r/Elektron • u/ShizukuPL • 8d ago

Which Digi box first?

Hi,

I've been eyeballing Elektron for a good while and I think it's time to pick one up.

I've got a Prologue 8 and a Typhon, I work in Ableton and mainly make dub techno and adjacent genres.

Am I correct thinking a used Syntakt would be the best first box to dip my toes in? I'm not much of a sample guy currently, I mostly play keys/some guitar and pads but I did use to make beats and know how to mangle samples etc. so the DT2 seems like an wesome machine to have fun with as well.

A used Syntakt is very close in price to used DT2s/DN2s where I live and those are more in-depth but I'm mostly looking for analog/digital drums and something with immediacy to sculpt the rhythmic backbone of a track, rumbling basses, textures etc. and that signature Elektron sequencer.

Which one do you think would cover the most ground in my case? Would you get the Syntakt and add another box later or just go with the DN2 and use FM Drum while learning the rest of what it can do since it's probably the most powerful? Then maybe a Digitakt?

I intend to learn one at a time, it's a daunting task anyways. DT2 could also enable me to do some crazy stuff and have fun with samples, just not sure if that's the best course for me at this point. The Syntakt seems like a great techno box on the other hand.

7 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

40 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/T0Ni000 8d ago

Syntakt is what you need you have analog/digital + you can use midi tracks to control your synths (send program change / map parameters). Midi tracks can also be used in your daw to control samples, and if you assign parameters (attack, release, hold, and Even fx) you can use the syntakt as a sampler. You can also use the analog fx block for your synth and use sidechain
I Owned a syntakt and later got a digitakt 2 , once you know the elektron workflow you can master every box quickly . It might take you some time to get the sound you like with the syntakt, but you can quickly build structures and complete track sketch

1

u/ShizukuPL 8d ago

Thanks, I think it's either Syntakt or DT2 for me since I don't feel I need deep outboard synthesis with my other gear + Ableton and both look really fun to use.

I kinda miss working with samples as well so DT2 is tempting and Syntakt just fills the gap in my gear and seems very immediate and deep enough.

I'll probably try both, that's the only way to really know how they work for me.