Use the link below to snag the Syntakt at Perfect Circuit (and help the channel with a small commission at no cost to you!): Syntakt: bit.ly/perfcircsyntakt
Absolutely I'd love to see and hear you do more on these! The sound quality and the workflow on Elektron gear is why they appealed to me so much. That's really awesome that you have this setup but I tell you, the arpegiator on the Digitone would take it over the top if you ever decide to get it. Good stuff!
Nice video. I’m hooked on my Syntakt and am fortunate enough to own several Elektrons. They all compliment each other very well. This weekend Syntakt and Analog 4 was my choice. I own and use lots of other products too, but right now deep diving on Elektron.
I 100% agree with a number of things you pointed out. First, that the Syntakt is really benefiting from having a sidekick sampler, and second, that the Elektron workflow is so quick and fun and designed for live *and* production environments. There's also something about these boxes where the stuff you make on them just ends up sounding great. They are just so cool. The only thing I'm not sure of, personally, is whether I think the Syntakt and Digitakt is the perfect combo. I tried it briefly but it felt like they were both fighting to be the "main" device, while both also failing to fill the crucial polyphonic parts. I didn't love that the Digitakt was a mono sampler either. That said, I still haven't found the perfect Syntakt companion. My explorations with the SP-404 MKII have mostly left me feeling frustrated with the Roland workflow which is never as enjoyable as the Elektron workflow. The fact that it doesn't even have proper envelopes for its samples makes it harder to dial in sounds the way you want them without convoluted resampling processes. I'm currently intrigued with the new Polyend Tracker Mini as a potential sidekick. It could serve a number of purposes, particularly the sample/resample companion to the Syntakt while also offering the ability to play lush chords with stereo chorus effects across 2-3 tracks. Then it would in theory be a really fun portable groovebox/sketchpad for samples-first song ideas on the go, which could then be augmented with the Syntakt when back home in the studio. Portability is one thing I really miss with the Elektron boxes and despite things like birdcords and powerbanks, nothing is quite as convenient as a built-in battery in a sturdy, small plastic build. Will see when I can get my hands on a PTM to see if it's as fun as it looks. 😊
@@7177YT That's actually where I started, but with the Syntakt as my main device, I don't think the Digitone is perfect either because I'd still miss samples. The Digitakt and Digitone is probably the ideal combo though.
Syncing patterns is easy. You need to connect one with the other with midi cable and set program change sending on one and receiving on other. Fun fact: MPC can also change patterns on program change so I have pretty much everything synced up ( as long as Syntakt is the “master” sending all program change messages, MPC is connected via usb). Unfortunately the other way round (ie MPC being the master) doesn’t work bc electron need to have program change senr couple beats before the actual change. Still, the setup is pretty flawless. Oh and I do it as you described. Just use one big project for all tunes in progress, after I use up all patterns I move to next one (keeping same name on all devices).
4:22 yeah that's a pretty fun beat you got there! edit: Octatrack does pretty well for itself without overbridge. I am using it like a 4-track recorder with DT and ST plugged into it, and it serves much the same function you envision with your MPC setup. Just think of it as a piece of 'vintage' gear and enjoy the crossfader mayhem.
Thanks for the excellent video. You sell the Digitakt well. I have a Syntakt, Digitone, Elektron Machinedrum MK2, Analog 4, MicroKorg, Korg Wavestate, Opsix, Modway, Volca Drum, Volca FM2 and a Roland SH-01 Gaia and a Casio XW-P1. I am planning a CyberPunk album right now and composing a CyberPunk ballet - I aim to use the Elektron machines and the Wavestate, Opsix and Modwave for that. I am very tempted to buy a Digitakt and/or Octatrak. I am also thinking of getting an ASM Hydrasynth and an Arturia Minifreak. If you lived closer, I'd appreciate working with you on my projects, if you had the time and were interested.
It’s nice to have a channel doing such a good content. I’m trying to figure out what is better for me. An Analog Rytm mkt 2 or the digitakt + the syntak. I need one or the other to create my own drum samples in the studio.. I work a lot with sound design and in the DAW I usually use synth and sample layers to make my own drum sounds. When I say digitakt + syntak it’s because I’m thinking about syncing the MIDI of the two devices and layering the synth (of syntak) with samples (of the digitakt). Example: in digitakt a clap sample and in the syntak a synth model clap. I’m trying to figure out which choice has more sound design power. In the Analog Rytm mkt 2 I can resample… but in the digitakt + syntak it looks like there is a bigger range of sounds for me to tweak and experiment with. What would be your suggestion? Thank you!
