Which would you choose? TABLE OF CONTENTS: Price Point - @1:00 Sampling - @1:26 Sound Design - @3:14 Sequencer - @5:43 Storage - @9:11 In's/Out's - @9:52 Direct Control - @12:25 Fun - @13:40 Finale - @15:09
I had the Roland tr-8 and I sold it for the Digitakt. I never played with the Roland tr-8 live. I have played with Digitakt live. I love the Digitakt. It’s an upscale version of the Kong Volca Sample.
I now have both and agree. For performance, TR-8S is ruling. Fun factor for live performing and live setup, it's a done deal. Digitakt is just too much menu diving for you to have fun live. The sound manipulation is nicer on the Digitakt but getting the beats is much quicker on the TR-8S.
1:52 ROland's Sampler is the SP404A, i'm soon gonna get one ! ROland rocks for samplers, J DIlla used a SP303 for DOugnuts ! And the SP404A is integrated with the TR8 :)
Your Oberheim Xpander in the background glistens like a distant suburban valley townscape, viewed from a hilltop at night. August, 1982...listening to the car radio with my high school sweetheart, overlooking our sparkling town. What lay in store for me, for us? Where would electronic music take me? That night, everything seemed possible. None of this ever happened.
I noticed this as well, but wasn't sure what it was. Looks very cool though. Didn't all of us have a hilltop with a girl in high school? Mine was a little earlier, in 1976...
hey, remember me? i was the guy on the other car with kick ass music and smoke coming trough the window...(btw it was smashing pumpkins, Prodigy and a couple of mixes by Jeff mills and Derrick May and Plastikman's Sheet One) oh boy what times where those! ;)
I think for a lot of people it will come down to those final couple categories you discussed, because the Digitakt is fundamentally a sampler/sequencer and the TR-8s is fundamentally a drum machine. They can be used in similar ways and many people are comparing them to each other because of the similar price, but they're ultimately different tools for different jobs. I'm primarily interested in hardware like this for the purpose of performance: using sounds and sequences I've preselected or designed in the studio and then dropping them into a machine that will allow me to easily and intuitively perform them. For this reason, the TR-8s is the far better choice for me. If I was more interested in a tool for live sampling and sound design/mangling, the Digitakt would be the obvious winner.
The winner would be an MPC. I have both TR-8 and TR-8S great for playing live. I returned the Digitakt because I didn't have time to understand the kit.
I took the TR8s for live jams: 1. Sidechaine effect for Audio in, this is the final touch for my mix so that that everything sounds punchier. 2. Auto fill ins... I know exacly where I am with my loops. 3. Direct controll over volume/muting. This makes it more a live instrument for me. 4. Delay, Reverb and Mastereffect for building drops. 5. All the classic Roland drummaschine sounds + more in one Box... no need for samples (for me yet) 6. The lights... It looks so cool an asks to be played.
I've been looking at getting a drum machine for a while, but as a virtual beginner with such things the Digitakt does look complicated to me, so if/when I do decide to buy one then it'll be the TR-8S for me. It just looks way more accessible to use, it has plenty of kits built in, kits that I'll actually use such as the 909, a memory card full of other samples will be more than enough for what I want. Oh and it looks nice, 😆 all those multi coloured lights and the layout of the machine is very aesthetically pleasing to me, I just like the whole package of the TR-8S better. 👍
The TR8S sounds great and is one of the most enjoyable machines I have ever used. If you have ever owned a 808 or 909, the TR8s is like having every feature (onboard sampling aside) you ever wished for in the original machines and more. The performance features are unmatched.
