Don’t be like me. I bought a DT2 last week and just ordered a DN2 today . I even paid $30 to get it by tomorrow. I never do that. Ever.
The reality is I’ve gotten further in a few days with DT2 than I was in decades on Maschine, MPC, 404. Obviously the journey helped but the workflow is just very quick and simple. It’s like everything about it was designed for how I need to work.
DN2 receives breath control ccs so I can’t wait to plug my Aerophone in and go nuts. Also look forward to using DN2 to sequence my l gawdy software synth collection.
I had decided to go ITB for the New Year until catching a deal on a $640 DT2 still new in the box. Now I’m all in. I’m stopping here tho. Perhaps a Syntakt II if it exists at some point but that’ll be years off for me. Logic, DT2/DN2 and my synth collection is it for the forseeable future.
Highly recommend following this member/thread to Noobs like me. Absolute wizard with these boxes. A guy named XNB on YouTube has also been very helpful and inspiring.
I’d also encourage you to just go for DN2 and spend time with it.
As mentioned earlier, there soo many choices nowadays that you might spend a lot of time doing research and try other gear.
I came from Ableton, then went the Volca route, added a Monologue, mixer,… and some years ago finally ended up with only DT and DN (I have both the desktop and keys version) - and I didn’t change my setup since. Apart from adding an AH later.
Digitone is such a great synth and keeps giving after years still. Well and DN2 is just absolute bonkers.
Maybe add a DT (1 or 2) sometime later.
And maybe an AH if you want compression, saturation, an analogue filter and overall signal boost.
Can’t help that much, but I’m on a quest for the Holy Trinity (Digitone II, Syntakt, Digitakt II). It must be done. …but man, that Analog Four’s looking tasty, listen to that thing…God, that GAS will be the end of me!
Okay, anyway…I went for Digitone II and the Syntakt first. Thought it would kind of cover the spectrum via analog and FM synth. I prefer generating tones over using samples. I’m just a simple hobbyist, so sound and effects-wise my base is covered.
Octatrack mk2 (still own)
Digitone 2 (still own)
Syntakt (still own)
DT1 (my first Elektron that got me hooked on the workflow. Sold after a few months of owning the OT)
Model:Cycles (fucking awesome, underrated box, but sold after I got the ST)
Analog 4 (Sounded amazing, but for whatever reason I found it tedious to work with)
Definitely DO NOT start with the OT as your first Elektron. It’s incredible, versatile, crazy and I love it more than I can say, but it’s a whole other world and I wouldn’t recommend starting there.
Personally, I’d go DN2, followed by DT2, followed by ST. The DN2 and DT2 are the ‘latest and greatest’ of the new Elektron workflow and it’s awesome. Follow your gut and grab that DN2.
The easiest intro to Elektron to me would be the Syntakt. Sounds awesome, covers a ton of things and is the easiest to come to grips with, though new tricks can be discovered for a very long time. @DaveMech has incredible tutorials for that. With that said, if I could only keep the ST or the DN2, the DN2 would win. It’s just got a bit more of a learning curve.
I owned the original Digitone for a bit, but the track and voice limitations pushed me to sell it. I’ve had the Digitone II for about a month and it’s basically everything I wanted the original to be and more. Also owned the original Digitakt and loved it for a while. Then after using an MPC one, I quickly fell out of love with it and its limitations. While I’m sure Digitakt II is an improvement, but some of the same limitations remain.
i wouldn’t start with an OT mostly because of the somewhat steep learning curve and age of the machine. you would probably find it more rewarding to learn how to use the DN2 and then once you have mastered it, start to think what you should get next to accompany the machines you have. you could find yourself not needing something like an OT at all or maybe you will, your journey will tell you what your needs are
welcome onboard
I think these two are misleading points. If you knew you were into sampling and you wanted to mess about with live recordings, OT would be the way to go, regardless whether you’re new to Elektron’s sequencer or not.
An OT is harder to use than a Model:Samples or Cycles, sure, but that’s mainly because it does so much more, is highly configurable, but has a cramped UI due to hardware constraints. There’s a learning curve, but it’s mostly about learning what to turn off, on, or ignore, to get the behavior you’re after, and learning how to read the manual. The learning curve is no steeper than learning a DAW or one of the weirder wave editors like DSP Quattro or Adobe Audition.
Anyway, I agree with your general point that the OT probably isn’t the right device for @Tuj97 to get first. They seem more a synth person and a “player of notes”.
. I even paid $30 to get it by tomorrow. I never do that. Ever.