I love both, the TR1000 works best given the range of sweet spots and the vast styles of tunes I can make with it. At least in electronic music. It’s a future class in my opinion.
Not sure where to find it, but someone had mentioned the Rytm takes a bit more effort to reel in because of its architecture. But it’s capable of going into a bit more adventurous terrain.
I find the usability of the TR1000 much easier, and if I were someone who sampled, the time-stretching and overall features in this regard would win out.
I would also go with the TR1000 for the utility of connecting other machines. The filter and analog overdrive are tops. I don’t use a ton of effects in my music, but the morph slider, delay, and reverbs are very pleasing to the ear. There are other effects I’ve dabbled with that don’t sound like any drum machine/groove box I’ve owned, like the phaser (if my memory serves), that are also super good. You can’t lose in this department.
The Rytm wins out with chromatic mode, and it’s definitely on TR1K users’ wishlist.
Form factor is my favorite of the Elektron product offering. It’s just a beauty, and I’d say a pleasure to use. Managing samples via the menu and sample storage leave a bit to be desired.
And I figured if I missed it enough, I could likely find one around €900 used, so price-wise you’d save a lot, but you’re also getting more easy-to-use features from the TR1000 (imho).
I would side with Rytm over the Alpha Base from utility standpoint (would use Alpha Base samples with it in a heartbeat), as I particularly didn’t like the the AB’s design, and I found the usability lacking enough to discourage diving deeper (bias towards good design). But I would say the Alpha Base’s sonics are better than the Rytm’s. And depending who you ask, the AB wins out over the TR1000.
I’d even go as far to say the Digitone II wins out over the Rytm if space, budget and range of types of music you can make. And you’ll likely reap more upgrades and improvements in firmware updates.
