For Live sets, DT II is hard to beat.
5 Likes
Another reason, I find it nice to have similar machines, like for backup and feeling safe, at least the access to preferred workflow will be guaranteed. I also keep all my DT projects on cloud just in case…
They’re both samplers and sequencers but couldn’t be more different past that.
I have both and right now the DT2 is on the desk. When the MPC 3 beta is released, I’ll put the MPC on the table to see what it’s about…
4 Likes
MPC 3 looks nice, but to me is very primarily a screen environment, with a controller attached
Digitakt is the other way around, it’s very primarily a hands-on controller environment, with a screen as a secondary informational assistant.
I far prefer the latter when it comes to hardware - otherwise a laptop is the way to go plus a midi drum pad with knobs.
4 Likes
By the way… I “mastered” loading projects during live set on DT I with a help of ext looper or delay, so there’s no need to squeeze everything into one project anymore… but of course update is not only about memory.
Just to gain more encourage: could you pls share specific DTII aspects which you find killer for live sets?
I recently got a dt2 and it’s great. One thing the mpc 3 release has me looking at is the MPC Key 37. I like the idea of it being an arranger with tracking through plugins etc making it a good idea pad too. I don’t think I could cope with all that red though and I really should stick with what I have. The dt2 is staying whatever.
1 Like
Red is very aggressive… painfully! Totally no way for me!
4 Likes
16 Tracks mean that you can diminish considerably your setup by recording your other Synths, in Stereo, into the DT II. The Ctrl All routing feature is a great add-on. The Compressor routing feature is, for me, the best part to add clarity in the Mix. The Comb Filter is amazing. 8 Bars for longer Melodies. The Mute/Unmute Func feature is a necessary add-on. The Conditional features, Euclidean Sequencer, etc.
4 Likes
Modern MPC vs. DT seems to be a recurrent conversation here.
A satisfied DT owner looking for the first time at buying an MPC always sounds to me like a satisfied bike owner who’s looking for the first time at buying a car: “It’s so complicated. It doesn’t feel the same, I’m not out in the air. Why can’t I power the car by pedaling? Why does it take so much time to learn how to drive it?”
If the DT is working for you, you shouldn’t change. Whatever works, works. DT is a totally different tool from the MPC. I would be frustrated trying to make either box stand in for the other.
p.s. : This post isn’t addressed to the OP here, who had a more specific question. More an observation about how MPC vs. DT discussions seem to play out at Elektronauts…fwiw
10 Likes
Each time Akai rolls out an update it’s always not the features I’m looking for, it’s something else. I liked how the sample engine sounds, but the composing process was not fun. I recorded at most 2 tracks and sold it. It is powerful, but not for me.
This update is ok, but the UI looks the same, so this recurring thread has no new answers
1 Like
Just going to throw out there that the MPC one+ made me realize how frustrated I was with the og digitakt. At a certain point, limitations are just limitations. The DT II remedies some of the original’s problems, but the 1k price tag is just way too much for me.
6 Likes
If your creativity thrives on contrast then an Mpc will make a wonderful addition to your digitakt, but I would not, never, no to saying yes to not getting the DT2! … and it sounds like you would love it and get so much out of it according to how you feel about the DTog. The DT and the Mpc are the perfect exquisite contrast for me to use, one to pull me out of the mind state of the other just bouncing back and forth for instant refresh, skip sleep altogether no need to wind down just switch sampler
2 Likes
Honestly I think of this differently - the MPC is a kludged-together iPad DAW with hardware peripherals attached and nice pads.
The Digitakt (or any elektron for that matter) is a far more elegantly designed actual physical instrument - with the minimal amount of screen necessary, functionality is delivered by using your hands.
Not just being an elektron fanboy here. I would be interested in the true ‘can’t do’s on say a digitakt vs an MPC - I would say BadGear could make just as good a theme tune on either box, dare I suggest the Digitakt will also sound a lot better….
Maybe the best (least inflammatory) thing to say is they are both just very different devices with different paradigms. What sort of workflow experience would you like to devote a few years to becoming very good at and why …
5 Likes
Swiss Army knife vs samurai sword, one simply cannot replace the other, with the caveat that within the swiss army knife exist a sharper sample slicing blade than on the samurai sword.
3 Likes
The touch screen for me is a deal breaker. I had a Live 1 and sold it then bought a Live 2 and remembered immediately how annoying it was to use the touch screen (for me) and returned it the a couple days later.
