Just to tack on to the post above, DNII vs Opal and Microtonic. Thoughts? Opinions?
I’ve wanted a ND forever but the interface never looked like my cup of tea. I always thought they would eventually come out with a more knob per function ND, like the Nord Lead series, maybe even NL3, which could have been incredible. Guess not. DNII might be as close as possible.
Opal is the most sonically flexible, modern sounding and inexpensive out of the three with only 4 + 1 tracks. 3 synth, 1 sample track + FX track with sample trigs. The random function for both the synth and pattern parts makes it a lot of fun. Clear winner.
Microtonic doesn’t have trig locks and have less control over the sonics even though the sonics are good.
Oh yeah, and and the GUI looks like straight from a 90s/Waves/Pro tools plugs. Probably intentional.
Morph functionality is really cool. More synths and plugs should adapt this. Enjoying the Morph, Mutate and Like functionality on my NLA1R.
Opal can quickly and easily hit a few corners of physical modelling territory that DNII struggles to reach. That said overall I think DNII is more sonically versatile and you’ll probably still be pulling sounds out of it when you’ve gotten a bit bored with Opal’s somewhat more purpose-built and limited synth engines.
That said if there were a hardware version of Opal, I’d buy it in a second. Since it’s tied to Ableton Live, I don’t really end up using it much, as enjoyable as it is.
I find the ND to be more “expressive” out of the box if you’re playing it with a drum pad. Whatever the velocity mappings are just work and actually make it feel like you can play with a good amount of dynamic control. The DT is arguably more capable in terms of sound design, but setting up velocity mods (or aftertouch, breath, mod wheel, key tracking) is a hassle since those menus are so buried and you have to constantly drill down and back out of those menus to do any fine tuning.
I think they sound fairly different, though
Opal does’t offer polyphony, filter envelope and unison (at least not the same unison) like DN does. So depends on the sonics, convenience, in-out the box experience and flexibility you are after. Wouldn’t say that Opal being a Max for Live device is a problem.
Opal comes with all synth engines as separate modules as well as the sequencer to sequence other midi devices. So if it is 16 channels or more you want, it’s available to you.
Have you tried Opals random sound and sequence function? It can easy get you into unknown territory.
One more point for Opal is that the Opal Ctrl (midi sequencer module) together with Abletons Operator basically gives you the DN OG engine/ DNIIs FM Tone with all elektron tracker/sequencer features + more since Ableton Operator is more capable than FM tone. Other Fors modules (released before Syntakt Swarm) will match and surpass DNII other machines in sonic range.
Also, the UI simplicity of Fors plugs with max 2-5 views/pages (depending on module) to control everything is unbeatable.
So all in all, sonic range wise you will get more out of Opal/Fors modules + Ableton than DNII if you are comfortable working in the box.
With a zero velocity trig, it’s possible to choke a ND3 track, so it’s possible to have notes of certain lengths (works really well actually). DNII of course has note lengths and a sustain phase.
The most obvious solution is to keep the Nord Drum to sequence it with the Digitone!
I’ve had the 3p a while ago and I really loved the sound but hated the programming interface. So if you are more into sound design, this isn’t even a question: Get the Digitone 2. I sold the Nord Drum eventually but often thought about buying one again… But I learned that it’s way more important to me to have a workflow which my brain can easily adjust to than having nice presets.
And Digitone 2 is a great drum synth after all. It will keep you busy for a long time. But it sounds different.
Do you mean velocity 1 (min) ?
(Velocity zero is a midi standard for note off used by Elektron)
Back then I wrote it was zero Nord Drum 3 & 3P - #514 by Jeanne , if that was a mistake and it was 1, I can’t remember 
Therein lies the issue. So many great ITB grooveboxes these days - Strokes, Stacks, Motto Akemie, Opal, Drambo, etc., but since I made the mistake of messing with hardware some years ago these apps never manage to keep my interest for very long. Wish I could unring that bell.
Similar experience/opinion:
I started with hardware drum machines/grooveboxes way, way back in the day before going entirely in the box for over a decade. I LOVED the power and capabilities and was quite happy with it at the time.
But when I went back to hardware because of (continued) stifling computer fatigue and option-paralysis I remembered how much more I like hardware in general, even without the fatigue. And they come in so many shapes and sizes.
I, for one, will never get rid of my Nord Drum. I don’t mind it’s buried interface really… I have other things that are more complicated, AND…
I CAN BANG ON IT! That alone makes me use it for a specific type of sound I don’t try to make on other machines (except maybe the LXR).
I just got DNII and it never occurred to me to compare the two but after reading this thread I can see it. I’m loving the DNII but will likely use it for ‘prettier’ drums, and as a synth… but I can’t bang on it. It’s my new precious though.
I don’t want to unring the bell though. If I had the money, time and space I’d buy a new drum synth/machine every 4-6 months.
Hahahaha.
See. So addicted I’m being assimilated. 
A collective I’d join.
I remedied the option paralysis by using a default template loaded with a sampler (in my case RX1200 which is really simple but packs a 12-bit punch) and its individual outs mapped to a channel. That way I have a starting point each time I start up Ableton that I can add to or deviate from but the sampler dictates the limitations I should constrain to. Then its a matter of deciding genre to stick to 
Can’t believe no one mentions that the Nord Drum 3p is the best playable drum synth out there because of the pad integration. The DNII can’t beat that.
Sequencing the Nord Drum is cool but playing it is übercool.
External midi pads can be added, eventually add extra control (dunno if ND3P support aftertouch). I have an inexpensive DD65 with kick and hihat, and Akai with channel pressure…
Playing and record sequence is megasupercool…
Adding external things to a thing is undercool. The integrated pads of the ND3P are übermegasupercool.
It’s not the best for control or sound design, but it’s the best drum synth instrument I know.
