Going DAWless was the best thing I ever did to learn music and start creating right away. The way each one is limited to a specific task gives it character as I hunted the machines I needed for specific sounds. I do have a Digitakt and a Syntakt and frankly, they do everything I need. I can put just one on my lap every night and create a new track. EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. I love it
its barely 5 years old. its one of the most iconic samplers of all time and is still actively produced and being updated with new features. I know its clickbait but its absolutely preposterous if actually anyone thinks the digitakt is somehow lacking in any meaningful way and that it isnt still at the razors edge of relevance in the music tech world in 2023. its going to be relevant until elektron makes a mk2, catches fire, or someone else actually makes a genuinely superior product, which i really doubt will ever happen at the 800$ price point. even then, theyre going to sell like hotcakes even when they become vintage.
I think what a lot of people don't get is: Sure, you can do all of this (and a ton more) with a DAW. But it's about the workflow. I personally tend to get overwhelmed by all the possibilities in my DAW. I love playing and jamming there, but I tend to overdo everything and end up with nothing really. The limitations of these smaller groove boxes (I currently own a Novation Circuit Rhythm, planning to get a DT next year) help me focus more. So sure, this might be overpriced for what it does compared to a DAW, but for me it's either making music or garbage, so it's not so bad after all. It ALWAYS depends on your workflow. What might be perfect for me could be trash for you.
There must be a way of democratizing this workflow, that you speak of. There should be an open-source project to facilitate this... hmm... maybe I could....
I also bought DT few weeks ago and I am so happy with it! It is so hands on and fast to get a track started. I actually first bought Syntakt but quickly missed sample playback capability
@@monsterlogostudios yes they do! I wanted a polysynth with digitakt too and bought Blofeld 😂 With 16 multitimbrality it is a very nice module to pair with DT
This is exactly where I am right now, I already have an MPC One that I know will do everything the Digitakt can, I know it won't really give me anything new, but, despite its age, there's something about it that still makes me want one...
Man, I just gotta say what a breath of fresh air in this video. I love your "moods and moments" approach. It's what I have always felt but failed to put into such a cohesive explanation. Amazing content brother. Keep it up.
The sequencer on the Deluge is def one of the best around and in general much easier to use. The overall sample manipulation abilities (time-stretching, slicing, etc) on the Deluge are much better as well. On the other hand, the GUI of the Digitakt (and other similar electron boxes) makes it much easier to manage trig locks, LFO assignments, etc. It's very easy to see which parameters have been modified and I've been able to come up with quirkier and more unique sounds faster on the Digitakt than I can on the Deluge. The Digitakt sequencer layout also makes it a little easier to 'jam' on 'kits', where the isometric keyboard of the Deluge is better for synth/instrument performance. Ultimately, the layout and relative limitations of the Digitakt force me to compose and perform differently than I do on other devices. That's not very objective, and I don't know if I'll keep the Digitakt forever, but for now it's a good tool to have in my arsenal.
@@monsterlogostudios Thanks for your detailed feedback! I had a Digitakt and sold it to fund the Deluge, but much to my surprise despite the fact that the Deluge is much more powerful, I keep missing some basic things from the Digitakt. Overall I feel that the Delly is better as a blank canvas when you know exactly what you want to build, but the DT is much easier to get interesting beats going and stumbling upon happy accidents.
For all these examples I used a combination of the default Digitakt samples, including a lot of single cycle waveforms to make some basic synths, and a few samples from the AdVintage pack on Producer Loops (www.producerloops.com/Download-Producer-Loops-AdVintage.html).
The digitakt was outdated before it came out. I know they don't claim it to be a professional instrument, nor should they, but if you're to compare it to even a basic pro sampler from the late 90's like the Akai S5000 (which is of comparable price in today's market) the digitakt could only dream to accomplish what it does not to mention the actual functionality, and in my opinion the S5000, though still one of the best at the time, was fairly basic compared to something like the E-mu E-6400 Ultra or really the Emulator 4 rackmount line in general.
