Digitone Lead & Pads Tutorial

In this tutorial I go through how to make leads and pads on the Digitone, as well as a few general tips and tricks. What I like about the general settings I go through in this tutorial is that it's a very good starting point to make many unique sounds that are generally pleasing and easy to use. I avoided specific settings on purpose, and hopefully it'll encourage experimenting.

General settings:
Simple ratios. 1 is good.
Low A & B levels. Higher levels are hard to make soft sounds with.
Filter tracking: 100.
Filter cutoff: around 50% with a bit of resonance.
Long amp release.
Slow LFO assigned to Pitch All.
Feedback at around 90 to get that gritty sound. Adjust to taste.
LOTS of reverb and delay.

For leads:
Same as general, but...
Locked to 1 voice.
2nd filter's base at 50% to remove bass.
Enable portamento.
-type: legato only
-style: glissando
AENR (amp envelope reset): off
PHRT (phase reset): off

For pads:
Same as general, but...
slow attack on B's level
Ramp shaped LFO on delay (or chorus + delay)
Change shape on Pitch LFO to random
Add fade to pitch LFO (and set trigger mode to TRG to reset on every note)

Tips & tricks:
Use lock trigs EVERYWHERE.
Manage voices. Hide voice stealing with reverb and delay.
Experiment with using LFO2 to modulate LFO1 (depth, speed, etc)

Thanks for watching!

#digitone #tutorial

I spend a lot of effort making these videos, so I'd really appreciate it if you let me know what you think and also share it with anyone who might be interested :) Thanks again!

[hexwavemusic]

I just watched this again on my lunch, and that trick of slowly swelling the chorus into the delay and reverb is so clever, sounds fantastic.

[onymousmusic]

Such a succinct and beautiful tutorial. The clarity and yet deep explanation is sincerely appreciated.

[leetronix]

What I really like about your tutorials is you explain how you shape the effects to the sound you want rather than just make a sound and just stick with it. You already have a purpose in mind with a sound and know what you want it to do. This is how I create my music as well. Anyway really useful tips for leads and pads thanks :)

[commandercortez]

This video really sealed the deal on my picking up a digitone and now it's my most used synth

[davegibbon]

This is a fantastic tutorial. Really helped open up some concepts of the Digitone.

[RegisBoudinot]

I know what I'm doing today! Thanks for sharing this. Always appreciate the pen and paper

[chaosevolution]

Looks fun. My Yamaha MoxF8 has a multi track sequencer that I never use anymore. I think hardware is more fun sometimes; hands on is just simpler and more laidback.

[andar]

The intro song is so beautiful! Thank you for a great tutorial.

[nomadvideomachine]

As a Digitakt owner I was hesitant to check out this DigiTONE video, cause I don't want to be tempted buying one at all... but the good thing is that I learn more about the Digitakt – and producing in general – by watching this, cause there interfaces are so consistent. 
So muchos kudos to both you and Elektron. ♥️

[EVILJAMARR]

One of the major selling points for these devices is the buttons. They’re so so satisfying to clickity clack while you’re programming your drum computer or synth. They put this superb coating on the keys and make them just beg to be touched. Terrific design

[microfx]

wow... one of the most useful tutorials out there! thanks a lot!

[adijames]

In your last video (train) I commented that I wished my Digitone sounded like yours. Now it does!! 🙏🏻 Love your tutorial style and sounds. Thank you for sharing your process - really helps getting to grips with this fabulous machine.

[bimguff]

Fantastic video, sir. Presenting it as a "recipe" really makes the ideas stick and make sense. You've done a geat job exploring some of the deeper aspects of sound design on this synth!

[gregmarshall]

I just bought an A4 Mk 2 and plenty of what you show is applicable to that unit. Excellent.

[nigelrogers]

Been thinking about getting a digitone as I love the FM sound but thought it was a bit too complex for me. Now I found your tutorials I think I'll get one (maybe after Christmas). Thanks for sharing, great tutorial 👏🏾👍🏾🙏🏾

[neoaltima]

I get my Digitone next week. Love all of the information found in these tutorials!

[duketranslucentrd]

I've been trying to decide for some months now about which synth to add to my Digitakt. Your video might just have decided the matter for me. Really nice!

[hexwavemusic]

You have so many fantastic smart ideas, great tutorial Ivar! I'm getting a DN to pair with my DT this week and can't wait to try some of this!

[cilius]

Coming in late here, but I’m so thankful you made this. I was considering selling the digitone as I was having a hard time finding sounds I heard mentally. Thank you. This is it.

[Bender]

Hope you make more tutorials like this. I finally pulled the pin and have a Digitone on the way (its in the mail as I type)l but I used your techniques in this video to create sounds on my Hydrasynth desktop. Decent and useable sounds too. More sound design tutorials please :)