I got my first Elektron box, a Syntakt, about a year ago. Fell in lone with the Elektron workflow and all it has to offer. With the Syn in particular, I pretty much exclusively use it for: kick sounds, bass sounds, synth leads, and atmosphere. Oh, and the FX block. Don’t really use the chord machine as I find it too limited, and I don’t like any of the cymbal or snare sounds.
Recently picked up a Digitakt and realized that this was the piece of gear I’d been missing. It might be my single favorite piece of hardware I’ve purchased.
A friend of mine has a Digitone and offered to do a trade for the Syntakt, since the things I use it for I could also technically achieve with the Digitakt via samples (with the exception of the FX block of course).
I do tend to generate music harmonically, and so the polyphony that the Digitone offers is the big pull. But I don’t know. There was just that update for the Syntakt, and it’s a powerful machine in its own right.
For people who’ve played with the two, do you think trading a Syntakt for a Digitone (to be paired with the Digitakt) is a good idea? Should I just buy my own Digitone and have all three? Lol.
If we’re talking about a digitone 1, the current economy values approximately 2 digitone 1’s to the cost of a syntakt. I think it’s fair to say that some people like to eat ice cream in a cone, and some people like to eat it in a bowl with a spoon. While both will be a little different, both will taste good, but which tastes better is up to the person eating dessert.
In my opinion, there is no better pairing for a digitakt than a digitone. However, you may like one better or both the same, really it’s so personal that it’s more than just specs vs specs. I’d recommend at least trying it before you consider one vs the other, the original DN is very powerful but it’s not a Syntakt and has limitations as far as a standalone unit which are (in my opinion) mitigated by owning a digitakt.
It seems you’ve already put yourself in a position where you may be able to get equal value out of either, and it will come down to preference which is absolutely a personal thing and people can convince you one way or the other, but you need to find out for yourself.
In my opinion even if you have all 3 of them, you can always sell the one you don’t use, but if you let the Syntakt go cheap, you may not get another one at the same value so while you have it I’d try and get it worked out in your head about what you like most about it and then bring a digitone into the equation and see if it changes how you feel about the ST.
Question is what do you intend to do with your gear ? Do you already have a workflow in mind ? What was your Syntakt dedicated to and what would you miss trading it ? The obvious change is that you will be giving up on 8 tracks which can be a lot depending on how you use your gear, + analog tracks on the syntakt, but I think this kind of choice is way more dependent on what you use each machine for.
Economy wise, the trade feels like a loose on your side, syntakt will sell easily for 700 eu where I live when Dn1 can be found around 350 these days.
In my case syntakt + digitone is the perfect fit as Im using the ST purely as a drum machine and Im not big on samples. Digitone is definitely better as a melodic instrument, but the Syntakt can create percussions that feel warm and punchy with ease and warmth I cant emulate on the DN
One thing I should mention (which you can consider while you’re weighing the benefits of each) is that neither digitakt nor digitone has a global filter, where syntakt does. It is, of course, a trade off if you’re comparing the one feature (additional global parameters) vs the others on digitakt or digitone, however if you have been accustomed to modulating the filter across multiple patterns on ST, then the inability to do this in a live context might feel constricting.
If this is not a feature you regularly use (cross pattern parameter modulation) then you will probably never even notice that it’s gone, however I wanted to mention it so you can look directly at it as a Syntakt feature rather than later discovering this “feature” is missing from DT and DN.
I have had the DT/DN/ST trio for a while now, and recently upgraded from the DN to the DN2. I would say that I would miss each of them if they were taken away, because they all bring enough independent character to the table to make them all worth keeping.
I also find that they are very complementary to each other, and their versatility allows them to work well in all of their various combinations, including as standalone instruments.
So, if possible, I think it would be worth saving up to add a flavor of DN and keep your ST if possible. Also, as mentioned above, the DN is currently veeery inexpensive because the DN2 is just really so much more feature rich. That doesn’t diminish the OG DN one bit! It’s still an incredible piece of kit…so if you want to try it out, you could likely get one for around $400 USD and if you every feel like you want to upgrade to a DN2, could resell it for close to the same price that you bought it. You’re getting into the DN when the price has likely already floored out, so even a used OG right now is probably a stable investment.
Regardless of whether it’s the OG or the 2, the DN is magic.
Recently I’ve bought myself a Digitone OG. It was the last one left after the release of the DN II, so I could grab it for about 40-50% more than the current used prices. Didn’t regret it.
Yes the DNII can do some things the current ST does, but I find it an unfair comparison. The DNII or DTII should be compared with an upcoming STII.
When combined with my DT OG and DN OG the ST (OG) really brings some extras to the table, being it the Analog parts and FX track. Also the mostly digital features and sequencing improvements from the latest update really add up to the DigiTrinity OG as a whole.
It’s a shame Elektron didn’t expand on the analog side of things or the FX section, because that’s what makes the ST stand out within the OG-family. But I guess they’ll just keep it for the STII, eventually making people spend their money on upgrading to the DigiTrinity II.
If you ever want to go that route, sell your ST and buy a DNII (not an OG). At this point they’re about the same price when bought new, but that will change when the STII is being released. My guess would be 2025/Q1.
A mint Digitone 1 for around $400 (maybe even less) at current prices is one of the best music gear values of all time. There is no way you will regret it. If I were you I would just save for that and keep Syntakt. I have all 3 and using them in different combinations is wonderful, for example “warming up” the Digitone through the Syntakt fx block. Also Syntakt might still get some more updates that will make it more versatile.
We all sound like a bunch of junkies in here. Get all 3!! Get al 3!! Jeez. Oh, BTW, I have all three myself. We’re all biased in here! Get out while you can… It’s too late for us. LOL Save yourself!!
I have a Syntakt (bought from new) and I promise I’ve really tried to love it like I do my Digitakt, Digitone and Analog Four but, for some reason I can’t explain, I just can’t, and it stays in its box whilst the others are used almost constantly.
If it were me, I’d sample as many of the Syntakt sounds as possible into the Digitakt, then suggest to swap the Syntakt for the Digitone + £300(ish).
I’d trade my Syntakt + some cash for a Digitone II in a heartbeat…
