The Digitakt is currently acting as my drum machine, sampler and sequencer, which it handles quite well, but it’d be nice to have a 2nd groove box, specifically one that’s not sample based. I’d also like for it to be an Elektron since I love their sequencers.
This has me looking at;
Machinedrum. This was my first Elektron box, and a nostalgic favorite. However I sold it a few years back when I needed rent money, and now they’re selling for double the price (mine sold for $750). It would be painful to shell out the current prices, but maybe there are still deals out there…
Model:Cycles. It’s kind of like a Machinedrum, right?? Well, not really, but it’s cheap, and still makes a lot of great sounds
Analog RYTM MK 1. These are still relatively cheap, and part of me wants to snag one before they’re not anymore.
In any of these cases I would just be running the stereo outs in to the Digitakt’s inputs to make a beastly drum station. Currently leaning towards the M:C simply due to price, and because I like drum synths, but would be curious to hear opinions.
So a Digitone is a good idea as said above, but if you’re looking for a straight drum machine with deep creativity, the MD is the way to go. I had one and it was dope, but it didn’t fit my style of music. With the DT, the midi out can make up for the MDs older sequencer. The AR is cool, but I think it’ll be less diverse.
Never had a Machinedrum so I can’t comment there - they are ludicrously expensive though! I’ve owned M:C and DN before - the former is cool but quite limited after a while (imo) while the latter is excellent for drums so long as you’re not put off by FM synthesis - there are some excellent presets on it to get you started to be fair. I currently own AR MKII but I wouldn’t pair it with DT, as they’re far too similar on the sampling side of things - if you did go for it though, I would wire them up in the opposite direction to take advantage of the AR’s analog master effects which are much better than DT’s (again, imo). Another one to consider in terms of wild drum sounds and a boatload of modulation options is the Analog Four! Seriously, people swear by it for drum synthesis
What about the Analog Heat? In my opinion, the crucial pairing that takes the Digitakt to the next level. Essential. All other purchases should follow the Heat. Digitone Keys maybe after that?
The sampling in the UW+ is much more simplified and you have very little RAM to work with. Having a Digitakt means you can go with the non-UW and save some money.
It also allows you to really focus on digital synthesis, and all those 16 tracks, with their freely routable LFOs.
Plus if you need some of the things that DT can do that MD cannot, such as probability or polyrhythms, you can simply sample those sounds into the DT (or possibly sequence them inside Rytm from DT’s MIDI tracks, though I’ve never tried running one Elektron MIDI seq into another that is already running, perhaps others could chime in on that experience?)
The fact that you sold it for rent money says you didn’t want to sell it.
Time to get it back
It totally works as how you would expect, I have created a loop with my DT/DN/A4 where I use various parts of each of them (well the A4 is used as a through back to the DT) to impact the others. LFOs or note input, you definitely can get some fun results. Just need to make sure to tweak you midi config settings as to not cause issues.
The Digitone is pretty tempting, but I already have a Virus, a Model D, and a Minilogue (not to mention my soft synths). I really don’t want to get lost in another synth, even if I super promise myself it’ll just be for drums. Looking for something more dedicated to weird percussive stuff, which is why MD and M:C seem ideal
Yes. That’s why I wrongly lumped the analog distortion into my comment. But even better is to route things over USB to a pair of tracks for stereo processing via filter, distortion and compressor, plus the send FX. Class compliance is amazing
Have you thinked about drum rack ? Since the DT have 8 midi channel for external drum sounds, you can add a Vermona DRM1 MKIII or a Clavia Nord Drum 2.
