Rytm as a groovebox?

Elektron Gear
#1

hello!
new here to the forum, been lurking around the forum, youtube ,reddit doing some research about which elektron box to get, found the AR or the OT to fit almost my needs, but im between the both

the thing thats making me sway away from the AR is that its a drum machine but im looking for a groovebox. i make techno in ableton so usually i use samples for my drums 909 or any roland sample, or use ableton’s drum kits and then process them with effects

however it came to my knowledge that the AR can be also a good ass groovebox with the 3 dual vco tracks, and also i found this guy on youtube putting it to work :fire: holy this video is neat:)!

then i considered the OT cause its a mangling machine and it can play sampled drums but… im fairly new to the hardware world i own no gear at all but my ableton lol, so thought maybe the OT isnt the right choice atm? since its too complex for a first timer into the elektron world and the hardware world and its capabilities

planning to own the OT eventually since i wanna get into modular too in the future and it goes hand in hand with the OT

but for now what would be better to fit my needs ?

dive into the deep waters and just get an OT?

or settle with the AR first as an all-in groovebox and thats not only a drum machine?

i make techno mainly, i wanna make also experimental IDM, and some dnb/jungle on the side
idk if that helps mentioning that lol

would appreciate any input or insights into the topic, cause ive been reading a lot and watching lots of videos and im still stuck between the 2 options

thanks!!

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#2

apologize if im not expressing myself too well, english is not my first language

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#3

OT gives you slightly more options in the long term esp. if you get more gear (sequencing, sampling), but AR tends to yield a more homogeneous “techno” sound and I find it slightly more accessible when composing or performing.
OT sampling > synthesis
AR synthesis > sampling

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#4

…warm welcome…

ot won’t give u any real new sonic options if ur already working with ableton…
it’s still the best tool, if u wanna play/perform live but want to avoid using ur computer on stage while still be able to rethink and reproduce whatever u want to see translated into such a live performance option…

on the other hand, sure, it’s a totally different thing once ur really start to deal with all sorts of realtime sampling procedures in/on a dedicated hardware instrument and will surely open ur overall perspectives…

the tactile factor is for many people a huge deal…for others, it’s not really worth the effort to really step out of the box and to get their hands “dirty” with any realworld hardware investments…

but never the less, a 2nd hand ot is a great option to find out…if ur firm with ur daw, no real need to worry if ur capable to handle the ot properly…ur getting there for sure…and if u like it, it’s the perfect centerpiece for any further hw to come and host…

while the rytm is the way bigger investment…but apart from any live concepts, it could offer u, in a studio set up, for sure new colours/timbres u might not found covered yet on ur ableton planet…
another thing to consider is the fact, that ot as we know it, will never talk overbridge…the rytm does…

but if i would have to walk in ur shoes right now, i’d invest in a push3 setup…
it’s a perfect start into hw to cover best of both worlds whatever ur future plans might look like…

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#5

I would see the AR more as a Groovebox than the OT. But people can see things differently.

The AR let you use 8 voice on 12 track. Each voice provide different capability. But on each of them is, there is multiple way to do bassine, short oneshot sample and drums.
So it’s a good drum, bassline, and short sample player. With lots of tweakability. And good possibility to color the sample you use on it.

The OT is more a portable abbleton in a box without the VST. Lots of hand on, on the sample and a mixer and FX Box. A perfect tool to mangle long sample and make track with them.

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#6

Rytm as a groovebox?

Sure, on a budget, with AR MKI you should be close to what MKII can offer, without sampling ability.

OT is totally different, you can’t start from scratch as with AR. You need samples feed, and/or learn how to sample with it. Then incoming signal can be an oscillator, noise, etc…
I wouldn’t call OT a groovebox.

AFAIK MC303 was the first machine called “groovebox”, not very difficult to find better gear.

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#7

Just here to say I heard the melody of Rhythm is a Dancer when I saw the topic title.

/off-topic

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#8

I think @George_Michael ‘s live sets, some with Rytm stand-alone, some with other gear hooked up, give a good idea of what kinds of things are possible with it, it’s bananas: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcC3-tyyCoK8KaGNdbeasQi1-_jqtg4Zy

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#9

hey thanks!

I would say the AR is significantly more immediate and infinitely simpler (though probably more limited) than the OT. They’re both extremely jammable, as is most Elektron gear. As another member mentioned the AR has vastly simpler sampling capabilities, and much, much less sampling time per project. If you’re looking to work with longer sample loops I would say the OT over the AR all day. I personally really enjoy writing melodies and chord progressions on the AR using chromatic mode. If you’re clever with setting up your samples you can really get some mileage there. Also the appeal of the analog drum circuits and filters is really nice. I don’t want to say it’s more of an instrument than the OT (almost more of a DAW maybe?) but for whatever reason it feels so to me. Here’s recent standalone of mine that I feel best illustrates it’s possibilities with samples. Hope this helps!

