When I was first getting into live production I started with a Digitakt and a Volca Beats - sort of a poor man’s Rytm. Listening back to some of those jams, the combo sounded great! I encourage anyone to look at the midi spec for the Volca Beats and get to p-locking it if they have a DT or DN or model:x device. The results can be really amazing!
@@hristuppiteitinu You can use the digitakt sequencer to sequence the Volca Beats via midi. This opens up creative drum possibilities like setting an LFO on stutter depth or stutter time or momentary parameter changes via parameter locking the midi CC on the digitakt. It's all up to your imagination but the beats has a nice midi implementation for using it as a sound module and the DT is an external sequencing beast for sound modules.
@@holografik3327 Odd, all the Digitakts and Octatracks I've tried sound identical to this in person. I couldn't stand the click click click sound. Maybe they were bad units, but they sound like this video.
The volume of the keys is up to the user. However, they are mechanical keys. That's how mechanical keys sound. They are pro-grade gaming hardware designed to withstand the test of time, and for many the mechanical keyboard is a desirable object. I think the Digis and MkII units look and feel fantastic but it's cool if you disagree.
@@Claidheambmor they definitely are not "pro grade gaming", even my cheap 60€ mechanical keyboard sounds and feels better. They might stand the test of time but nonetheless there are way better switches out there. Are they even mechanical on the elektron machines? What annoys me the most is the spring sound, they also could be a little bit tactile or have more resistance. This alone would make them feel less cheap. Please don't compare the elektron buttons to mechanical keyboard switches, they're just not the same at all. If you want to hear how satisfying keyboard switches can sound like look up "thocky keyboard"
Hey Felix, Seeing you seem to have used the Rytm mkI before....what's your opinion on mk1 vs mk2? Thinking about getting a Rytm again at some point. Also, have you ever tried the OP-Z? That's one fine step sequencer ;)
floating points knowingly did some tracks just with the volca drums. you can clearly hear the similarities in the outro jam. the pattern you play are also inspired by fp right? love this series btw! seeing/hearing someone review gear who can actually produce relevant music is VERY VERY rare. your approach of unusual pairings makes it even more interesting.
Ah I see. You are a man of culture as well :D Yes, the track you are talking about is „Kuiper“ and I‘m actually giving it a shoutout for that reason at 2:12min Also thx for the great feedback. Means a lot ❤️🙏 Best, Felix
Exactly :D I just found the charcater of the Volca to be so lovely that I wanted to give it a little feature especially considering how affordable and underappreciated it is.
What an interesting comparison. I owned both, sold the Volca. The Rytm is the gold standard to me, for many years now, nothing compares to it. Only disapointment of it is the middle row, the toms, they sound pretty boring. If Elektron would sell a new version with 6 kick/snare/clap-machines, 3 of them replacing the tom-machines, I would buy it in an instant. But wtf, so I have a row where I can put samples in 😁 The Volca is a nice toy, but I never got wow-ed by it.
The toms can be usefull to create rolling techno bassline, but yeah I'm also mostly using the kick, snare, hihats, dual vco + sample slots. Best, Felix
Same here, lower and upper row used mostly with the analog machines, middle row almost only for samples. Though I'd say some of the tom machines are pretty good, just hard to tame
Thank you for this ... some love for the vBeats ... it is underrated. Note that the vBeats is polymetric too, and polyrhythmic if you use the stutter. You can also use the stutter to give a diminishing velocity, for hats or toms for example. If you fix the snare you can hear how it was supposed to sound, and I have come to love it. That bass drum is epic, the hats sound really great if you tune them low. The PCM sounds are disappointing but the clap is serviceable and the clave is rather nice. Note also that the vBeats is a true analog sound engine controlled by digital. The stutter can step through a great range of degrees of the tempo. I began my musical journey with a vBeats and a vBass .... I will never part with these two. They love each other too. The vBass has an assignable LFO that locks to many time degrees of the tempo so can be used as an envelope filter in extremely funky rhythms. This is one of the reasons I got my Analog Four, to explore this function. Of course I am here because I just got started on my Analog Four MKII and I believe it is a matter of time before I get the RYTM ...
