Hi all,
1000 apologies if this has been asked - I used the search function but couldn’t quite find what I was looking to ask.
If you could recommend two elektron devices to produce techno, what would they be? Rytrm + analog four?
I was also eyeing going with a TR8S and SH4D, but am really intrigued by Elektron products.
My past experience is mostly on an ableton push, but I want to go the hardware route now.
Like a lot of things when it comes to making music, the answer to your question is subjective. It might help to know what kind of sound you’re going for.
I will say one thing: get one machine first. You can make some great techno on any device in the Elektron lineup, all by itself. Learning one device by itself will help you learn others. Feel free to elaborate on what sounds you’re interested in, or artists you enjoy, so we can maybe make a more targeted recommendation.
For techno definitely get an Analog Rytm over the TR-8S. Your kicks will thank you. If your budget lets you, get the MKII because of the sampling. But MKI has all the great synthesized sounds as well.
Use only this for a while and see what you can do with its various machines.
If you start missing the TR sounds down the line I can recommend the TR-6S as a companion. Good for samplefodder
I’m a big fan of the sounds from Slam, Deas, Robert Hood, Mark Broom, etc…
Thank you for the advice to start with one machine.
My past experience is mostly on an ableton push, but I want to go the hardware route now.
If you’re switching to a completely DAWless setup coming from Ableton Live, manage your expectations. Hardware is definitely more fun to play with , but it can be extremely frustrating if you’re trying to recreate exactly what you were doing in software.
I make Techno with Rytm MKI & Syntakt. They make a pretty good pair IMHO, not nearly as much overlap as would seem on first glance.
You can make techno with any Elektron box though, these just happen to be the ones I personally prefer (I also use a Maschine+ alongside these two, so its sort of like having a 3 deck DJ setup)
If your budget allows, an all in the one box option is the Push 3 standalone. It has been the easiest way to get techno rumbles I’ve found without a laptop.
In my opinion SH4D is more immediately suitable to melodic house and techno, stuff like The Field or Kompakt artists…at least that’s what most of my output turns out like on it.
I agree with others that starting with one box first makes the most sense. I would probably go for Syntakt as an Elektron starter box if I wanted to make the sounds you are after. It gives you a great drum machine with enough interesting synth sounds. Then maybe add a DT1 down the road for samples.
Also consider complexity of the machine vs. immediacy. Analog Four is amazing and you can do so much with it but I reckon it will probably take 2-3x as much time to master as Syntakt, and what you learn on A4 will not be as immediately transferable to the newer Elektron boxes due to the system architecture.
With Syntakt you can make some really satisfying grooves very quickly, even without really knowing that much about what you are doing,
Octatrack + Digitone 2 + Syntakt. Fun and easy setup for live /produce techno
To close the circle, Model:Cycles + Model:Samples.
Just get an octatrack
That Mark Broom ‘hard groove’ style uses a lot of locked grooves for a back beat so definitely a sampler of some sort; either an OT or DTII.
I would pair either of those with an ST. If you’re intention is to perform live, I’d go with the OT/ST. If you’re aim is simply production, I’d go DTII/ST and use Overbridge to track into a DAW for processing and mixdown.
For me, its Digitone II and Heat+FX, but I’m not really a samples guy
Definite priority on live.
Thinking this over more. I can qualify my original question more of - what setup would be the most fun and accessible to play live?
From what you’ve said so far, the most accessible option would be push standalone, since you know push and ableton already. The most fun, though? Hmm…
If we’re talking Elektron, I agree that Syntakt and Octatrack would be best. Syntakt is pretty immediate and can make a pretty wide variety of sounds. Octatrack is basically the live performer’s ideal instrument. But - it’s hard to get your head around it at first. For this reason, I’d get the Syntakt first to see if you even like the Elektron sequencer and architecture. Then, go wild and get an OT. Some of the best live performances I’ve ever seen used an OT, but it takes some dedication to master it. Hope this helps!
Digitone2 + Octatrack for me. Faderfox uc4 into dn.
Definitely helps. Tysm!
Digitakt 1 or 2 + synth of choice is always a solid selection. You can easily make do with just a digitakt but it’s more fun to have a synth also. Digitakt 2 is new and it’s fun to have a box that is actively getting features if it’s within budget.
But yeah we are all spoiled for choice these days. Sampler + synth and expand from there.