Or should I just go and get one? 
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Do it
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I’d like to buy one too.
Now you talk me out of it.
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tonverk keys incoming, you should wait
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you should get DNK as your second DN, so u have some work to do.
ive never really felt a need for individual outs (maybe if you have favorite FX pedals that u wont let go), and i love the size of the original, its very lappable and can be powered easily via powerbank+adapter.
octatrack keys got more street cred.
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I debated whether or not to get the keys version when I purchased the Digitone. Turns out, purchasing the standalone unit was the RIGHT choice for me. I have limited workspace, I don’t live-record or improvise into the Digitone, I am happy enough with polyphony via the onboard arrow-key method, and I take my Digitone on vacation.
If I understand correctly, there are a few extra convenient functions on the DNK. My question to you is, do you have an already existing keyboard that could take the place of the keys?
I can tell you that getting a Digitone keys years ago inspired me to get a Digitone (still have both btw) — DNK are great for controlling a number of devices, but the box is what I need for anywhere portability.
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It’s fun. You’ll hate it.
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I’m more inclined to talk you into it…
I had the desktop version first and absolutely loved it, but sold it to upgrade to the keys. It was the right move for me. I’m better now at playing keys and getting better all the time and I do more live recording into the sequencer than i do programming. Way faster…
I love its layout. Slim design makes it easy to have other gear fit behind it.
The Keybed is nice.
Modwheel controlling four parameters at once and modwheel menu access at the push of a dedicated button.
The keys version opens up the instrument in so many ways…
Some units seem to have an issue with buttons double pressing, which is a massive annoyance. Mine does it and continues to do it after thorough cleanings. So if you buy one, check for that being an issue if you can.
Aside from that one thing, I feel it’s the more fully realized version of the Digitone. I absolutely love mine, even with my double pressing buttons.
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…i don’t see any reason why not…it’s a great synth in a unique and timeless formfactor, a great keybed with great additional tools to open up the digitone instruments as itself AND it’s a fantastic, easy and smart and fast to switch universal controler for anything else u’d might like to add…
only downside i could think of, asfaik, dt’s internal arp is still just adressing it’s own internal voices…
but if there’s ever a firmware update, this will be adressed for sure…
and i still remember the very first session i touched it, back then when brand new at elektron hq’s berlin…it really clicked and electrified me performantly and if there would not have been a pandemic inbetween, i would own one for sure…
Here’s the thing…
It has only 8 voices which is pretty limited (for me) so I probably won’t be using the sequencer as much. Meaning I’ll stick to one patch at a time and play that. (maybe stack 2).
The other problem is that I can hardly find any patches online specially designed for the Digitone Keys. All patches that get uploaded are al with fast attack times and more made for sequencing than playing them on keys.
What I’m trying to say is that I’m hoping DNK will help me forget that I still want to buy a dx7 or something similar. But can it? Maybe I want DNK to be something it’s not?
Where are the uploads with all the famous poly FM sounds we known over the decades in pop music? If someone has found some please post them.
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Needing other people to convince you to buy one indicates to me that you don’t actually need / want one.
Keep your money.
Really wish my DN had this option
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…heaps of new sound banks came with the release of kb version…dedicated to be played for real, while the dt was always famous for it’s expressiveness and wide range of various sounds and sonic manipulation…
and don’t u worry about it’s 8 voices…realtime voice stealing is one of it’s strength not weakness’…
and u still don’t get ur head around it’s further more options to sequence also external stuff…
it’s the only device, i’d like to say, where u can’t have enough presets, since they’re all total worlds of their own…and don’t u dare to mention a dx7 in any sort of comparison to the dt here ever again… 
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If you won’t be using the sequencer, and you’re mostly interested in DX7 patches, then just get a DX7.
While that is true do we really need anything? 
Awesome! Where can I find those? 
oh, definitely grab volca FM2 then, its compatible with dx7 patches.
DN sounds gorgeous, but i cant recommend it if you plan to use it as a sound module, omitting the sequencer and multitimbrality, as most of its charm comes from combining the two.
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Buy the keys and buy a volca fm2.
You can put dx7 patches into the fm2 with some program.
Use the keys the play your dx7 patches.
Voila.
I’m only being halfway serious here, but it’s an option…
But, as @reeloy mentioned, with the release of the keys came sound packs that were designed with the keys expressive capabilities in mind.
The one that came with the keys is good and downloadable from Elektron.
RTFM2 is a good one as well.
As a midi controller for other devices it is very nice.
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