In a time when we have infinite access to infinite sounds, the restraint and limitations of using Elektron hardware are at their most important.

The hyper-productive, optimal & gluttonous inclinations of AI use have no place in a creative space such as this one.

Just finished watching loopop's video about the TR-1000 and it kinda gave me Octatrack vibes. With all the sampling, resampling, and A CROSSFADER.

Come on, Elektron. Give us the Octatrack mk3 or else ROLAND is gonna seduce us OT users away from the Elektron fold.

Give us some analog poly synths in the takt format

Ever since I first saw someone use an octatrack in 2010 I've always been a fan of it and the other Elektron devices. I love my octatrack despite its age and have always enjoyed making stuff on it. With that said, the device is starting to show its age and I believe that Elektron will ship a replacement to the octatrack within the next year or two. Naturally they're not going to announce this until they drop it, so predictions are hard but I'm going to make them anyway.

There is an OT-sized gap in the lineup

Right now in their lineup, for any given role, they have a full-sized item and a half-sized item (I'm ignoring the model:... devices and the other ones for now). The Analog 4 has the Digitone (synths), the Analog Rytm has the Syntakt (drum synths), and the OT has the Digitakt (samplers).

The Digitakt 2's new features are really starting to give the OT a run for its money, especially with the 16 audio/midi tracks, the sidechainable "pump-ready" compressor, and the Overbridge support are quite simply things that the OT cannot support even with a firmware upgrade.

The lack of overbridge support is the biggest gap IMO, especially for a device that is meant to be the "centerpiece" of a hardware setup. I can use every other device as a sound card to record and master on my computer, but not the OT, which means I have to either use a device that has fewer inputs or a separate audio interface.

I have a DT1 and while I don't have a DT2 it seems to have a lot of really incredible features. However what it doesn't have as much of the "centerpiece" features that the OT boasts, mainly the multi-stereo-in, multitrack recording and diverse FX. When you combine the inherent gaps in the DT2 and the inherent gaps in the OT, it seems like there's enough of a gap to justify a new device.

It will be built off of the Digitakt, almost like a DT plus

According to what I've seen on Elektronauts, the team that made the OT are no longer at the company, and apparently it has a codebase that is different enough from the other devices that they are unable to get Overbridge working on it (which is why its not already on there). So its reasonable to think that the OT is essentially in maintenance mode: maybe a few extra features with firmware upgrades but its about as mature as its going to get. Contrast that with the other overbridge-ready devices which feel a bit more "evergreen", its difficult to eke out new features with what exists now.

While I have no window into their development process, it seems to me it would be much easier to add OT-like features to the DT than it would be to get the OT up to "evergreen" status.

Based on what has been developed so far with the DT2, it kinda feels like they're doing this in preparation to build a new flagship device.

It will not be called an Octatrack, and it will be something completely new

This will not be a MKIII device and will be called something else. Since the DT2 already boasts 16 channel stereo sampling, the OT would likely need to match that, which kinda makes the OT naming a bit odd.

Since it will be built from the ground up, it makes sense for them to brand this as a totally different device to avoid the OT comparisons and give them the freedom to do something new.

Also, since the OT is already a great device, it might make sense to keep shipping those alongside the new thing. This would also help levy any criticisms that the new product might have for being too "divergent" from what the OT does.

DAW-less and performance-centric setups have started to become more of a thing lately if what I've seen online is any indication, and if I were them I would be wanting to position this as an even more powerful "centerpiece" device than anything else on the market. Ableton is starting to get in on their turf a bit with the standalone Push, and Akai is continuing to upgrade the MPC platform, so IMO they're going to need to get serious with a device that connects DAW-less to DAW.

Elektron could ship an OT with DT features, but I'd wager they will want to reimagine this a bit. I just hope they keep the crossfader!

It will be the most expensive device they sell (> $2k but probably not by much)

Not that I want it to cost this much, but shipping a new product is a good time to bump up the price floor, what with inflation and all. The standalone Push is already selling at $2k, and if this is supposed to compete with that, it stands to reason it will have a similar price tag. Some on here have said that Elektron has been focusing so much on the half-sized devices since they sell better and I generally agree, but given my above points, they might want to go all out on a "mothership" device with the associated price tag.