A very thoughtful and insightful comparison. I actually had this same dilemma back in December last year when I decided I wanted to get a synth and a drum machine to basically mess around with... Now, I don't do Ableton / FL / Garage / Logic or any of those other DAWs because really, I'm an old dog who can only learn so many tricks at once. I bought these things to 'PLAY' with. So, what did I decide? It was nearly as close as yours, but the kicker for me was two things: 1) Back when I wanted to do this the first time... nearly 30 years ago... I had Roland gear, so it was familiar to me. 2) The ability to quickly alter each individual sound during playback - like you said, you CAN do that on the Digi, but it's not nearly as fast, and you can only realistically alter one sound at a time. So yeah, for me the choice was the TR-8S or what I refer to as 'Trace'. And I'm having all kinds of fun with it! But yeah... that Digitakt is a hell of a machine, and if was more into sound design and some of the other things you mentioned, I might very well have gone that way. :)
TR8s is a very nice step up from the old one, but i own the Digitakt already. Im not sure I can go back to a "regular" drum machine anymore. Digitakt is just an inspirational instrument. Some of the most interesting music Ive made has come out of that little black box. I would give up the Mc chickens in a heartbeat if i had to get one again. lol Choose Digitakt Enrique!
Shhh.. i got the Digitakt already and the mcChickens are in the mail haha, jk. But i hear you. I've had this thing for like 12 hours and my mind keeps getting blown. Just now getting into midi sequencing and parameter locking program changes and what not
Just so you know, the TR8s can also record all outputs through USB, just like overbridge on the Digitakt. This is from sweetwater sales page: "The TR-8S Rhythm Performer features eight analog audio outputs that you can use to separate your sounds for recording or processing purposes. But if you're recording to your DAW, it's even easier to use the USB connection - you'll be able to record every TR-8S channel to a separate track in your DAW in a single pass."
I had the exact same dilemma. For me the deal breaker for Digitakt was the mono sample playback only. What a massive missed opportunity! I've ordered the Roland, but it's so hot I'm having to wait 2 months to get mine :(
Seen From Space 2 months... what a bummer - these 2 months are going to drag on and on - and each time you see a Digitakt on the web, I bet you can’t help but look at the calendar lol. Be worth the wait though - I love mine... When I started seeing the praise the Roland was getting I was hoping I didn’t spend 700 bucks on something I wished was the other thing but nope - I’m more than please with mine - and it’s weird how like normally you get a new bit of kit, a synth, hardware or virtual, and you spend way more time with it than any of the rest of your toys - but jeez, I’ve barely even switched on another synth or booted up Ableton since I bought this. There’s SO much to it. Like SO much... You’ll love it mate 👍
I don't doubt you get great results - I've devoured YT demos and Digitakt is amazing. Agreed, stereo samples are less important for kicks, closed hihats etc. But if there's a big stereo reverb on a snare that's inherent in the sample, it frees up the global reverb to use *a different* effect on other parts. I almost never put reverb on rides or crashes because they already have a stereo image. I roll my own in Logic ;-) And I don't have to touch pan pots to separate them - they simply occupy their own space. I've experimented with the Octatrack as drum machine, but it doesn't have the immediacy of a real drum machine.
I just got a secondhand tr-8s, this video heads towards the digitak until then end... then I realise I made the right choice after all... I had a machinedrum in the past and the reason I sold it was because it wasn't fun. if I want complex editing and infinite possibilities I'll use Ableton+push. if I want hardware fun and limitation use a real drum machine. Specs aren't everything!
If you throw in overbridge you have to use a computer / if your using a computer then you might as well get a regular tr8 / ableton intro and a cheap midi controller / DAWs are our friends
Wouldn't the 707 vs digitack be a better comparison? I mean I understand that the 8s is more of a "drum machine " but your talking about samples and other features......
I bought the TR-8S 4 days ago..............it will do what I need/not what I think someone wants to hear and XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Trial to Dead Ears on both Performances. Thanks for your Video I love Documentaries.........Ricky.
When I was looking for a drum synth, I wanted a compact, no nonsense box. Build-in sequencers are great if they're very good (like the elektron one), but a total waste of money and space is they don't exactly do what you want. Even if they're very good, I think I'd still prefer a single box like the Squarp Pyramid to control all synths, much more efficient. I ultimately went with the Audiothingies Doubledrummer, for its form-factor, ease of use (no learning curve at all), gritty sound, price point, and surprisingly good fx section. It does everything it sets out to do very effectively, I never felt like something was too limited. I might get a sampler (perhaps even a digitakt) at some point as well, but that's an entirely different thing, that (imo) ideally requires a different interface.
