edited, since I see a lot of flags.
What’s the general consensus on whether we think future updates will introduce sub tracks being able to access the sample pool to p lock samples or even a “sub pool” that brings a condensed functionality with a smaller pool albeit more than 8 (non-simultaneous) samples? Feels pretty intentional for it to not already function with access to the sample pool but sample p locking on sub tracks would be so powerful
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Subtracks can hold velocity layers and even round robin through a bunch of samples on a single subtrack. So it’s working more like a multisampler patch under the hood. Therefore, I doubt it’ll ever get access to the sample pool but my guess is as good as anyone’s.
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Having inspected both formats .elmulti and .eldrum, it looks to me that their format is exactly the same in the file, so the only difference is the file name.
If it is indeed the same format underlying both it allows them to:
- only need to have one parser for interpreting them (single point of failure)
- based on the file format name still establish if it is for Subtracks or Multitrack
- If used for subtrack they only parse notes 60, 62, 64, 65, 67, 69, 71 and 72, but instead allow for each of these notes to have their own individual amp and filter section.
I think this is the optics through which to try to understand subtracks. As a hypothesis at least.
My hot take is that we won’t see any changes to subtracks over the course of TV‘s lifespan. It’s based on nothing really, but my gut feeling is that they’re mostly there as a utility function for drums. And they’re already remarkably advanced at that with their individual sequencer lanes plus super track functions.
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Imo subtracks can be used to give something to the “we want slicing crowd” without porting the full blown slicing engine into TV.
Philosophically, subtracks are a poor man’s Digitakt. As such, if we ever get any functionality that steals from the digiakt’s mains strengths, we will get them via subtracks in a watered down format. All in an effort not to cannibalize their bestselling box.
The main machines, on the other hand, will focus on sound design and exploration. We have granular, but there’s a lot more one can do with sampling.
But again, I’m taking this out of my ass. I’m not sure even Elektron know at this point where to take this beyond the initial few updates I’m sure they already have planned.
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Yes, i agree. TV is for complex melody stuff and sounddesign while DT is for complex drums and beat stuff. All that with the typical character of Elektrons: you can use and abuse it also for the other duties, which will not be their strenght but still a lot is possible with creative ideas and workarounds.
Maybe a hot take, but I think subtracks on the TV are much more capable for complex drum patches, at least when it comes to recreating real drum kits, but also for all kinds of electronic drum sounds. Currently, these patches have to be set up with a computer. But velocity layers and round robin can’t be replicated in DTII, at least not simultaneously.
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Mhh yeah might be, i can imagine real drums are another thing with vel-layers and round robin.
But for snappyness and beats and breaks, ideas sparkling while making, inspiration coming while working on the device, i see the DT miles ahead. But thats me.
Also for complex evolving melodies, i got crazy cool things out of the TV the DT wont give me (at least not instantly like the TV)
Thats the great thing about it: All in all these devices can give you all. While some people moaning about „give me this and that i saw on other dvices“ they should more focus on the fact, that the devices might got a central skill and focusing on that, they got on top the capability to do also other stuff.
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The other thing to note is (and I don’t know if DTII does this) but the concept of splitting drums for group processing them together though selected effects, and then being able to mute them and perform with them selectively is really cool. I have no idea if DTII has one up in that regard, but from what I’ve played around with TV, it’s pretty good for doing that with drums and basically anything else you can put on a sub-track imo.
I guess you could approximate that on DT with slices and macros for velocity, mod wheel etc. and random LFOs. You could even use tracks 9-16 as MIDI tracks and route them back onto DT tracks 1-8, then use performance macros. Different approaches and options I guess, and you can’t decouple velocity from volume on DT afaik.
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That’s what I meant with “not simultaneously”. You can set up a velocity macro on the DTII to move through the sample pool and trigger more intense samples with higher velocity values. Or you can set up a random LFO that triggers different variations of a sample from the sample pool. But you can’t really do both simultaneously without the occasional error, I guess. You could order your samples this way in the sample pool:
Low velocity snare A
Low velocity snare B
Mid velocity snare A
Mid velocity snare B
High velocity snare A
High velocity snare B
With some fine tuning on the LFO and velocity macro, I guess the likelihood of triggering the wrong sample can get pretty low, and even lower the more velocity layers and variations you use.
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