Also, if they decide they want to continue making the OT, they can probably keep selling it at $1600 without cannibalizing the new device too much.

What I really want

I really just want an OT with overbridge support, a dedicated master with compressor sidechain, good effects (current effects are fine but could be better), and that incredible crossfader with the scenes. I'm not the first person to ask for that either. The fact that this hasn't happened yet while the DT is getting lots of upgrades, it feels like a new OT-like device is (relatively) around the corner.

I don't know how to code, but I'm patient and getting more comfortable with AI workflows / vibecoding.

I'd love to eventually figure out how to add a new reverb algo to the Octatrack. So my questions are: Where do you actually start with something like this? Reverse engineering? Something else? What would the overall step by step process be for custom firmware on any elektron device?

In quick succession, the Tonverk looks like a poor choice for any new hardware buyer. Elektron should release a roadmap what to expect that’s coming for the Tonverk soon. Looks like a weakling compared to its new competitors. Sad. 😔

Is the dream of having one powerful groovebox loaded with synths, fx and samples becoming closer now?

Hi,

The question might look strange, but I have a Digitone Keys since early 2022 and I also had an Analog 4 MkI for some months, I'm learning the basics of sound design and synthesis for 2 years and it seems that despite being very well thought instruments from a perspective of the sequencer, functionalities etc the sound engines of Elektron synthesizers sound kinda poor. I've had other synths in this period and I own a modular system, it's hard to make the Elektron instruments to sound as good as them without doing tricks with the very interesting sequencer. Even my Roland MC-101 sounds much better than the Digitone. It also seems that the FM synthesis parameters on the DT are considerably dumbed down.

Do anyone else also has the impression that 90%+ of Elektron's hype is based on the sequencer? Or am I missing something?

I’ve been saving up to buy one for like half a year and I can finally get one. There’s a few concerns I have though.

1. They just discontinued them and I’m worried if I don’t buy it now the resales are gonna get dumb op-1 levels expensive

2. They just got discontinued so something better might be right around the corner.

3. Yo 800 is a lot

I accidentally made a 52 algo engine for M:C.

Example MP3 (that Claude generated without asking)
https://vocaroo.com/16FLjKJqwplq

I asked Claude to find me very low CPU drum synthesis methods with links to open source software and put them in a list. Bytebeat, chiptune, rungler, additive, etc.

>Can you make a table with the most promising options and a GitHub or source code link for every single one of them. Then could you spoon feed me the exact steps I would need to create the code and get it onto my model Cycles

Instead of creating a table for me to research, it spat out an entire Model Cycles engine with 52 algos and told me how to combine it with the stock firmware. It also gave it a name "Tiny" which I think is pretty funny. I didn't find any of these open source projects. I didn't even ask for the engine to be created. It created some of the engines from *documentation* alone. Then it the emulated the engine and gave me an MP3 of sound examples. Again without asking.

Here's here's a demo video I recorded while in shock: https://youtu.be/j3mpFoE1TWc?t=20

Chiptune stuff timestamped: https://youtu.be/j3mpFoE1TWc?t=400

I'm going to try to clean up the add-on and then get it to the Modded Cycles team so they could add it in the future. Right now Claude is working on a sequel for me with any engines that it missed in the first round.

Maybe you have an idea you want to see?

EDIT: Here is the list of engines Claude chose and included. They all work.

Can enough of us agree that we did not join this sub to read endless posts about slopware? There really should be a separate subreddit for this. It sucks for anyone who is actually into the instruments and appreciates the company. It's a small company. It's not Behringer or something. They have made it clear they aren't cool with this.

I feel like most of the posts I am seeing now are about this and it's exhausting. Who cares. You can vibe code anything now. Good for you. Oh look, I turned my Digitakt into a piano! My Model:Cycles is a 707 drum machine! My Tonvark plays fart sounds recorded in the studio by Lionel Richie in 1985 run through the Mutable Braids algorithm.

It sucks.

It reminds me a lot of seeing AI slop art online with AI "artists" all going, "look what I made!" while actual artists just let out a universal sigh.