I've never used the Analog Rtym so I can't really give a definitive answer on this one. The syntakt and digitakt would likely work for you, but you could also potentially get by with something like an SP 404 or any other sample based drum machine and groovebox in place of the digi. If you want to heavily edit the samples, then the options in the digitakt are cool, but they are only mono samples. You could potentially look at something like an Octatrack as well, but using that just for creating drum samples sort of seems like buying a Ferrari to drive exclusively in a 20 mile per hour small neighborhood.
If you think about it, mono sampling is not such a huge deficit these days. It forces you to start simply and make better sound choices before the mixing stage. Plus, producing in mono makes it easier to ensure your whole track is mono compatible (thinking of the portable speakers or speakers in supermarkets :) ). There are ways to spread everything out into the stereo field through panning and ping pong delays etc. Plus, the Digitakt is supposed to be a drum computer and all 8 (suggested) instrument tracks are mono by nature (kick, snare, hihat...).
Coming back to this video, and seeing your sign off... I have to admit something. I didn't have a wonderful week ahead back then.. it was crap. So thanks! ...Thanks!
@DylanParisMusic haha ! 😄 cheers Dylan. Great video though. Helped me out, mpc workflow is really trying my patience so I was considering a combo digitakt and digitone. Came here to see what the syntakt would be like with it.
I have both combined with a korg minilogue xd, ob-6 and subsequent-37 . I think the Digitakt and Syntakt are quite unique combo. They cost roughly 2k together but you get much more out of it. Rytm costs roughly 2k and you only get 8 tracks, no midi. A4 cost roughly 1.5k and you only have 4 voices. Octatrack is massive but still 1.3k with steep learning curve ( i owned one and sold it), only 8 audio tracks and 8 midi tracks. All that compared to 28 tracks(8 audio tracks + 8 midi tracks + 12 audio or midi tracks) plus massive updates like maschines on DT and new engines on ST. Even standalone maschines like akai force or maschine+ dont have so many tracks and „directness“ And the workflow differs a lot compared to their bigger brothers. Much more intuitive, easier to learn and memorize. Unless you really need a stereo sampler, or specific sound from the other elektron Boxes, i dont see any reason to get them for the higher price tag. They also dont really seem to get updates like DT and ST
Similar conclusions. Actually I have been wanting digitakt since I got digitone. After getting Syntakt I feel it even more. But I just cant explain to myself why should I buy Digitakt when I have MPC, which is also my command center and hub for all gear.
I think they’re both really similar but also different. I would probaaaaably take the tracker over the digitakt for the radio and the storage management if I was using it solo, but with the Syntakt I prefer the digitakt
Guys with ASM hydrasynth, which is already very deep for sound design, but has a kinda bad sequencer, would you suggest a syntakt or a digitakt? I like that digitakt can sample, even from hydrasynth, expanding the potential of use, but syntakt seems kinda more straightforward for performances. What you think?
I think you’d get more flexibility from the Digitakt as it has separate midi sequencing tracks along with the 8 sample tracks. That said if you want more synth sounds with the specific vibe of the syntakt, that combo would work too, you’d just need to sacrifice one of the 12 tracks to use as a midi one I believe
@@DylanParisMusic i guess that out of the 8 tracks of the digitakt i would only use one at a time on the hydrasynth, are there any other ways to use multiple simultaneously?
I wouldn’t say I prefer the Syntakt over the Digitone, I have the Syntakt cause I hadn’t tried one before and Perfect Circuit was gracious enough to let me have one in exchange for making some videos with ads. The Digitone is really cool in its own right and I’ve considered picking up another one (I had one a long time ago) but I currently have too much gear that can do similar FM synthesis (AKAI Force, MPC Key 61, Ableton Push 3).
Try the mpcx , I think you'll get a vibe that you'll like playing those pads. I play to get Melodie's now on those pads. I stick to 4 notes anyway lol. No really, try one for experienced. See if you like it. I like it. Btw I like my Elektron A4 synth. It's clocked to my Mpcx. I can step sequence on mpcx or something again on the A4 sequencer. That sequencer also gives me that vibe. The sequencer is the highlight.
