The sky is the limit when working with samples in general, I agree. However that is not on offer with the DTII, which is a very limiting machine when compared to granular synthesis engines or to other advanced sample techniques a la Madrona Labs Sumu for example. Even convolution reverb is a method of working with samples (IRs) to create/support sound in a creative way. Wavetable synthesis is sample based too.
The DTII’s machines are deliberately very constrained and designed workflows for manipulating a sample that I argue are not comparable to granulars that the OP does have, use, and enjoy. If you compare DTII to a fully fledged granular synth, the DTII is really weak. One can see the strength of the DTII if you look at its evolution from the more drum-oriented (short samples, mono) DT, which is not the same family of instrument as granular but has a distinct lineage and set of normal workflows (that it expands), and then from there take a look at its sequencing power and other abilities to play with other instruments, also the immediacy of accepting those limited machines.
i have some sumu samples in my DT2 however this is resynthesis , i don’t think we will ever see that kind of engine in DT2, however i have good hope for granular.
Record stems in ableton? If we follow the chain of this question does that mean I’m a sample guy if I save my shot to an mp3 too? What the hell are you on about it
Tempera is indeed great and give me quick result in term of “sound design”
got it less than a month ago (around 4 month for the DTII) but already feeling comfortable with it, mainly sequencing it with the DNII (but there also a customizable inboard keyboard for those for interested in)
I found Tempera quick and easy to use, same for Intellijel Multigrain the sound quality is just blowing my mind from glitchy percs to infinite timestretch it always sounds good and i can build banks of sound in short time. While on the DTII plocking every step is tedious for me. I’ve managed to build granular stuff with it but it not felt to do this. it’s kind of a vanilla sampler (no offense), no fun feature sorry but no polyphony, grid, repitch and a bad timestretch aren’t what i was expected.
I will keep this synth it’s great for one shot samples and background foleys or field recs but I’m sure I still need more time to interact with it and found a way to mangle sounds with it more interesting than play samples on it
@alexlabrioche Yeah I really feel you, it is vanilla. It’s found a place in my workflow similar to what you describe, which for me is almost like a utility, and quite simple. It’s funny, I jumped in here to maybe offer or +1 to some suggestions re: how to find special use for the DTII, but I think I’m in agreement and reminded of how much I questioned the device myself when I got it.
Given that all my granular and advanced sample work is ITB at the moment the DTII is a good stable solution for arranging and playing recorded sound, even manupulating it on the fly in some vanilla ways, in live settings when I don’t want to use a computer and/or don’t need to perform deep modulations live. So yeah it’s like a simple utility. But a really expensive one. Sunk cost though for me.
Have you used the OT? It’s been some years since I’ve worked with mine (it’s in storage) but I found it deeper, also better for the use cases you’re describing now re/playback, though still not in granular territory. Please excuse if that was already asked in thread.
I don’t think it should be called vanilla and then say you need more time to find interesting ways to use it.
Personally, I don’t think it’s vanilla at all and there are a load of creative ways to use it and it has its own stamp on how to do things. It would be if I only played one shots back.
This sounds like a case of not having explored it enough or trying to push it.
I don’t believe in trying to find reasons to like something. Everyone likes the op-1f, I bought it and didn’t, returned it. Most of the time, you can say pretty quickly if something is captivating (not merely ‘useful’).
Sounds to me like an impulse buy by association, I’ve been there - you love a device so much that another by the same company must be great too - but it’s not a logic that applies to devices. I would sell it, Elektron will release things in the future. It is quite some money for something that you may always see as a glass half empty.
Sometimes the brain is tricky and lazy. If it has to learn a new way of doing things or a new logic, it will have a tendency to quit or deviate the problem. Not anything can be an instant gratification. Even if we have more tools, shortcuts and live in a clickbait world, this doesn’t mean that you don’t have to put the effort to succeed. Learning music or learning an instrument deeply is hard.
There is a real joy at succeeding to something that gets us out of our comfort zone.
Well … take a nice long sample of whatever you like. Then put it in slice mode. Put down a set of random trigs, and randomize the slice locks. For me a great way to come up with new ideas.
however this is resynthesis , i don’t think we will ever see that kind of engine in DT2, however i have good hope for granular.
