Syntakt, but what next?

selfup · 2023-01-14T05:21:58.096Z

Clip workflows can absolutely feel like a sampler. I sample all of my gear this way. I am partial to Bitwig but other daws can achieve the same workflow.

Cosmic · 2023-01-14T05:24:35.654Z

That’s truly great, love your style, need some hard liquor now to go with it though

technolover303 · 2023-01-14T06:21:42.812Z

Still couldn’t figure out how to make a kick rumble with only one or two tracks and without using a reverb… would you mind explaining it ?

ezilybored · 2023-01-14T10:04:32.183Z

I’ve narrowed my choice down to Digitakt, Blackbox or SP404 mk2. Have found second hand for all. My decision may be decided by the fates of the online auction.

@technolover303 I still haven’t got it yet either. Going to be playing around later today.

For those asking why I need to not use laptop. I also use my laptop for work. I’m a web dev so need to keep a lot of stuff open and running while I also make music. It isn’t ideal, but it’s what I have.

I’ve also just been informed that my studio room is to become my sons “teenage bedroom” so my music space is going to be severely downsized soon

technolover303 · 2023-01-14T10:46:37.147Z

I know what you face having children made my studio smaller too !

I think you made the good choice. Even if the AR is awesome you would have missed the ST digital machines for sure

Jeanne · 2023-01-14T13:45:57.096Z

technolover303:

Still couldn’t figure out how to make a kick rumble with only one or two tracks and without using a reverb… would you mind explaining it ?

Edit: Removed since I developed better techniques than those I wrote here. Those also do not utilize reverb and/or delay.

Sternenlicht · 2023-01-14T14:05:29.326Z

I say mpc live or akai force, ok the reverb sucks, but make a rumble on the daw, import it, and do all other sounds with ease, best couch device imho because it has wifi, dont does emails, can resample everything (pads, audio tracks etc) the synth sound good, add maybe their fm synth, done. Probability is also there and you could sample in the syntakt you already have. maybe the reverb also works if you distort it anyways or add delay for the rumble etc. Layering samples is also an easy task. 4 layers for hard hitting drums, drum synth build in etc…

ezilybored · 2023-01-14T15:25:44.498Z

Those all sound great. Haven’t got around to having a play yet today. Will try these techniques together later. Thanks

ezilybored · 2023-01-14T15:41:59.920Z

Went with the Digitakt too. Just picked one up. Looking forward to having a play in a few days

Claid · 2023-01-14T15:44:45.946Z

Added complexity = added stress and less music being made. Sequence your DAW with the Syntakt. Seriously, it’s great for that. In Ableton Live and utilising Overbridge, you can set up a drum rack which pipes in the different channels of the Syntakt to the drum rack cells, and layer in a sample that plays at the same time on the same cell. You can even layer multiple samples to play alongside your Syntakt channels, mix in the volumes of each sample, apply filters, endless LFOs and yes, even per-cell effects. How about beefing up your Syntakt sub bass with another synth entirely? You can even layer entire synths alongside your Syntakt sound and samples on the drum rack cells. It really gets that deep. And you have all that already in your computer. No additional money being spent, no additional plug sockets, no additional wires snaking back and forth across your desk. Quick and powerful.

geronimo · 2023-01-14T17:02:05.160Z

I’ve owned the Digitakt and the 404MK2, and both are amazing. I’ve boiled my setup down to Syntakt and the 404, however.

Reasons? I rarely use 12 tracks on Syntakt, so I can apply Elektron sequencing to the 404. Also, I personally love having the battery powered option of the 404, which means I can easily grab and go with one box if I’m inclined. Finally - the FX (and resampling) are fantastic.

Funkyswitches · 2023-01-14T18:31:49.930Z

“what next”?

Another device that does the same thing, just with a different approach?

ezilybored · 2023-01-14T19:36:42.547Z

J3RK · 2023-01-27T01:02:27.805Z

image2162×4032 1.55 MB

randy909 · 2023-01-27T03:40:36.032Z

I made some posts about making rumble bass with plocks a while back. The one about Model Cycles should transfer to Syntakt. With syntakt you can use the filter to remove the slight clicks you get with cycles. I think you’ll get a different sound to what you posted with this technique. Can also be a galloping horse thing depending on how you dial it in.

https://www.elektronauts.com/t/octatrack-tutorial-video-rumble-bass/148580/9

https://www.elektronauts.com/t/octatrack-tutorial-video-rumble-bass/148580/15

djst · 2023-01-27T06:07:22.756Z

That’s very clever! All that’s missing now is to route all the cables via their docked sides somehow. Imagine it there was a dock connector on the sides.

J3RK · 2023-01-27T16:39:26.314Z

That would be handy!

As it is now, it’s not bad. I got right-angle 1/4" and MIDI cables that are JUST long enough to connect the two together. No cable mess. Still not quite as clean as a dock-type thing would be, but using the pair of them together away from the studio is much better this way.

Also, thanks for the idea! It would be pretty simple to make a PCB that connects just the connectors needed on the back to say, pass MIDI and Audio from one to the other. There could even be a couple of switches to determine which direction the MIDI and/or audio is going. (DT MIDI OUT > ST MIDI IN for example) (of course really one pair of main outputs should be exposed, so maybe audio direction wouldn’t be quite as useful.

Flekk · 2025-04-17T06:39:17.389Z

The things I feel I am missing are:
Samples. I add lots of metallic clangs etc

Add a tiny MIDI sampler, eg a Roland P6.

Not as convenient on the sofa but I’m sure a piece of wood and some duct tape will fix that. Or maybe a 3D printed support to put it just above the back of the Syntakt.

RvdKraats · 2025-04-17T09:37:33.671Z

It’s not my preferred style of music, but it’s hard to deny you’re a sorceress on that thing. Witchcraft indeed!

re5et · 2025-04-29T06:26:42.936Z

What next ?

A device with multiple usb outs to enable more overbridge streaming

Basically …
USB out for synths
USB for fx
USB for other stuff

Currently machines are hitting usb bandwidth limits with 16 synths , delay , reverb , chorus , main out so why not add more usb outs ( luckily on here I don’t have to think of costs and how it’s all actually work )

With additional outputs you could get each of the 16 synths to have their own unique fx outputs ( instead of shared ) so if you want to record individual tracks with fx you wouldn’t need to mute all the other tracks.

Perhaps instead of 1 x shared delay there could be four , four reverb , four selectable additional fx machines .