The Rytm is great. But honestly, I got it in large part because of the built in sequencing and performance capabilities so I could use it on its own / with with other hardware. If my setup were based on a DAW, I might be more inclined to get another drum machine to sequence. Maybe the Tanzbar?
That’s not to say it couldn’t work with Ableton. If all you want to do is sync it to MIDI click, it should be great.
if you’re planning to bring an AR in your setup, things won’t be that difficult to setup…i assume you’ll be sending MIDI clock to the AR because the other way around will probably make you scratch your head
you’ve been working with Live so i would say: look at the AR as a physical VST, this way you’ll answer the last two questions
also, somewhere in the future there’ll be Overbridge as well so…
its price is not too easy to swallow but it’s worth the effort i think, otherwise, you could start from a cheaper solution to first get used to work with hardware…you never know
You can use both the Rytm with its internal sequencer and also do stuff in Live as well.
I have Live and a Push and just purchased the Analog Keys and have the Rytm on order. Obviously I have not used the Rytm yet, but the Keys syncs fine with Live. I’ve been recording midi into Live cause the AK sequencer does not record the aftertouch or joystick movements. So sometimes I use the AK sequencer and sometimes Live.
And of course, if it turns out the Rytm does not work for you, sell it and you will get most of your money back.
^ This. LarsErik has a very valuable point here.
For me, the reason to own any elektron instrument is because these boxes are just that: instruments. I use them with Live 9, but much more in the same way I use my double bass, a voice etc. I much more frequently use them in a performance context, with other musicians (and alongside my other instruments.)
Depite any current bugs or any complaints that it doesnt have this or that, the AR is the Ferrari of Drum machines. You just need to decide if you need all its complexities. Its for people that like hardware. You state that you already like your workflow so that would make me think you dont need to spend that much on a drum machine. You might need to explain more why you want to get a hardware drum machine and you might get some better answers. Also what do you mean by “does the rytm support you in finishing tracks?” Not sure what you are asking there. cheers
If you are using a DAW you might be interested in Overbridge, which comes out later this year and will most probably give the analog series a whole new dimension concerning integration with your DAW.
maybe i should rather keep it separate. make tracks on the rytm as well as in ableton (at least until over bridge comes out).
anyhow. i think it’s just the good ol 'cold feet i’m having. been looking forward to it for a year and i already tried it out and had lots of fun with it.
I run Live as my DAW and Rytm as an external instrument. No extra sync device is needed. Just adjust the midi delay each time you reopen Live. It takes 10 seconds.
Rytm does all my “main” drums. What I mean by that is that I also run sampled loops (I sample my vinyl) for “beds” or “background” drums. This allows me to transition through tracks easier. I should mention that I am building a live set, I don’t make finished tracks, necessarily.
Rytm is the center of my setup and gets the most attention. It absolutely can carry its own weight. I run it through UAD Studer and some 2-bus compression and that’s it.
The problem is not the start of the hardware sequencer its the midi jitter and timing of ableton live during the playback the sync gen fix all that midi jitter
The Rytm is my first drum machine, and only my second piece of analog gear (the other was a Moog Slim Phatty). I sold the Moog because I found it hard to incorporate it into my all-daw workflow that I stuck to for so many years. I am hoping that Overbridge will improve this for the Rytm to a large extent.
I was expecting the modules to be more easily used as synths. Especially the Bass Drum and Snare Drum modules can be used for pretty nice synth sounds, but it is a little too much work at the moment. I am hoping that new ‘synth-sound oriented’ machines will make it easier to use these parts as synths (but this may or may not happen). Elektron seems to have a reputation for delivering new machines as time goes by, which would be a sweet bonus.
Regardless of these things, I am surprised to not see more hype. This machine sounds A-MA-ZING. I am sure you listened to many demo files already, but when you turn this device on and start messing with the kick drum, and you see how flexible it is, and how great it sounds regardless of pitch, and how great the clap, toms, the hats (I know some disagree), the snare sound, the machine takes a different meaning.
It is also very quick to use (after some serious study-time) but also with a good level of depth. The mute, scene, performance modes are super-fun in my opinion. I’d say it’s overall incredibly satisfying.
It won’t become a classic like the 909 because it won’t define a new kind of music, but I sure do hope that it will become a classic among musicians and producers who know their gear.
I think it’s also hugely dependent on the system you have and the music you make. I use my MD synced to Live via the ™-1, and I’ve not suffered from much, if any, audible jitter.
I’ve no doubt that the inner clock sync gen is a great bit of equipment but it is a big investment, especially if it’s just to sync a single piece of hardware.
thanks for all the answers. got my rytm yesterday. loving it so far. i do have a few questions though:
is it normal for the knobs to be a bit loose and a tad scratchy? not that i’d mind much but it’d be good to know.
is it normal for the pads to feel kind of weird when pressed for a longer time? feel like this could be due to it being new.
could somebody explain the data structure to me? i know that it’s in the manual but since this is my first elektron box even that doesn’t help me a lot. especially: what is the +drive exactly? what are patterns? global slots?
Hi, I got mine yesterday too. Been banging out loads of beats! All I can say is to read the manual a couple of times. It really helped me understand the workflow. I am loving the AR so far.
It is a monster though!
The pads feel tight on mine. Maybe they will loosen up a bit after some use but I don’t use them much anyway.
yeah planning to read the manual. didn’t have time to til now.
i use the performance mode alot and some of the pads plastic just feels weird. there’s a word in german for how they feel but i couldn’t find a translation.
