I will start by saying I don’t own a Monomachine. But, I am leaning heavily towards it as my first Elektron music machine. I started wanting an Octatrack, but after watching the Nicholas Lem videos on https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEmKnNGgtTi16GYoaD2qifA, I fell in love with the sound of the MnM.
I went to school in the 90’s majoring in electronic music. Learned synthesis on a Roland D20 and did my beats on a Boss Dr Rhythm 550 mkii.
Since the early 2000’s I used Reason and Ableton, mostly for loop based and some synth type stuff. I am a computer programmer by day, and really don’t like coming home and sitting in front of a computer to make music. That is the main reason I have been looking to hardware.
My questions are, has anyone made an entire album with only the MnM? Is it possible? I often see videos of the MnM paired with another machine, is it necessary? What is the learning curve?
I do a lot of downtempo, ambient techno/trance type stuff. I have done industrial as well. Any advice?
Thank you for taking the time to read this, I know it is kind of long winded. I would love to hear some MnM only examples.
full album with analog four, although it’s not what you are looking for, it may inspire…
I love the analog four, not only for it’s analog oscs, but also for its analog filters. i think i don’t want digital filters again…
The curve isn’t too steep. Not as steep as Octatrack.
About the same as the other Elektron boxes, though. Comfortable enough to get started writing quick, but with loads of discoveries to be made years down the road.
It, like all other Elektron boxes, can work solo for an album. But you’ll always be working within set limitations using one device for everything.
Radoslav made over 100 MnM tracks you can listen to here. https://www.youtube.com/user/radoslavvalkov/videos
These were all recorded direct, stereo.
With multi track recording for more refined mixing, it can sound even better.
Most would agree the drums are the weak point on MnM. They’re not bad, they’re just very distinct, and that can be limiting for some users. I’ve got the BBOX drums to sound to my liking, but it’s with heavy parameter locking and there’s an eventual wall that gets hit using BBOX.
I think MM plus a solid drum machine or drum module (MnM’s 6 track midi sequencer could sequence a Volca or Nord Drum or other drum module) is very powerful. I used my MnM the other day to sequence 6 drum sounds on my Volca Sample and was pleased with the results. MnM can even parameter lock the Volca Sample’s parameters. The only thing lacking in that combo is midi program change, which is minor for album work.
Add a solid stereo reverb FX pedal like one from the Zoom MS series, and you could go quite a long way sonically and without a huge investment.
As much as it pains me to say it because I love the Monomachine to pieces, I’ve now owned every Elektron synth (with the exception of the Sid Station, SX6, and AK) and the Analog Four is the one you’ll have to pry from my dead, cold hands.
The MnM is a killer synth and totally worth the asking price, but compared to the smooth and rough sounds you can get with the A4, I have a hard time recommending the MnM.
The workflow is improved as are the effects and transfer capabilities, apart from the sound alone.
I totally feel you on the “not wanting to look at a computer after work” thing.
After a long day of starting at a screen, coming home and flipping on these boxes really saves my bloodshot eyes.
I think you would really love the MnM as it can take you in so many different directions.
The MnM was my first piece of hardware when I purchased it in 2007, before the mkii was released. It’s been the mainstay of my setup since. I did have an OT for a short while, but sold it due to its deep deep menu / amount of prep required to get going.
Most of my tracks are either 100% MnM or mostly MnM. I would definitely say that you do not need anything else other than the MnM to make music, so it’s a good first piece of gear in that sense. It’s also incredibly flexible. I’ve used mind to control both software and hardware without issue.
The learning curve does take some time to wrap your head around, but if you have the time to dedicate yourself, you should have no problem figuring it out. I had just finished college when I got mine, so I had a load of time to learn it.
Feel free to listen to my sound cloud to give you an idea of what the MnM is capable of.
Thank you. I am pretty sold on it. I love the idea of a single box to do all my work on, but like that I can expand as well. I will check out your soundcloud.
If you need the MnM to sound more analog at times, check out the Oxford Overdrive and Immortal Waves sound packs. They really opened up the possibilities of what could be done with the MnM for me.
