In the research phase and am considering stepping into the Elektron world. I mostly record and program in Logic both straight ahead pop, and some ambient/chill hop instrumentals.
Kind of looking at a used OG Digitone but is there a better box to start with?
Itâs probably be a good entry considering the genres. Is there anything in particular youâre hoping to get out of the DT? You have near infinite choice in the box, what limitations are you looking for?
Do you need sampling or not?
at ~400 bucks I donât think thereâs a cheaper or more powerful option for full elektron sequencer access, not even to mention overbridge, which makes it plugin control of hardware, and multi track io
I would personally say Digitakt but it all depends on your comfort level with FM. Though Digitone is an extremely accessible interface for learning FM.
My first Elektron was the OG Digitone. Amazing box, and I enjoy using it standalone or with Overbridge DAW integration.
I loved it so much that I soon after picked up an OG Digitakt, then finally the Syntakt.
Hard to go wrong with the current prices.
cycles
âŚ2nd hand dtone is a no brainerâŚbut any swedish plocking stepsequencing is a great addition and a fresh take on all sorts of musical minds, when used to work in daws, since this klak klak zak zak haptic workflow is just a feel of itâs very ownâŚ
while in essence, as a first elektron box, a sample based one is the quicker fun and brings more immediate change to any workflow u might be used toâŚ
If youâre into samples, the OG Digitakt is your best choice. It offers some basic tools to sculpt the samples and you can even use it as a basic synth, but itâs lacking polyphony.
If you like to play chords, an OG Digitone is a very nice first Elektron. 4 tracks using 8 voices in total (+ 4 MIDI tracks x 8 voices each) is a bit limitating but there are workarounds. Itâs a good choice if youâre ok with FM.
If youâre into synthesis and OK with mono voices, the Syntakt offers a very fast way to program drums and melodies. A bit more expensive though.
But if youâre into synthesis and have the money, DNII is IMO the most complete and capable Elektron there is right now, as long as you donât need sample. It makes it possible to escape the DN tone, and programming sounds is a good balance between fast and deep.
Itâs become my desert island synth.
Wait for the Tonverk.
I went by price. Back in January a Model:Samples was the cheapest thing I could get with that âfabledâ sequencer so I got that. Convinced me of the workflow so later when the DT2 came out I snagged an OG DT for cheap and sent the Model:Samples on to a friend. So my vote would be to get the cheapest thing that has the sequencer, play with that, then decide. 
Iâd get a used Syntakt, if samples or polyphony arenât that important to you. Youâll get a nice range of FM and analog sounds, twelve tracks and some of the sequencer features that only the latest Elektrons have (like Euclidean). Watch the Cuckoo tutorial on DN, which will teach you all you need to know about Elektron workflow (if he has one on ST, watch that one).
Iâm saying this as someone who started with an OG DN using mostly presets and learned to love the Elektron workflow fast this way. That being said, I soon got an OG DT because four tracks on DN were not enough for me if I wanted to add drums. If I started today with DN II, Iâd probably have stopped buying gear there. But Iâm a bit afraid that DN II might be a bit complex to start out and learn the Elektron workflow, because it has so many features and sub pages now. If you go that route, you should probably restrict yourself to only learning/using some functions at a time and try to limit yourself to 8 tracks at a time.
The one thing I learned over time about myself is that starting out buying cheaper gear to âtest the watersâ almost always ended with selling it to buy the proper gear I always thought was too expensive. As such, I could go the route some are suggesting here and +1 a DN I or DT I or even a Model. But then again, you will fall in love, start seeing the glaring limitations that are now there when compared to the Mk2-s.
Do yourself a solid and buy the DTII (if you donât know which one) or the DNII if youâre more into synthesis. Or be like me and buy both :P.
I would buy a used Digitone to try it out. Will not lose resale value at all and is very capable companion to DAW.
Digitone if you want a synth or Digitakt if you want a sampler. Pretty much the logical conclusion based on price and more importantly, value.
I see no value in the Models with second hand Digitakt/Digitone prices where they are. So much more machine with the latter for very little extra dough.
I would say, based on my experience:
If you want something to be a module or a pet for your daw an analog 4 cannot be beaten. Best synth ever IMO. Can be used to process your daw audio Ă lĂĄ filter bank even.
If you want an alternative to your daw, stand alone with lots of possibilities and no compromises, Digitakt + Digitone. If money is not a concern, the mark 2s, those are state of the art.
If you want to take your work on the daw into a performance, next level hands on experience, export your stems and get an Octatrack.
If you just want a groovebox to use on the couch or dinner table, away from the computer, to start ideas to be further developed later on the daw, it can be any of the Digi boxes. It doesnât matter. All are superb on their own and neither can do it all.
Been reading this again. These genres seem to be suited for OG DT (if youâre okay with samples), maybe also DN. If you donât want to leave Logic altogether, theyâre perfect, because you can use Overbridge when itâs time to bring your compositions into the DAW. Prices for OG DT and DN are probably at their lowest right now and theyâre still extremely powerful boxes. Plus thereâs lots of tutorials available for them, so it will be easy to learn them.
Agree with @shigginpit If itâs a synth youâre after Digitone all the way. It can do all sorts, leads, pads, basses and percussion. Youâll love it for pop stuff, itâs got sweet spot for that all over the place. Second hand MK1âs are readily available and for good money too. Plus you get 4x channels of external midi sequencing too
AhhhâŚthe Trifecta!