Love to see the update. That’s killer man
I enjoy reading your thoughts and experiences with different pieces of gear, so I’ll be really keen to hear what you have to say about this small and focused Tonverk setup.
It’s obviously not a one for one replacement feature wise, but I reckon I could happily substitute a Tonverk in as a replacement for my Digitone, 1010 Blackbox, Polyend Play, Ensoniq EPS and Arturia Drumbrute, and maybe even my Juno 106.
I’ve deliberately avoided looking at TV too closely, but if the multisampling is at least on par with the Blackbox then I’d be happy, and I kinda prefer making a synth patch and sampling it for playing and sequencing.
The DN, Play and Drumbrute are mainly here for the sequencing, so they wouldn’t be missed. 106 is great but Toraiz AS-1 and Vermona Perfourmer are awesome for sampling so it wouldn’t really be missed. I’d find it hard to part with the EPS… I got that for the polyphonic aftertouch as much as the gritty multisampling, but it’s also there as a kind of time capsule I really want to dive into more.
And the core ergonomic challenge of my setup is I have too many boxes that need to be front and centre on the desk to fully engage with… Maschine, DN, BB, Play… physically I just can’t make it work now I’m in a smaller space. Not to mention a real lack of time these days to focus on making music, so this many boxes spreads me way too thin. So the thought of learning just one workflow is super appealing.
One thing about the Blackbox that really gelled with me was how quick and easy it was to flick on for a few minutes and do some sampling. Come back a bit later and do a bit of playing. Quickly layer a few loops or clips. And then just turn it on every now and then and experiment with an arrangement by various combinations of launching clips, all in the one workflow, it’s awesome. Except for trying to sequence drums on it or having to integrate a separate drum machine to program and sample drums. That was always a flow killer for that approach of stealing a few minutes here and there for some quick music’ing! I feel like the TV definitely solves that pain point. Ahh shit, GASin’ hard.
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Yeah, that’s a big part for me too. I just don’t have the time and space to set all the stuff up I have in a way where I can really access it often enough to feel like I’m getting the most out of it. I’m always “one room re-organize” away from truly having everything in sync.
So I go stretches of time on just one main box on the desk with the other’s kind of shelved. This isn’t the worst thing in the world, but it’s not how I like to work and the aforementioned bills kind of make this an easy choice.
Never had one but it seems like a great piece of utilitarian kit. While I am downsizing, I am keeping my SSL Big Six. I’ve learned not to even think about selling that one unless we are truly in need.
Not because it has some special sound or anything like that. It’s just the best damn interface I’ve used and it works on all my music making situations. Macbook. Windows PC. Standalone with no computer.
Mix Bus routed to sampler of my choosing so I can send any of my external gear to the incoming Tonverk with a press of a button. Even my wife gives me the look whenever I think about selling it. She has seen me go through enough interfaces that caused more problems then they solve and this one just works.
I’m trying to stay away from too many boxes that “Do this one special thing” for me because that’s kind of an endless rabbit hole of special sounds and one trick ponys. But it sounds like that Blackbox might be in that utilitarian camp of “just does the damn thing” really well for ya, even if it’s not the full package.
But yeah, the appeal of the “All in One” is strong. I’ve always lacked the dedication required to actually put the time required in long term with a single thing but here we are. I’m trying again. My hands are a bit tied with the budget this time, so that bodes well towards forcing some quality time in one state of mind.
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Size doesn’t matter, it’s how you use it! 
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Sounds great, I don’t think you really need more! Make sure to buy a huge SD card and sample the shit out of what you’re selling before you sell it though.
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Actually mixer is one the most important devices. I had Xone 464 unused for years. Connection it to even small set up, helps a lot. Especially if you can use compressors and other hardware processing before recording stems, into say OT or TV.
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This sounds like a Tonverk would be perfect for you. I don’t wanna talk you into buying something, but I’ve basically done what you’re describing and am really happy.
https://www.elektronauts.com/t/discussion-downsizing-your-hardware/204807/2308
If you can afford it, it might be worth buying a (used) TV, sample some of your favorite synth patches and pack everything else away. Then see if you really miss anything. I’ve done this and am much more productive since I’m focusing on TV plus a few pedals. I’ve still kept quite a bit of gear, but it’s stored away and I only bring it to the table if I want to make some new samples for TV, design patches or record something that needs live tweaking that I can’t capture with a multisample. Having a huge library of multisamples from all of my favorite synths in just one box with an Elektron sequencer and The biggest downside imo is that TV is really slow if you’re working this way, lots of “wait” prompts for copying or saving patterns when you would fly on other Elektron’s.lots of great FX is a blessing though.
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I am fortunate enough that I can afford it, but responsibly dictates it would require moving those other things on.
I’m going to sit with the idea for a while. It’s hard thinking about selling things you invested so much time in researching and anticipating using and improving your workflow, only to find that life gets in the way and you haven’t done them any justice.
I think this decision is factored on reducing the mental overhead of having to learn and remember how to use several different boxes and make them play nicely together.
