The Best Sequencer of Any Budget Groovebox! (In my Opinion)
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- Опубліковано 15 вер 2024
- The Best Sequencer of Any Budget Groovebox! (In my Opinion)
Today I'm talking about why I think that the Elektron Model:Cycles and Model:Samples have the best sequencer of any budget groovebox! For just under $300 USD, both of these boxes provide more sequencer features than anything else in the price range, and actually have more features than even some more expensive boxes as well! The ease of which parameter locks, pattern resolution, copy and paste features, and so much more are implemented easily make the Cycles and Samples stand out in a crowd! Enjoy the video :)
GEAR IN THIS VIDEO
Elektron Model:Cycles: amzn.to/3AHIzdd
Elektron Model:Samples (not featured): amzn.to/3m0wnjO
Zoom Livetrak L-12 (audio recorder): amzn.to/3m0wjk4
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I agree 100%. Not only is the workflow great but it is also a blast. And you can come up with grooves that are only possible on this machine. Combined with the Microfreak, it will take you to places no man has been before.
I completely agree, thanks for watching!
Im so used to my Rm1x, but i could really use parameter locks and probability. I may have to snag a samples.
Love the electron workflow, I’m sure it’s not for everyone, but I love it.
Seconded.
How do you arrange full songs with them?
@@difflocktwo yea I think that's the downside. There's no Song mode, even pattern chaining. If you watch videos of people performing whole tracks with them , they are selecting the next pattern manually. It's not a big issue and the rest of the functionality is awesome, but something to be aware of.
You can easily chain patterns, I even demonstrated in the video :)
@@FreeBeat Is the chain saved in the project? I guess you could save a project that is pre chained and just copy that project and use it like a song template.
100% agree with you. It would be the best of the best with separate tracks output
Oh yeah that would be another great feature!
I know you didn't get on with the Circuit Tracks but the Circuit Rhythm is awesome. I find it so easy to make complete songs on.
Yeah, I am liking the circuit rhythm a lot! I like the elektron workflow as well and the two feel similar but I’ve had more luck making complete standalone ideas with the rhythm than I did with the cycles. Both great little groove boxes though! And both fall short of the polyend tracker which I think is hands down the best all-in-one hardware music making machine
@@cpiercew24 Yes, I have been interested in the Polyend Tracker but now there is the Dirtywave M8, which looks even more powerful and so I will be getting one of them as soon as pre-orders re-open.
Glad you are enjoying it!
On top of all that, the Model:Samples got sample locking per step through an update, so you're not limited to the 6 samples on the T buttons anymore. Absolute monster of a unit
Yeah that's such a great feature, the cycles can switch between different machines per step as well. Really opens the devices up!
@@FreeBeat oh wow, I didn't know the cycles got a similar feature as well. That's awesome! Really makes it feel like you could probably go completely DAWless with just those two by themselves
Limited with the small memory. Hope they make a new model samples
The cycles has basically made everything else feel redundant to me. The sequencer is so powerful. So many steps, so many options.. I can’t go back to the Volcas now. I’d buy another device with a different style sound in a heartbeat
Sound is the main thing holding me back. Electribe 2 demos consistently sounded better than any other groove box demos even though they are very primitive compared to elektron.
@@difflocktwo I love the way the Cycles sounds. I have a bit of a thing for FM twangs and metallic edge. Perhaps relate to being a Sega child..
Yeah, I completely agree. Sometimes I'll go a week or two without using the cycles, and then I come back to the sequencer and I'm just reminded at how far ahead of the game Elektron is!
How do you know what notes you are playing? That part confuses me.
It will tell you on the screen, or you can use a MIDI keyboard as well. You can parameter lock the pitch of each step too, The screen will tell you what note you're on :)
If only the (ext) sequencer was polyphonic, god damn it. I only use it for monophonic synths and synths with chord memory now. But still, you can't have everything. Great sequencer indeed.