I picked up the Volca Sample 2 primarily as a drum machine. While there's obviously a lot less configurable options. The storage space is enough to do all your coarse config in a daw and use the Sample itself for fine-tuning. Excellent little machine for the money! That plus an SQ-1 and a pair of Refaces is a nice little semi-portable DAW-less setup!
Yes, during the Analog Rytm part of this video everything that you heard was 100% internal sounds and features. If you're interested in the rytm make sure to check out the next video that we'll upload tomorrow "How to get the most out of your Elektron machines" featuring the Octatrack and the Rytm. I'm gonna be sharing some of my favorite tips there. Best, Felix
You're right on the beats... It does have it's own charm and sound. Is it just me, or are the original Volca trio (keys bass beats) becoming more popular again? I´m seeing them a lot of on recent youtube videos.
Not so much the bass... but Keys, Drum, and Beats are in the top 20 best sellers in many categories this year so that says a lot. For me the Drum is the best one in versatility, sound, build quality for the price. Keys has a very apparent noise floor due to the delay circuit but I actually dig that with that piece of gear. Honestly just wish they had midi out and not just in and also 4 bar sequencer instead of 1.
Felix D James 🤟i like the backing synths as well, what did you do this on? Also, is this a Waldorf Pulse2 behind the machine drums? I ask be ause I love my Blofeld and am eyeing that P2 🙏🙏
The pulse 2 is a lovely synth but what you hear in the jam are actually 3 layers of electric guitar. Two played with an ebow (the long atnosoheric sounds) and one played with a pick (the arpeggio) Best, Felix D James aka Aflix Twin
@@ThomannSynthesizers well, i was just as big a fan of the beats as those nice ebowed guits 👏 and thx for chiming in on the P2... Also, i think you got my interest going with the Elektron but i sm loving Live 11 for the moment 😬🙏👋 stay safe
@@nsjx Ableton 11 actually added a lot the features that I like about the elektron workflow like the probabilities feature and velocity modulation for the midi clips. Anyways I'm also working on a separate video about how to get the most out of the Elektron machines (Octa + Rytm in my case). Should be up in the next few weeks.
@@ThomannSynthesizers Yes indeed, that is exactly why i mentioned it ;) i however remain intrigued by what Elektron has to offer and vids like yours that Know what a real buyer is looking for in a "rhythm "box has helped to make it more attractive. I recently picked up MC707 and I do very much enjoy it and its little tricks but the workflow is hideous. It is like a machine that you cry over because it Could be incredible...but it does in fact lack the non-linearity of analog signal path ... i like non-linearity. I'll be watching for that video 👍 keep rockin
hey Felix, lovely explanation, thanks. Can you recommend a type of pedal (be it distortion or delay/reverb) that will enhance volca drums sound? I know that this is a matter of experimentation but maybe you ve discovered something on the way already. Thanks :)
Depends on the sound you are going for but I had a lot of fun with sending it through the Native Instruments Crush Pack (Vst Plug-In bundle of 3 different distortions) which is around 69€ If you wanna test out effects pedals however go have a look at our video from around 3months ago called: „Testing Pedals via the internet“ This should help you out! Best, Felix
It may not be 10x more fun instantly, but the greater flexibility, internal FX and HUGE range of sounds will keep you occupied for MUCH LONGER. So in the end, I'd say it definitely is worth the higher price.
I think that Felix is what makes the difference. For sure he can make a great track with a toy piano and coke can. Where can I buy him? ;-) Just joking, great episode
@@ThomannSynthesizers Hey, don't badmouth FL, it's a great DAW 😁 Before I got into hardware FL was all I needed. And, given the drastic productivity drop I experienced since then, maybe It was a bad decision to move to hardware at all. But damn, its so much fun...