As soon as I saw the TR-8S released I pre-ordered it and sold my TR-8 (luckily within days). Picked my TR-8S on Saturday and it's a complete blast! It's just fun more than anything, and from fun comes inspiration for me :) I'm not knocking the Digitakt, but then I have an Octatrack MK2(!) so I'm sorted on the sampling front. As a fun example, I loaded the original LinnDrum LM1 samples into the TR-8S and used it to create vintage beats - it's pretty much perfect like this as it feels like an old drum machine in use (and you can filter the sounds and mix it all instantly). Have a go on one!
The Digitakt's lack of features is what makes it such a wonderfully unique sounding machine... I equate it to a modern day SP1200 in terms of how creative you can be with such limitations. Don't get me wrong... I would love for the Digitakt MK2 to include a "SONG MODE", micro SD feature, 8 outs, and a set of actual drum pads... but that'd just end up making it an Analog Rytm MK2.5 hybrid.
I think that is the issue... the Digitakt is more of a sampler. And for a product to really notch that out of the radar, it would have to be a sampler. As a drum-machine, the digitakt lacks the strightforwardness, and the TR-8S fixes most of the issues with the TR-8. Making it a really interesting drum-machine... but perhpas with a bit too much of a price increase...
My sampler from the 90s supports stereo samples, velocity layering and sample groups. More than 20 years later we are back to mono samples and basic audio controls. What's going on?
I think the issue is that marketing something as a drum machine then narrows the focus for the product. Drum hits tend to make more sense in mono. A general sampler would be much broader and need both mono and stereo support.
I use the Digitakt with my 90 s S3200 sampler and my s950 is mono so same thing if you want stereo L and R sample trk 1 & 2 simple if we had the digitakt in the 90's the music made on it would of been revolutionary.
Elektron are always cutting important corners! Only a stereo output (& headphones) on the Digitakt & the same for the Octatrack MK1. Ok it's got cue outs, whoa!
I love Ableton & Maschine but Standalone machines are always sexy. IMHO, I would take Roland because of it's layout. all the knobs are individual so you don't have to press any additional buttons to get to your desired editing parameter. I think that's a big plus for live. For Studio use, I'd always take a DM with sampling option cause I'd like to be ready to capture anything at any moment.
Yes, the Digitakt is the one. I've had Roland drum machines for years since the 808 in the 1980's and while they are great, these days the Digitakt has a more modern sound plus it is huge fun to use. Thanks for your great RU-vid content.
I have both and they are both great. I think the Digitakt is better for creative sounds, writing and sequencing but the layout and feel of the TR-8S works better for live performing.
