Machinedrum to Rytm in 2020?

Elektron Gear
#1

Yeah, I know this is a perennially resurfacing topic but a lot of those comparison threads are pre-mkII and pre-OS 1.30. That’s my excuse for starting a new one. :wink:

I’ve had the MD, in some form, for around 10 years now. It’s a great instrument, as everyone knows, but I’m a bit tired of it and I’m not using it as much as I used to. I’ve tried a Digitakt for a few months but it’s taught me that I’m really not that inspired by using samples. I much prefer synthesis. On the MD I only really use the TRX machines and a couple of FM ones… which makes me think that the analog synthesis part of the Rytm might cover me for pretty much all the sounds I tend to use. Most often just kicks, snares, hats and noise.

I’m pretty confident that the Rytm’s kicks are great but how do the snares and hats post-OS 1.30 compare with the MD? Are there any other shortcomings with the Rytm that I need to be aware of?

Thanks in advance.

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#2

I love the sound of the analogue sound engines on the Rytm MkII (never tried the MkI). But even if you’re not in love with the sounds, you can always layer with a sample, and really dial in the sound you’re looking for. The engine/sample combo makes the Rytm really powerful (and heck, there are lots of MD samples out there at this point, some even offered by Elektron). Best of luck!

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#3

I’ve done this, kind of. Though my (non UW) MD is only benched rather than replaced right now (and I fully intend to hook it up to the ARII to sample soon).

Positive impressions:

  • the sound. Holy hell it sounds good with very little work (the MD, like the MM, also sounds great but I feel you have to learn how to make it slam). Wonderful kicks.
  • the general immediacy
  • analogue overdrive on everything
  • all the modern sequencer tricks like microtiming and conditionals, scale length per track etc. They really make a huge difference
  • scenes/performance stuff - more precise than ctrl-all
  • much easier muting (and soloing!)
  • per track variable quantisation

Negative impressions vs MD (and these are minor)

  • half the number of voices
  • some voices are very limited in their synthesis capabilities
  • one LFO per track does not feel enough to me (and no way to point them at different tracks)
  • less weird, though actually some of the synthesis engines are capable of a lot more than I was expecting

Basically, depending on how you like to use your MD, the AR might better it in every way. I feel that for broadly conventional stuff it’s definitely a better drum machine. If you’re pushing into the dark corners of the MD on a regular basis you might be disappointed.

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#4

No direct CTRL-All

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#5

Seconding most of whats already been said above. I feel like the Rytm is somewhat like the Digitakt, but with added functionality (parameter slides, kits, performance modes that are much more powerful than ctrl-all, fx track). That, and you get the analog sound engines and master effects.

Since you seem keen on the sound engines, heres my take on them:

  • The first 3 engines (tracks 1-4) are far and away the most versatile. You get tons of options for kicks, as well as decent snare and rimshot engines and a so-so clap. You also get the Dual VCO, which is fantastic for drums, basslines and leads.
  • The second set of sound engines (tracks 5-8) have only 1 machine to choose from (thats not noise or impulse): Bass tom on track 5 and mid-tom for 6-8. Surprisingly versatile tracks though, if you dig in. You can make kicks and snares out of them as well as weird distorted bassy sounds. I often put my kick and snare here to get more dual vcos going.
  • The third set of engines are the hats (9-10). To me these are the most dissapointing. There’s an 808-style machine and a metallic one. Both sound a bit harsh and have a low amount of parameters to play with. I often just use noise instead.
  • The final set is the cowbell + cymbal (11-12). There’s a few machines here and all of them are really fun to tweak for strange melodic sounds.

The noise machine is also great as you get extra filters built into the machine itself. You can shape the noise in a lot of cool ways.

Compared to the Machinedrum you get sequencing and performance options that are a LOT better. You get way better send effects and master effects. You get slightly less sound design options BUT the sounds actually sound great. It’s subjective of course, but I can’t say the same for the Machinedrum. I always had to layer like 3-4 sounds to get a somewhat decent kick or snare. It just sounds pretty crappy to my ears. I was glad to get rid of mine.

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#6

I actually like the a4 for drums. People seems to think the drums sound better plus more synthesis.
However I do have a problem with the sound quality. I only have the a4 and dn. But sound quality my mpc and rolands just sound better and more professional.
I guess it’s a trade off for all the depth.
I haven’t even messed with the rytm mk2 but really like the Machinedrum. But same thing as far as sound.
This is my fav company though

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#7

I say that because u seem to want basic drum hits with good synthesis

#8

They compliment each other really well where the Rytm lacks the MD shines and vise versa.

