So I’ve been lusting over Elektron gear for years now and am considering taking the plunge with either an Digitakt or Octatrack. I grew up playing instruments and love making electronic music…but the computer screen DAW interface has always left me with sterile sounds that don’t feel lively like playing an actual instrument. I sit in front of a computer for 12+ hours a day, so the idea of not staring at a computer for the rest of it while I sit back and write music sounds incredibly nice.
I think the Digitakt is a good start and doesn’t break the bank too much, but am wondering if the features of the Octatrack might allow for easier ability to write complete songs?
For those with the Digitakt, has its more limited features held you back creatively?
I don’t think anyone is gonna say the DT holds them back creatively, it can do a lot of cool stuff and it’s pretty easy and fast… except for manually programming notes and chords in… that’s a little more time consuming but still not too bad.
The main thing with regards to more full productions is - no separate outputs until OB is released, and no song mode.
I love the DT but I’ve actually been thinking of trying to save up for an OT to have a “DAW-ish” machine.
I’m in a similar anti-computer situation but have relented a little and started using some VST synths. If you don’t mind touching the computer just enough to set up some MIDI connections and preset selection, you can sequence the synths from the DT (but see note above about programming in notes). I’ve been having a lot of fun lately with DT + Halion Sonic. 16 internal tracks for synths that are MIDI-controllable, and all the presets have 8 “quick controls” which just happens to match up with the 8 encoders on the DT
DT has great PC-plugin/plugout hub/solo potential of/when full OB is released. It can be a capture device when hooked up, and then a non-time stretch sequencing sketch pad by itself in a near half sized box with lush verb.
OT on the other hand offers a much broader palette of mangling/fx/production-in-the-OT paradigm suite of capabilities.
They are quite different in the above two regards - OT can do both, but in a slightly more awkward fashion, and the verb is not quite so spacious. It has, for me, much more scope for sound design from minimal ingredients though.
I had 3 digitakts and 2 octas. Buying and selling them being frustrated. So, the thing number one to remember is that these are both very limited if you come from DAW world. I am talking about mid 80s level of DAWs. Plus workflow can be very confusing. I would probably try Digitakt first and then see how you feel. It is much easier to resell if you realize it is not your workflow. Also, as mentioned multiple times, Digitakt is very limited in sound shaping. So it depends on the style of music you make. If there is a lot of things going on in the frequency range, dont expect any good sound. Octa is much better in sound shaping. Finally Digitakt is mono and so sampling is extremely castrated. I still have both devices and they are both great!
That is part of my problem with DAWs, I feel like I spend most of my time trying to figure out natural sounding automation envelopes, EQ, FX, or endless synth exploration instead of actually writing anything. With instruments like guitar, piano, table drumming, etc., I can quickly express the music I’m feeling and thinking about. I guess that is what I’m fantasizing I can do with one of these two boxes.
The music I make ranges from experimental u-ziq type stuff, mangled beats/bass music, to rehashing the classics with modern flare.
You stated that you haven’t used an Elektron machine before. Do you have some experience with step sequencers in general? If not then I would start with the Digitakt, because it’s more simple to get going.
Step sequencing by itself with it’s rigid structure is quite special (compared to a linear sequencer like a DAW) and not to everybody’s liking. To be honest it feels sometimes much more like programming than actual writing music (like you would write music when using a piano or guitar).
I have some experience with step sequencing with a Korg EM-1 (first drum machine I ever owned) and FLStudio style sequencing. Owned a MPC1000 for awhile too, but ended up selling it.
Some of my better minimal tracks were done on the EM-1 with lots of knob tweaking adjustments.
Tylox, what i read from you, my tipp:
go with the Digitakt !
The OT is a much more powerfull vs. the DT. I agree. No discussion on this
but depending of workflow and music style the same is also true for the DT vs. the OT.
People seem to overlook this fact quasi permanently when they recommend the OT vs. DT to others.
In any case, you will have much likely a much fluffier burn in time with the DT,
while it also will make for a great start to jump then later over to a OT.
i had a OT from its first days btw. had it over years. knowing both.
to myself the OT never did it for full song production.
the lack of track mutestates saved per pattern killed it for that purpose for me.
only having 4 parts for 16 patterns made any working on it, for my purposes, cumbersome, even after i grasped my way around it.
So all these things are not a general Yes or No, X better than Y ? . It depends alots on the user and his way to work.
No, DT won´t allow for everything, OT neither.
OT is supercool for those who have had a deep dive in and feel deeply at home.
OT mkII might help here to get faster to that point, true.
i´d go DT, then decide after some months if you want to jump over to the OT
So, I realized this morning that if I’m considering an Octatrack, I should also potentially consider a Digitakt and Digitone combo at roughly the same price.
I wouldn’t have quite the same level of mangling options or song arranging, but would provide FM synthesis with a drum machine…which is pretty much what I tend to do in DAW land…layer up some drums and samples with synth layers. If OB ever comes around, these two devices would integrate in my DAW easily for final editing.
Though decisions man. I wonder if I could run either the Digitakt or Digitone through the other so I could use a single headphone output for times when I don’t want to use these devices at my computer station.
yeah you can.
You can run something through the Digitakt input with record monitoring on. Can’t apply effects or level adjustment to the incoming audio though.
Conversely, can also run audio through the Digitone AND apply master FX, not sure if you can adjust level or not?
But either way you can at least get both machines going through one headphone jack
Yeah, you can run anything into Digitone and take advantage of the onboard effects. The small Digi boxes are by far the most beginner friendly Elektron instruments and that can be important for some ppl in our modern world of instant cratification.
Maybe you can also consider preowned A4 mk1 with Digitakt. I dont really understand why ppl are selling these for so little money these days. It’s an awesome synth with a nice workflow and Digitakt complements it well.
