Revelation: THe Analog RYTM is an MPC and an Analog Mix in a single unit

Elektron Gear Analog Rytm
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I’ve been working towards a live performance and I can’t believe how many new things are hitting me on the Octatrack and Analog RYTM but more than anything this has blown apart my workflow and rebuilt it from scratch:

The Analog RYTM isn’t a drum machine, it’s an MPC with a significant drum machine and synth built in. I’ve been treating it like a drum machine for years. I started using samples FIRST then adding percussion as necessary and my sound design has completely taken off. It’s such a sick rich sound!

Now I have 12 sample tracks on the AR, 8 on the Octatrack, I run the AR through a mono input on the OT, my MOdular on the other mono (C + D) and I have a full stereo input for my partner I’m playing with live or another device like the S-4.

This has been such a game changer. I was really sad I sold my MPC 2000 XL and for years I felt like the OCtatrack didn’t fill the MPC’s shoes like I wanted. Then I understood. I kept thinking about what the MPC can do that the OT doesn’t. The pads that can play in pitch divisions, the layers, it’s all on the AR! How was I so blind, I’ve done so many realeses on these two things and I never really saw them as they are. I was trying to make them something I wanted them to be rather than letting them be what they are.

The Octatrack and AR really together complete eachother. These things are INSANE!

  • SC
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Sort of, though they have massive differences in polyphony. I think that’s where the MPC lineup still takes the cake. Way more polyphony available, way more tracks available. But they are definitely in the same universe.

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Workflow-wise I still think of them as occupying different spaces. When I want to play stuff in I use an MPC. When I’m in the programming p-lock mood I’ll use an AR or other Elektron.

Comparing the MPC to the AR though, I’ve often thought that the AR is slept on for hip-hop/boom bap. Specifically for people that seek out older MPC’s for the “vintage” sound. I think AR can handle that nicely with it’s analog filters per sample and other tricks.

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