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@@joel82045 yep it does, with the digitakt just stereo, but if you load it into your computer via overbridge, you then have 8 individual tracks to process as you please. The bigger elektron boxes have individual outs 👍
Analog Rytm is more or a TR-8s competitor in the sense that it's got more performance controls available, internal sound design capability, and separate outputs. But obviously, they don't match pricewise, TR-8S is 2X cheaper! So that comparison would be interesting, too. I personally went with Rytm because of its pads that both provide a way to finger drum, but are also a performance tool with the pressure macros. Plus I wanted to scratch that analog itch, and the master compressor and distortion on Rytm really deliver. But I'd probably be happy with a TR-8S, too.
excellent sum up ^ the tr8s interface mode is gonna be useful for those without a console etc so there plenty there if your starting out or pro . the midi clock still needs offset compared to elektron a negative . its just a tad mind.
Great video - I have the TR8S and I love it. I've got to say though, I don't know why anyone would get confused as to which to buy in a head to head unless they knew nothing about them. They are massively different - which did come across in your video. The editor software for the 8S is very good if you are comfortable using a computer to set up your kits, and then performing live later with just the hardware.
I had both but ended up selling the Digitakt. I kept the TR-8S because of how much faster it is to find or audition sounds, as well as inputting weak beats, and being more hands and more performative. Having a fader for each track is pretty really nice.
@@lorrenaelliott161 Yea for hundreds more dollars and having to manually setup everything. Not saying it's a bad option, but with the TR-8S, you have everything there.
correct , audition of digi range is lacking auto load for the recorded notes playing and that is totally boring , wears out keys and if you got banks a to h loaded means , three days to audition and not 3hrs .
Digitakt was the last box I purchased from Elektron, having bought the Digitone and Syntakt first. It’s easily my favorite of the three, even in 2024. Digitakt can stand on its own, but it blooms when you pair it with other devices because it communicates so well with its eight MIDI tracks. I slept on the DT and I’m sad that i didn’t get it sooner.
@@LiamKillen truth. I tell everyone who will listen about the digitakt. I honestly think it’s a modern classic and most musicians can benefit from owning one.
Yeah, I could see using both together with a little synth. The hybrid jammy factor of the 8S seems delightful, but the compositional heft of the DT can’t be beat from that standpoint.
Lots of coverage ... content as usual .. great detailed information highlighting the ins .. outs .. ups .. downs .. hills and valleys .. leaving no stone un-turned .. cheers to your always easy to follow lead ...and thanks!
I've had a TR-8S for a while now and it's been fantastic for me especially given I mostly do techno with it so I'm constantly using the 909 kits on it. It also pairs extremely well with my MC-707 that makes up the other half of my current hardware set up which I'm very happy with and have managed to squeeze several track out of so far. For me where live performability is a key factor even during the composition process it's been a huge boon. Plus never having to really look another TR x0x plugin or sample pack is a very nice thing.
I've enjoyed it, had it since last February and got the TR8S to add to it like 3-4 months ago. It's definitely not every one's cup of tea for one thing making your own patches with it if you get complex can quickly devolve into Roland menu dive purgatory. Granted having the full Zen Core system on a groovebox is nice it just definitely has some downsides to it. With the two I've managed to get upwards of about an EP's worth of material I'm working on adding finishing touches to and doing final mixdown on here soon hopefully and looking forward to getting even more out of the two together in the near future.
I have the TR-6S and the Digitakt and use them both a lot for very different things. The TR-6S just sounds SO good (as does the DT), and it's very easy to get something going and jam some patterns on it. I'm actually hoping to upgrade to the TR-8S when I can afford it. The Digitakt just fits the way I think about music so well and it's always full of surprises. I kind of use it like a (limited) groovebox, but it's fun to use with external gear as well. Some of the most rewarding sessions I've had is with a setup of just the DT and the 0-Coast, it was kind of amazing how much I could get out of that. And the recent DT updates are so amazing!
@@LiamKillen Good to hear! And I've been really enjoying your videos so much recently. The live techno with the Rytm walkthrough last month was great, but I had a few eureka moments with your drum layering video the other day, which I know is from a few years ago. Thanks again!
Interesting, got the Tr8s first. Paired it with a MC707 but quickly thought that downgrading the 8s to a 6s would suit my DAWless setup best, but realised that I am very unhappy with the sound-depth as well as quality of this Roland product line. End up with keeping the 707 to pair it with a Syntakt and an Access Virus. Haven't stoped giggling while jamming ever since
I only have experience with the TR-8S but my friend has the Digitakt, from what I can tell the TR-8S is better for quickly putting together a rhythm for a jam or improv'd live set, while the Digitakt is better if you do a lot of sampling work.
