Hi,
I have a Digitakt and a Digitone. I like to jam with them, but when I make music I use Ableton Live. I often use the DN to make kicks and hats and other hits, and sample them into the DT, and then use an Ableton drum rack and sequnce the DT from ableton. So I use the DT as a drum machine, often using samples from the DN.
How does the RYTM work, wrt playing samples, is it like the DT? I am wondering if I can collapse my workflow into a single machine, the RYTM, since it is both a drum synth and a sample playing drum machine. Does that sound like reasonable use case?
Thanks in advance for your advice. This is essentially GASing, I guess.
Basically there are 2 layers per voice. A synth layer and a sample layer. They are both easily accessible, and can be used simultaneously. Both are mixed together before being sent through the analog filter and VCAs. Both can be modulated by the LFO. Great sounds come from reinforcing samples with the synth layer, and vice versa.
The DT’s sample implementation is modeled on the Analog Rytm’s sample implementation, though it has a bit more resolution.
Both are DT and AR’s sample implementation is based on 16bit/48khz wave files, using 64MB of project ram, and 127 sample slots per project.
The differences between the two exist when dealing with start points and looping the samples.
The AR uses 0-120 resolution for setting start and end points. You can invert these values to make a sample play in reverse.
The DT uses the same 0-120, but adds much more resolution. For instance you can set the start point at 5.16 on the DT, instead of just 5 on the AR.
The DT doesn’t have an “end” parameter the way the AR does. Instead it uses a “length” parameter, which offers granular control of the sample. Reversing samples is instead controlled by a directional parameter.
So, in moving to the AR, you would lose:
finer control of the sample start position,
granular sample playback capability.
8 dedicated tracks of MIDI sequencing with CC# and program change p-lock control.
But in moving to the AR you would gain:
an 8 voice drum synth that is shared over 12 tracks (thanks to some clever choking)
song mode,
kit browser/kit system,
performance scenes and controls,
velocity sensitive pads,
individual outputs,
CV capabilities.
There are other differences between the audio input/thru implementations, master compressor implementations, and other details. These can be explored in other threads on Elektronauts.
For all their similarities, there are enough differences (especially in price) that the two products exist for good reasons. Hopefully you can choose the one that fits your needs best.
To offer just my personal perspective, after AdamJay’s great summary:
I’ve had both. To me the Rytm offers just that much more: both in how you make sound (aka addition of synthesis) and in the number of tracks. Because of this, to me its really enough to make full techno tracks/sets with just the Rytm (where the DT always had a companion). That’s my “soft” or personal take on it. PS oh and by the way: sound! To my personal taste the DT was a bit too clean/pristine. For the esthetic that I was after, the Rytm is perfect (some analog grit, in short).
I got the same results from Rytm. A great single box solution if that’s what you’re looking for. Especially the MK2 with its resample capabilities.
Another thing I forgot to mention is the lack of sample start point on the Rytm has an advantage: it makes working with long sample chains much easier than DT. And this invites really maximizing the 64MB of project sample ram that is shared by a mere 127 sample slots. So instead of 127 samples per project, you can easily have thousands of sample “hits” in the project, and still fit within the 64MB. This makes it great for loading up a single project for live performance, which means not stopping the sequencer to load other projects.
I made the switch from a DT to the AR mk2 and love it. The workflow is somewhat less streamlined, but it feels much more like a complete, all in one box that does it all: sampling, drumsynthesis, monosynth and analog filter/distortion all in one.
The sound is warmer than the DT’s, which is a matter of taste, but I love it. You do lose some of the sample start finetuning, but there are workarounds.
After owning all of those I regrettably sold the digitakt and rytm mk1 and kept the digitone keys. Now I’m on the path to getting the digitakt and rytm mk2. They both offer enough to have them in a setup that compliments each other if needed. Sampling the DK into the DT and running the DT into the AR may be an option to keep in mind.
