Wow sounds like you already have all their most fully featured flagship machines for the jobs that Synakt would be doing. Nice collection! Since i don’t have a MnM or MD, I’ll be using an AR and Syntakt, which i think will pair nice together.
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I have the ARmkII, and got the ST two days ago. The Rytm has some features that make it the better choice for many folks, but for me personally I think the ST is the better option.
Reason is that the features that are unique to ARmk2 are features I don’t use. Like sampling, scenes/performance-macros, song mode or kits. I actually find kits a little cumbersome for my use.
The ST has the fast and direct workflow that I love from the DT, it is more travel-friendly, it has the great sounding digital drum engines in addition to the analog ones I love from the AR. And I wanted a master LP/HP-filter, and the ST has that too! Might just be my fave drum machine ever!
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This is exactly what I expect to experience given my low use of the AR specific features.
But to each his own! very curious to see head to head sound comparison examples of the analog machines though…
After my first hour with ST, I can safely say the AR MkI isn’t going anywhere.
The ST is really nice, it sounds great and has a lot to offer, but the AR has tricks up its sleeve that I would miss immediately if I sold it.
Most glaringly: slide trigs. ST (and DT) simply cannot make the same type of fluid-pitch melodic or bass lines like Rytm does. The workarounds on ST and DT take too long to be useful live.
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Interesting point about slides. I haven’t used those on the AR yet, but maybe I should it a try. 
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Don’t tell the Waiting for our Syntakts to arrive folks that you already got your Syntakt AND that you are returning it 
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Haha… it’s true though. It’s great but i felt almost immediately it was redundant.
However, i am sure everyone almost will love it, and they seem to pump out units very fast so you will get yours soon!
I thought at first that I would sell my AR if I get the Syntakt because I don’t use samples but nah. The pads, if not perfect, with scenes/performances/mute are so performative, I would miss that too much and well, the analog voices are great too.
So Syntakt + AR might be a solution or well, no Syntakt (sold out anyway). The AR has it all really.
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Nice video, its true that the RYTM might be a bit more performative indeed!
does the rytm also have parameter slide? do you ever use it?
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It has Slide trig indeed! I’ve used it in the above jam to slide the delay time value on the FX track when I hold the Fill button. It was such a weird effect! from 24 to 128 or 24 to 1… sliding over 8 steps. Would be really hard to do by hands in such a timely manner.
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Interesting! How do you set this up?
2 trig conditions on the FX track with the 1st one having the default delay time p-locked and the 2d one with the modified delay time p-locked. 2 trig conditions so that these trigs only play when I hold the Fill button (page button). As is it will just play the 2 trigs with no interpolation so go in Slide trig mode and put 2 trigs at the same place as the p-locked one. The delay time will then be interpolated from trig 1 to trig 2.
I assume the interpolation is linear but it would be nice to be able to switch between different premade interpolation curves (quad bezier or stuffs like that).
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Brilliant track, I think this is the first time I’ve seen someone play an elektron and sing so well with it. Inspiring! How are you treating/mixing your vocals with the elektron?
I’ve a mk1 RYTM and have always found it to be an extremely creative machine. The tiny flawed screen and its lack of sampling being its only shortcomings.
For me having the Syntakt and the RYTM is a bit like having and Digitakt and an Octactrack. Sure, lots of overlap but the simplicity and directness of the smaller boxes is its own thing and pound for pound, typically you get to create quicker just because the interface is more immediate. Syntakt is far from simple once you spend time with it. 12 track drum/rhythm/percussion/bass/lead is a lot to handle.
Elektron have held firm on not enhancing the loop slicing/editing on the Digitakt, presumably to maintain the Octatrack’s head above the Digitakt feature-wise.
I won’t be surprised to see a compressor and some new machines on the Syntakt, but a UW/simple sample option on the Syntakt might bring it too close to the RYTM. That said the extra features on the RYTM already seem to put it so far ahead of the Syntakt (pads, arranger, individual outs, sampling on the MkII) who knows what distinctions electron might or might not want to maintain …
Syntakt is already very very good and as it relieves other machines people may have of drum duties it opens up the Digitakt for more available sample tracks, or the already tight Digitone for bass, comp and melody rather than sacrificing a track or two for them.
If you already have a larger elektron with arranger/song mode capabilities, it makes the Syntakt more appealling as an add on - who needs 2 arrangers?
Idle thoughts, but RYTM and Syntakt are interesting to compare.
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thanks and man didnt realise that track you posted was yours. Brilliant work, and you are a talented singer. obviously influenced by thom yorke, but thats a good thing!
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Thank you!
I record my vocals with the Apollo Twin (and the Rytm with OB standalone, stereo in the DAW) so I have compressors/reverb/delay when I’m tracking. I add delay throws and other goodies afterward. my vocal and the stereo file of the Elektron box, that’s all.
Yeah, could totally see myself having both, the Rytm and the ST now. I thought ST+AR would be too
much overlaps but they each have their own strengths and use cases. Making room for both would be my main problem haha
The Rytm has 2 CV inputs doesn’t it? You could send 2 LFOs from the Analog Four’s CV track
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This has been a really interesting thread to read through but I think a chat around Syntakt + any of the Digi+ Elektrons makes for an interesting comparison!
I do think a Rytm and ST would make a cracking combo though. I’d like to add an OB enabled sampling machine one day and think both DT and/or Rytm would partner the ST brilliantly. I think I’m right in saying that the sample playback options in Rytm are not as fine as on the DT though which is a big shame.
Anyway, actually a really tough call on whether I’d sell a Rytm for a ST. I’m gelling with the ST a hell of a lot more than I did with the AR Mk1. Ended up selling it fairly quickly actually. But you only have to take a look at videos like @blakewalt’s above to see that it is an incredible machine in the right hands.
I have both and thinking to return Syntakt
Rytm is so quick, the pads so creative and the performance macros so useful
Plus the 16 steps are a big advantage
I feel that there is too much been put into Syntakt that do not sound necessarily good together
I might be wrong this is based on a 4 days of using Syntakt so it might be too early
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I’ve only got the ST in hand to go with but it’s growing on me. Drums can sound fantastic with it. Same is true with an AR of course - especially with samples involved.
I don’t think Electron has ever introduced a device that really shakes up what each of us would prefer in terms of pairing and use cases. A true “horses for courses” device that has some similarities to a number of other boxes but is entirely it’s own thing too.
It’s also been dreadful for fuelling my Gotta Catch Em All GAS…
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I did sell mine the first time I got it haha.
The second time’s the charm. I did sell it before they added the DVCO and new machines so the updated version is a real plus for me.
Still, it’s not exactly an easy ride and I def see how the ST can bring a lot. I’m pretty much sure I’ll buy it but…
this!
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