You shouldn't ask people to thumb down, a lot of them have troll inside of them and they will thumb down just for fun without telling you what's wrong XD I thumbed up because it's great, you make your vidéo with your heart, your voice is gentle and pleasing to the ear, it's well done technically and you know what you are talking about ; cheers from france :)
Both machines are really pro level. Though, digitakt does come across a bit 'apple-like' - nice to touch buttons, but non velocity sensitive , minimalist design. Some people are able to churn out complete tracks with this machine. TR8s is a machine anyone inspired by jeff mills mighy consider. Dedicated mixing console and knobs do bring a lot to this dynamic JM-like performance. Playing with decay on CH and OH and BD is how I see live techno performer interact with crowd. There's always this longing to feed drum sampler non-percussive material - stabs , bass notes , whatever. I think this is where TR8s conceptually wins - its a tool with an interface, that's proven itself in 30+ years. I think Japanese companies do have strong phylosophy behind them. Whereas korg was always cheap, but giving experimental designs, yamaha was in the middle in terms of $ and catered to nerds with pretty slow workflows - ok as default, but pretty deep if you dive in, Roland always tried to have good basic sound and a selection of parameters, that made impact. Its really hard to make non-sound or awful sound on roland gear and that's on purpose. Its a performer's brand. And they want premium for this phylosophy. Digitakt is a mainstay in many people's setups. TR8s has ability to work as an audio interface, meaning its very easy to send stem tracks from computer to dj mixer , whilst having deficated drum machine. Think about it, it is very minimal setup, but very able to bring punch of a live performance. I'm talking low profile gig , hard to mess up that hard with this setup (you can unmute drum stem if something goes horribly wrong). What I'm most interested in is having the ability to add "fill-in" when you feel like it. This is a function i've been 'inventing' in ableton. In fact if anybody can come up with an idea how to realise this thing within ableton, it would defeat any value of external drum machine for me. I see two ways to do this function ( variation/fill in): 1. Use elaborate midi rack which shifts octaves for any given clip, whilst you program EACH AND EVERY CLIP in octaves (thus having no more than 12 sounds). I have beat 1,2,3,4 and fill 1,2. This setup helps when you don't have separate controls for drum mixer. You also can combine pieces of beat into something different. 2. By using push you can program variations and fill ins in drum sequencer mode. But you have to create long clip and be pigeonholed into having same length of each drum pattern. As a plus, you'll get performance area, beat repeat and encoders. Personally I research gear for an inspiration and later trying to implement it with Ableton. Its the only system capable of delivering anything you want to if you can find a way to do it. At some point I'll probably design a suitcase with everything mounted and ready to. A system thats inviting to play , instead of constant construction/ deconstruction of a setup.
I couldn't stop thinking about Marshall from ”how I met your mother” you do look alike Plus, tombs up for the good & simple explanation that you do Thanks:)
Coming from a guy you used to mess with an 808 way back when... I bought the TR-8S because of the two, it looked 'simpler' while still having the features I wanted. Sampling wasn't a big deal for me since I don't really go that route. I think for me, the big deciding factor was 'how fun is it to play live?' TR-8S wins. At least for me. :)
I sold my Digitakt and TR-8 and got the TR-8S. Having all those kits right out of the box (606, 707, 808, and 909) AND being able to load in the sample kits I used in the Digitakt gives me a hell of a lot of drum machine. Add in the individual outs, the huge amount of patterns/variations/fills/kits, and being pretty much knob per function and it was a no brainer. Plus, I've been a bit angry anyway that Digitakt still hasn't added Overbridge (which was advertised with the unit when I bought it months ago) and still has various glitches--some that lock the unit up. This was an easy decision.
Changing the length of steps in real time was one of a crucial factor. Instead of pattern by pattern jump to realize that or stutter whole step lengths.
it really does come down to personal workflow with these two. Some people thrive on limitations, myself being one. I do desire to dive deep into sound design and perfection afterward, but while actually writing a track, I need immediacy, I need to feel the track and perform it and make happy accidents that become key parts and give it character. After being in the DAW for so many years, breaking out and into hardware is what I needed. The tr8s is for certain people for a very good reason. It lacks for me: micro timing, swing per sound, a software interface for handling samples etc (possibly in the works). the tr8s does have more than enough sound design, better output situation, including usb output that sounds incredible at 96khz. You can certainly make a polished track on it
About the lack of midi Thru on the TR-8S: documentation shows that it is an option in the midi settings, so it can do Thru functionality! static.roland.com/assets/media/pdf/TR-8S_Reference_eng01_W.pdf#page=42
Ok, over the years roland has probably saved a lot of money on not including that extra connector. But soft through is still a bit annoying, and they have probably suffered some badwill from people not knowing about that feature. Or people forgetting to change the setting.
@roland TR8S for drums ( hands on control-easy editing- edit on the fly), @elektron digitone for melody parts and sound design and have @Arturia mini brute for the bass parts and complete your setup with beat step pro. Cruise away from DAWs. enjoy. ))
Enrique, your video halped a lot! I really want to love the TR8S, but the cons of it are convincing me towards the Digitakt. I just wish the Digitakt was as easy to use with knobs and faders like the Roland...decisions decisions...