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#10

Rytm ambassador!

🔊

Glaciers/Meridians kept my sanity in check during my hellish commute last week. Thanks

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#11

Is there a reason you’re not considering Syntakt?

In the front of user interface I definitely think Rytm beats Syntakt, but otherwise Syntakt gives you a lot of Rytm and way more. Specifically, more of a groovebox package.

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#12

I would recommend the Analog Rytm over the Octatrack for you. It will be easier to learn, less frustrating, and you can do a lot of sample-based stuff with it. I bought my AR intending to use it exclusively for analog drum synthesis, but actually enjoy it more as a heavy-sounding sample mangler/sequencer. It’s a lot deeper than people realise, and has a lot of great live-performance features. And it sounds AMAZING.

I think for techno AR is perfect. Also you can load a bunch of breakbeats to do jungle etc.

Good idea to get an OT later, as AR and OT complement each other brilliantly.

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#13

If you’re into techno, you’re interested in a groovebox format and you like the idea of the Elektron workflow, then +1 from me that you should check out Syntakt as well as the AR. Syntakt doesn’t sample but it is one hell of a package for all that (plus pair it with a Digitakt and you get a ton of capabilities in two small-ish boxes).

Check out the techno demos on Syntakt on YT, it’s an incredible box.

Not saying AR would be a bad option either BTW, far from it, it’s also a great bit of kit.

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#14

hey! welcome, you have very good english! very easy to read and follow along :slightly_smiling_face:

I personally only own both of the Models series of Elektron grooveboxes, the cheapest in their product line, and I usually only use one of them at a time. I find I can compose full and interesting songs on them with just the 6 tracks because of the wonderful Elektron sequencer! You can place multiple different kinds of sounds on just one track, such as letting your Kick and High Hats live on one track together, or a bass sound that jumps up into a high lead sometimes.

I know someone who uses the Rytm to make whole tracks and it sounds fuckin AWESOME, a lot of the drum synthesis machines can be pushed away from percussive sounds and into melodic synth tones, or you can get fancy with the sampler and layer samples and synthesis on the same track!

Octatrack can do similar things but is much deeper in sampling and stacking the digital effects, whereas the Rytm is a much more simple sampler but has analog synthesis and some analog effects like the compressor and distortion on the master output which are very cool.

If you want to tweak your sounds on the fly and slowly build up your sound design as you’re composing, the Rytm is for you. If you have a lot of other synths to sample or you want to work with a library of sample selections and compose that way, the Octratrack would be a good choice.

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#15

This performance is absolutely masterful. Bravo!

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#16

I have both. Both mk1. From what I read from you I would also say rytm fits your needs better.

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#17

with AR you would have overbridge in addition to analog engines with samples, or individual outs, meaning you can record 8 separate voices of 12 tracks and mix and process them to your liking in ableton, with OT you would be limited to 4 (you can utilize cues as outs right?) so mixing of everything would need to be in the box which is a point to consider.

from another pov, OT will handle loops much better with timestretch and slicing, not impossible with AR but would require substantial work to get things done.

they are too different to compare though, each has strengths and weaknesses that are not really comparable.

I own AR but I definitely see myself getting OT at some point for stereo samples, mangling, dj style transitions, etc.

of course each is capable of producing tracks on their own, or even albums.

btw check this guy doing amazing stuff with AR

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#18

btw, that xuiqen album, Moiré | Xuiqen | DETROIT UNDERGROUND , was made by two people; one w/a rytm, and the other with a digitakt. rhythm is a dancer, though

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#19

indeed, but down the thread he says they broke up because his roommate moved to another state or something and there is some of his solo stuff

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#20

As someone who owns both, I’ll come in. The Rytm does have 3 DVCO tracks. And while they sound excellent, it’s worth keeping in mind that they have limited range and tracking can be an issue, especially for the FM engines. The Rytm is an awesome groovebox, you can easily make tracks with just that if you can be flexible, you just may have to adjust your expectations.

The OT is a beast at sample making, but you have to feed it to get the most out of it. And while you can do synthesis with it, it’s best as a sampler/looper. As @MichalHo upthread aptly stated, they can both do both but…

Rytm: synthesis > sampling
OT: sampling > synthesis

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