I think it’s pretty fair to say the Syntakt has a pretty unique sonic signature and that it’s prettttty difficult to get it to sound different from most other demos. There’s some expansions that change it, but it does have a sort of digital fm-y vibe that makes it hard to get a huge variety of sounds out of the machines without a lot of tweaking
I would never have both of these ONLY because of the diff color screens. I know, Im a dweeb. But they really need to make a yellow syntakt and a white digi
Use the link below to snag the Syntakt at Perfect Circuit (and help the channel with a small commission at no cost to you!):
Syntakt: bit.ly/perfcircsyntakt
Absolutely I'd love to see and hear you do more on these! The sound quality and the workflow on Elektron gear is why they appealed to me so much. That's really awesome that you have this setup but I tell you, the arpegiator on the Digitone would take it over the top if you ever decide to get it. Good stuff!
Thanks man! I’m so tempted to throw a digitone in this mix somehow but not sure I can swing it
Love coming across new synth you tubers who are great! ❤
Thank you so much!
Nice video. I’m hooked on my Syntakt and am fortunate enough to own several Elektrons. They all compliment each other very well. This weekend Syntakt and Analog 4 was my choice. I own and use lots of other products too, but right now deep diving on Elektron.
That’s awesome! Thank you for watching the video and for the kind words
I 100% agree with a number of things you pointed out. First, that the Syntakt is really benefiting from having a sidekick sampler, and second, that the Elektron workflow is so quick and fun and designed for live *and* production environments. There's also something about these boxes where the stuff you make on them just ends up sounding great. They are just so cool.
The only thing I'm not sure of, personally, is whether I think the Syntakt and Digitakt is the perfect combo. I tried it briefly but it felt like they were both fighting to be the "main" device, while both also failing to fill the crucial polyphonic parts. I didn't love that the Digitakt was a mono sampler either.
That said, I still haven't found the perfect Syntakt companion. My explorations with the SP-404 MKII have mostly left me feeling frustrated with the Roland workflow which is never as enjoyable as the Elektron workflow. The fact that it doesn't even have proper envelopes for its samples makes it harder to dial in sounds the way you want them without convoluted resampling processes.
I'm currently intrigued with the new Polyend Tracker Mini as a potential sidekick. It could serve a number of purposes, particularly the sample/resample companion to the Syntakt while also offering the ability to play lush chords with stereo chorus effects across 2-3 tracks. Then it would in theory be a really fun portable groovebox/sketchpad for samples-first song ideas on the go, which could then be augmented with the Syntakt when back home in the studio. Portability is one thing I really miss with the Elektron boxes and despite things like birdcords and powerbanks, nothing is quite as convenient as a built-in battery in a sturdy, small plastic build. Will see when I can get my hands on a PTM to see if it's as fun as it looks. 😊
Digitone is a really good friend to the ST. And if you match those two with an Octatrack you have a dream setup. Can even use OT Arp with ST
Yeah I do feel the lack of a chord focused machine with these two! I just tried hooking them up to an MPC one and that might be the ultimate move.
Why don't you get a digitone? I don't grasp why you all are overlooking the obvious solution. 🤔
@@7177YT That's actually where I started, but with the Syntakt as my main device, I don't think the Digitone is perfect either because I'd still miss samples. The Digitakt and Digitone is probably the ideal combo though.
check out the torso s-4 as a potential syntakt partner
Ice video bro. I have all three. All three tracks are great. I like the second one the best! Nice vibe!!!
Thank you!!
Thanks for the shoutout! Really digging that second jam, quite a bit, gives me old racing game vibes
Thanks man! I’m literally watching a Digitone video you made right now haha, I really appreciate how you cover these devices
@@DylanParisMusic you’re unhinged!!!! (in a good way)
🤣🙏🙌😭😎
Syncing patterns is easy. You need to connect one with the other with midi cable and set program change sending on one and receiving on other. Fun fact: MPC can also change patterns on program change so I have pretty much everything synced up ( as long as Syntakt is the “master” sending all program change messages, MPC is connected via usb). Unfortunately the other way round (ie MPC being the master) doesn’t work bc electron need to have program change senr couple beats before the actual change. Still, the setup is pretty flawless.
Oh and I do it as you described. Just use one big project for all tunes in progress, after I use up all patterns I move to next one (keeping same name on all devices).
Really nice comparison..
Stunning machines..
Thanks! Yeah I’m obsessed with these things right now
def great combo, itss what i rock, but the rytm got me eyeing it harrrrd
Indeed! And Syntakt with an Octatrack is amazing
Yea, sounds sick!