My WAV samples into the TR-8s? Yes, but I shall need to buy spare parts for buttons/knobs and a set of sliders. I don't think the quality of construction is rigid enough especially the knobs. Anyone out there knows how good the construction of TR-8s is?
Hey Enrique! Thanks for the video man. Just a heads up, the TR-8S can stream audio over USB to get individual tracks into your session, just like the TR-8. Thanks again and keep up the videos!
Tbh. I didn't understand none of this when I was deciding which drum machine to choose. (TR8S or Digitakt) I chose the TR8S. Love it. But then I needed a Sampler. Long story short. I ended up with a mc707, TR8S, sp404mk2 and a syntakt. . . No regrets but I could've been solid with Digitakt and syntakt. W.E.
The way I see it the digitakt wins for flexibility of sound design but the TR8s is so much more hands on for live manipulation and mixing, basically if you do live jammed sets the TR8s is the better machine, you will probably have to pair it with an analog 4 or digitone for good synth tones :) Also what you're saying around the 12:00 min mark is inaccurate, TR8s wins here because it already streams all 11 outs directly to your DAW to separate tracks via USB and its worked since the original TR8. Where as us digitakt owners have been promised overbridge integration for over a year and its STILL NOT HERE :P
I think you should have touched upon a very important feature the TR-8S has and Digitakt doesn't. Digitakt is sample-based only, while TR has drum synthesis. Sure, it is only limited to Roland vintage drum sounds, but pitching/tuning a synthesized drum is definitely much better than doing the same with a sample. Looks like for live performers, TR-8S wins. It has great potential for improvisation. Also the individual outputs are a huge plus for live work. And the sequencer is better for live work than the Elektron paradigm. On the Elektron machines, at least on the Octatrack, you cannot turn a step off and then on with all settings for that step remaining intact. Turning a step off means it's gone (there are workarounds though). On the TR-8S, you can play with the steps live. And you can actually program a new pattern while another pattern is playing. For people who prefer to do everything in the studio, the Digitakt wins, although you have to buy a separate software to have individual stream of sounds for the Digitakt. Overbridge is not free, right? Mangling samples is a lot of fun. I do most of my work with samples. But I still think synthesized drums (analog or digital) have an edge over sampled drums, which have their own advantages. The TR-8S has both. The Digitakt is just samples. And it's mono, which is not a huge problem with drums but still... As an Octatrack owner, I'd probably go for the TR-8S. I can do everything the Digitakt can with the Octatrack, but cannot do many things the TR can. Octatrack for backing samples/structures and sampled drums with scene control, and TR8-S for drums and samples with a lot of live tweakability. One thing that's limiting on the TR-8S is using the drum synthesis only for modeling Roland sounds. That's a waste of resources. I hope Roland updates the firmware to include some more drum synthesis models. If they do that, the TR will indeed be one of the best drums machines in its price range. Oh and one more thing. The digitakt can plock a different sample on each step. Big plus on the surface... but then... if you do that, you mute that whole track and all of those different sounds get muted. So one must plan very carefully and not get carried away with that. I like the limitation on the TR-8S that you have one sound on each track. Disclaimer: I have neither of the two units. And I do not see myself as an experienced musician in using sequencers, having spent most of my musical career in completely abstract, improvised electronic and electroacoustic music. :)
They did announce that overbridge was going to be free. But it is still not around, so it is a future expansion. And the TR-8S has multiple channels over USB. Roland does has some issues in terms of user-interface for more in depth stuff... That classic roland display that we have seen sice at least the 90s, doesn't lend itself well to editing of any sort. And with softknobs it does become an issue. However, as a drum-machine, I think the TR-8S wins. Because it is a drum-machine... I think they should have scaled back, and made it more clear that is actually is a drum-machine and really nothing else. No Demos of it doing melodic content, because for that, the engine is too simple. The digitakt is unfortunately more of an underspecified sampler. It seems like fun. But it is neither a fully featured sampler, nor a well layed-out drum-machine. But an interesting creative tool, still... but I feel it is an addition to a set-up not a fundamental part. And there the TR-8S as a drummer better fills the fundamental part, of the drum-machine backbone.
zigular909 as far as I know, that only mutes the sound but the plocks remain intact and are applied. And it’s definitely not as straightforward as a regular step sequencer.