I just prefer buttons and knobs. If anything, I’d recommend looking at the Maschine+ but really the DT1 was my favorite standalone sampler before the DT2 came out. And the DT2 has replaced that.
2 Likes
Why?
1 Like
Its workflow is the one I know the most and comfortable with. @Tajnost already knows the DT.
1 Like
And chopping up digitakt 2 fodder in the Mpc is just a wonderful thang
2 Likes
Both are great. Sometimes I am in love with the OGDT. Others I’m in love with the MPC live 2. Others I’m on the PC. I love them all. I guess I’m a polygearist. 
12 Likes
You’ve received great advice already, perhaps the best one is to keep using the DT1 until you’re really starting to run up against limitations. If that limitation is mono sampling or maybe not enough tracks, then the DT2 is the logical upgrade. Take your time and make more music on the DT1 until deciding.
The reason why I suspect sticking with DT is the best choice for you is in how you described how your creativity is flowing with the DT and you thought the MPC felt more “traditional” - in many ways it is.
But since you asked for the perspective of others who’ve used both, I’ll give mine: they’re almost not comparable. The DTs (1 or 2) are step sequencer-based samplers, and feel like strange instruments in a sense. You can’t dial in that perfect compression or that specific soft clipper on one of the tracks. You’re very limited: no synthesis, no polyphony, hardly any effects, limited track count, limited mixing tools. But in return, the Elektron workflow, with ctrl+all and p-locks, invites you to explore and constantly stumble over happy accidents. Those moments where you go “wow, did I really make this music myself?” happen more often on Elektron boxes. I love the Elektron workflow and I’m convinced that I wouldn’t have ended up with the kind of music I make on them if it wasn’t for the Elektron workflow. As you already know, you can navigate a Digitakt blindfolded and it’s fun.
But then there’s the MPC. It’s a popular opinion to reduce it to just some convoluted DAW in a box. In my opinion, that isn’t a description that captures the true essence of it. It’s actually a bit of an instrument too, just a very different one than the Digitakt. Forget about its step sequencer or p-locks - the MPC offers other unique features and workflows instead. Things like being able to leverage the 50+ effects to resample things without limitations. Or to sample other hardware synths and turning them into sample keygroups: go to that friend of yours with a monophonic synth, sample it, and then go back home and make music with it on the MPC - with polyphony. You have almost endless of sample slots and pads, so rather than p-locks you can just make a few copies of a pad and create variations that way. And instead of step sequencing, you build up your songs using the pads. No, you don’t need to be a finger drummer to do it, you can record things one drum or synth or piano, whatever, sound at a time. And if a few notes didn’t sound good, you don’t need to use the piano roll editor unless you want to - there are other methods like holding down Erase and the pad with the notes you want to erase while it’s playing back a loop. The MPC can be very tactile. Add a kick, then hit Over Dub and play the snare over the running loop. You can build up an entire track with very few taps on that touch screen. The screen is for when you want to dig into the details to maybe add that fourth send channel with a more exotic delay and reverb chain or similar tasks. That’s a bit about the MPC. It’s very capable when you need it to, but you can use it as a sampler instrument if you want to.
Crucially, the MPC isn’t just a sampler. It’s a full suite of synths and effects too. You can easily create complete tracks on it, with samples, effects, polyphony, synthesis and even serious mixing capabilites built into one single workflow. And you can unplug it completely, go out in the wild and record a live jam with all your live pad mutes, knob twists and finger drumming recorded into a song sketch which you can then take back home to edit and finalize. It’s like bootlegging your own unique performances so you can play them back just like they sounded when you performed live.
I love the Digitakt too, btw. Just like the Syntakt, it’s an endless source of inspiration. Depending on your needs (e.g. sampling, synths, effects, etc) and what your goals are (e.g. performing live, jamming, producing finished songs, just having fun, etc) either or both may be good choices.
But if I could personally only keep one of them, between the MPC Live 2 and the Digitakt 1/2, I’d keep the MPC. But that’s mainly because I like to produce complete songs, and 90% of my music is typically synthesis, not samples. Polyphony and mixing are just too important to me, even in the early sketching phase. Your proclivity is likely different though.
If you can, perhaps the best way would be to give an MPC a try to see if it’s at all for you. In Europe, you typically have at least 2 weeks to try a new product with full rights to return it. Nothing beats that first hand experience to take some pressure out of GAS. 
14 Likes