being innovative is also about finding new, better or otherwise interesting ways to utilize old inventions. the OT is absolutely innovative, as is OB. qwerty and mouse is probably not the best tools for all around music production, which is why we have midi controllers.
theres a reason why most if not all synth companies concentrate on making fun but limited little boxes or kind of turbo charged versions of classic synths. elektron has been quite unique with their approach to build a clean, well thought out line of synths and utility gear that cover the full spectrum of what you need to perform electronic music live.
Touch screens have their place, they’ll get better/more accurate but for live musicians we all have ten digits and two feet, we need interfaces and GUI’s that are far more interactive and intuitive than a row of calculator buttons, a QWERTY text KB or a touchscreen with no real feedback.
ROLI Seabord Rise is an example, an innovative rethink of what we’re all used to making do with so far
If Elektron can’t make this market transition, soon. then they will cease to exist. It took them 3 years to get a simple PC<> Device control tool released. They have proved they are more a Hardware company that a Software company. Hardware is a commodity item now. Software is where its at. Returning to my point, if Elektron want to survive then they need a common OS platform to deliver the next gen devices on, not a mishmash of features across a disparate array of boxes. That can’t scale is makes no commercial sense whatsoever
My Black OT is on order, My Rytm MKII arrived last week. I own a DT and a DN too. Great devices, creative and fun but they won’t see Elektron through the next 10-15 yrs without something as simple as WiFi or Bluetooth, or with a max of 8 of anything (voices/tracks or polyphony)
You’re contradicting your previous points here a bit. You stated here or in some other thread that you find the DN completely unusable and you don’t find the Elektron sequencer innovative at all. Apparently with these new purchases you’re kind of getting into the Elektron way of doing things. Congratulations on that. I think you’ll really begin enjoying Elektron for the first time.
I honestly can’t think of anything worse than having to keep 8 or more devices all within a few feet of each other connected via WiFi and/or Bluetooth.
And I thought you just called the DN borderline unusable?
Stop trolling now, people are tired, you can have your “I won the internet” award if you’ll just leave us be for a bit, yeah?
I think you’ll find they make most of their money from the Sample based devices (OT, DT and AR)
They only have Akai as a main competitor, although Pioneer are taking a shot. Akai have re-invented themselves dramatically and have a good solid platform to build on. Devices that users wanted 10 years ago from them (Timbrewolf - I rest my case)
“Hardware is a commodity now”, I think that is where we disagree. People pay thousands for synths - they’re not a commodity, they’re a specialist item. An instrument, even. And Elektron have shown they can make quality instruments that people will pay extra for.
I see moving towards a software focus as more of a risk. Where is Elektron’s edge in software? Maybe there’s room for an integrated solution involving dedicated hardware and a software ecosystem, but what advantage then over the Ableton/Push scenario, or stuff like MPC Live which already exists and is not super pleasing to Elektron fans?
I dont know the Waldorf Iridium is a synth with a touch screen, the MPC one has a touch screen - its not bad to have it - but they have a lot of extra controls what makes them so cool for editing.
DN - great synth engine, terrible interface (for a decent x4 part multi poly synth)
Trolling - this is a “What next thread for Elektron”, I’ve listed dozens of what I think are good ideas. I’ve been synthing for 45 years, seen loads of manufacturer come and go with their products. what if what’s next for Elektron is nothing at all?
and? I aim to use these boxes my way for my music, I don’t give a damn who likes it or who doesn’t, its for me
Roland cloud - its not an endorsement by any means. I’m only highlighted they are being progressive, thinking forward. They’re still mainly flogging poor JV and XV sounds from the 1980’s
I think their current strategy of developing software to allow you to use their synths 100% in the box as well as on their own is a great idea. Currently no other synth (that I know of) can really do this, integraty fully with a DAW on a software level. you get the benefit of a larger screen, great graphical feedback and full integration with a DAW (and all the benefits of other software) for making songs. Then you can play those songs on the devices live without needing the computer at all. Adding touch screens or wifi or w/e would not matter much at all, as both have huge downsides that for me and i’m sure a lot of other people would weight a lot more heavily than anything they would bring to the table.
Wasn’t taking about how far it can travel, was taking about the inevitable bandwidth/interference issues of having a buttload of WiFi gear in one spot.