Digitone Mega Tutorial
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 เม.ย. 2018
- Hello. Elektron recently released their new FM synth, the Digitone. This is a long tutorial for the Digitone where I'm going through many aspects of the machine while making music and sounds.
Affiliate links:
Where to buy, US: shrsl.com/3h4wi
Where to buy, EU: thmn.to/thoprod/431568?offid=...
Where to buy US: link.perfectcircuit.com/t/v1/...
My recommended gear list: cuckoos.link/recommended
If you wanna support my work with these videos, you can do it by either buying stuff from my store, or by supporting me monthly on Patreon.
store.truecuckoo.com
/ cuckoomusic
Cheers! - เพลง
Still as cool as four years ago! I watched it then, thinking I'd never afford one. Now I have a Digitone Keys and I'm watching it all again!
i didnt even know the digitone keys was a thing, thats super cool im assuming it has all the same functionality? Ive been saving up for a digitone and was going to use a keystep with it but idk now
@@mastaboog749 It even has a little bit extra. I haven't seen it for sale lately so you might have to buy used.
I would get the desktop with the keystep it's a good combo- thats what I have basically
@@mastaboog749
Overview 1:40
Browsing sounds 8:45
Browsing with tag filters 10:35
Double tap stop to stop sounds 11:49
Quick make a track - First find a bass 12:16
First steps with the sequencer 13:08
Preparing to live record a sequence w/ metronome 14:25
Making a pattern longer, adding pages 15:50
Preeroll metronome count-in and live record 17:00
Quantising a track 17:50
Adjusting micro timing manually 19:05
Load a new track into track 2, live record and quantise 20:18
Kickdrum into sequence 22:28
Copying and pasting pages 23:30
A first acquaintance with the reverb and delay 24:10
Punch in Delay with Parameter Lock 25:40
Adding a mysterious bling long sound 27:02
Using the second Filter for Mixing 27:37
Parameter lock the panning 28:27
Loading drums into the sound pool, using the Sound Manager 29:31
Sequencing sounds from the Sound Pool 31:55
Making the bass more interesting ;) 36:20
Saving and recalling patterns, and Control All 37:26
Renaming a pattern 39:50
Selecting patterns 40:35
Copying and pasting patterns (and other things) 41:05
Making a pattern variation + basic arpeggio 42:48
Pattern Banks and Chains 44:41
The sound engine - Algorithms 45:38
Synth page 2- FM levels 47:57
Synth page 2 - Envelopes 49:36
Synth page 1 - FM Ratio - refinements 53:05
Using LFOs to automate a parameter 56:41
Harmonics 1:00:27
Detune and Feedback 1:01:22
Automating the X / Y mix with an LFO 1:02:22
Copy a page for “undo” 1:05:15
Saving a sound, and tagging it 1:06:11
Using what we’ve learned, for creating a bass 1:07:27
Using what we’ve learned, for creating an organ 1:10:41
A little word of wisdom 1:18:22
Creating velocity modulation 1:19:13
Creating mod wheel modulation 1:23:56
Sequencing velocity expression 1:24:51
Controlling external MIDI 1:26:16
ha, i did the same thing 3 months ago, but i guess nobody noticed - kudos for doing it again ;-)
God bless you sir
THANKS!
thx!
You’re an Ace.
You sir,are the Bob Ross of synths ! Happy little trees all over the place 👌
Hahaha so very true
Happy little keyboards. Have to have two because everyone needs a friend.
LMAO!
no lie how uncanny this is, but I commented the exact same in the previous video I just watched
you prolly dont care at all but does anyone know of a way to get back into an instagram account??
I somehow lost the account password. I love any assistance you can offer me.
I was not having a great time trying to wrangle this thing, was beginning to have some buyer’s remorse and thinking maybe synthesis just wasn’t for me, but watching just half this video and 3 hours of tinkering I’m feeling pretty confident in my ability to get a lot of use out of the digitone and really feel inspired to create. Thanks a ton for doing what you do
Thank you so much James! This is why I keep doing these things. It makes all my efforts feel worth it. 🙏🏼
Everytime I buy a new gear there is already a Cuckoo tutorial. Thanks a lot
Digitone Mega Tutorial Mega Timestamp!
