They specified internal tone generation, that I read.
Still worth getting into the audio ins!
Yeah!
Still not super likely to have issues with devices that have a reasonable spec but worth considering gainstaging.
But on its lonesome? Nah!
I guess he clarified after the fact but it’s still the same endgame.
Right. I thought they were talking about the synth engine, but regarding the inputs, the answer is a yes, but unlikely.
I´ve connected outputs to outputs and had some crazy levels blasting with several Elektrons, so far they all survived and I guess the guys at Elektron know what they are doing.
Yep, if someone is concerned there they could check the spec on the max output levels of the device/mixer going into the inputs to make sure levels are what the Digitone 2 supports.
And if they’re very concerned they could use a multimeter to further confirm output voltages/spikes haven’t been affected by old gear malfunctioning in whatever output circuit.
But if our Digitone-loving hellwitch hasn’t blown hers up yet, industrial noise isn’t going to bust anyone’s!
Thanks everyone.
I’m really mainly talking about the internal synth engine.
But I guess I could send an external synth into the Digitone at full volume, lower it in the internal mixer, let it distort etc?
Elektron devices have a good amount of headroom for most signal levels (they certainly are “hot” in the outputs.)
For your own understanding, sure! You can send in a level that might result in clipping and hear for yourself if it sounds “good” for a particular use case.
Yes, and you can also feed the Digitone output itself through the external inputs. I’ve never tried it - and be careful with levels - but it should provide an interesting excursion in itself.
I’d love to try looping the Digitone back into itself, but I was worried about the feedback it might cause. Surely blowable??
I guess the same as above when running external signals through it applies. I wouldn’t mind giving it a go though, if you’re a little careful.
I wonder if @UserFriendly has done feedback looping with the Digitone
I’ve always been under the impression that there’s no way to damage a digital audio input with feedback. I’ve been doing it with a Deluge and DJ FX units for a while
At a basic level, it is not designed to send more voltage to the outputs than it can handle on the inputs.
This possibility would be tried during development and is not warned against in the manual. The only concern about feedback noted there is that the internal delay feedback can get very loud at high settings.
Edit:
DN1 manual
Main outputs level: +22 dBu
Input level: +19 dBu
DN2 manual
Main outputs level: +18 dBu peak
Input level: +18 dBu peak
Now, there may be some flexibility in spec and headroom here, in that if you are engaging in D/A and A/D feedback chains using just the Digitone I/II it may not still clip. I don’t commonly do that with digital synths, at worst the inputs will clip, and I’m not privy to if they designed them to clip nicely or left a little more filthy.
I’ve run some loud shit through Digitone and Digitakt inputs, never had a problem. I’ve pushed a lot of gear to silly levels and never had any issues.
I can’t think of many line level signals that’ll cause a problem. If you’re using modular gear, just attenuate it down from modular to line level into the DN.
Feeding outputs to inputs is fine, but be careful of your ears/speakers and never do it with headphones on. Best to use some sort of mixer as a middle man so you can have quick control over levels in case something gets out of hand.
Two good videos about using feedback.
Someone called @Jeanne ?
hey! sry I don’t do that. I make it sound like it but just with the DTII alone, like
this noise wall https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14MolI9eogU&t=691s
or
or
or
There was a stream in like 2021 where Ess showed off these techniques, the main thing I remember is maxing out the headroom using all the available gain stages then pushing it over the edge with a resonant HPF. Once you hit the gain ceiling any additional tracks will be fighting for dominance as though you had a gnarly compressor on the output. Sadly the stream was never archived but you’ll be able to figure it out from the sysex!
Don’t know if it’s been mentioned, but with the Digitone 2/Digitakt 2/Digitakt OG (but not with the OG Digitone) you can push the output clipper extremely hard by maxing out compressor make up gain and not applying compression threshold! This clipping is digital, you still can change the pattern volume, because it is applied post-clipping.
Example from the DT (not that extreme, but it shows the concept — no master distortion used, just clipping):
I’m amazed, I didn’t realize I could push the DTII so harrrrd. Just gave it a try. Stock sample mayhem.
Max Vel, Sample Level, Amp Vol, Overdrive (routed after filter), Master Overdrive, Makeup Gain and HP Filter Resonance. Also some audiorate modulation and a little filter and amp envelope ctrl-all stuff.
I’m quite surprised at how similar Belle Reid’s mixer sounds like my Bugbrand Weevil. Or the other way round, whatever.
I feel like getting that thing out and making horrible noises for a few hours, sampling them and then never using the samples at all.