Kind of agree if you look at it as just a sampler - it falls short on many fronts and the Octatrack is probably a better device for the purists interested in the Elektron world. I still think there's enough other stuff going on with the digitakt though that it warrants additional consideration, but I also think it works best as a complimentary device paired with something like the Syntakt.
@@monsterlogostudios Fair enough man, if you enjoy using it and you are able to make music that you like that's all that matters. Sometimes I can be a bit rude in my delivery, but I just want people to know that there are other options that are more powerful and open up more possibilities. Not everyone's looking for that though and I get it.
@@made.online2149 yes, I have played with these machines, and I absolutely stand by what I've said. There's no reason for these machines to be outdated, in both design, specs, abd functionality, even compared to technology from the 90's. Not to mention the price is kinda crazy for what your getting. Limitation breed creativity, but not arbitrary ones that have no need to exist in a modern machine, cause they weren't there on older ones. I'm not gonna tell you you're wrong for liking it, but I am telling you you're not gonna change my mind on any of these devices.
I bet this guy is great at parties. Fair point though. It is just a sampler (…with 8 MIDI tracks and a decent sequencer). The real value depends on how much mileage you can get out of the other features. Not for everyone.
Have you ever put your hands and ears on a real Digitakt or is your wisdom derived from watching videos about this box? I mean, do you actually KNOW what you’re babbling about?
Would like to see a raspberry box with such a clever and fast ui and workflow layout. Wouldn't mind swapping my digitakt for it. But in the real world my digitakt will stay with till the end.
Going DAWless was the best thing I ever did to learn music and start creating right away. The way each one is limited to a specific task gives it character as I hunted the machines I needed for specific sounds. I do have a Digitakt and a Syntakt and frankly, they do everything I need. I can put just one on my lap every night and create a new track. EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. I love it
its barely 5 years old. its one of the most iconic samplers of all time and is still actively produced and being updated with new features. I know its clickbait but its absolutely preposterous if actually anyone thinks the digitakt is somehow lacking in any meaningful way and that it isnt still at the razors edge of relevance in the music tech world in 2023. its going to be relevant until elektron makes a mk2, catches fire, or someone else actually makes a genuinely superior product, which i really doubt will ever happen at the 800$ price point. even then, theyre going to sell like hotcakes even when they become vintage.
Just about brought tears to my eyes u spoke my mind man got a syntakt would die for
It
I think what a lot of people don't get is: Sure, you can do all of this (and a ton more) with a DAW. But it's about the workflow. I personally tend to get overwhelmed by all the possibilities in my DAW. I love playing and jamming there, but I tend to overdo everything and end up with nothing really. The limitations of these smaller groove boxes (I currently own a Novation Circuit Rhythm, planning to get a DT next year) help me focus more. So sure, this might be overpriced for what it does compared to a DAW, but for me it's either making music or garbage, so it's not so bad after all.
It ALWAYS depends on your workflow. What might be perfect for me could be trash for you.
DAWs are your multi-thousand dollar drawing tablet, ‘takts are the sketchpad you can cozy up with in bed
There must be a way of democratizing this workflow, that you speak of.
There should be an open-source project to facilitate this... hmm... maybe I could....
I also bought DT few weeks ago and I am so happy with it! It is so hands on and fast to get a track started.
I actually first bought Syntakt but quickly missed sample playback capability
I went the reverse order, but the two compliment each other perfectly.
@@monsterlogostudios yes they do!
I wanted a polysynth with digitakt too and bought Blofeld 😂
With 16 multitimbrality it is a very nice module to pair with DT
Well done!
This is exactly where I am right now, I already have an MPC One that I know will do everything the Digitakt can, I know it won't really give me anything new, but, despite its age, there's something about it that still makes me want one...
I bought one last week. Not disappointed at all.
Man, I just gotta say what a breath of fresh air in this video. I love your "moods and moments" approach. It's what I have always felt but failed to put into such a cohesive explanation. Amazing content brother. Keep it up.
Thank you for the support. This made my day.
@@monsterlogostudios hell yea!