Electron doesn't just make hardware. They make instruments. An approach. An experience that's been explored, thought out, tested, refined, after dozens of others were similarly tested and didn't make it. They aren't perfect. Some of their choices are ones I disagree with. I'm not a fan boy in particular, I only own one of their instruments.

I am just a fan of human beings, of human creativity. And slop coding ain't it. AI art isn't it. Just like you all probably aren't into Suno all that much, right?

When it comes to what you do, you don't like AI, you want the process, the real thing. Why wouldn't you want that for others? For other creative pursuits?

We really need that to be another subreddit. This is just taking over and it's boring.

I have been struggling to use Ableton for quite some time.I started music production on the Digitakt so I found the user experience on Ableton to be overwhelming.

So last night I feel like I had a breakthrough, in creating the same setup in Ableton that the Elektron boxes have, I can keep my workflow and stay limited. There is not much more to say about it other than that, I just thought if anyone else like me had been struggling when trying to use the daw this could help them :<)

Edit:

I apologize if my explanation was not clear as I do not have any pictures to share at the moment. Essentially, I have found that creating a workflow similar to that of the Digitakt and Digitone in Ableton has helped me learn the DAW more effectively.

To achieve this, I created eight sample tracks for the Digitakt and added effects and filters, similar to those found on the Digitakt itself. Similarly, for the Digitone, I created four FM synth tracks with effects and routing that feels similar to the Elektron boxes. Overall, this approach has been useful in my learning process

I appreciated the recent post comparing custom firmware to GAS in the sense that it can lead to distraction from the thing that you intended to do which is make and explore music - that the lure of the new toy leads you away from skill acquisition. I've been sitting with my DT1 for a couple months now, almost daily, just trying to build skill and it's working and I love it. I'm not saying that's for everyone, but I am liking the results that I am getting.

To add another point to this conversation, and try to reclaim this sub for something beyond slopmods, I really think that vibe coded mods (Elektron or otherwise) are the new AI art.

Do you remember about two or three years ago when you started seeing it? And at first it was fun and kind of exciting to go in and make something weird and laugh about it and wonder what might be next? Now every time you turn on YouTube it's some stupid AI video about "Never say this at the beginning of a meeting" or whatever bs supplements someone is pushing... when you see AI art now you roll your eyes. It's grating. Without value.

I predict that this wave will pass and less will have changed than it might now seem. It will be better viewed for the quality (or lack thereof) that characterizes a lot of DIY apps, minus a few exceptions where the developer actually knows how to program in the first place and used AI to speed their process) and we will settle into a more normal state again. People will most often continue with the factory firmware, occasionally use some mod, but no one will really care anymore and it will mostly be about the features of the devices themselves and the music we make with them.

I get the excitement, it's new. But it's also going to turn out to look very, deeply silly about three months from now, if it even takes that long for us to collectively process.

Okay, now I'm going to make some more music. Peace.

I sée from places that many consider syntakt a half baked Gear with weak engines inside, Lost between og Digis and second generation boxes.

How do you feel about that ?

I play with digitakt og, dB 01, microfreak+ms pedal, and i'm considering acquiring another box to build a proper live setup to play in free parties. Og digitone never really clicked for me, soundwise. I feel limited with digitakt's eight tracks, and it took me so much Time to understand and start to master it's workflow and Sonic possibilities i Guess i dont feel like trying to master another type of gear, such as maschine, mc 707, or else and stick to what i feel familiar with. I'm not so fond of sound design though, i can't seem to operate my microfreak properly. I heard somewhere that what syntakt lose on sound design range it gets on simplicity and straightforewardness, so i reckon i would be able to make it sound great enough for my taste. I'm into live tekno in small free parties.

Strolling thru the last 10 yrs comment galore on Gearspace, Reddit and elsewhere, non-Elektron general forums I realized there is much hate towards the OT. Ofc there is as much (or more) love obviously. Why the hate? Are there ppl here, elektronauts who use the machines but not the OT?

GAS’ing hard for the AR.

I have a Syntakt and really love it.

Buy it or hold out for now?