Hey all - I am considering possibly selling my MDUW2 and MM2 and MCDIY and moving to the Digitakt 2 and/or a Syntakt.
I haven’t used Digitakt, but the videos I’ve watched all make it seem like the workflow is much easier.
I have yet to really gel with the MD/MM/MC workflow, and in particular I have a hard time with the sample management of the MD.
I might be crazy for considering this considering how classic MD and MM are - but they aren’t getting a lot of uses in the studio these days. I’d love to hear input from those who are familiar with both.
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IMO, most of the magic in the MD is as a drum synth. The sampling capabilities are icing on the top, but mostly useful for internal resampling. If your main goal is sampling, then the MD might not be the right machine for you.
HOWEVER, you’ve got a MDUW2 now. If you let it go, it will only be harder and more expensive to get another one in the future. So be sure that you don’t care about MD’s drum synthesis before you move on.
Just because something is classic doesn’t mean everyone needs one. I restored and raced a classic (fiberglass) sailboat, and get all the social credit in the yacht racing world I need from that. Next boat will be much newer and more suited to my (current) actual needs. I like my MD and MNM, so am keeping them. Social credit doesn’t do me much good in the electronic music world since I’m not trying to publish music or get gigs.
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Keep what you have and buy a digitakt 1 to try out the workflow. They’re so inexpensive right now it’s appalling to think how much they were going for a year ago. If it feels easier to gel with the workflow but still too limited in either lack of stereo samples or not enough audio tracks, you can then make a more educated decision regarding digitakt 2 from a better vantage.
I think that it’s an option which requires the least commitment out of you as the one who’s currently on the fence, so it’s something to at least consider.
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I say, if you are not gelling with the MD and MnM and they are just collecting dust, and you are absolutely sure that you are not going to invest the time and dedication to learn, enjoy, and embrace them for what they are, then sell them. They are great machines, I’ve own both for many years, and I wouldn’t get rid of them easily, but they are not holy and sacred, they are going to make your music better (that’s on you), and they are not going to make anyone sound like instant SOPHIE/Autechre.
Just like any relationship, it’s ok to move on.
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Megacommand DIY, courtesy of @mbang
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I second @shigginpit’s suggestion for a DT1, (if you can swing it…2nd hand they are pretty cheap right now), and keeping what you have.
And try using the DT to sequence your MD. You’ll get all the features of an updated sequencer, 8 values to control via MIDI CC per track, and the MD’s excellent synthesis capabilities. It may help you love that machine more.
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I had a MD for a while and didn’t really gel with it either. It always felt like a museum piece to me, I was a little overly aware that it was rare and vintage (and valuable $$) so I couldn’t really loosen up and treat it like a regular instrument. Plus I missed the modern Elektron sequencer features like microtiming, trig conditions, etc.
So yeah, I don’t think you’re crazy for wanting to move on from the MD/MM, classic as they may be. The newer stuff is really nice. DT1 is definitely a good choice if you want the most bang for your buck.
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I’m back to considering this - but now wondering about getting the Trifecta - Takt mk2, Tone, and Syntakt.
I think having all 3 of those new units would be a big step up from the older devices, as much as I love them I haven’t gotten back into them and haven’t gotten into the MCL workflow at all…