As someone who has owned both (traded the digitakt away) that was *absolutely* true in my case. I found that the interface on the tr-8s made live performance easier when paired with external instruments, but it lacked the flexibility to make an entire track out of samples like I've done with the digitakt. I kind of regret getting rid of the digitakt, honestly. I suspect I would have regretted getting rid of the tr-8s, too. They're different enough that if you can afford both, it's worth having both.
The TR8-S is an machine offering ACB variants of all the Roland classics with samples as added bonus. The Digidakt is a sampler, right? Wouldn't it be more 'fair' to stack it up against the MC-707?
I see where you're coming from but it's sooo much more than just a sampler - its sequencer takes it all to the next lvl. Come discuss it over in the Discord: discord.gg/xj8J2xJuBP
I’ve been gassing out over the Digitakt a lot recently but been trying to figure out if it would bring enough to my setup, I feel like it’s really awesome like you said for inspiring composition but I’ve already got a TR8s and the brain of my setup is an iPad so probably a lot of the roles it would fill I’ve got covered. I like your sending midi to Ableton trick, I’ve been doing the same with my iPad. Decided I don’t need kit sounds on all faders (I always end up in an “all faders up” situation so it’s good to have some limitations there) so one I’ve just started using as an fx fader for the mix value on an iPad app called Transit, makes for cool transitions.
love my tr8s and how easy it is having everything in front of you, but would love to see a video just about using the tr8s with Ableton, for someone who's never used Ableton. thanks for the videos!
I have them both, and this video basically sums it up. I wish the Digitakt and TR-8s would make a baby. To have the best of both worlds in one machine would be amazing.
@@LiamKillen I agree, I was thinking the same thing. It would be cool to work up a good beat on the 8s then sample it into the Digi to further scalp and mold it into some kind of abandoned warehouse rhythms of my liking. Like dirty it up and filter it down too. The options are limitless. I’m gonna do that, thanks 👊🏼
I have owned both of these machines and, partway through this video, I started wondering why I was watching because I've already reached the same conclusions. Then I realized that it's nice to know that a working musician reached the same conclusions I did and I'm not just crazy. 😅
Thanks again Liam! Clear as water, like always. Im looking a decision for my very firt groovebox and you are helping /teaching me a lot. When i have, i will go directly to your patreon samples.
Digitakt was a super inspiring tool for me: bought it, realized that any DAW is so much more versatile than hardware drum machine, sold Digitakt, incredibly happy.
I just had this happen over the last couple years with MPC and SPs. I was going crazy trying to find the right hardware then started digging into Ableton and barely use my SPs anymore at all.
regarding the TR-8S sounds - the 'acb' versions of the classic are somehow cut down compared to the ACB sounds available on for example the boutiques. I did a comparison between tr-06 and tr-8s 606 acb, also tr-08 and tr-8s 808 model, both ttr-8s versions are noticeably weaker. Samples sound excellent though - eg I use the from mars, and goldbaby samples in the tr-8s.
I use tr6s and digitakt. I use both…switch between them for projects. Keeps it fresh for me. I also sometimes sample from tr into Digitakt. I love 606 based kits :)
Before anything, sorry, I don't care what anyone says. Electron CANNOT justify what they charge. I make 6 figures but with a family to support, Electron's gear is just utterly, prohibitively expensive for me to access (no matter how good it might be). So that led to me choosing the TR8s as the dedicated drum module for my live PA. And boy did I get a surprise that its so much more than just a drum machine. Like it' has been mentioned here, it behaves SO much more like an actual instrument than any other synth/drum machine/groovebox or controller I've EVER laid hands on. I can spend hours in a perfect flow state jamming out on it exactly like I'm playing a piano/guitar/live drum kit ect ect. I swear I use the damn thing as much (probably more even) to meditate, than I do to write stuff. It's just exquisitely designed to use live (in so many different ways/approaches). My only issue has ever been that I wish it had some kind of poly ability where you could have MIDI pitch control over the individual instrument's tuning. A wider range of pitch modulation in general would also be nice. I can't seem to get a lot of my kicks/bass sounds as low as I want them without re-sampling them externally (say into Ableton), pitching them down then reloading them as user samples back into the TR8s Otherwise, its just a fkn perfect piece of kit. 😊
Great machines, both! If you have only one of them, you can create almost any kind of beat or rhythm. Where the Roland has more tracks and multiple sound sources, the Digitakt can resample, which gives a lot of other possibilities. And yes, mono… but it’s aimed at drums, hits, stabs and short loops. With that kind of source material it’s a creative beast! As I use both of them together (and also a Syntakt) I don’t use the sample import function of the TR-8s at all. I use it as a classic drumcomputer with a lot of hands-on control… as one said before, it’s an instrument. The Digitakt for me is much more of a creative sampler for sculpting beats and top-loops, besides that it’s a great sequencer in a DAW-less set-up.