01 Overview 1:36
02 Browsing sounds 8:45
03 Browsing with tag filters 10:36
04 Double tap to stop sounds 11:50
05 Quick make a track - First find a bass 12:14
First Steps with the sequencer 13:09
06 Preparing to live record with metronome 14:26
07 Making the pattern longer, adding pages 15:52
08 Preroll metronome count-in and live recording 17:02
09 Quantising a track 17:50
10 Adjusting micro timing manuallay 19:05
11 Load a new track into track 2, live rec+quant 20:19
12 Edit the sequence, copy and paste notes 21:27
13 Kickdrum into Sequence 22:29
14 copying and pasting pages 23:28
15 A first acquaintance with reverb and delay 24:12
16 Punch in delay with parameter lock 25:40
17 Adding a mysterious pling plong sound 27:02
18 Using second filter for mixing 27:37
19 Parameter lock the panning 28:27
20 Loading drums into the sound pool 29:32
21 Sequencing sounds from the sound pool 31:56
22 Making the bass more interesting 36:21
23 Saving and recalling patterns, Control All 37:27
24 Renaming a Pattern 39:50
25 Selecting patterns 40:33
26 Copying and pasting patterns, and stuff 41:05
27 Making a pattern variation + basic arpeggio 42:46
28 Pattern, banks and chains 44:41
29 The sound engine - Algorithms 45:39
30 Synth page 2 - FM levels 47:58
Synth page 2 - Envelopes 49:37
31 Synth page 1 - FM Ratio - Refinements 53:05
32 Using LFOs to automate a parameter 56:44
33 Harmonics 1:00:24
34 Detune and Feedback 1:01:22
35 Automating the X / Y mix with an LFO 1:02:22
36 Copy a page for Reload Ptn, ( undo ) 1:05:16
37 Saving a sound and tagging it 1:06:12
38 Using what we`ve Learned, creating bass 1:07:27
39 Using what we`ve Learned, crating organ 1:10:42
40 A little world of wisdom 1:18:22
41 Creating velocity modulations 1:19:13
42 Creating mod wheel modulations 1:23:56
43 Sequencing velocity expression 1:24:51
44 Controlling external MIDI 1:26:17
DI MB well played sir 💨
upvote the OG index!
this is the superior timestamp post because you included the numbers... and yet, that other guy gets all the shine! tragic.
@@xc3n Came looking for it just to do that 😁
thank you :-)
This overview format is so charming and helpful!
Great and sooooo helpful as always - the way you set out the context with the animation up front is perfect. Thanks for taking the time to do this.
Thanks beard bro! Knowing that you appreciate it makes all the work I put in it worthwhile! Thanks a lot!
Yesss. Skip the manual, watch cuckoo :)
A total big fat Agree!!!!
definitely it saved me hours of frustration learning my Elektron gear- then I went back and read the manuals and it started to make sense!
WTFC - Watch The Fucking Cuckoo
@@AB_ATT Watch The Funtastic Cuckoo
100%
I'm thinking this guy's winging it as he goes, but then he made the organ and no, he knows exactly what he's doing! :)
Very nice and relaxed tutorial! Thank you!
Thanks Cuckoo. Your tutorials are going from strength to strength. Nice touch with the mirror timer thing.
At first I thought it was strange but as the video went on I enjoyed it more and more haha, awesome touch
The mirror timer and titles at the top were super helpful. I’ve been coming back to this video and whenever I want to find a specific thing he talks about the mirror timer and title makes it really easy to skip around the video
Just got my digitone yesterday and this was the first vid I watched. I pretty much just followed along the whole video and let me tell you this was immensely helpful. Even today I found myself coming back to this video to review things I didn’t quite remember from yesterday.
Btw your such a calm and friendly sounding person, if you ever need a side gig I bet you’d be really good at doing asmr videos haha.
Hey Cuckoo thank you so much for this. Jut bought a Digitone and it is so refreshing to have an such an easy to follow tutorial with a new device which hits nearly all the features.
Loving the count down along the mirror for section length. Superb tutorial. Now going to see if the page copy and paste works on digitakt.
This might be the best, most comprehensive tutorial video I've ever watched for anything ever. Thanks!
I think Coco and loopop are the best tutorial available and great disposition and passion to boot. I just got a D'tone. Thank you, Mr C
Amazing as always Cuckoo :) Every detail of your video is so valuable. Thank you for putting so much into this.
Man! I’m really stoked to find this channel. Excellent tutorials. And such a chill vibe. 🥰
Relaxed teaching drives to relaxed learning. As always, your video are the best way to fall in love with an instrument and fully understand how it works. Thanks a lot Cuckoo.
I'm watching this to pass the time waiting for mine to arrive in the post. You've made this seem remarkably intuitive, and now I don't need to impatiently rtfm and can dive straight in.
Same here 🤟
What a clear and comprehensive tutorial - such an excellent communicator! This really helped demystify the Digitone and get me started two months ago. Since then I have become a little obsessed with it (!) and made loads of new material. Thank you Cuckoo!
