Made this one on my dining table last night.
I love this little box so much.
Using the delay at very short timings, (1, or 2) has been my jam lately for that phased sound.
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I’ve had a Rytm since they first came out but recently swapped it for a Model:Samples and couldn’t be happier. While the Rytm is capable of way more than the M:S if you’re into sitting down and programming it, I felt like I endlessly tweaked things simply because I could (and should because it is capable of so much). The M:S imposes useful limitations and mostly eliminates menus. It’s simple, it’s fun, and I’m knocking out ideas quickly.
For me, the price point comes into play too. With the Rytm I always felt like I had to maximize on the investment because it costs a lot. I felt like if I was just using it as a “dumb” drum machine, I wasn’t fully utilizing it, and in a way throwing away the investment. M:S, on the other hand, is relatively inexpensive, and I feel like anything I can creatively work out within the confines of its limitations instantly makes me forget about its cost. Odd maybe, but a reality for me.
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I feel the same when I use too expensive / too complex hardware.
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Cool! I’ve been thinking of a companion down the line for my recently bought Digitakt. Maybe a small synth but the MS looks neat too, having the drums there and all 8 tracks for melodic/whatever samples on the DT. Hmm!
Could you elaborate on why it makes you so much more productive compared to a digitakt or other machines for example ? Or is it something not that tangible and it just works for you ?
I tried a model:samples recently and returned it because it made me miss my digitakt more than anything, that’s why I’m asking.
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Lots of things. But here are the top 3 overall:
#1 the knobby, less menu’d interface.
This lets me get around fast and also puts all (most) of the parameters of a track on one page. I can tweak decay and start point and filter at the same time.
I can be inspired to go after a section of the sample voice because it is staring at me, not because I have to think about it.
It’s more than just “immediacy”. It’s instant access and keeping those parameters’ possibilities in your mind all the time.
Changing LFO speed in real-time to make my filter modulation give the hook a different vibe… that’s nothing I would have done nearly as much before on A4 or Rytm, etc.
#2 limitations,
“Your mission, should you choose to accept it: make a track in 30 minutes with 6 samples, filters, delay, reverb, and not much else”
This is the job, this is the tool. Having these details already set in stone means I have to focus on core things to make a good track:
Composition (sequencing), sample selection, sample manipulation.
I am not distracted with anything else.
Ready? Set? Go!
There is no attack, there will be no attack parameter available. How will you overcome it?
Use the lfo as an envelope, p-lock start point, lfo the filter and adjust start phase. Lots of ways to overcome this limitation and these “alleys” I have to traverse to reach my destination of simple “slow attack” become new spaces to be creative inside.
Often times I will get it done with 5 tracks and can use the 6th track as a variation of the main hook.
I do whole tunes in one pattern due to (lack of) kit implementation. I am okay with this, because it just forces me to create within that limitation as well. Make that one pattern as complex as possible and cleverly constructed with mutes, fills, parameter tweaks, conditionals, etc.
#3 feature implementation.
One knob HPF/LPF. Not a multi mode, not a band pass, not a base-width. The only Elektron with this filter scheme at the moment. Simple. Powerful.
Simple Reverb parameters. Reverb tone on one knob, something else/new to be creative with during breakdowns.
576 sample slots per project! No more managing the slot list, less use of chains as a means to an end (having lots of samples to work with)
Again, an Elektron first.
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I must say, if I didn’t try it that would have sold it to me.
Personnally going from the digitakt to the M:S was a bad experience because everything is so familiar that’s it’s hard not to compare the two. It’s a solid machine that I would definitely recommend but I much prefer the digitakt workflow.
On the digitakt everything is at the same level interface wise (which can be seen as a drawback for some), while the M:S you have the hands-on knobs, and other functionnality are hard(er) to reach. Like LFO destinations off the top-of-my-head. None of this was a dealbreaker though but what convinced me to return it was the lack of sample slot lfo modulation (which makes sense for the machine but it was my number 1 trick on the DT).
I agree on the sample slot argument though, that was one of the most stressful thing about the digitakt having to choose your sample pool without even being set on what you want to do is a hassle (even if I never filled my sample slots it’s still a damocles sword hanging over your head).
Anyway, glad you find your match in this machine, hope that something resonates with me as much. On the plus side I have now M:S money alredy saved in case the announced box is a must have.
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Hold LFO button, turn a parameter knob.
There, you just set the destination to that parameter. Turn it more and you are adjusting the depth.
Sample chains could overcome your slot modulation desires, but it does take some prep.
I get it though, it’s not for every single one of us, and probably less ideal for lovers of the Digitakt.
I loved the Rytm but disliked the Digitakt. We’ve all got our own preferences.
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I just got a MS and I really like it. I love the Digitakt but found with my current rig it was a bit of overkill and My flow was working better without it… but I couldn’t get over the sound control and fun of I was missing . The MS fits perfectly in my rig now instead of the Digitakt.
It has the most important features; the sound the P lock the effects the trig conditions the sample lock. And everything is just right there an immediate it’s so fun to use.
I think it’s not a fair comparison that people keep forcing the MS vs Digitakt. If it’s the MS verse anything non Elektron, it’s so much more powerful sounds better and just fun to use compared to almost anything anyone else is making.
If you just want a drum machine the MS is all the best of the Digitakt without all the extras that I found I wasn’t even really using, but in a more immediate jam focuses work flow.
I got tired of ever piece of gear being so deep and not immediate so for me it’s been a blast to use the MS.
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Well, that is stupidly simple, I stand corrected on this ! 
About sample chain I’m aware of that workaround but I’m also pretty lazy in that regard though.
With time, my taste in machines is getting more and more narrow as I know exactly what I’m looking for, which is in turn, good for my wallet. At some point I’m hoping to design my own machine so that people can complain about my own design choices, haha
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Loved this! A perfect rebuttal to the “toy” epithet that some lazily throw at the M:S.
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I was a big fan of the samples since the day it was announced. I’ve owned all their boxes, and I love this as much as any of them. It’s so immediate and fast to work with. What’s not to like?
I had no idea Karenn used one! Salz is one of my favorite tracks. Grapefruit Regret is a great album!
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Mind. Blown - This is a handy shortcut! Thanks for sharing (and I really should RTFM).
Another shortcut, (well, behavior, really). This one a bit more odd…
Just HOLD the track pads down to mute as a momentary mute. Instead of FUNC+Track
It stops the note off command and fakes a mute.
Timing’s gotta be good though 
, as you’ll see.
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Does it play the sample locked samples on the track though ? And only mute the sample that’s assigned to the track.
The LFO section as a whole is killer on the whitey.
Nope. 
It was doing something weird on one of my tracks last nite when I was doing it but I didn’t have time to figure it out. One of my tracks when I muted it that way was still triggering something else
That’s how I always create open and closed hh sounds on the OT.
What do you think of the EHX compressor? I’ve been thinking about the OTO BOUM for a while and this possibly looks like a cheaper alternative
I think it is a great value for a compressor/limiter to dedicate to a drum machine such as MS (if just using it for drums) or Volca Drum.
Lots of options for dynamic control and a little bit of a vibe too.
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