TR8S plus Digitakt is a killer combo. What’s even better is TR8S into the inputs of a Syntakt and then routed to the Syntakt’s FX track. Means you’re feeding Roland’s ACB modelled XxX sounds into an Elektron analog circuit with a great analog filter. Hugely transforms the TR8S sound (which is great by itself BTW) as you’d expect from digital samples into analog filter. TR8S + Digitakt + Syntakt is an unbelievably powerful beat monster setup, even better if you feed the output from the Syntakt into the Digitakt’s inputs and use the Digitakt compressor sidechained to a kick drum track on the Digitakt. Kinda all you’ll ever need in three boxes.
I have both, and it's exactly that. Live/control vs 'power'. to me, the DT wins out. workflow. That sequencer. The sample control. it's also the brains of my set-up now. It's my Desert Island box, for sure. would love to know ore about the TR8s with Ableton...... that could be fun.
Im struggling here. I leverage my SP404MK2 for sampling but my main drum machine is a Roland T8. Deciding on which of the two is the ideal replacement for the T8 is tough. Do you use the midi controller on thr digitakt often? I could see that as a win over the tr8s
I would just go two steps up with the TR-8S in this case - i actually did a video on exactly this which I think would help you out: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dCKqOVWBqbk.html
I find it very fascinating that each sampler have their own flavor when it comes to the sonic quality. I noticed that the same sample loaded on the SP404 and the DT will end up sounding different in a very obvious way.. It's hard to explain it some times, I would probably compare it to different guitar pickup tones.. Btw, this is why I don't use the SP404mkii as much as I would like to, because to me it always sounds lo-fi even with no effects on. I prefer DT's ''dark'' tone
When people perceive a degradation in their samples on the Digitakt, it may be due to the forced mono conversion. I don’t remember if it sums the channels or prompts you to pick one, but some stereo samples can sound subdued after that conversion. I used to convert mine before transferring them to the Digitakt.
Digitakt allows you to make the hole track or even full live set without anything else added. TR8S is a nice drum machine that is nice to have as an addition to other gear like Microfreak or whatever. I'd rather buy Syntakt instead of TR8S.
Absolutely love both machines. In the case of the TR-8S I prefer to use it with one pattern, and do everything live on it. If I'm going to program music, I'd much rather use an Elektron. (Syntakt is actually my favorite.) Really, there would be no reason not to have all of them or a couple of them, and use each one to its own strengths. There aren't a lot of things out there that are better than these, so they're still just as relevant as they ever have been. (Maybe the Modor Dr-2 or Erica Perkons, etc. if you want to go in more unique directions.) However, I'd say ANY Elektron is going to be amazing no matter what year it is. (did you catch the 1.7 update for the Rytm?) The Roland machines are great too, for different reasons IMO, but will remain relevant indefinitely. If you get along with the flow, then they are all very usable.
I miss my Digitakt. Currently running a TR8-s and MC -707. They work well together. On top of that an added an SP-40 mk2 which I’m not gelling with. The Digitakt is way more intuitive and malleable.
I am a big Ableton head, have a hydrasynth explorer and a push 2. Considering a Digitakt since a long time. At some point i though of a push 2 vs Digitakt. But as elektron have a near perfect daw integration, the push 2 + Digitakt may in fact be even better than chosing between both right ? Push 2 can act as an extension of effects box, more sequencing, etc in conjunction to digi
Overbridge, which is Elektron's DAW integration software is actually pretty solid now. But it's just a completely different workflow. I'd imagine that Push is a much higher lvl of integration because it's all the same company.
@@LiamKillenwell after more than 2 months my humble experience with push 2 is that I mainly use it to sequence my drums, not much else, and there is better tools for that at that price, so now I'm somewhat thinking of selling it to fund a tr8s/digitakt/syntakt (in order or cheaper to most expensive).
I just bought my TR8S... when you take the already made kits you can quickly have fun. However, to really get into the heart of the beast, you have to really invest yourself like any drum machine. On the other hand, I find it really affordable in terms of price and accessibility. I hope that I will give myself the perseverance to complete this device. I really like it at the moment. I spent another 4 hours on it and I feel like I spent 10 minutes.I wonder if we can take an instrument from a predefined kit and paste it into a white pattern? Because frankly there are predefined sounds that are incredible!