Your approch to teach is great. You are able to put new informations and details exactly when the mind is ready to catch it.
Dear Cuckoo, this video was a pedagogical triumph! It was clearly so well rehearsed, and you really love and are so comfortable with the instrument , that you were just really relaxed and prepared to explore and be comfortable with challenges that emerged during the session. Definitely a template video for the future. Thanks very much, I now look forward to exploring with my new Digitone ;-)
Rarely pleasant and inspiring tutorial, that isn't boring for almost 2 hours... bravo 👏 👏 👏
Great video. I've been avoiding this video for a while because this gear reminds me of all my favorite Sega Genesis games.
This is the best synth tutorial I've seen. So chilled and informative.
Thank you Noel! I really appreciate hearing that.
Easy to see why so many people recommended I watch this when I got my Digitone. Very informative and accessible. Makes this deep device feel way less intimidating. Thanks!
I just love everything about your video: you smile, you enjoy using the digitone, the sound effects, the art of teaching and your calm voice. Thankyou for all the work you put into video.
Thanks Cuckoo, you have covered almost over the 80% of the manual in very simple and easy to understand way.
🙏🏼
Exceptional. The links to Digitakt/Digitone mega tuts should be added to the devices manuals.
I'm really excited to pick one of these up at some point. The tutorial was amazing, and then the mod wheel and velocity customization absolutely blew my mind. I'm definitely going to pick one of these up.
Dood, you have such a kind way about your videos! They are so helpful! If the TH-cam synth people had a chart for stars, you would be at the top of the class. Keep it fun, man!
Thank you! 🙏🏼
Brilliant Cuckoo - you have set a high bar for the standard of Elektron tutorials. Detailed, approachable but not overwhelming. 🙏
I spent a few hours (before watching this) last night creating patches - and the one takeaway I got from that, and your video, is the nature of FM is that it is quite ‘volatile’. Ie. in the sense that moving just one parameter a little bit can have radical changes in the timbre of the sound.
Quite exciting, but also a bit fiddly at times. It’s really fun (and instructional) to set up a workable sound, and then randomly change the Algorhtthm to see what that does, or to just gradually sweep the Harmonic, Mix, or Levels - and hear new and unexpected tones emerge.
Good stuff - and my sense is that the Digitone is a device that rewards exploratory approaches. Thank you. 👍
Yours might be one of the best channels of all time. Your deep dives are epic
I've had a digitone sit in my cart for the longest time and this video has convinced me to finally check out
Great stuff you are doing sharing your knowledge. Your effort in producing this is much appreciated. Thanks
This is a great tutorial, not only about the digitone but also about how to use fm synthesis in general
Your content is so inspiring. It always makes me want to dig deeper into my on machines and pass on the knowledge. Thanks for making your channel and videos. :) I have a long way to go for my explanation on my videos, but every-time watching yours gets me inspired. 👍👍
I was getting ready to sell my Digitone but started looking for videos that went in-depth on what it can do to see if I truly wanted to let it go. So glad I came across this...definitely not selling it now and feeling inspired. Thanks, Cuckoo!
I am so incredibly impressed and comforted by your ability to have smudges and normal dust particles on your synths.. Your totally mellow teaching style is so inspiring, and couldn't be less intimidating. Thank you Cuckoo!
🙏🏼
I'm fairly new to the world of bleeps and bloops. Is it common to be high strung about motes of dust on your equipment? I wouldn't have even noticed such a detail if it weren't for this comment.
oh my god how I appreciate this tutorial, I was thinking of selling the digitone because I did not feel comfortable with the workflow but you have changed my life, thank you very much cuckoo !!
yo chuckoo--- thank's a lot for this tutorial. first it helped me out with the decision to buy the digitone and after I did it it it made me understand the flow very fast. love it !!!
Just ordered a Digitone and this video is exactly what I needed. Thanks for doing it!
Just got my Digitone. Watched your tutorial. As ever, you nail it. You also make me laugh. That "doosh" noise you make, it's the best.
Thanks for this Mr Cuckoo. This and your TAKT walk through were a lot of fun and very useful.
Amazing tutorial. Mines coming in the mail soon. First thing I do whenever I get a new synth is look and hope you made a tutorial for it! You do such great work, and we all appreciate it so much. Keep it up!
What an incredible resource! Just picked up a Digitone and will be referring back to this a lot
Thanks Cuckoo for the amazing tutorial. This is really helping me get started with my new Digitone. It’s very easy to follow and fun too. Love all your videos. Thanks for your passion and hard work. 🏔
Mr Cuckoo, seriously, thank you soo much for this video. I got the Digitone a few days ago, brand new to synthesizers and thought id bit off more than I can chew. While thats still the case, this gave me a great jumping off point and reference guide for what all the thing can do. This seriously helped so much, thankyou.
