. So… get s DN1 and find out.
I agree but with non thru zero FM to mimic analog FM
While I think this is generally a really good idea, I don’t think it applies that well in this case. At least for me, the relative simplicity of subtractive synthesis is a big part of the appeal of analog synths. You don’t really get that in the OG Digitone sound engine. On DN2 however, you get a relatively straightforward VA machine that allows you to choose and detune classic waveforms. And that supersaw engine.
I’d say even in general, if someone is curious about the DNII, trying an OG DN wouldn’t help much or at all. There are worlds between the two.
…can only speak for the og dn…
had the same doubts upfront but can guarantee u, it’s capable of pretty much all u can think of…
from all sorts of classic fm sounds like bells, plastic pianos and crystal clear pads…
to gnarly biting wire basses…
to cutting edge sequence bits and bytes…
to earthshaking kiks and all sorts of sub and low end sounds
to all sorts of smacking drums and percussive sounds, all also, since ur dealing with fm synthesis can come along totally otherworldly and never heard of like vibes…which is also truu for any kind of totally fallen out of place off planet like everevolving soundscapes…
and all that from crystal clear full on digital vibes BUT also muffled and tamed to any level of warrmth and smootheness to ur liking, because dn offers filtering via it’s two eq’s that are added at the end of all it’s “cold” operator bingo, all it’s sonic versatility is based on…
all virtual analog is just branding talk…to win the analog purists…meanwhile dn is a fm digital monster and truu to it’s core…the fm concept was invented/discovered for it’s first digital wonderland oppertunities and to “mock” any kind of sound there possibly is…
and dn is the only fm synth that i’m aware of, on which it needs no further rocket science to actually do so…or just randomize all it’s parameters at any given moment…
and jeanne is right…u can’t compare 1 and 2, since 2 is a totally different new beast of it’s very own kind…but end of all days, fm is fm…and all i said is just even more so valid for the dn2…
Digitone II can do some very convincing VA sounds 
I think you need to learn sound design. I have real analog polysynths that can sound digital and digital synths that I can make analog. you need to drift and slop the pitch minutely to get that warm, drifting phasing sound. add a bit reduction for crunch, filter and OD. The DT2 has a LOT in it to make good VA sounds
Lets put it this way: The vast majority of sounds I go for would be made best on true analog synths, and I’m very happy with DN2.
The only reason I have a physical analog synth in my system is to have every control available at all times, a keyboard, and for that extra 1% that a real analog filter and overdrive can have to cut through the rest of the sounds DN2 is making.
I find that track layering and LP4 gets you into warmer tones. With 2 tracks and 6 LFOs you can easily get nice drifting and pleasant warbling (effectively an 8 voice poly).
To me, it’s all the things the DN2 can do beyond VA that make it such a powerhouse.
Another trick for track overdrive post-filter, is to put base-width also to pre. Makes all kinds of interesting, thick analog sounding stuff.
And to triple down on what I’ve said before, if DNII had only Wavetone and Swarmer, it would still be an amazing machine - very different to OG DN. But then there’s also FM Drum and FM Tone 
And FM Drum, FM Tone and Wavetone all make drums, pads, basses, etc.
DNII can sound like warm, squishy goo.
Maybe it depends on what you need out of your VA. Do you need 3 oscillators, or will two be enough. I used to have a DN1 with a Micromonsta 2 to get VA sounds. While the MM2 is fantastic, I much prefer the workflow and simplicity of doing everything in one elektron. One workflow, no extra cables. If wavetone isn’t doing enough for you sound design wise, layer it with an fm track for some more diverse sounds. I really enjoy the DNii as it is, but I’m also excited to see where it goes with future updates.
This is wicked, love the FM layered sounds on the bass. Well done!