Why would you need a (drum) sampler with more than 33 seconds?i dont get it. Even a sliced loop spread over all the slots won´t even reach 33 secs...what´s the bitrate/freq/latency standard on the tr8s? 44100/24 bit? What do you get for latency if you checked it in ableton? Thx, great interview ❤🧡💛
I think the digitakt is much more interesting as a pitched sample player and polyphonic MIDI sequencer than as a drum machine. Coincidentally, the TR-8S doesn't do those things. I'm actually more interested in the Digitakt as a sequencer for my Peak and Reface DX Than I am even as a sampler. Also I hate sampling into machines, so that's basically irrelevant to me.
Enrique Martinez funny, I actually pulled the Circuit out, updated it, and now it kind of killed my interest in the Digitakt as a sequencer, since the realtime midi looper aspect of it is more important. I'll be making a video about this soon.
Good comparison. What is it with MIDI thru's anymore? Why are manufacturers not including them? I need at least a switchable Out/Thru on my gear. Maybe MIDI daisy chains are old-fashioned these days, but it's how I've always done it. It's what I know.
That Xpander looking menacing as all get out in the background. I had the Matrix 12 and it was the greatest instrument I ever owned. I miss it but you know, mortgages and shit.
With your capacity, I'd buy both ;) With Digitakt in studio, and tr-8s during live! (I know....."Money...it's a crime" ;) ) Have the right choice! And thank you for sharing your work and capacity :)
I totally agree with you, electron machines are really the best when you understand the work flow and the way to think! I would say that the digitakt is depper, fun and most importantly flexible! Electron powerrrr !
the elektrons, do suffer from limited polyphony when it comes to song creation. But I guess it is all part of their plan, of selling additional Elektron gear.
old video but as a new digitakt owner i think the difficulty of its workflow is a little overstated. Its my second drum machine first one being the RD8 and while it can feel like. alott at times you get used to it by day 3.
same, the notion of "elektron workflow" i think stems from the earlier MK1 machines and machinedrum era, and it haunted Elektron since. Weirdly, those weren't that bad either. especially when it came to doing what every other sequencer out there could do. It wasn't until you reached the features that no other machine could do (at the time) that it became "difficult" but it was because you were doing things you've never done before haha. TL:DR you are 10000% right and it just takes a little patience.
@@RickyTinez thanks dude. Thats a very interesting tid bit of groovebox history. As a younger producer all ive known is the Digitakt never exposed to the okder mki and machinedrum.
good analysis, although do you happen to know if tr8s has the same usb connection as tr8? because in tr8 it actually works similarly to overbridge (minus any effects, unfortunately) - but recording 16 tracks into daw with one usb cable was a miracle to me
Correct me if i am wrong, but the Elektron Digitakt is 100% digital whilst the TR-8S is partly analog, right? I would imagine the analog factor would play a big role for a lot of people. Also, wouldnt having a roland machine that plays an 808 / 909 analog kick be better than the Elektron Digitakt playing a digital version of it? I may be on the wrong train on thought though...
Hoping to pick up a TR-8s soon although I was initially drawn to the Digitakt at first. Watched a clip recently of a DJ discussing a fellow DJ's Digitakt breaking down twice on a live set. Just wandering if you may have also encountered any problems with the Digitakt? Cheers, Enrique. Dee
I've been trying to find a beat machine that's close to or similar to the "E-MU SP-1200 Beat machine" Would you say that the "Roland TR-8S Rhythm Performer is that machine? Thanks!