So glad to hear that Mark! Keep it up!
You always make the best tutorials! I have to say, supporting you on Patreon is money well spent! Thank you!!
This video is sooo helpful! Have owned a digitone for almost a year and end up watching this video like once a month just a clarify something new here and there
Noobie Digitakt owner here, hello from Finland! Love your on-camera presence mr. Cuckoo, I have been enjoying your videos very much and actually learned something while at it. I have a Volca FM on the way but the Digitone is very tempting. My journey with this stuff is at the very beginning but I'm looking forward to explore this world thoroughly! Thanks!
Thanks a lot! This tutoiral really helped me to get into the synthesis of the digitone and this video is also so relaxing to watch. This helps me a lot to sit down and think about how to create sounds with it
Very helpful, even for us late to the game waiting for our Digitone 4 years later. This machine will join my DT just perfect.
Thanks for such a wonderful video on this awesome instrument - still invaluable years later.
just got my digitone. watching this awesome tutorial now. thanks so much. You're digitakt one helped me lots on that little box of spesh!!
Hey Cuckoo! Wishing you a happy new year! Thanks a bunch for this excellent, really helpful tutorial, I keep coming back whenever I find time and I am in need to dig deeper into my Digitone. Only through your tutorials and demos I got into Elektron gear. All the best!
Thanks a lot Frank! All the best to you too in the new year!
1:25:40 --> You just unlocked a superpower I hadn't thought about with older synths I've used. I've always preferred sequencing with well--ones like this. However, keyboard dynamics are totally lost. this mod matrix with velo immediately puts the Digitone into the same playground as my trusty Virus B or my old klunky kurzweil. Only now that same trick unlocks keyboard dynamics via sequencers like this too. *mind blown*
This whole tutorial made me super happy Cuckoo, but I have to just gush about your delivery style mate. I took a hiatus of 16yrs and this feels like you're helping me get off the couch. (As it were.)
What an excellent tutorial ! I have just finished it, with my new Digitone in front of me. It now all makes sense !
Watch this all the time! Favourite way to refresh myself on this cool instrument
I love this instrument, and your clear and excellent explanations of it's usage... astounding.
🙏🏼 Thank you!
Another great tutorial, Cuckoo! Even though I won´t get a Digitone myself, it´s so great to watch. The Elektron products look so amazing, but I am honestly slightly intimidated by them haha.
Thanks for the tutorial cuckoo! Was a little confused about the midi capabilities but you helped me out.
Thanks for this!
Just got mine tonight, and your video helped me not feel too overwhelmed, and able to bang out some quick patterns, cheers!
I have adhd and it’s super hard for me to learn reading manuels and watching vids, but wow this is the best tutorial I’ve seen. I bought my digitone about 3/4 months ago and was ready to give up. This video definitely brought me back and made me want to try harder. Thanks so much!
Thank you sooo much! So glad you found it helpful! It can be daunting to learn these machines for everyone. Especially of the manual or video is too structured. I try to keep it loose and “in the moment” to let you borrow my eyes for a bit.
Super super useful!!!! There are some features that are now much clearer to me. Thanks Cuckoo, respect!!!!
UPDATE: I finally got my Digitone ....OMG this thing is so awesome! i got it hooked up to my DX21 and a volca sample ready for some lovely Sega Genesis inspired music! thanks for teaching how to use this great machine, Cuckoo! Saved me a lot of time and gave me the ability to jump straight in and make music right away!
*Original Post*
Still have to wait about 4 more weeks until my digitone ships (sad and painful) but in the meantime I'm absorbing every tutorial video I can before i get it in my hands. yours, of course, is the most enjoyable to watch. Cuckoo for president 2024!
Love the in-depth videos! You should do more for other not-new gear too.
I just got my Elektron Digitone on Friday. Started watching this tutorial this morning. So far I am learning more from this video than I have from the manual.
Glad to hear that! Keep it up!
cuckoomusic
What is the project function good for? I thought maybe it was possible to string a group of patterns together to create a song, but it appears that all one can do is save patterns to them. Is that about right?
I was reluctant to dive into a 90 minute tutorial but there's so much stuff here I would never have figured out on my own. Thanks!
after owning the keys version for about 2.5 months and learning what Ive learned on my own., Im finally ready for this and its really been helpful.
