Hi. Not sure I understand about using Digitakt as an audio interface. Am I right in thinking that all of the PC’s audio, Windows and DAW (Bitwig) would be going through the Digitakt and out to the monitors? This would completely replace my current UR22, yes?
Hi, yes you can use it that way but it’s not necessary to use it as a full time interface if you want to minimize component wear and aging. Just thinking long term, if it pulls double duty by also being a full-time audio interface it will increase the standard risk of seeing components eventually reach their life expectancy.
As long as it’s plugged into the USB though, it will be recognized as a plug and play audio device and can be configured as your interface in the way that you’ve described.
Also, it won’t necessarily develop problems in the first scenario but it’s like saying that on a long road trip, you’re more likely to develop car trouble than on a short one.
Hopefully that’s what you wanted to know.
I highly doubt that you will wear out the audio interface by sending audio through it. What makes electronic parts fail is length of time switched on, number of power cycles and any usage outside specs, like power surges and such.
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Thanks for the reply. So it would be better to stick with the UR22 and use OB for any recording. Does the OB plugin allow real time monitoring of Digitakt in DAW?
It does for Syntakt and Digitone, so I suppose it does for Digitakt too.
Nice. Thankyou both.
Yes correct, but it’s really up to you and probably dependent how much you use this computer. If you only use it when you’re working on music and it’s not a computer that you use all the time (ie audio device is on all the time) probably less long-term impact.
Yeah, just music and a bit of Affinity Designer. Was also looking at the TR8s as theyre both the same price at the moment, but I think Overbridge might swing it. Thankyou.
Also realize I’m not implying elektron devices specifically get worn out faster than other types of audio interfaces, this is just how electronics work. The more you use them, the more likely something is to wear out. A $50 audio interface vs a thousand dollar sampler is a big difference in replacement cost when it gets to being outside of the warranty period, you know?
To add on to this, I went through a similar arc. I had a Scarlett 8i6, then got a TR8S to use as an interface, didn’t like it (for performing both duties, it’s a fine machine otherwise), then got a digitakt and used that extensively as an interface. Recently I replaced the Digitakt as interface with a UA Volt 4 and that has been great.
Some notes (and you may already know some of this but good for anyone that stumbles on this):
In my experience, Tr8s requires proprietary drivers as an audio interface and to use their multitrack recording. Doesn’t work on anything other than Windows and Mac. There is no incoming audio (from computer) gain control. So you have to adjust instrument output and computer output with the same knob. Not ideal and leads to loud volumes when you forget to change it. Using both together is difficult.
Digitakt as an audio interface has two modes. Overbridge driver mode which supports regular multitrack recording into any software and individual channels for the external inputs, but requires the Overbridge driver. Then it has class compliant mode which works without drivers on most devices that support this, including phones. Downside to this mode is it is only 2x2 interface. You only get main output mix from digitakt into the computer/tablet/phone and two channels from computer to DT main outs.
You can control the usb mix volume on DT separately from DT main output volume so it’s possible to use both at the same time with no volume issues. In OB driver mode You can also choose tracks to mute from main outputs in DT that are still transmitted over USB, so you hear only the downstream processed version of that track from your computer (sent to DT main outs) instead of the dry DT output in addition to that (unwanted track doubling).
Separate from all this is Overbridge itself which does not require the DT to be an audio interface at all. You run the DT plugin on tracks you want to get audio into from it. You can still have a separate audio interface attached and working in conjunction.
Another point about DT as audio interface: even up until march of this year, after a certain amount of days connected to a computer the DT usb connection freezes and requires a power cycle to reconnect. May only be my unit but something to be aware of. Ultimately this with my desire for more output channels led me to getting much more flexible UA Volt 4.
Hope this helps you or anyone else make a decision.
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Shiggs, any idea how many duty hours is pro audio equipment rated? Elektron? Since 2017 I haven’t found any post regarding DT being exhausted.
I use my DT ALL THE TIME. It’s my everything: Mastering, audio interface, midi controller, and sometimes, drum machine.
I think there’s both the factor of components as rated by their individual manufacturers as well as how efficiently the equipment manufacturers have integrated them into the circuit design. I’m not aware of any official statement from elektron regarding life expectancy based on standardized duty cycle hours of their machines so really you can only go on common sense.
What I mean by that, is that the more you use something, the more opportunities it will have to fail. I don’t personally have any problems with my elektron devices except the instance of an issue with 1 of my power supplies, but then again I don’t use them as a full time audio interface and they aren’t powered 24/7.
I do see a lot of posts by people experiencing various levels of component failure (ie LED lights staying on when they aren’t supposed to, impaired audio output that requires a component to be resoldered etc) so I would say that even under normal usage you can’t say elektron gear is more resistant to component failure, just that it is nicely made and not more prone to component failure than any other maker.
That’s a great help, thanks. My main concern is whether or not I’ll be able to hear the DT in daw, over USB without too much latency, and still use my existing AI.
It’s similar to audio interface latency so it comes down to buffer size and any manual tweaks you’ve done to timing of tracks in your DAW. But yes, just monitor the track(s) you have the plugin on.
Caveat, this is not something I do often or recently. But if memory serves.
Yeah, I’m also using a volt 476 as a dedicated interface. It’s no apollo but it’s mostly pretty good and I like the form factor.
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Sounds like you handle your gear with the elegance and finesse of a mountain troll.
No, but that’s how I handle a soldering iron.
Thanks for everyone’s help. Digitakt arriving tomorrow. Can’t wait 
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