Thank you!
4:22 yeah that's a pretty fun beat you got there!
edit: Octatrack does pretty well for itself without overbridge. I am using it like a 4-track recorder with DT and ST plugged into it, and it serves much the same function you envision with your MPC setup. Just think of it as a piece of 'vintage' gear and enjoy the crossfader mayhem.
Thank you! And that’s good to know, that sounds like a rad setup!
Using the Digitakt and Syntakt with a Korg Wavestate would be awesome in a live setting - plenty of Cyber muscle power! ;)
I'm running your idea about the setup with the MPC keys except it's Digitakt and Rytm Mk2 running into a Roland 707. It works really well!
Ooooh that sounds like a really cool setup! The 707 is forever underrated!
Thanks for the excellent video. You sell the Digitakt well. I have a Syntakt, Digitone, Elektron Machinedrum MK2, Analog 4, MicroKorg, Korg Wavestate, Opsix, Modway, Volca Drum, Volca FM2 and a Roland SH-01 Gaia and a Casio XW-P1. I am planning a CyberPunk album right now and composing a CyberPunk ballet - I aim to use the Elektron machines and the Wavestate, Opsix and Modwave for that. I am very tempted to buy a Digitakt and/or Octatrak. I am also thinking of getting an ASM Hydrasynth and an Arturia Minifreak.
If you lived closer, I'd appreciate working with you on my projects, if you had the time and were interested.
It’s nice to have a channel doing such a good content.
I’m trying to figure out what is better for me. An Analog Rytm mkt 2 or the digitakt + the syntak.
I need one or the other to create my own drum samples in the studio.. I work a lot with sound design and in the DAW I usually use synth and sample layers to make my own drum sounds.
When I say digitakt + syntak it’s because I’m thinking about syncing the MIDI of the two devices and layering the synth (of syntak) with samples (of the digitakt). Example: in digitakt a clap sample and in the syntak a synth model clap.
I’m trying to figure out which choice has more sound design power.
In the Analog Rytm mkt 2 I can resample… but in the digitakt + syntak it looks like there is a bigger range of sounds for me to tweak and experiment with.
What would be your suggestion?
Thank you!
I've never used the Analog Rtym so I can't really give a definitive answer on this one. The syntakt and digitakt would likely work for you, but you could also potentially get by with something like an SP 404 or any other sample based drum machine and groovebox in place of the digi. If you want to heavily edit the samples, then the options in the digitakt are cool, but they are only mono samples. You could potentially look at something like an Octatrack as well, but using that just for creating drum samples sort of seems like buying a Ferrari to drive exclusively in a 20 mile per hour small neighborhood.
If you think about it, mono sampling is not such a huge deficit these days. It forces you to start simply and make better sound choices before the mixing stage. Plus, producing in mono makes it easier to ensure your whole track is mono compatible (thinking of the portable speakers or speakers in supermarkets :) ). There are ways to spread everything out into the stereo field through panning and ping pong delays etc. Plus, the Digitakt is supposed to be a drum computer and all 8 (suggested) instrument tracks are mono by nature (kick, snare, hihat...).
That setup idea is overkill and you should definitely do it
🙏🤣😎
You don’t need overbridge on the OT as it’s a good end of chain unit. Dawless
Fair! Because I finish all my songs in a DAW I need the stems from anything I make so I can mix myself or send to a mixing professional
Coming back to this video, and seeing your sign off... I have to admit something.
I didn't have a wonderful week ahead back then.. it was crap. So thanks! ...Thanks!
I hope this week is better!
@DylanParisMusic haha ! 😄 cheers Dylan. Great video though. Helped me out, mpc workflow is really trying my patience so I was considering a combo digitakt and digitone. Came here to see what the syntakt would be like with it.
heck yeah, great combo! i put TR8s and MC707 into Octatrack, for extra effort! cult of elektron...
That sounds like an awesome combo! I miss the 707, never should have sold mine
I have both combined with a korg minilogue xd, ob-6 and subsequent-37 .
I think the Digitakt and Syntakt are quite unique combo. They cost roughly 2k together but you get much more out of it.
Rytm costs roughly 2k and you only get 8 tracks, no midi.
A4 cost roughly 1.5k and you only have 4 voices.
Octatrack is massive but still 1.3k with steep learning curve ( i owned one and sold it), only 8 audio tracks and 8 midi tracks.
