Much more control on analog sound parameters with A4/AK.
I don’t have AR, chose A4 because I read it could do drums very well too.
Pretty sure you can’t do @taro’s drums :
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I think the AR is just rockin… I’m surprised it doesn’t get talked about more. I feel it’s the most underrated Elektron. Got that and a an OT and there’s no way I’d trade the AR for any of the other boxes…
When I researched drum machines I decided the Tempest and Rytm were top of the heap, Rytm won, it’s the best available drum machine out there as far as I’m concerned…
For my tastes anyway…
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When AR had less machines it was pretty underwhelming, once they did that big update it certainly opened it up, but for me the half assed sampling side (corrected in the mkII) keeps it quite low in my list, I think it is Elektron’s under achiever, it always wants to sound a bit wooly, and the envelopes and sweep curves are not very natural/sweet spot sounding, still Rytm has nice scenes and perfs, but IMHO A4 does much nicer drums, both realistic and analog, although obviously not samples 
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This thread explains why there’s no best or worst Elektron…
We all have different orders… Based on our own preferences, styles, workflow approach, etc…
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For sure we all have different dis-orders 
I bet in 6 months time my order will be different 
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I’d say Rytm still lacks in breadth of sounds. Could do with more machines. Machinedrum still kills it in this regard.
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Having the Mduw A4 and Rytm for drums means nothing else is ever needed in life for drums. I use A4 a lot for drums.
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Digitone makes very interesting drums too.
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I personally started with A4 and then Monomachine, and Monomachine is my number 1 despite being less intuitive and easy than the A4.
I agree those who said A4 is great for drums.
I personally prefer it for drums over the AR, would love if it could also play samples
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MDUW mkii - for me this machine was a perfect mind-meld, everything made sense!
AR Mk1 - I guess I love drum machines
A4 Mk1 - But synths too!
MnM mkii - Got a lot of sounds out of this thing that are not possible anywhere else
OT mk1 - My favorite sampler, but continued brain cramps make it my least favorite Elektron box
I have not tried any Elektron box beyond AR Mk1…
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Rytm scenes, performance pads, velocity and aftertouch mods, compressor, and the machine concept although limiting, I think help a lot for a drum machine. For someone who already has a monosynth, an octatrack, plays other instruments, and is more into playing instruments through fx than synth sound design, the Rytm to me seems way preferable over A4. Granted I think the A4 is awesome, but I don’t think I’d have as much fun needing to sound design drums and then not having the stuff I mentioned above… I can make new kits on AR that sound good rather quickly without thinking too much. Just seems quicker with more suitable performance features for drums. The pads that release seem better for drums, and the 12 mix and matchable scenes on the pads right there are great. It’s got 8 voices too and plays samples, plus choke groups…
Even though the machine controls are simplified, I’ve heard all kinds of sounds come out of it, and I’m sure there’s tons more to find… The thing has some uber serious sub bass… I’ve had it shake my desk and things while the note was so low you can’t hear it, stuff just starts shaking… Haha
I can see deep synth people preferring the A4, but for someone who synthesizer isn’t their main instrument, the AR just seems more appealing as more focused and ready to go drummer…
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Just load a drum pack into the a4 and you are good to go. can modify each sound as needed to your own taste.
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Nope, I can’t do it. Each box represents a stage in my musical-development. It started with the SFX-6 and MDUW, then moved on to a more analog sound, now I’m full-on digital, so the Digitone is on top…for now.
The other thing is that Elektron keeps adding amazing features to their sequencers, hardware, etc., so it’s very difficult to compare the older boxes to the newer ones.
I love them all for what joy they have given me.
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Haven’t had any experience with a OT or Rytm, or the older boxes.
1 - A4 (MkII) - It nails my taste in synth tones and timbres
2 - DN - Just a joy. Control-all on this thing transports the whole pattern to another world.
3 - DT
I basically have gone all in on the elektron workflow. I come more from a guitar background. I’d like to experiment with dark post-punky style guitar samples integrated into my patterns. Digitakt is a little limited in this regard, (no flex, no slicing, only 1GB of storage) … would an OT be good for this? Or am I just being dumb with that idea.
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DT so much fun
DN sounds incredible
MD workhorse
AK sold because not enough voices / sound lacking power
AR MK1 jack of all trades master of none
OT MK1 not for me
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DN - Finally a Elektron machine with high polyphony. It creates perfect synth sounds and perfect drums. If I could have only one Elektron machines, this covers everything.
DT - Much more streamlined and focused interface compared to Rytm. Less complex machines get me just more creative. And it samples <3
AR MK1 - Very complex, very powerful. Sometimes too powerful. Does everything you ever want from a drum machine, but nothing perfectly.
A4 MK1 - Love/hate relationship. Wish it has 6 or 8 voices to use it as analog poly synth. I’m also not 100% happy with the sound. I often use it as 4 mono synths. I have better sounding mono synths, but they lack the Elektron sequencer and effects…
AH - Love what it does to drums, but its the least important Elektron device for me.
OT MK1 - I only had it for a month and it was my first Elektron device. I was 17 and didn’t know anything about electronic music production. It was the wrong first device and frustrated me to hell.
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- OT MkI - Mindblowing sampler.
- MD UW MkI - So much fun, easy to use and dial in crazy sounds (sold and replaced by ND2 and PO Tonic).
- SIDStation - First hardware synth owned. Such a versatile synth in a small chip (unrepairable firmware crash. Someone interested in spare parts?).
More curious than ever about the MnM after reading the Sophie inteview and knowing that Autechre used it to create some crazy FM tones on it.
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I want to integrate punk / metal guitar with OT, very good for this I think.
I plan to record chords very slowly, make slices, and play them quantized at a faster tempo, change order…
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