It’s not a vain hope that it’s an all in one device that will cover all my needs. There’s computers, MPCs and Maschine for that kind of solution. I’m hoping TV will be a good balance of structure/limitations but still with lots of possibilities.
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Based on that, my argument against buying a TV would be: don’t fool yourself that you’ve finally found the one magic box that will fulfill all your needs. You’ve bought a lot of wonderful machines and spent a lot of time learning them. If you now sell them, you will need to learn another new box and that is time spent you could just use to make music with the machines you already own. While a lot of things feel familiar on TV if you’re used to the Elektron workflow, there’s also lots of things that work differently and will mess with your muscle memory for a while. There’s also lots of new things to discover and learn, and you could fall into the trap of endlessly learning and tinkering instead of making music. And then lust for the gear you sold because you knew how to do things on that.
This is assuming you’ve learned what you own to a decent amount of course. Maybe the solution is to find a simple setup of two machines you already own to solve the option paralysis and guilt of having them all on a table and not knowing what to do with them.
Which is why I suggested you first get a TV and try out if it really improves your workflow, sample the gear you want to sell in the process. Then see if the TV really changes things or not. Like I said, there’s a good chance it might. But many of us also just buy and sell gear in hope of finding a solution to a creative problem that has nothing to do with gear.
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Been online the last few days checking out the TONVERK so I just ordered one from Anderton’s just now. Arrives tomorrow 
The Analog Four MKII can wait a few months I just needed the Tonverk badly I have big plans on sampling my Virus Ti2 and more in future. Happy Days 
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Emu Emax HD. Had an Emax rack before but just hate the speed of floppy access these days. This Emax HD came up for a very good price, but will need to fit a ZuluSCSI and a new OLED screen before I can properly use it.
What am I going to do with it? Sound design mostly, imagining it’s the Emulator II that I can’t ever afford. Or pretend I’m The Dust Brothers and make punchy beats.
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It’s great mate 
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Yeah I had the Analog Four MKII in my basket and was up all night watching videos. I’ll get the A4 at a later date but Tonverk was the one to get for my setup. Should also pair nicely with my new Analog Rytm MKII got big plans for sampling with the Tonverk
Seriously an iPad for me, impressed with drambo especially,overlooked by many
Using the iPad mainly for as an FX chain for my hardware ,amazed with its capabilities
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Now that you have it, would you say it’s like the app?
How’s the sample looping part of it?
I appreciate the tough love and robust questions. Definitely a sound argument. I don’t think I’m fooling myself with a ‘magic box’ fantasy. I’ve been down that road before. I do suspect I’m fooling myself in some way, but I’m not yet fully clear on how.
My GAS is usually driven by a hope that something will eliminate some of the friction that slows me down with making music. If I turn on a few things so I’m prepared with all the tools ready should inspiration come, then usually nothing comes. But if I just turn on one thing with no intention in mind, I usually get inspired by something but I’m unprepared to capture it and I lose the momentum.
This is my shame. I haven’t. Some of the things I’m thinking of selling I have had a good crack at, others I have barely scratched the surface. I have a whole list of unfinished business with a lot of gear. But the reality of where I’m at in life now is that I’m not going to be able to sustain learning and remembering all these pieces, or the physical effort of swapping them in or out on a whim.
So I don’t think of the Tonverk as a magic do all box. But it does seem like it will accommodate some of the disparate elements and workflows of my current setup that I really like doing, and let me move between them more seamlessly.
If I sold DN I wouldn’t miss the FM synth, but I would miss the sequencing and being able to combine it with another synth through the inputs. So TV scratches that itch.
If I sold the Blackbox, I wouldn’t miss the sequencing and limited fx options, but I would miss multisampling synths and the blank canvas joy of starting with an empty memory card and just making your own sounds and samples as you go. I don’t make better sounding music this way, but I find it way more satisfying. Again, I think TV meets this need.
I think if I was GASing for something like a modern MPC as an all in one device I would be analytically ticking off a checklist of features and capabilities.
Whereas thinking of TV, it much more brings to mind some of the joyful experiences I have had making music and I can see how they might be replicated in its workflow. Hopefully that makes sense.
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Wish it was gear! Gonna be a long weekend!
Next purchase is a shit ton of beer! I don’t work unless I’m lubricated!
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Sounds like you’ve thought this through. Main argument against TV from what you’re describing is that it’s way slower than other Elektrons and a bit more unreliable (though most bugs have been fixed by now). Which means that could be a roadblock for you once creativity strikes. Personall, I’vefound that the “having soon in one box factor” weighs that out because you’re just super focused and fast this way but still have a wide sonic palette.
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i finally tried the melda spectral delay and oh boy i should have done that earlier
got it, love it
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Not really. The bass instrument doesn’t do acid as well and the effects aren’t nearly as good. It’s a fun little groove box in itself, but it’s not as much like the app as i thought it might be.
The sample looping is fiddly and disappointing IMO, but it doesn’t seem like an emphasized part of the workflow.
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