Pros and Cons of Sampling vs Sequencing Your Synths?

Elektron Gear Digitakt
#1

I’ve been sequencing my MicroMonsta and Behringer Model D using the Digitakt, which is fun, though an issue I’ve run in to is that I’m always wanting a third synth to come in at some point. Seeing as neither are multi-Timbral I get a little bored of having just a pad and bass going along with the drums.

This got me thinking that maybe I should start sampling one of the two synth parts which would open up a third melodic possibility to sequence, but I think that would maybe be kind of a chore. I’ve never bothered with sampling on the fly.

Curious what other people do as far as composing on this thing. I could also of course just buy an 0-Coast for more melodic sequencing and a higher amount of credit card debt. Always a blast!

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#2

I use Digitakt itself for both drums and some synth stuff, namely bass and maybe some pads, leads, arps or weird synth noises. Then I start jamming on top of that with my D-05 or Sidstation. I generaly stick to kind of pop-like structures with intros, verses and choruses. After I have come up with a few synth leads I start to structure the song, coming up with variations of the pattern. When I have the whole thing more or less worked out I record the Digitakt parts, then multitrack the leads over the backing track in my DAW.

The point of this verbose description of my workflow is: you don’t need to sequence or play everything at once, unless you really insist on that.

That said, sampling sequences is probably a perfectly valid way of working too, you should give it a shot. Man, I should give it a shot.

#3

Control

#4

My sub phatty sounds amazing when played back as a sample…! Also i have some great fm samples from a volca fm that sound better when pitched down with a few plocks on the lfo speed controlling the filter cutt…you can also get super fast lfo on the amplitude and get a decimator like growl sound after a synth is sampled…i think i have more synth samples than drum samples in my a DT…

#5

There are many ways of “sampling”. Ever tried a loop pedal? If you are not planning to get something like an OT or a MPC, this could be an affordable starting point for live sampling. AFAIK some loop pedals can be synchronised to midi-clock, which would be necessary to keep all parts synced.

Maybe something like a Boss RC-202 could be of interest to you.

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#6

I sold my boss looper and boss slicer as they never kept time with any midi…2 or 3 bars and then they drifted…

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#7

Being able to dive in and change patch parameters on-the-fly, especially on-stage, is my main reason for using real-world synths where possible.

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#8

Buy more synths, easy fix :sunglasses:

#9

Thanks all. I’m gonna try messing around with sampling my model D tonight (it’s mono anyway) which will free it up for leads

#10

Great question - I am in a similar boat in that I like to sequence hardware and get bored having 1-2 synths. I have an OT2 which is useful for adding some one shots and/or other tricks…

I never sample my instruments because i prefer to tweak parameters as i jam. I am also worried that it would be tedious as hell to do - perhaps easier on an MPC but I probably have it all wrong.

Drives me crazy as I know am not using the OT for what it was designed to do… to make matters worse, I used to use the OT for sequencing duties, then I got myself a Cirklon and never looked back.

But I am reluctant of letting it go - perhaps because I know I will get around to it one day.

#12

sampling as a compositional technique is way cool.

repurposing and re-contextualising within the original context … next level subtle funkiness achieved via micro adjustment of the chord sample start position.

limiting the amount of time the sequenced sampled chord part sample sounds for is also redefining the rhythm feel… often, enjoyably so.

pitching a nice lush chord down about three tones often yields amazing deep coolness.

Alternatively, using Rate is also fun … on the octatrack if i set the Rate of a sample from 63 (regular) to 48 the chord goes down a fifth, and the side-bonus is that any time-synced delay on the chord is also somehow in time with the current tempo.

sample sequencing of original midi sequenced content allows for a tighter timing feel sometimes, not sure why but the sudden triggers (maybe with Att on 1 or 2 smoothing the start portion of the sample) bring a new sense of defined custom-designed rhythm vibe.

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#13

Isnt the digitakt a groovebox Sampler? I suggest you start sampling with it.

I only have the OT for sampling, so cant comment too much specifically on the DT. But with the OT + one synth, every time the synth gets sampled it turns into a new synth. Synth, sample, mangle, new synth. Rinse and repeat.

Buying new gear is tempting, but learning to use the gear you have is a lot more rewarding. In the long run :slight_smile:

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#14

The trouble is getting the sequences synced. Some time stretching would be most appreciated on it :slight_smile:

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#15

Me too. Seems like the midi only worked as a master, totally drifted when slaved.

#16

I may be misunderstanding your question, but I’m reading this to mean you’ve only used the digitakt for MIDI sequencing, not sampling. I love sampling my synths. Sampling on digi is stupid easy… just grab a C in the range of where you want your melody or bass line, then use the chromatic mode to record in a sequence. Use the Digi’s filter / envelope / effects / etc. for performance tweaking.

I also “sample” long passages, basically multitracking as @bradleyallen suggested, and program it onto step #1 / bar #1 of a track sequence, or wherever… but then you lose the ability to evolve the sound.

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#17

Buying new gear is tempting, but learning to use the gear you have is a lot more rewarding. In the long run

Yes! All you need is the digitakt + 1 synth… seriously… you may not even need the synth…

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#18

I’m actually an Octatrack rather than a Digitakt owner, but in the OP’s situation, I’d probably try recording samples of the Micromonsta and Model D, then load them into the Digitakt and have it play samples of the synths.

It just seems like a time consuming PITA to get MIDI sequences to play in sync with sampled melody, especially if you’re not happy with the sound quality of the time stretching.

#19

Don’t forget internal re-sampling too. Great for looping a basic rhythm to free up audio tracks on the DT for melodic parts.

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#20

what digitakt is extremely usefull for when sampling from a modular source is the exact tuning. on some synths its quite difficult to adjust the analog oscillators exactly, but when you sample the notes in digitakt, you can finetune them very precisely. I also sample tunes with much more overtones and that are longer than needed, so that I can carve out the right sound with the eg and filter of the dt. putting in subtle changes with the lfo to samplestart, filter eg decay or filterfrequency also make patterns come alive. so sampling gives a bunch of options for soundshaping that you dont get with the original synth. unfortunately its only monophon on the dt.

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#21

I buy cheap-ass synths at the thrift store, harvest the best dozen or so sounds, then send them straight back to the thrift store. My DT is loaded with Yamaha PSR, Casio, and toy sounds.

Just sampling/bit crushing/envelope snapping/filtering/then bit crushing again creates all kinds of great sounds.

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