@ErsatzMoose Yes I do use the knobs not for sound design but for performance tweaking and they add a bit - not sure its the deciding factor. I would say the Digitone is amazing with or without - def recommended. I like my keys (it was my first synth, and I think it just needed to have a keyboard :)) but at this point, I know Id be fine with the box and its very possible if I were purchasing it today Id go keyless, not out of regret for what I have but my setup and understanding is now more evolved. Id still need a keyboard though and the Digitone controls the few synths I have very nicely. But maybe Id like having a keyboard not attached to the digi if you know what I mean. Those Arturia keyboards are nice.
At 22:53... like to keep your “drum sequence on track 4”, did you say it’s your rule of THUMP! LOL. Great video Cuckoo, you have the most awesomest mellow voice, just makes me SMILE!!! :-))
Amazing tutorial. I gotta say currently you are my fav person to watch for tutorials
🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 thank you so much Jose!
I’ve been around dozens and dozens of Synthesizers dating back to 1972 with my Arp 2600 and Mini Moog and so many since then. So I’m pretty good getting around most of them and have a good working knowledge of FM Synthesis but I must admit I found my Digitone a little more confusing than any other Synth I’ve had, it’s is just not an intuitive layout and it has so much depth to the settings and options. After watching this demo/explanation I completely get it. This has saved me hours of experimenting to just learn the basic layout and workflow. Thanks for this excellent video.
So happy to hear that, mate! This has become one of my absolute favourites. But any Elektron synth takes a while to get into. But once you get it, it’s really well made. I can be pretty efficient with all the Elektron machines now.
God at home with his synths. Love it.
I’ve got the Digitakt and Syntakt.
I didn’t realise I needed a Digitone until I seen this video.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What everyone else says dude; you saved me from attempting to throw my new kit out of the double glazing (tip: it will likely fly back and hurt me more than the double glazing). Thanks loads - all my basic questions answered and I'm not half way through your video!
I really like this style of tutorial Cuckoo. I've learned much by watching you create.
Digitone coming tomorrow - 2:24 seconds in and I already know this is the best place for a new owner to be , thanks in advance bro 👍🏽
Great material.
About the pattern changes in section 28, you don't need to keep pressed the first one but you can keep pressed the last one. Which enables you to select the fist pattern later on.
Thanks alot man, great tutorial, helped me get going real quick :-) Just a couple days into it, really enjoying the Digitone + Digitakt sound and workflow
Fabulous Dive into Digitone. Thank you so much Cuckoo. You certainly are proficient on these little devices. Wow!
Bought the octatrack because of yer vid as well as getting this, your videos are my Bible for these, thx cuckoo.
Heard this machine and thought the sounds were very unique. After your tutorial I am now conviced is also very powerful. Thanks.
You are such a sweet and patient teacher. Thank you.
you are the man! your calmth is soothing. You should do a followup for both the tone and the takt where you share intricate and advanced ideas and workarounds!
you're honestly one of my most favourite channels on youtube.
Thank you so much Chad! Comment like yours is what keeps me motivated, mate! ❤️
Merci beaucoup Monsieur Cuckoo. Trop bien !
I rarely comment on TH-cam, but this was so soothing and informative at the same time. I love your content already a lot!
Thank you so much Mo! I appreciate it 🙏🏼
Hello and thank you very much for your amazing video.
I needed to know if this machine is what I was looking for and this video was perfect!
I enjoyed a lot the mirror for the "face cam" and specially the "building an organ sound from scratch"!
I sure will be getting this machine!
Subbed!
Thanks again,
Joel.
Shit. I found this video while looking for a synth to plug into my midi keyboard. Was gonna look up how to connect to a midi keyboard, but then you threw it in there too. You covered literally everything, so thorough. Big thumbs up my dude
Glad you found it! Thanks 🙏🏼
Thanks Cuckoo. I just bought my Digitone and you have helped immensely!
Put in my deposit for one of these today! Will hopefully get on Friday! In the meanwhile stoked to learn from your video homie.
What a masterpiece tutorial. You totally nailed it, big thanks my friend!
Still going to finish reading the manual (page 23/96 atm), but you just jump-started with probably 90%+ of what's in there, and will have me using it today, rather than a day from now. Thanks!
Thanks for this mate!!! One of the best tutorials I ve watched
I'm late to the game. Got my Digitone today and am watching your tutorial! Yes! thank you sir.
T.C., you are a true treasure fount of analog/digital knowledge goodness. Thank you...Peace
Very helpful video, just got mine and I’m already creating patterns thanks to you. All the best
Awesome! Thanks! Keep it up!
Amazing pedagogic work here ! Thank you for your work !
I have GAS, every video of yours I watch I want to buy something else. :) I'm definitely adding a Digitakt 2 to my arsenal, maybe also a Digitone. Thanks for these amazing in depth tutorials.