I read a post from a couple years ago regarding the Digitakt and the 8 available MIDI tracks. In it someoned indicated that when sequencing external gear on one of these tracks, every note had to be the same length as well as some other limitations where every note was same velocity etc.
I’m wondering if this is still true or if it has since been updated via software/firmware to allow for my complex external sequencing?
I was thinking about selling my M:S and M:C for a Digitakt to use instead with my Sub Phatty and Mother 32. I’m losing 4 audio tracks moving to a single device but unlike the Models, the Digitakt has the 8 MIDI channel separated from the audio tracks so overall it isn’t as lacking as it sound to me.
My biggest concern though before I even try and ponder this further is whether or not the external MIDI track sequencing has been improved or not.
don’t think either of those has ever been the case tbh (if it was it was before i had one anyway!) you can set note length, velocity, patch, and all CCs per step.
it can be a bit fiddly to program if you’re not recording MIDI from a keyboard I guess, but totally possible to step program everything.
I think the misinterpretation is that if you’re programming in midi notes using the DT trig buttons in step mode, yes these will all have the same velocity and length by default. Whatever the tracks Trig settings are set to. You can adjust these after the fact.
The Trig buttons are not velocity sensitive but you can live record in longer notes. The best way to capture both velocity and length is by using an external midi controller as mentioned above.
Ah okay that makes a lot more sense. That is exactly how the Models work and what I would have expected. I can just use live record mode then with a MIDI keyboard to do more complex input without having to do the editing on the trigs afterwards if I want. Because I assume that would pick up all velocity and gate when in live record.
Thanks this clarifies what was being discussed a lot and is not a concern at all then.
I’ve always found the Digitakt to be a wonderful MIDI sequencer, that’s half the reason I bought it. If you have a keyboard then velocity, track length etc is picked up, and if you want to edit those after the fact parameter locks makes that really simple. Programming internally is intuitive as well.
Some claim that four note polyphony is a limitation, but personally I don’t find myself playing chords with five or more notes. Scale settings also let you get a lot out of 64 steps. At the moment I‘m sequencing two hardware synths, a soft synth, and sending CC values to a few of my plugins. Very fun.
The one leg up the models have is the track buttons (T1-6) ARE velocity sensitive whereas the DT is not. So you can live record with velocity on the models units and record velocity.
If you prefer step record mode and aren’t a good live player but still want to record velocity and different notes check this out:
While in step mode and with a midi keyboard attached, press and hold the step Trig you want to record to and while keeping it held down, press the note on the midi keyboard you want it to be. It’ll record in the note and velocity (if the keyboard is velocity sensitive). Unfortunately you can’t send length this way but at least you can get note and velocity.
The polyphony isn’t actually a concern at least currently as I’d be using it to control 2 mono synths (which makes the mono sampling convenient). The only stuff on my radar would be more mono stuff like the Mother 32 (DFAM, Subharmonicon) or maybe a Minilogue XD rack for pads if it was dirt cheap (which only has 4 voices). So I think this shouldn’t be a limitation for me.
They are velocity sensitive but holy hell both the Cycles and Samples buttons are stiff as hell. You have to really hit them hard to get a high velocity note. I do find myself mostly doing step recording and just editing velocity as needed
I never even thought to do this for the note entry on the Models that is brilliant thank you. That would be way faster than spinning the knob for every note change. I can’t believe it even records that velocity, that is actually amazing and again going to be way faster.
Ugh and as if to tempt me I just found out Perfect Circuit has a code right now which makes the Digitakt $675 USD shipped. Recent Reverb used sales show most are selling $600-650. Is this a pretty good deal for new Digitakt or do better ones come up?
The velocity/length limitations are per step, not per track. This means it is only possible to trigger a chord with all 4 notes playing the same length and velocity. I haven’t really found this to be a problem for my composition style
The only thing I have found limiting with the MIDI tracks is the inability to P-Lock LFO changes to rhythmically sequence CC values
Thanks for all feedback guys and putting any doubt I had at ease. I made up my mind earlier and weirdly I was able to sell both Models in a couple hours, only to see Perfect Circuit sold out while I was debating. Decided to check Reverb again and some one in my state had listed a used one literally 2 mins before, so ended up paying even less than PC. The used market on these has been really sparse lately so I’m really surprised I got one at a good price.
Dang I’ve had my DT since basically they came out and explored tons of quirky ways of doing things, and somehow never knew this. Very helpful tidbit, thanks!
If you are familiar with the Models already, I imagine there wont’ be that much research to do. A lot of the main functionality you’ll probably pick up super fast. It’s not that complicated of a machine, just a little deeper than the Models from what I can tell (have never used them but watched vids). Where it gets fun is exploring all the “little things” or workarounds that can be done for various purposes. Tons of creative discussion about that stuff on here. I imagine the DT might feel slightly less immediate than the Models? Probably will feel like there’s a little more programmerish aspect to it, with its deeper parameters and page jumping. But it’s still pretty intuitive and quick to get stuff done.
I guess your original concerns have already been addressed. Personally I think the DT is great for mono sequencing (single note or rhythmic triggers) or CC parameter sequencing. As others have clarified it can definitely have different length & velocity levels per step. Chords can be a little finicky when live recording because of the way it treats chords, they are essentially just one trigger with “stacked” additional notes on the same trigger, kind of hard to explain, but since they are clumped like that you don’t really have precise control over the extra notes in the chord, only the main trigger, and what notes the extra notes are, but not things like microtiming or velocity of each individual note for example. And manually programming them is a little tedious, but none of that is a huge deal for me considering everything else that it does so well.
Agree. Digitakt is a MIDI beast. I currently have it running into a Kenton Thru-5 clocking and automating all my other gear. I sometimes forget it’s actually a sick drum machine.
I am weighing in here with an alternative point of view. For my style of composition and playing the DT sequencer just didn’t cut it. 4 note polyphony I could put up with, but as others have mentioned the chords had to be the same velocity, length etc. I tend to real-time record and even unquantized the timings and velocities just wouldn’t record as I played them. Also it didn’t record mod wheel or any CC controller from my synths. If you step record and use the DT for recording all CC then this wouldn’t be a problem, but for me it was so I sold the DT and bought the MPC Live. There are things the DT is better for, but the MPC is so much better for real time sequencing, all in my opinion of course.
