My guess is that with Digitone II they might try to merge both ST and DN in one single machine, knowing the amount of processing power the new chips have.
Add some polyphonic channels with deeper synthesis capabilitites to the ST, maybe add another analog track, the sequencer upgrazes of DTII and I’d call it a day.
Or they will not merge, DNII will stay the same but with more polyphony and different synthesis machines (VA, Wavetable, FM, etc.), and they will not update the ST cause it didn’t sell enough.
I’d say there’s zero chance of a syntakt2 in the next few years. would be really bad if they did release one so soon imo.
mk1 should get a rake of software updates in its lifetime tho imo. machines, modifiers, and I could see em possibly implementing the new DT 128 step sequencer without the need for the 2 rows of leds.
I think this new platform thing is the usage of this SHARC Analog device DSP. Not the Rust thing which is just the language. And I don’t believe anyone at Elektron will rewrite the whole OS for the sequencer/UI in another language. Time consuming, without real benefit, and sure you will have bugs doing that.
What I find interesting about this SHARC DSP, is previously the Machinedrum, monomachine and Octatrack used a Motorola 56303 for the DSP.
And original DT only use it’s main processor, and DN use two main processor, so twice the power of the DT on paper.
I imagine that this new SHARC might be the choosen one to be used on all the new digital platform. Because it might be a large investment to learn, integrate and create various library for a new DSP family into a product line.
I’m somewhat skeptical of all this excited talk about ‘new hardware platforms’ and rust code.
The DT2 has two Coldfire chips inside as opposed to the single one in the OG DT, but as is well known the Digitone had two Coldfires since it was introduced in 2018 to cope with FM synthesis. The only reference I can find to ‘new hardware platforms’ is an old comment from Cuckoo - so not really hard evidence of there being a new hardware paradigm inside the mid range Elektrons - so I’m wondering if all this discussion of ‘new hardware platforms’ more wishful thinking?
As for Rust my understanding is that it offers more modern security and memory protection - so really of little practical performance benefit to these decidedly old school sequencing synths.
I’m happy to be corrected in my ignorance but is there any hard evidence from Elektron of there being a significant new platform inside the DT2?
I hope they can do an update that is relevant to both Syntakt and Digitone. We are not owed anything but after the previous DT1 incredible update it feels like both these machines could use some new flash before they turn attention back to new generation products.
I think the exciting thing about the switch to rust is that all their previous instruments have been written in assembly or some other super low level language. The switch to rust means that (hopefully) things can be updated much more easily which hopefully means more frequent and substantial updates. I imagine that’s pretty important when they are supporting so many different instruments.
…ot is based on sampling technology…but it’s sooooo much more…
and there’s no synth sampler synth sampler law in any release policy afaik…
at first i was dissapointed, when te was just dropping another next sample based device instead of some new synth based thing…but i was wrong…
but i can’t see anything of truu new relevance in all this hw biz lately anyways…so what do i know…at least one thing…live entertainment is last man standing in all this…and a device that let’s u flourish right there is one of the rare things that still can make a difference and a cut…
if elektron don’t give their universal far over a decade old cult live battle action sample mixer another try, they’ll end up up in thin air sooner than later…even the old ot is also a kind of a synth already…let’s take it to the next level…no one needs another next “new” groovebox while anything from elektron can always also be turned into one…while a truu electronic instrument that can cover anything ur able to come up with, u want to use and abuse for something u can perform and interact with in realtime is a damned sure thing…
i sold my syntakt for the dt2 as soon as it came out- the dt2’s new features solved a lot of issues i had with the digibox ui in general
on paper things like 128 steps / new trig conditions / notes that can be locked to scale on the trig page / page loop / mute preps / chorus(!) / selective ctrl-all / etc. don’t seem like much- but in practice they are transformative
this is just my intuition and i’m prepared to eat my words but i don’t think there will be any significant updates for the syntakt that fully resemble the expanded functionality of the dt2 (or a syntakt 2) anytime soon
there will probably be a new batch of machines every few years but it seems like the syntakt is the final punctuation mark of an era for the initial run of digiboxes (it’s a very good one!)
They just came out with syntakt, we aren’t gonna see st 2 anytime soon. Hoping for some stellar updates. I don’t want elektron to pull a polyend, like what they with play.
So you want Elektron to release a new hardware peripheral and full machine every two years and go third party after five years of this tactic ? Can’t wait for Digitone CD!
Yes, but at its core, the only way you can make sound with it is via samples/recorded audio. Like DT II. Knowing that Elektron covers a wide palette of sound design nowadays, I just don’t see them updating their other only sample based machine next. Just look at how many “should I get DT or OT” threads there are on Elektronauts, people are usually looking for a sampler and decide which of these two to get.
I sold my Syntakt when the E25 version came out with the intention of replacing it with that version instead, but the DT2 ended up being released.
I wouldn’t be able to convince myself to get another Syntakt now, knowing it lacks physical design changes that have definitely improved things. We’re aware that a machine that most likely supersedes the Syntakt should be released in the near future too.
I imagine most synth companies were taking notes at the backlash that Polyend saw when they released the Plus units so soon after the originals. Elektron seems to place a premium on the goodwill of the userbase, which I’m glad of
If Elektron will be making new Synth with groovebox or update existing FW just please add concrete amount of polyphony on MIDI tracks. I want to use rich seventh chords with added notes so 6 notes on track minimum, best 8 or even more. Would really want to see additional effects like Chorus, tap tremolo, and especially some pitch shifter like Boss charmonist PS-6 as the notes played with it have extra additional tone which sounds really rich especially if you use it for melodies.
? Can’t wait for Digitone CD!