Pure fun
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Is the MIDI clock sync between the DT and ST stable enough to distribute drum sounds over both devices? Because of the common sync issues I normally prefer to use only one device for drums. But in this case that would be stupid. 
Btw, what is your sync master, DT or ST? And do you route the audio from DT to ST or vice versa?
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Yes itās absolutely tight, which Iād expect at this price point 
I run a synth (Kawai k1 or Microfreak) into Syntakt for the FX block, and then ST into Digitakt, which gives me sampling flexibility and the DT compressor at the end of chain. Very flexible setup and I donāt feel myself wanting for anything elseā¦ tho an Octatrack as a performance mixer and mangler has crossed my mind!
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Iāve used either as master and used either as sound routing destination. Both work pretty well if configured to receive transport start/stop, and it depends whether you want to use the FX block to warm up the DT or the DTās compressor to squash the ST. My gut inclination is to use the DT as midi master since I am more likely to use it to sequence other devices than I am the ST.
I wish the DNās chorus was in either device, but oh well. Not the end of the world for drum duties.
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DT/DN/ST trio here.
Why? Because I love the unified workflows and sequencers of all three, but also love the unique sound generations available on each. Powerful sample-based mixed with powerful polyphonic FM mixed with powerful analog/digital machines gives me most all of what I need for electronic music with the same sequencer and most workflows that I only needed to learn once.
Keeps my brain clean and focused.
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Because I canāt afford a Syntakt! I do want to have all three one day AND the +FX, but I aināt got that kinda money right meow.
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No, but if i could only have one, it would be.
Sorry to hear about the medical expenses btwā¦ how you will figure it out somehow.
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Yes it is (second one). I used to have a Digitone but I found that sofware FM synths could produce the same sounds and that I could sequence them from DT so I didnāt need the built in sequencer of the DN. I also had the AH I have replaced it by volcano/saturn plugins on the iPad. DT 8 audio tracks and 8 midi tracks is what make it really powerful for me vs other digi.
I find that DT + iPad is really powerful and all I need at this stage of my hobbyist producer life.
However before it is discontinued I will definitely buy an Octatrack because it is really amazing with the looper/live possibilities, and also maybe later an AH again for live performance (more stable than an iPad I think).
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Which iPad FM synths were your Digitone killers?
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Iād owned vintage MD SPS-1 in 2018-2019 before I bought DT.
MD introduced me to 3,14-locking, but only 32 steps in a pattern, no microtiming, no triplets and (the worst!) no āsave projectā button were dealbreakers for me. Also wasnāt into its sounds too much (great synth drums, but seems like I prefer working with acoustic drum samples, at least at the moment).
Songmod was a little bit overcomplicated for me at that time, but had some extra features I wish DT would have had. AFAIR it was possible to choose start row playback not only from the step 1 of sequence in song mod (e.g. it was possible to loop say steps 28-32 without making extra sequence for breaks). Great for fills, saves place.
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Not as fun as Digitone but for fm synths I use Ableton operator or NI FM8 that I resample within the DT so yes I also use a laptop sometimes (also for final mix and arrangement). On the iPad I use simple synths (currently BA-1, Model D and Twin 3) easily mappables to DT.
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The Digitakt, Digitone, the Analog Four mk2 are on my never sell list, but if I could only keep one it would be the Digitakt. Aside from being a really fast and fun groovebox sampler, itās a fast audio interface (2ms in FL Studio) and I can process its audio with plugins without getting a feedback loop (unlike the A4), and an amazing midi controller.
I love that it has 8 dedicated midi tracks that are all accessible without having to switch to a midi mode. Being able to use the mute buttons to control stuff in a DAW, while being able to mute/unmute and select the internal audio tracks is such a useful thing. For example, I always use my midi track H button disables the master FX plugins in my DAW so I can easily compare the dry vs wet signal, and the 8 controls on that track is assigned to the 8 most tweaked parameters across my master FX plugins.
Iāve used the midi tracks to mute/unmute the Digitone (while the Digitone sequences itself) to keep all the mute buttons close together. But if the Digitakt is my only Elektron box, I can still sequence plugins with it. Or if I want to use the piano roll in my DAW, I can still assign those plugins to the Digitakt so I can mute them from there. That last bit lets me use FL Studioās piano roll to make stuff thatād be hard to do on the Digitaktās step sequencer, but still keep the spontaneity of muting and unmuting live.
I havenāt made a template for it yet, but once I used the midi tracks to toggle FX plugins on and off in a (successful) attempt to stave off GAS for an SP404. One track would toggle a lo-fitape FX, another would toggle freeze delay, another would turn on beat repeat, etc.
Again, all of this is without having to switch to a midi mode. The entire bottom row is just there, waiting to be assigned. Itās amazing.
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Iāve always wondered whether you work (compose, arrange, etc) with your DAW master effects enabled. Sounds like you do, at least some of the time?
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If Iām using my Digitakt at my desk, then I usually run it through my plugins. Itās nice being able to swap between the DTās dry signal and the processed signal with the trig 16 button. But I often use my Elektron instruments in the living room, and have used the DT or DN on the train a few times too. Those times I donāt use plugins. I try to make the mix sound as good as possible without plugins, though!
That said, when I actually record my tracks, I use plugins. I record the dry signal but listen through the processed signal, which allows me to go back to previous track and āremasterā the dry stereo recordings if I change my mind about the plugin settings.
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No (also own DN), but itās the only one I currently use in my setup.
Why? Because itās very versatile, creative, fun to use and sounds good. But also because using two Elektron sequencers together felt a bit confusing to me, so I prefer to combine it with different sequencers, which also consequently expands the possibilities instead of duplicating them. DT is a centerpiece and covers most of sequencing and sounds.
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Iād be curious to learn more about ways to get a pseudo-octatrack out of this setup.
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Me too. I think in combination with Drambo it could be done but I am not a specialist or Drambo yetā¦ @echo_opera is the specialist
a little bit off topic so more details below
I have found this page that provides some info for this:
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First post! I bought my first piece of hardware about 6 months ago. Started with Model Samples, then 2 months after that bought Model Cycles and 2 days ago bought a Digitakt. In theory, Iām done buying as I should be all setā¦ but we all know thatās a lie.
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