No, the 1200 can be sampled directly and it has a short sample time. It is a 12 bit machine I believe. There’s actually a new sp 1200 coming out called the 2400 I believe. You should check that out
Cool video, really informative and as objective as possible. What I'm wondering about, since I don't know any indepth of either of these machines is this. Suppose I have a BCR2000 lying around, and if I connect it to the Digitakt. Would it then be possible to get a real-time hardware parameter controlling surface like you see in the TR8S? In other words, can multiple parameters of the Digitakt be controlled via Midi (CC) messages simultaneously?
I went through exactly the same dilemma comparing these two instruments. Ended up getting the TR8-S. The number of audio outs (that can also be assigned as trigger outs), plus the fact that I was looking for a drum machine with onboard sounds and the ability to play back samples won it for me. A couple of months on, I don't regret it. It does exactly what I wanted it to. I am still lacking a hardware sampler though. Which is kinda leading me to a place where I might still get a digitakt. Maybe it's not a question of one or the other, but both! They're both flawed in my opinion but for different reasons, and they're both brilliant for different reasons. Which, I think, is what you concluded. Pure drum machine - get TR8-S. Sampling and sound design - get digitakt.
Question: do you have any regrets since purchasing your digitakt? I recently got a Digitskt and am thinking of trading it for a TR8s. Wondering your thoughts on that and if you have had any similiar thoughts.
If I bought a TR8 for $700 and then saw what the digitakt can do for $50 more. I would feel ripped off. I would feel completely different if the tr8 was like $400-$500. All the things I’ve ever wanted a Roland drum machine or sequencer to do that they don’t, the digitakt DOES. It’s 👌🏻
to be honest, i think the comparison should be more between the Elektron Rytm (mk2) and the Roland. The Digitakt is a real sampler. To my knowledge the Roland is a drum computer with the added functionality of being able to play samples, but it isnt a sampler. The Rytm is more comparable to this, being a drummachine, being able to work with samples (of course it also has a synth engine) . One isnt' better than the other . The price could be a deciding factor.
So many factors..... Depending on how much gear you have on the stage. If your loaded down with a lot.. then tr8s wins by a mile. If your just working one machine... then digitakt. Again it depends on how your mixing... Until humans have 4 arms and two heads.... Ive had 4 elektron boxes at home in the mix.. but I was just muting and unmuting and having my hands on the mixer with fx.... but if your diving into the octatrack and need to menu dive into another machine..... and then another... your just watering down this "playing it like an instrument" . I think having a tr8s and a digitakt makes sense... as you can see visually at a glance see what is playing and what isnt... as far as volume for each instrument. If you play keys while performing... menu diving with button combos and poor lighting(in clubs you never know) the Elektron boxes are not as quick..... Once again...anyone who invests 100s of hours.. will transcend most things... so it doesnt really matter..
Yes they each have their pros and cons. I ended up with both of them and I use them for very different situation but essentially achieving the same thing haha
The TR-8S will quickly feel like a toy and get you bored. I played 10 minutes with the older TR-8 and felt bored that quickly to be honest, I don't expect the TR-8S to be deep enough to be fun for more than a day. Plastic facade, and too few sound design capabilities. I mean, how can you even chop breaks with a TR-8S ?!
This was an unfair comparrison. You compared a drum machine to a groove box. This means something when it comes to mentioning MIDI sequencing. Its not meant for that. Its best use would be to be paired with a 707 or Digitakt. And with the FM addition to the TR-8s, giving it a bit of a Pulsar 23 feel, its come a long way.
Rytm + Digitone turned out to be a great combo :) Though sampling through audio interface and transferring to Rytm is a bit of a pain but VERY rewarding sound wise. Digitone is a much better making certain drums than rytm (kicks, hihats!) and is doing very well with the Rytm's overdrive and filter.
I have give my input on this one.The TR8S would be the easiest but...if you're familiar w working w samples in a DAW and actually read the quick start manual, Elektron gear is superb. Roland didn't take on the Trig Locks for nothing. They saw how great it worked for Elektron. The slider format is what works for Roland.