All that compared to 28 tracks(8 audio tracks + 8 midi tracks + 12 audio or midi tracks) plus massive updates like maschines on DT and new engines on ST. Even standalone maschines like akai force or maschine+ dont have so many tracks and „directness“
And the workflow differs a lot compared to their bigger brothers. Much more intuitive, easier to learn and memorize.
Unless you really need a stereo sampler, or specific sound from the other elektron Boxes, i dont see any reason to get them for the higher price tag. They also dont really seem to get updates like DT and ST
Great points! And for stereo samples (and some great synth/effects too) you also can get an iOS device you already own (iPhone/iPad)
How is this setup? Do you have the syntakt going through one of the digitakts mini channels? Or is it just a midi cord from digi to the synt ? Thank u
5 pin midi out of Digitakt into Syntakt, Digitakt audio from headphone jack into the L and R inputs on the Syntakt
Similar conclusions. Actually I have been wanting digitakt since I got digitone. After getting Syntakt I feel it even more. But I just cant explain to myself why should I buy Digitakt when I have MPC, which is also my command center and hub for all gear.
After using the digitakt for a while I think your instinct to focus on the MPC you have is smart
Are you liking the elektron more than the polyend tracker ? I think you made a good point about it being big free so thinking about giving it a shot.
I think they’re both really similar but also different. I would probaaaaably take the tracker over the digitakt for the radio and the storage management if I was using it solo, but with the Syntakt I prefer the digitakt
@@DylanParisMusic the the tracker handles samples is so much better! Thanks for the thoughts!
Guys with ASM hydrasynth, which is already very deep for sound design, but has a kinda bad sequencer, would you suggest a syntakt or a digitakt? I like that digitakt can sample, even from hydrasynth, expanding the potential of use, but syntakt seems kinda more straightforward for performances. What you think?
I think you’d get more flexibility from the Digitakt as it has separate midi sequencing tracks along with the 8 sample tracks. That said if you want more synth sounds with the specific vibe of the syntakt, that combo would work too, you’d just need to sacrifice one of the 12 tracks to use as a midi one I believe
@@DylanParisMusic i guess that out of the 8 tracks of the digitakt i would only use one at a time on the hydrasynth, are there any other ways to use multiple simultaneously?
I’m not super sure, it depends on how the synth lets you split voices etc, I haven’t used the hydra so I’m not sure
@@DylanParisMusic is it possible on the digitakt to resample the hydrasynth on the fly? That would switch things up
@michele709 I think so but it samples in mono so you’d probably lose some of the rich stereo texture
hi, why do you prefer syntakt over digitone?
I wouldn’t say I prefer the Syntakt over the Digitone, I have the Syntakt cause I hadn’t tried one before and Perfect Circuit was gracious enough to let me have one in exchange for making some videos with ads. The Digitone is really cool in its own right and I’ve considered picking up another one (I had one a long time ago) but I currently have too much gear that can do similar FM synthesis (AKAI Force, MPC Key 61, Ableton Push 3).
You don't need overbridge if you're using a vst host with midi integration
Rad!
hope you figured out the sync of pattern switches, which I did recently with these 2 boxes. otherwise ping me
I did later on, thank you!
Try the mpcx , I think you'll get a vibe that you'll like playing those pads. I play to get Melodie's now on those pads. I stick to 4 notes anyway lol. No really, try one for experienced. See if you like it. I like it. Btw I like my Elektron A4 synth. It's clocked to my Mpcx. I can step sequence on mpcx or something again on the A4 sequencer. That sequencer also gives me that vibe. The sequencer is the highlight.
The MPC X always looked so cool! Probably too large for my studio right now but I admire it for sure
Is it me or does Syntakt sound exactly the same in every demo?
I think it’s pretty fair to say the Syntakt has a pretty unique sonic signature and that it’s prettttty difficult to get it to sound different from most other demos. There’s some expansions that change it, but it does have a sort of digital fm-y vibe that makes it hard to get a huge variety of sounds out of the machines without a lot of tweaking
I would never have both of these ONLY because of the diff color screens.
I know, Im a dweeb. But they really need to make a yellow syntakt and a white digi
Hahaha fair though! It is a bit of a strange combo
If this is stopping you from making music, maybe music isn't for you.
You'll have to pay taxes on the value of the Syntakt because you took it as income for making an ad.
That is how taxes work yes