Hi, Im new here.
Been watching reviews of all kind of drum machines for several weeks and finally I decide to go with the Digitakt. Been trying it out now for 8 hours and I really hate it. For real.
Cant get my head around all these submenus and all of the “smart” double function buttons. The seller promised me to get full refund if I didnt like it so theres no problem. I want dedicated buttons and somehow a more straight on approach. Any ideas?
How long is the refund good for? I’d say if you have a few days keep giving it a go. I only have a DN but it clicked quick, it was my first synth groove box ish device.
Edit: YouTube is your friend with new gear. So many tutorials out there.
Vermona drm1 mk3. No menus, no screen, one knob per function, analog. Simplest as you can get.
Do you need sampling? Maybe something like a DrumBrute
Are you wanting a drum machine or sampler? Drumbrute Impact is a good knob-per-function drum machine if that’s what you are looking for. Similarly, Model:Samples is a great little sample box that is much more knob per function than the Digitakt. If you just want a general groove box and not sure where to go, I always recommend a Novation Circuit.
Division Department 01/IV or perhaps something like an MFB Tanzbar?
I don’t use a Digitakt, but do have a Digitone and the menus are similar. Over time you will build your muscle memory to work efficiently with it. However if the menu diving is killing it for you, try a more traditional drum machine with knob per function layout. Though you may not get quite the same mileage out of an Analog choice, in relation to sound design capability.
Model Cycles would be cool too, but it will be a certain flavor of sounds (FM)
What drew you to Digitakt in the first place?
There is a learning curve with anything, if you wanted deep control on a drum machine you have to expect complexity.
If you want to do anything complex, there will always be inherent complexity in the control.
For me Digitakt is a good combination of in your face controls (press 1 button to remap the knobs to new controls) and yet deep control (can create a whole song with just DT).
If you want less control, knob per function is more realistic (however for a drum machine with sampling - knob-per-function is not going to be easy to find, especially on a budget similar to DT)
Perhaps TR-8S? I’ve not used it myself but definitely seems to be a bit more knob-per-function?
I own both DT and DN, in my experience the DT is less menu-divey than DN, so I would not go that route.
I had my hesitations regarding the Digitakt but I thought that I could at least try it out. Now Im leaning towards Drumbrute or something else that are more oldshool.
Definitely sounds like you want a straight forward “knob per function” drum machine. They will not be as flexible as something like the digitakt as the will generally have their own “sound” opposed to using samples.
Arturia drum brute impact & Behringer tr-8 are two decent low cost places go start.
Honestly I think if you JUST want a drum machine, digitakt is probably over kill.
It’s an amazing drum machine, but it also has so many other uses as a sampler etc that it can be overwhelming.
A straight up drum machine might give you what you want.
It’ll probably cost the same as a DT and have less functionality, but if you can make good music with something more simple, maybe combine with a sampler later, maybe some soft synths or other hardware, that’s the only thing that matters!
There are lots of options but it depends how flexible you want to be after you’ve got over that initial first week of ‘this is amazing’. There’s the almost one-knob-per-function Elektron Model:Samples (which has the awesome sequencer ofc), Electribe, DrumBrute, TR-08, SP404A. I would seriously research each one and try to find Loopop reviews of some of them, as he’s the best at explaining features and pros/cons imo.
I’d add that sonicstate has a lot of really awesome reviews too and is usually my goto alongside loopop! 
Yes, but does it have PWM haha. Agreed tho!
the most important question! No PWM? No thanks!
Elektron falls into that “be careful what you wish for” category. If you do get the drumbrute that’s really all anyone needs for basics.
hi-hats are too menu divey, I have to press the pedal THEN hit to get a different sound 
should just have a closed hi-hat and open hi-hat as separate functions/buttons.
Digitakt has these as seperate buttons…
DT less menu divey than an actual drum kit - confirmed.
If you don’t need sampling, I say go for the Model Samples. For immediacy and pure fun, the M:S takes the cake for me. It is one of my favorite drum machines/groove boxes. It adds more physical controls than the DT, which makes it less menu divey, but it is somewhat scaled back as well. From what I understand, the sound engine is the same. But It only has 6 tracks, no overbridge, and less sample manipulation parameters.
I’ve never used them, but the TR8-S seem very knob per function. Note that the -S version is the update from the previous TR8. The update has been very well received with more sample playing capabilities (not sure if it also samples itself) on top of the drum synth tracks. Plus only last month it’s gotten a big firmware update giving it now also FM synthesis. Check it out, it could be great because on the surface level it’s more knob per function but still packs a lot to give you over time. But I don’t know how much secondary functions are menu based like the DT
+1 for Vermona DRM MKIII. No menu, no FX, no shift button, no sequencer. Pure analog drums.
Be careful with the sound of drumbrute, lot of people don’t like how it sound (including me).