Great video, loved your thoughts! I'm curious: what makes you reach for the Digitakt instead of the (in theory) more powerful Deluge?
The sequencer on the Deluge is def one of the best around and in general much easier to use. The overall sample manipulation abilities (time-stretching, slicing, etc) on the Deluge are much better as well.
On the other hand, the GUI of the Digitakt (and other similar electron boxes) makes it much easier to manage trig locks, LFO assignments, etc. It's very easy to see which parameters have been modified and I've been able to come up with quirkier and more unique sounds faster on the Digitakt than I can on the Deluge.
The Digitakt sequencer layout also makes it a little easier to 'jam' on 'kits', where the isometric keyboard of the Deluge is better for synth/instrument performance.
Ultimately, the layout and relative limitations of the Digitakt force me to compose and perform differently than I do on other devices. That's not very objective, and I don't know if I'll keep the Digitakt forever, but for now it's a good tool to have in my arsenal.
@@monsterlogostudios Thanks for your detailed feedback! I had a Digitakt and sold it to fund the Deluge, but much to my surprise despite the fact that the Deluge is much more powerful, I keep missing some basic things from the Digitakt. Overall I feel that the Delly is better as a blank canvas when you know exactly what you want to build, but the DT is much easier to get interesting beats going and stumbling upon happy accidents.
Love your sound. Damn
Thanks man! Appreciate the support.
Brilliant video
🙏🙏
once you go syntakt youll never go bakt...
Sold mine early on. Tbh I don't know that I miss mine. Annoying not to have all three though.
For me the digitone is 😍
You make these samples?
For all these examples I used a combination of the default Digitakt samples, including a lot of single cycle waveforms to make some basic synths, and a few samples from the AdVintage pack on Producer Loops (www.producerloops.com/Download-Producer-Loops-AdVintage.html).
The digitakt was outdated before it came out. I know they don't claim it to be a professional instrument, nor should they, but if you're to compare it to even a basic pro sampler from the late 90's like the Akai S5000 (which is of comparable price in today's market) the digitakt could only dream to accomplish what it does not to mention the actual functionality, and in my opinion the S5000, though still one of the best at the time, was fairly basic compared to something like the E-mu E-6400 Ultra or really the Emulator 4 rackmount line in general.
Kind of agree if you look at it as just a sampler - it falls short on many fronts and the Octatrack is probably a better device for the purists interested in the Elektron world. I still think there's enough other stuff going on with the digitakt though that it warrants additional consideration, but I also think it works best as a complimentary device paired with something like the Syntakt.
@@monsterlogostudios Fair enough man, if you enjoy using it and you are able to make music that you like that's all that matters. Sometimes I can be a bit rude in my delivery, but I just want people to know that there are other options that are more powerful and open up more possibilities. Not everyone's looking for that though and I get it.
Not rude at all. Respect and appreciate the perspective and additional info.
Have you played with a ‘takt yourself, or just read spec sheets?
@@made.online2149 yes, I have played with these machines, and I absolutely stand by what I've said. There's no reason for these machines to be outdated, in both design, specs, abd functionality, even compared to technology from the 90's. Not to mention the price is kinda crazy for what your getting. Limitation breed creativity, but not arbitrary ones that have no need to exist in a modern machine, cause they weren't there on older ones. I'm not gonna tell you you're wrong for liking it, but I am telling you you're not gonna change my mind on any of these devices.
over priced, like razPi with buttons and screen
😂 still worth it
@@HellenButterlips maybe to some. ive still have a Akai s1000 from 80's that would sound better. not portable but top sound
I bet this guy is great at parties.
Fair point though. It is just a sampler (…with 8 MIDI tracks and a decent sequencer). The real value depends on how much mileage you can get out of the other features. Not for everyone.
Have you ever put your hands and ears on a real Digitakt or is your wisdom derived from watching videos about this box? I mean, do you actually KNOW what you’re babbling about?
Would like to see a raspberry box with such a clever and fast ui and workflow layout. Wouldn't mind swapping my digitakt for it. But in the real world my digitakt will stay with till the end.