So glad you said this, I have a Korg Volca Sample! Was it hard to sequence the Volca? I have heard mixed things.[/quote]
Not at all. Once you have the midi settings in the MnM set up, it’s rather easy.
Volca Sample has a dedicated midi channel per track though, so you’ll only be able to sequence 6 Volca Sample sounds on the MnM. But, it’s enough, really. Sequencing it with MnM is a great way to extend the Volca Sample to 64 steps.
Yeah, they are mostly MnM. The early early tracks are DAW tracks (2005/2006), no hardware, but everything from 2007 and on is primarily MnM. I have a number of tracks that are pure MnM with very little to no processing.
I have since acquired more hardware and rarely, if ever, use my DAW. I even record to a stereo recorder and have a hardware compressor to bring my levels up so that I don’t even have to bring it to the computer. It’s nice having all my tracks backed up to a physical medium (SD cards), it makes my music feel less disposable and more intimate.
Yeah, they are mostly MnM. The early early tracks are DAW tracks (2005/2006), no hardware, but everything from 2007 and on is primarily MnM. I have a number of tracks that are pure MnM with very little to no processing.
I have since acquired more hardware and rarely, if ever, use my DAW. I even record to a stereo recorder and have a hardware compressor to bring my levels up so that I don’t even have to bring it to the computer. It’s nice having all my tracks backed up to a physical medium (SD cards), it makes my music feel less disposable and more intimate.
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Your sonic aesthetic reminds me a bit of Taylor Deupree, with a little extra grit.
[quote=“EarthquakeLogic”][quote=“AdamJay”]I think MM plus a solid drum machine or drum module (MnM’s 6 track midi sequencer could sequence a Volca or Nord Drum or other drum module) is very powerful. I used my MnM the other day to sequence 6 drum sounds on my Volca Sample and was pleased with the results. MnM can even parameter lock the Volca Sample’s parameters. The only thing lacking in that combo is midi program change, which is minor for album work.
[/quote]
So glad you said this, I have a Korg Volca Sample! Was it hard to sequence the Volca? I have heard mixed things.[/quote]
Not at all. Once you have the midi settings in the MnM set up, it’s rather easy.
Volca Sample has a dedicated midi channel per track though, so you’ll only be able to sequence 6 Volca Sample sounds on the MnM. But, it’s enough, really. Sequencing it with MnM is a great way to extend the Volca Sample to 64 steps.[/quote]
I’m curious, which hardware compressor do you use?
You can’t imagine how many times a story similar to yours gets told on this forum - use a computer all day, sick of looking at one by night! You’re making the right decision to get out of the box and free of a mouse. Inspiration and boundless joy are just around the corner for you!
The Monomachine was my first Elektron, and my first piece of kit aimed at getting out of the computer. I have since squired more gear. The MNM is so vast, so flexible, and so weird, it will literally provide you with years, if not a lifetime of sonic exploration. It will blow your mind. And an Analog Four does sound great, but it will always sound like an analogue synth. The MNM has a much more alien and surprising palette of sounds. The key is mastering the machine so you are able to milk the magic out of it.
This is how your entry into Elektron will probably go (based on personal experience as well as what we see her on this forum):
You’ll buy the MNM
After a week of total frustration you’ll finally get the hang of Elektron OS and suddenly a world of possibilities begins to reveal itself.
Six months with the MNM and your having more fun making music than you ever have before, and you find yourself hooked on the Elektron work flow
You start imagining how amazing it would be if had just one more Elektron, and you find ways to justify buying another.
You bought another Elektron and you feel that soaring high of falling in love all over again. But this time the high doesn’t last as long, and you are able to imagine even more additions to your hardware collection.
By now your DAW sits either unused, or has been relegated to being a digital recording device. You’ve broken your chains and are free of computer completely.
you’ve committed to the hardware lifestyle and begin to acquire a few more synths , and even find yourself considering modular synthesis! You’ve gone too far! Your bank account cries for mercy, your home looks like the NASA control center, and all you think about is hiding in your synth lair - damn the world and its sunshine and its humans!
In a couple of years, you can tell me how right I was today!
