Introducing Digitakt

News
#1805

With that Digitakt on the front page, I am hoping a nice web-based interactive demo will appear there, like with the Rytm, Heat, and Keys that are there now, but I think it’s a timing thing, where the Digitakt got shown based on the newness of the hardware, and then the next reveal will be once everything else is locked-in.

I also get a sense another project will be announced soon, not like how Heat led directly to Drive, but maybe it will be time to announce the newer large box. A digital drum sample machine sounds so awesome to me, especially with powerful MIDI sequencing and some way to record samples–but it does seem like Elektron is trying to branch out and do a lot this year. (Reading through everything, my sense is that everyone at Elektron wants to make it clear they are still doing a bunch of different projects and understand that smaller boxes will appeal to some, especially in a modular sense, and that others will jump for joy for an Oct2 or another larger unit. [I’m convinced that an Oct2 with Overbridge is a brilliant idea, but I don’t work for Elektron and I’m sure I’m just hoping they share my enthusiasm!])

#1806

Haven’t used overbridge yet but I guess all future Elektron boxes will have it. Hope that doesn’t mean an end to separate outputs tho. Shame to see only L/R on Digitakt. Not everyone wants to go via a computer to run separate tracks through pedals etc. Especially for shows…

1 Like
#1807

My guess is that Digitakt will have more outputs through OB, like others have guessed, and I agree that separate outputs are part of what makes a hardware instrument a great standalone device. For live or for composing/having fun, needing a computer or DAW would never feel like an improvement to me, since I’d say Elektron stands out for making hardware that is powerful on its own.

Since it looks like Digitakt was mostly about being a solid and new hardware design with beatmaking potential but also affordable, maybe additional outputs were sacrificed for size and cost. (I am still a little surprised about the idea of mono too, where that seems like a decision that was either made to cut the price or because something else is being planned. Maybe there will be a massive performance mixer called the DigiOverHeater, but probably not.)

#1808

the key missing device here would be some sort of Overbridge hub device, like the Roland Aira mixer… multiple USB inputs for elektron boxes, that syncs them all together and also makes all individual track audio ouputs available…

as to what form that would take who knows… could be a mixer, a simple rackmount IO interface, or perhaps even some kind of FX based mixer people have been wanting for a while now… and I suspect such a device would provide multiple audio outputs on 1/4, maybe even 3 or 4 pairs of stereo outs

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#1809

Yeah that would be a solution but tbh I don’t really want to be forced to buy an extra box/mixer just to get separate outputs (without computer). It would start to feel very ‘Apple’ to me. More cables/psu/expense/desk space just to get old functionality that has been around on hardware for years. Just put physical outputs on the unit like other companies :wink: I can vaguely see it being justified on these basic cheaper units like Digitakt. But for something like an OT2 i’d be bummed to not have separate outs. It’s the main reason I bought AK over A4.

4 Likes
#1810

I don’t think DT is the product for them.
So far DT has been promoted for its “immediacy”, a feature that usually requires hands-on realtime attentiveness.

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#1811

I think a bunch of folks are still in shock and not able to compute that this device won’t do nearly as much as the “big” boxes… Might take some more time and maybe even it’s release for this to sink in😉…

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#1812

My Brother got a minilogue yesterday and it struck me what a great companion it would be for the Digitakt, 2 little black boxes for some serious fun!
I’ll plant that seed when I see him next!

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#1813

I resolded my old gear to pay me the digitak

#1814

che ck
https://media.giphy.com/media/1DKHVNCuypAZi/giphy.gif

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#1815

well the digitakt only has 1 stereo pair, so its already a done deal… however the box is cheaper, almost 1/2 the price of previous boxes - so maybe the plan is to have the functionality split between various devices rather than all invested in one place, and just make everything more affordable overall so you have more choice at that granular level

it just depends on what direction they plan on going, and honestly that seems like the best move because 500-600 is the sweet spot for electronic music gear and they would sell more products that way

if the digitakt is an omen of whats to come, then its quite logical that such an extra box for audio outs and all that would exist - especially because it could theoretically offer MORE functionality than in the past due to the kinds of integration via overbridge (i.e. routable individual tracks/fx layers/mixing scenes/automation/etc)

of course, this is all speculation based on the idea that overbridge is intended primarily for hardware use rather than a computer solution… which is as of yet just a guess

1 Like
#1816

Don’t really know what their plan is either but I know I’d way rather have an OT2 with a decent analog distortion (even if only one circuit) built in and separate outs than have OT2 + AH + Overbridge unit. Obvs YMMV but If the plan is to incline everyone buy every box because of intentional limitations/compromises on each unit then my wallet/deskspace/workflow is gonna struggle to get onboard. The MPC live has hopefully shook things up a little re bang for buck tho and Elektron will bust out some classic boxes again at some point that are overflowing with functionality/features/innovation like OT/AK etc…

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#1817

If overbridge became alive on new hardware without a computer, I think i’d actually use it! As of now I like the idea and even want to use it but don’t because I dont want to bring a computer/interface/etc… to gigs…

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#1818

unfortunately Im not sure you speak for the mass market in general - who generally tend to opt for buying more things when they are less expensive

sure, it would be great to have an OT2 with all kinds of awesome new tech, and Im also sure it would be well worth the 1400 price… but is that the most profitable decision for elektron? it seems like they are branching out in terms of affordability, possibly to test a new strategy, or just to expand the lineup

I tend to doubt they will abandon making higher priced flagship boxes altogether, but you never know… certainly analog heat and digitakt are in a different category than what has come before… im just looking at those trends and trying to speculate according to that rather than what I personally would like to see happen

2 Likes
#1820

Well i was very interested in thé digitakt first, but i think no more at all. My only elektronautst is ld uw, because they sort of cramé all that they can in it. Sampler, mixing audio in, midi seq, multi audio out, effect box… I cannot stand thé way they take since thé analog, crippling their products from things that they know very Well. I certainy would have all thé elek if it wasnt thé case. But cant stand to bé taken as à dumb. No thanks again. I imagine most people dont even knoW how thé silver machines were wonderful’ against thé new one.
No song mode?? No compressor?? Mono samples?? And what again??

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#1821

For the moment, no sound. :grin:

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#1822

Well its a sampler no??

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#1823

[quote=“LFO, post:1820, topic:35326, full:true”]I certainy would have all thé elek if it wasnt thé case.
[/quote]

You would buy all of the elektron boxes if they could all do everything?

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#1824

No twice the cost.
And in my opinion the Analogs are the most advanced “crippled” gear on the market. They certainly do the opposite of crippling my music…

3 Likes
#1825

Is it just me or did Elektron take the Digitakt off their homepage? I don’t see it in their lineup either. If I’m missing it let me know.