New subscriber here. Can you do classic rock style drums that are convincing? I am putting together a studio for the first time, though I have played guitar seriously for 50 years. I have always used a real studio and a good engineer. I want to try it myself. Is the TR-08S what you would choose?
You can do classic rock drum beats but they're for sure going to sound a little more electronic through any drum machine - if you want to get deeper into the topic, you might be interested in joining my Discord ! Here's an invite: discord.gg/xj8J2xJuBP
I have both. Nobody wants to worry about sample space in 2024 or dig through Roland menus. I don't think Digi lacks performance wise. Digitakt wins in my book.
Tr8s looks very similar to a dj mixer whith 11 chanels😂. Do you think it can act like a mixer controlling the dj mode on sp 404 mk2? And have extra control on effects, like bus 3 and 4 on other 2 chanels? It would help me a lot!! Great content❤❤❤
So you can't control the faders on dj mode using midi from the chanels on te tr8? I was dreaming about to do that passing the sound from tr8 into the SP and controlling totaly the sp kinda like a shik controller plus drummachine🥹
Recently, I had first live with digitakt and the sound on 70% master was very quite, and when try to make it louder it start to hit the peeks:(( is there some solution for it. Should I get some external gear for it or have some other solutions? 😊
My ultimate sound test with any digital box that I wish these videos would do is sample rate reduction plus pitch shifting (16 levels or something similar). Reduce the sample rate of a sample to 22khz or less, hear if it sounds like metallic trash like on a computer. If so, is just a plugin in a box for me sound wise. And no problem with that cause other aspects count but Im interested in sound. And I think this simple test would tell very obviously about digital calculations on these chips that manipulate the machine’s sound. Im curious about this on digitak.
@@LiamKillen I’d love to hear any elektron gear or a prophet x on low sample rates just to see if they could do it like the old guys or if the good musical digital lo fi is gone forever. If you can do it someday I’d appreciate it.
Thanks for this, I haven't seen these devices compared that way. when you play live(if you do idk) anyway are you using Both, or something entirely different.?
I use tr 8s + Ableton mostly- here’s a live perf I recently did actually: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-TT268te3jkg.htmlsi=goCNJJ9-HBuiCjPF
The only thing about the TR8s that makes me sad is no generic driver, it would be so clutch if i could connect it right to my iPad... I think of digitakt as more of a sound design machine, compared to the TR8s it's got much more perimeters for tweaking.
I love elektron sound. I have the m:c and i would Iove to get more - analog rhytm, octatrack and a syntakt. But it is so expensive even second hand. I have a verselab which I love but I just saw a mc707 secondhand for half price and definitely considering it. It’s so much cheaper going the Roland route and I have a sp404. I love the size of the elektron. So many decisions. The thing that stumps me about the tr8 is that I can figure out if you’re stuck with only 16 steps and if you can have more- is it the banks? Idk
It's not a Digitakt but a Model:Samples gets quite abit of Digitakt functionality for a fraction of the price - worth considering if on a budget to pair with a TR8s for sure. I found your tip on using the TR8s as a performace mixer ane audio interface useful, i map a few sliders and knobs to control synths - cutoff, resonance etc on D16's Phoscyon and some fx as well.. really handy 🥳
@@LiamKillen yeah totally - you would loose some functionality (sidechaining the Model:Samples via the Roland's analogue ins would be the biggest loss for me) but not enough to make it unworkable
You can use the TR8S as a beat sequencer for eurorack, which I have done often. but I agree that sequencing pitch or midi devices doesnt make much sense
@@LiamKillen great! I think an under highlighted feature. And the audio in can also attenuate the eurorack audio volume, and you can side chain the audio in, making it a good “interface” or “mixer” for a live session.
@@LiamKillen I am not on discord but thanks. That said, i own the tr6s and was just thinking how curious i would be to see an elektron device with faders one day. When i first started using the tr6s i could not believe that i will be so happy of the little faders. They are almost a device by themselves. So intuitive to use when jamming. I got the digitakt mk2 but still find it a brainf… in comparisson when it comes down of simply re-leveling channels. The digitakt requires more braincells and concentration somehow
I wish the TR had the build quality, and screen of the DT. The screen and build on the MC707 is also depressing. I love the aesthetic of the Elektron boxes, they look and feel mature, and professional. But the fact is Roland makes better performance devices. Having faders and knobs per track at your fingertips is how all grooveboxes should be. I’ve tried using a LaunchControl XL with the Elektron boxes but it’s not the same. On the TR I can change the mapping of the knobs on the fly, doing master effect sweeps is easier, it’s all just more jamable. I just hate the screens 😅. At least the SP404mk2 is a step in the right direction, but what the hell were they thinking with the MC707???
