Straight 808 Rytm Sample Pack!

secretmusic · 2014-08-05T20:21:07.000Z

I’m sorry, but I don’t get this whole thing.

On the Sonic State presentation, Cenk makes a big point of specifying that the AR is an analog drum machine with sample “support”, which he then explains : the samples are available to SUPPORT the analog voices. The AR is clearly not a sampler, as it can’t sample. Sample transfer is also extremely slow, and sample manipulation is limited, to say the least.

With all that, why would Elektron decide to create a sample only product for the AR ? And to be honest, if they had decided to make a sample pack that really pushes the boundaries of what we hear today, great. But 808 samples. Really ? I understand that there are scenes and performances set up for the user to play with, but I’m left wondering how fast those will become stale.

I suppose one might be interested in reverse engineering a few of the scenes / performances, and in turn learn something new, which is great ! I’m all for user - base education. But in that case, why not start with interesting, new sounding samples ? I’m not sure about everyone else, but I know that if I were to buy a pack like this, the first thing I would do is to replace the samples with my own. Why not ?

What I think would make a lot more sense, is if Elektron continued releasing sample packs for the OT, and concentrated on creating mad new sounds with the analog engines of the AR. The sample playback on the AR is simply wonderful, and opens up the machine infinitely, but it seems like the analog voices are simply getting ignored. Which is a shame, considering the amount of hype about the analog side of things.

I’d be curious to hear more about the experience of some of the buyers. And also, I’d love to hear what people get from this pack. I’m always willing to learn, and understand fellow Elektron users better, as I do teach quite a few. Any insight on what makes this product so appealing is very valuable to me as an educator.

Cheers !

subq · 2014-08-06T20:01:09.000Z

I’m their ideal customer… I bought the pack because it was cheap and I wanted to to see what they did in some of the scenes/perf.

Other than that, I’m not sure there is a huge appeal…though it may appeal to a lot of people just wanting some quick 808 sound on their AR…the samples are well done and it seems to me the AR is actually bringing in new customers (users that have never used any other elektron gear)

As far as how I personally may end up using them down the road…I might use them for some layering.

secretmusic · 2014-08-06T20:51:57.000Z

""subq"":

I’m their ideal customer… I bought the pack because it was cheap and I wanted to to see what they did in some of the scenes/perf.

Other than that, I’m not sure there is a huge appeal…though it may appeal to a lot of people just wanting some quick 808 sound on their AR…the samples are well done and it seems to me the AR is actually bringing in new customers (users that have never used any other elektron gear)

As far as how I personally may end up using them down the road…I might use them for some layering.

Cool, so it seems it’s more about the performances / scenes rather than the sounds themselves.
Good to know

Huck_Farper · 2014-08-06T21:25:32.000Z

MDs sound much better for drums and percussion than AR… I’m shocked so many flipped their wonderful MDs for this thing.

subq · 2014-08-06T21:44:47.000Z

AR fits nicely into my line up. I was in the market for a drum machine right when this one came out so…

Technically, I could get percussion out of other synths I have, however, for me, it’s always about how many sound sources I have at my disposal…i.e. I burn through 4 voices on the A4 very quickly.

Alex · 2014-08-07T01:07:13.000Z

I loaded some Goldbaby 909 samples onto the AR tonight …

Wow.

I can’t believe how good samples sound on AR. Louder, too… anyone notice that? Much louder?

I did A/B tests with various 909/808 kick samples & the RYTM can’t even come close… not to mention how low in volume the synths on AR are? Am I mistaken???

Using 909 samples on AR is a lot of fun

still a very unique and useful instrument

using the kicks to create basslines & 909 samples as the kick is interesting

alex

xidnpnlss · 2014-08-07T13:50:28.000Z

Yeah, I dunno. The sound pack isn’t mind blowing. The samples are nice.

Goldbaby samples are definitely loud. Any other sample I’ve used - from Drumdrops to my zoom h4n - are much softer.

XanaX · 2014-08-07T14:58:07.000Z

""secretmusic"":

I’m sorry, but I don’t get this whole thing.

On the Sonic State presentation, Cenk makes a big point of specifying that the AR is an analog drum machine with sample “support”, which he then explains : the samples are available to SUPPORT the analog voices. The AR is clearly not a sampler, as it can’t sample. Sample transfer is also extremely slow, and sample manipulation is limited, to say the least.

With all that, why would Elektron decide to create a sample only product for the AR ? And to be honest, if they had decided to make a sample pack that really pushes the boundaries of what we hear today, great. But 808 samples. Really ? I understand that there are scenes and performances set up for the user to play with, but I’m left wondering how fast those will become stale.

I suppose one might be interested in reverse engineering a few of the scenes / performances, and in turn learn something new, which is great ! I’m all for user - base education. But in that case, why not start with interesting, new sounding samples ? I’m not sure about everyone else, but I know that if I were to buy a pack like this, the first thing I would do is to replace the samples with my own. Why not ?

What I think would make a lot more sense, is if Elektron continued releasing sample packs for the OT, and concentrated on creating mad new sounds with the analog engines of the AR. The sample playback on the AR is simply wonderful, and opens up the machine infinitely, but it seems like the analog voices are simply getting ignored. Which is a shame, considering the amount of hype about the analog side of things.

I’d be curious to hear more about the experience of some of the buyers. And also, I’d love to hear what people get from this pack. I’m always willing to learn, and understand fellow Elektron users better, as I do teach quite a few. Any insight on what makes this product so appealing is very valuable to me as an educator.

Cheers !

