Hi!! I took the plunge on a Syntakt and I’m really enjoying the elektron workflow, however the Syntakt’s engines to me feel more suited for house and techno while I’m looking to create D&B, Lo-fi, etc.
Is what I’m describing more aligned with the digitakt or am I just suffering from G.A.S
I think you answered your own question really. Digitakt is of course more suited to sample based music because it’s a sampler The Syntakt makes some dirty bass though, so I think having both wouldn’t hurt.
Probably GAS, but the genres you mentioned might be more suitable to a sampling workflow. Lo-fi often uses electric pianos, guitars and other live instruments including drums. You can sample those into the digitakt. D&B often uses sampled and chopped drums.
Before you spend a fortune, though, check out Syntakt’s presets to have a better understanding of the sounds it can make.
I think people ask way too much of the Syntakt’s instruments. The Syntakt is a collection of 12 highly flexible monosynths. Those monosynths all sound better when post-processed and mixed in a DAW. You can go a long way as a standalone groovebox, but only so far.
I own both Digitakt and Syntakt.
Honestly, for DnB and Lo-Fi I’d recommend either SP404 mk2 or Octatrack.
I own both of them as well. SP404 is better bang for the buck for me for these styles.
…whatever u wanna create sonicwise, u better have at least one synth based engine and one sample based engine…if both follow the same workflow rules, the more convinient and satisfied u’ll end up with ur results…
so work with what u got…the syntakt is a pretty versatile and highly proffessional instrument…
meanwhile keep ur eyes open for a 2nd hand digi takt and once u’ll found and can afford one, add it right away to that perfect brother/sister machine u already have, to fully enjoy the fact that u already know ur ways how to tickle and handle it and stay all happy ever after and future prooved for what ever ur up to…
these two are THE hardware killer combo and the only thing that’s left to go all the way, is some daw of ur choice to always cross the finishline with serious results…
Syntakt way better for dnb and lofi what are you talking about and idm / I guess you could fight me in the lofi but I could make better dnb on a synthesizer than a sampler it just makes more sense!
For me is the opposite, classic dnb/jungle used to be based >90% on samples and after dealing with lot of synth approaches I’m getting used to sample mangling for it too (still 50/50), love the results!
If you’re more into experimental, newer, etc. dnb, then absolutely yes: synth > samples.
I use DT to make dnb and jammed lofi multiple times before it get timestreching machines and it was good but now that they exist DT is break warrior.
There’s no correct answer but IMO if you are into classic dnb and lofi sound… my vote goes for a sampler, they both are sample-based styles (traditionally) BUT it does not mean it’s the best option.
A ST is capable of both for sure, plus more flexible to make your own unique sound.
I tried both approaches multiple times, synthesis helped me A LOT to understand sound and genres specially building dnb, making breaks step by step, basses, growls, liquid keys, etc. but I ended up mixing both worlds and sampling more than designing sounds, it just sticks with me.
So… it just depends on how comfortable you are with samples or synthesis. Really, there’s no bad decision here.