If the sequencer was polyphonic then the cycles and samples would be the two most underpriced pieces of gear on the market currently! That would be incredible haha
@@FreeBeat For sure! Nice and clearly explained vid btw, I like it!
@@FreeBeat The Circuit Tracks has a polyphonic sequencer with fx and sidechain for external audio sources and it's cheaper than the Model:Samples!
The Elektron enthusiasts make it seem like the company's every product is the best thing since sliced bread, but when you actually look at the functionality it provides it's always a disappointment.
@@nietaki If only the Circuit Tracks had more than 8 patterns per track, and longer than 16 step patterns, I would have really enjoyed it.
Also I am by no means an Elektron enthusiast haha. The Cycles is the only thing by them I own, and their only other product I tried (the Syntakt) I didn't really care for at all.
I am more curious as to what you think about the zoom as far as stand alone music production and performance?
It’s a shame the Elektron Rytm is so expansive since I do like the Elektron sequencer
Someday I'd love to try out some of their higher end products!
Was thinking of saving for a model samples but that tiny screen puts me off. I think it's probably a Polyend tracker for me in the distant future, will take longer to save for though as it's around double the price.
I thought the small screen would bother me too, but I really haven't been affected by it at all. If you have the opportunity to give the cycles or samples a shot I would recommend it.
Polyend tracker is great in concept but has some limitations and a ton of bugs. It's a shame
You don't need a screen even you have one function per knob. I agree, model samples is the best drum machine for the price hands down. Electron is the shit
Their sequencers just about make up for the capitolist tactics of giving each machine a little something the other don't have, carefully avoiding making one machine with all the bells and whistles so you won't be content with that one machine. You need three or four to satisfy GAS
Wonder how the sequencer stacks up against the Korg SQ-64
I haven't used the SQ-64, so I'm not sure, but I'd imagine they're pretty different, because the Cycles is attached to a full groovebox whereas the SQ-64 is a standalone sequencer. Thanks for watching!
Why I own both lol samples and cycles, I can use my iPhone to sample to samples Now with an app, also have Arturia 🎹 og not the 37 but it makes them better. maybe get 37 one day just can’t justify features over og price, but my og ver the Limited addition black one it would match your MPC one LOL
Thanks so much for watching!
Sold.
Wait no polyphony? 😢
💔
Hello. I have a question that no video I have found on this item is answering. can it sequence a external sound module via an external keyboard via midi thru?
I believe you can
Super powerful sequencer, just a pity there's no Song mode or pattern chaining
There is pattern chaining, I even demonstrated in the video :)
@@FreeBeat that was chaining steps, not patterns as far as I could see 🤓
@@GregDixson I chain pattern one directly to pattern five in this video haha. You can go as far as you'd like with that too. I have a song on this channel called "No Better Time" that I wrote and recorded directly with the Model:Cycles by chaining some 40ish patterns.
You can defo chain patterns. Hold pattern, select the first pattern you want but keep the button held. You can then press other patterns to chain.
@@brokenscart7989 ok great 👍🏻 so what's with people manually changing patterns for demonstrating songs on UA-cam. Just for something to look at maybe 🙃
how many different parameters can you lock per step?
Bloody loads
@@brokenscart7989 Ok. My lxr can only change two different parameters per step.
@@difflocktwo the cycles feels endless after coming from a Volca!
You can parameter lock each and every parameter per track per step, it's pretty insane.
cant do chords doe
Yeah, that's the one bummer. I think I mentioned it in the video but if it had polyphony on at least one track it would probably be my favorite sequencer I've ever used!
@@FreeBeat fair fair yea ive been on a huge hunt for the perfect sequencer factoring in price and everything, cycles sure is powerful the probability is a sweet feature, looking at squarp pyramid rn but that thing is pricey… the hunt continues 🤣
good info, but i hate fast baby hands
Not exactly sure what you mean, but thanks for watching.