Hey Stef,
I’m not surprised they used an 808 kit for this first pack… I see how it can seem lazy focusing on just samples instead of the analog side but as cliche as the 808/909 may sound, they’re still the ubiquitous benchmark for analog drums (of course you know i’m pretty biased when it comes to those 2 units heh). also everybody knows what they sound like, making them imo the ideal candidates for AR test ground processing. The manipulation aspect of AR is certainly basic compared to OT, but the analog filtering+distortion combined with perf&scenes can get you into a whole other sonic territory. I don’t own a AR yet btw, but the sound cloud demos give me good idea of what this hybrid machine can do without even delving into the on-board drum synthesis. So I’m pretty glad they made it, although I’d probably never buy it (tbh i don’t find the other elektron sound packs to be that innovative either btw). I also think they made this pack just to get people familiarised with importing samples, hence the accompanying video. I’m still quite shocked about the whole Sysex only transfer method, sounds like a major PITA, and is currently a deal breaker for me. Like all Elektron units, I expect all this to be fixed/enhanced in the next major update, meanwhile I’m observing this unit with great interest.
(BTW, if you’re in Paris soon… please bring the badboy along so we can give it a proper test drive alongside Tempest, MPC, 808&909 !! )

danlukas · 2014-08-08T01:14:13.000Z

[ul]
[li]it’s a safe move. people like the 808. it brings familiar into this new machine. [/li]
[li]they can put a pack together like this easily and test the waters of what users think/like in regards to packs in the future. (this thread is money for them). [/li]
[li]i would be a fair amount of the cost is licensing headed back to goldbaby. [/li]
[li]for people exploring drum machines the ability to very easily get to 808 (i consider it to be the starting point for where electronic drums are). [/li]
[/ul]

again, i bought it to see how the they use the perf/scenes. i wasn’t terribly impressed - my mind wasn’t blown.

i prefer the ctl-al of the machine drum over the perf right now. but i think that will change as i change.

‘…it is not the spoon that bends, but you…’

oirectine · 2014-08-08T01:38:57.000Z

for me personally, i purchased the rytm for it to become my one-stop percussion shop. the analog drum engine was obviously a major one of it’s selling points, but more interesting to me were the sample layering/stand alone playback, chromatic mode, scene mode, elektron sequencing, etc.

thus far i have not been terribly impressed with the analog engine, and like everybody else, specifically with the hi hats, snares, and i’m really not a big fan of the clap. but this hasn’t really bugged me, because it’s still been serving the purpose i wanted to. samples sound amazing from it, this pack being a good example, and the sequencer, chromatic, etc. work just as expected.

i would be very happy to see new machines come out, and continue to try and find more sweet spots in the engines that have been released thus far, but i think this pack offers a lot in terms of showing what this machine can do regardless of it’s shortcomings: be an extremely useable, versatile percussion instrument that sounds great and has an awesome UI.

xidnpnlss · 2014-08-08T07:06:52.000Z

I think it would have been interesting if they had setup the analog machines in the scene modes. Something akin to “here’s what it can do with just samples, now check them out with the analog.”

secretmusic · 2014-08-08T10:11:41.000Z

Thank you Alex and all, for your views on this. I had not really thought about the fact that using 808 samples is a way to show off the actual sample engine potential, as everyone knows what an 808 sounds like when it’s not being processed.

Now that this is out of the way though, could we get into more adventurous waters ?

And yes Alex, I’ll definitely bring the new toy along for a spin when I come to Paris next

Biome_Digital · 2014-08-08T19:09:32.000Z

""oirectine"":

for me personally, i purchased the rytm for it to become my one-stop percussion shop.

Same here. For me it does just the trick. Really wish there were more machines though but I really like the hi hats! I am finding lots of bugs though. Some are full functions that just don’t work! They gotta get that sorted out quick.

subq · 2014-08-09T18:53:33.000Z

I would add that I think the perf/scenes really show off what you can do with just samples. I think that was a good reason not to layer the sounds with the synth engines. Perhaps that is what they were after? They could have included another bank with layered sounds. I don’t think the price was bad or anything and I understand the samples have a cost associated with them.

That being said, they probably should have released something like the perf/scenes with samples for free as it really shows off what the unit can do with just samples.

no-fi · 2014-08-09T23:17:07.000Z

I dunno… $15 for 16 808 kits? …made up of samples that have been available to buy for years?

For a bunch of long existing samples banged into AR presets, I’d expect more for $15. Like 16 sets of 909, plus some 707 and 606 kits too…

I’m really looking forward to some bigger sample & program kits becoming available with lots of sounds.

Maybe I should make it for myself?

Elektronot · 2014-08-10T00:49:50.000Z

""no-fi"":

I dunno… $15 for 16 808 kits? …made up of samples that have been available to buy for years?

For a bunch of long existing samples banged into AR presets, I’d expect more for $15. Like 16 sets of 909, plus some 707 and 606 kits too…

I’m really looking forward to some bigger sample & program kits becoming available with lots of sounds.

Maybe I should make it for myself?

I’ve been stacking tuned 606 samples with the analog machines. Shit is pretty crunchy. 909 and SCI DrumTraks would sound pretty interesting too, I reckon. Don’t own those tho.

dimi3 · 2014-08-10T20:05:21.000Z

Gold Baby did this for himself… it is not an Elektron production. It would be nice to see a mix of analog and sample as Elektron would want us to use the device. All of the other devices have extra sample packs…

rockreid · 2014-08-10T20:31:03.000Z

C6 crashing when I hit the CONFIG button in C6. I can’t transfer any samples from my Mac OS 10.9.4 to the RYTM.

dimi3 · 2014-08-10T23:20:19.000Z

@rockreid just checking… are you using the newest c6?

dimi3 · 2014-08-10T23:29:16.000Z

in the sample set on sound cloud there is a dnb example is that in the pattern collection?