Anyone knows whether there's a way to connect the two so that you can kind of edit the drum samples live through the digitaly but "perform" them on the 8s?
I have the Rytm, but the Digitakt is still the default machine I turn on if I want to make a beat. I’ve been promising myself that I’ll make a set with just the Rytm so I can get super deep into all the amazing things it can do, but I haven’t done it yet.
I have both and a Rytm because GAS. And I can’t face selling any of them as they’re all great. The main TR-8S issue I have is that the USB MIDI and multi track audio driver only works by treating the 8S as an audio interface in its own right so on Windows it is tricky to use with an ASIO interface. I tried an ASIO4ALL driver to run both simultaneously which caused timing and latency issues so now I don’t bother with the editor and use physical jack leads on a per drum output basis. Elektron with the Digitakt can use Overbridge and you can get every track via a plugin in your DAW so that works fine with Windows - just one USB lead and bringing in multiple audio as it effectively bypasses the audio interface.
@@LiamKillen Where it beats the others is in having analogue oscillators and filters available as well as samples. It’s one of the best all round ‘normal’ drum machines before you stray into the madness of things like the Soma Pulsar-23.
I'm an indie pop/rock musician mostly looking for something to add rhythm when I'm playing solo on guitar or piano and singing. Does one of these feel more suited than the other?
Nah. The thing that keeps the TR-8S relevant in the face of more versatile machines is the fact that its surface workflow is super-streamlined. I can easily throw together a four-to-the-floor rhythm on it in like five seconds, and get it sounding good in another ten. Sure, doing anything particularly in-depth is tedious but that's not what the TR-8S is for, and if you do a lot of that you probably would have gotten the original Digitakt anyway.
It does not - it does naturally have the classic Roland drum sounds down pat though. I'm super into the CR-78 samples now. Also f you have any tech questions like this, you might be interested in the Discord! It's community vibes. Here's a link: discord.gg/xj8J2xJuBP
will never get why anyone says elektrons are hard to learn. To me the jomox xbase 999 was a hard one to completely get... The elektrons are just pure logic and bliss tbh.. U don't feel limited quickly and if u seen things once you will remember it because it sounds so amazing
@@LiamKilleni have 😄 really loved that one too but i’m a bit a nerd/menu diver by nature i guess. Manuals dont mind reading an entire manual and trying everything out. Octatrack in the end (to me) was too limited so i sold it and went with a hybrid setup that includes Bitwig (for me the best option for hybrid with hardware). I kept the rytm and four, really love the sequencer and sounds. OT isn’t super limited but i wanted all synths in the studio to be part of the live set and the OT just doesnt have enough tracks. Sounds great tho but in the end its whatever floats your boat. But tbh a jomox is harder than elektron for example. Deepdiving in a deepmind 12 or deepsampling on a prophet X and really understand what ur doing is also more work than using elektrons..
I would certainly not call the DT's effects "really interesting." I would call the serviceable. The overdrive doesn't get the love I think it deserves. The delay is fine, very much a vanilla digital delay with a filter in the feedback. The reverb is... okay? Like, it gets the job done, but to me it sounds like FreeVerb. Very basic and dull.
The more I move towards IDM, melodic techno, future garage, electronica, glitch, etc. the more these sort of drum machines call out to me. This reinforced my interest in the Digitakt. I'm a little bit over my SP404Mk2 a year in. I hate to say it haha.
@@LiamKillen I love making music at rather low volume and I love using and sound designing glichy and clicky sounds as percussion elements where any additional sound made by keys just annoys me. The same is for clicky keybeds of hardware synths.
The TR-8S does, but using external only - and it’s technically not ‘true sidechaining’ by using only the step you chain it to, and not really the audio….however that does have its advantages… and you can also route that to a separate output, because there are a lot of assignable physical outputs
@@LiamKillen normal these days, so many voices and opinions. I did lots of A/B tests of sampling in the Octa and a few different converters directly, the only difference is circuitry sound goes through after sampling, and those offsets are so minimal it is really hard to hear.
I should have been a bit more clear with that specific statement. What I mean is that the combination of entering in / tweaking parameters in real time is not something you can do with the Digitakt. Unless, of course, you get a midi controller involved but I think still the 8s would be more hands on just because of the simplicity of the layout.