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#9

Yeah, I have an A4 attached to my modular. It is great for drums but it tends to get used for more melodic stuff here. I did think about getting a second A4 but it feels weird to have 2 of the same instrument.

I’ve never had a problem with the sound quality of any of my Elektrons. Certainly not the A4 and DN. By comparison, I’ve been pretty underwhelmed by modern Roland gear.

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#10

Thanks. That confirms a lot of what I was thinking. The hats on the MD are great and possibly the one thing it does better sonically than the Rytm. Looks like you can do quite a bit more with the noise machine on the Rytm than on the MD though, which is great 'cos I love using noise. :slight_smile:

The modern Elektron sequencer is obviously a big plus. I use conditional trigs all the time on the A4 and microtiming is so useful on drums.

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#11

Machinedrum is bigger than TRX machines and a bit of FM…
Have you tried to use the sounds out of their comfort zone? To resample and mangle OT-like in live ?

MD can bring you to a lot of places you haven’t explored yet, I bet: maybe try to make a track out of cowbells or explore additive synthesis with only sine waves ?

Try not using the machines you’re used to, your sound will change and you should find a few nice tricks during the trip :wink:
Some FX can also affect the sound in decisive ways.

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#12

big time. MD shines when used unconventionally imo.
like a single track modulated by 16 lfo’s, max Marco style, for example.

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#13

Ever consider using an Octatrack for your drum machine? You can load any drum hit into it. Or make any drum sound you want out of any sound. Could make all kinds of things from single cycle waveforms. I’m thinking about getting a second one but I’ve also been thinking about adding a ar mk2 to my md, ot, dt combo.

Machinedrum gets pretty deep with all different machines. Take the individual outs of one of your tracks and process it through something externally. Try things that you aren’t familiar with the make it new and sound different than what you normally make. I’ve been running mine through the Elektron drive and getting some Potter cool stuff. I need to get the Heat again.

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#14

:elmd: is digital and 12bit, but much more flexible (routable LFOs for example) and has 2*voices of Rytm. Takes time to acquaint one with all the sound palette, though, and then there’s resampling (on UW)…

:elan: Rytm is analog but only 1/2 voices of :elmd:, sampling engine has more bits, but overall :3lektron: limited its users in many ways - “absolutely non-overlapping features to make you own all the boxes” policy etc.

I do not (yet?) like :elmd:'s compressor/distortion. I guess I’d like Rytm one, though.

No easy way to solo a track on stock :elmd:, and it is 12bit only.

If You do need Overbridge - Rytm is a no-brainer. Performance features are somewhat better on Rytm too, but I doubt it has CTRL-All of :elmd:

Modern sequencing features of :elmd: (microtimings, probability and much, much more) can be unlocked by MCLive which also will help with :elan:4 sound sequencing.

Me, I’d keep 'em both.

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#15

I didn’t think the synth engines are 12bit, just the UW sampling.

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#16

AFAIK :3lektron: perceived 12bitness mainly as a marketing move (“grit” etc). I do not have any information re: actual internal DSP limitations, but @v-yadli and/or @JustinValer might have, censure permitting.

#17

Correct!

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#18

Over the years I’ve used a lot more than just TRX and FM on the MD. They’re just what I’ve moved towards as my most used machines these days. I guess at heart I always lean towards those kind of analog drum machine sounds for the music I make.

In some ways I wish I’d kept to my first non-UW MD. The UW features never quite clicked with me the way the synthesis machines had. I’ve heard some amazing stuff done with the UW so I know it’s just me and the way I use it rather than a limitation of the MD.

I often think that someone else could make much better use of my MD than I’m likely to at this point. :slight_smile:

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#19

On Rytm the hats and cymbals are better than MD, the kick, snare, rim, clap, toms are better on MD IMHO.

But obviously it depends what kind of sounds you like, I find ironic that MD can do smoother kicks :wink:

The Rytm synthesis is a mixed bag, the noise and VCO are very useful, the kit sounds IMHO are not as versatile as MD.

But where the Rytm shines is in samples/sampling, the filters are very good, and realtime control over parameters is way better than MD, ctrl all was never something I found very useful, but scenes and perf mode are much more flexible.

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#20

To each their own, but for me that spend less time programming than jamming, CTRL-AL + Reload combo leads to easy explorations and fills, without having to set Scenes and Fills beforehand…
Having both would be great, but for lazy players like me CTRL-AL is a godsend :smiley:

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