Sounds better enough to warrant the cost at least, if not more.
Whilst it might not have all the bells and whistles that Elektron products come with, it doesn’t really need them either. After all you are buying an instrument and not a spec sheet.
8 Likes
MK2 still no microtiming.
I have the AR and an Alpha Base. What’s something you’re doing on the AR that you would like to know if it can be done on the Alpha Base?
Sounds like something I would definitely like to hear and try! Will wait for the mk2 version
I don’t have AR (maybe ill buy it) but i do have ST, DN and OTmk2. I had MDuw and Mnm so im familiar with the elektron workflow.
What i like about the workflow are endless encoders, overbridge for simultaneous and separate recording of all channels, conditional trigs, probabilities, parameter lock, preset locks, micro timing, song mode, midi out control, control all, mute modes, copy/paste anything, different track lengths, randomize… 
…does Alphabase have these features?
Sound wise, I think the alpha base is more or less peerless.
6 Likes
Agreed. The Alpha Base just sounds so incredible. I love drum machines and the Alpha Base’s sonics reign supreme. It really opened up for me once I handed sequencing to the Hapax. A match made in heaven 
2 Likes
When I had my Alpha Base I found I really grew to resent the user interface.
My main gripes were:
-
I hated the loose nature of the knobs that seem to require a million turns to get the full range of the parameter.
-
the abbreviations of parameters on the basic lcd display are really unclear what is being adjusted
-
I found general workflow to be a real pain in the ass
Granted it does sound amazing when you get it right, but it also has this kind of bouncy comedic sound to me, that I struggled to get away from. I think that’s mostly down to the kick.
Ultimately I sold mine, and replaced it with a machine drum and couldn’t be happier.
Do none of you feel the same?
Im surprised there’s so many people that aren’t mentioning these points.
I think Jürgen would really benefit from partnering with someone with top notch user interface and user experience skills who can do the panel and software interface design for him, and leave him to concentrate on the sounds and dsp side of things.
This would be a real winning combination imo
6 Likes
This is crazy! Is this still the case?!
Also, ive read a lot about awful costumer service of Jomox.
Have things changed?
1 Like
I loaded up some [kb6] kick samples of the Airbase to see what the hubbub was about, and I noticed they all ‘curve up’ a bit. Do any sound designers know if this is the secret to Jomox’s legendary kick? I don’t know much about these things. 
I see firrmware updates available on their website and no mention of hardware versions supported, so I imagine not.
To customer service, I’m interested in an ABmkii so I’d be interested to hear that as well.
I haven’t heard many complaints about defects not being taken care of beyond firmware updates / bugfixes for long deprecated stuff like SynSyn.
2 Likes
They vary quite a bit. Quite a few of the kicks from various kits on the Xbase 09 are the opposite of that. I don’t know what the secret sauce or technique is, but whatever it is it’s one of my favorite kicks.
2 Likes
Interesting. I see one of the Mbase kicks has a curve in the opposite direction (top two). 909 for reference at the bottom
1 Like
that looks like distortion, rytm can also look like that if I crank the master distortion + some symmetry
for example positive/negative symmetry
5 Likes
What do you prefer about the MD sound design? I’m blissfully avoiding the preorder of an AlphaBase mkii so I’d love some anti-GAS on how it would compete with the AB beyond superior sequencing and the glitch-ier aspects of the MD.
Honestly, I wouldn’t compare it to the Machinedrum.
I’ve since purchased a Rytm mk2 (still have the Machinedrum), but the AB is closer to the Rytm in what it can do.
The analog filters plus the optional samples are a big part of it I think.
But it wasn’t the sound design exactly that was the issue, it was the usability of the knobs and the screen UI.
Ultimately I wanted to love the AB, but I just couldnt get past the user interface.
If this sort of thing wont bother you and you’re happy to spend hours randomly turning knobs because you have no idea what parameter your controlling because the parameters on the screen aren’t labelled very clearly, then go for it.
Maybe this is fixed in the new version, but I’d want to see a big UI screen overhaul before trying one again.
2 Likes
I tried firmware updating mine, all according to the website and manuals, and still, it resulted in bricking my alphabase.
I contacted Jurgen, and he wasn’t the best or nicest customer service I have spoken to, it was really quite nerve-racking.
The whole process took 3 months, and first, he shipped it back to the wrong address.
The only positive was, that I did not need to pay for the fixing, and shipping it back, but the updating problem was the issue in the first place, so it makes sense not to ask money for it.
So yeah, as a one-man operation, this is too much for Jurger, but the sound of the alphabase is worth it in my regard.
And I’m intrigued if the new version will sound as the mki, because he said in the interviews that he coundn’t get the same kind of converters as in the older one.
4 Likes
So I’ve been using the Alpha Base now for a couple of months and I have to say, it’s grown on me. Yes it’s a bit clunky - accessing a voice by pressing EDIT/TRIG > the voice > EDIT/TRIG is a pain but I’m used to it now. Not knowing what parameter I’m adjusting on a new page until I change a value to display the page is weird but hasn’t led to issues. The parameter names are fine for me but I’m used to the Virus and other antiquated short-form LED naming conventions.
The kick is gorgeous. Almost too gorgeous, as it can easily overwhelm the other voices. Can be tamed with the compressor, gate and EQ. Love the options for the transient click portion of the voice, nice and varied. Love the harmonic control. Haven’t found much use for the metal noise on this voice yet. Pitch envelope settings are perfect. The LFO on this voice leads to lovely bouncy results.
The Mbrane is very strange. Can’t say I enjoy crafting sounds on it, this feels like the most esoteric and finicky voice. I’m sure I could master it with time but it’s unlike anything I’ve ever used. It’s capable of great sounds from snares to kicks and toms and all sorts of SFX but dialling them in feels like trial and error. Fascinating, versatile, pain in the arse. The presets are a worthy addition but feels like Jürgen was making a concession to those less brainy than himself.
The sample voices are brilliant - simple on the surface, yet the metal noise, filtering, crunchy pitch, fun resonance control and looping make this the most fun I’ve had with samples in a very long time. On some boxes, samples combined with synthesis feels like cheating, or like a quick way to get a good sound. On the Alpha Base, samples feel more like analogue sound sources which can be manipulated in very pleasant ways to achieve rather esoteric and experimental results. Extremely low pitch value combined with heroic LFO antics, filtering, metal noise etc can lead to truly unique sounds that are incredibly exciting.
Overall I get the hype. Don’t think I’d rock up to a gig with the Alpha Base but the sound really is something to behold.
13 Likes
What does the MK2 adds over the MK1?
The site is not clear. UI should be a little Better with some more buttons and?
The site mention '‘the kick has gotten a facelifting’ what does that mean?
I won’t use the onboard sequencer and I’m trying to understand if I can Just save some money and buy an used MK1 if the differences are only in the interface
1 Like