Bad Gear - Elektron Digitone

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Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world's most hated audio tools. Today we are going to talk about the Elektron Digitone. Does this digital synth sibling of the Digitakt and Syntakt finally make FM synthesis accessible to synth noobs? Does the awesome Elektron sequencer of this FM groovebox / drum machine make a difference and why is it technically less powerful than classic 80s synths like the Yamaha DX7?

Thanks to Klangfarbe for helping me out with one of their Digitone floor models

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
01:15 Overview Elektron Digitone
01:36 Audio Engine, FX
01:52 Arpeggiator
01:59 Resonant Filters
02:11 FM Engine (and Elektrons modern twist on it)
03:20 Envelopes
03:33 Initial Onset
03:42 LFOs
03:49 Rant
04:18 Trademark Elektron Features ™ (Microtiming, Conditions, Parameter Locks)
04:55 Limitations (Polyphony, Pattern Length,...)
05:19 FW Update Issues (might only be the Digitone I have here)
05:29 More Limitations (Velocity, Data Management, missing Digitakt Features)
05:53 External In, Midi Tracks, Preset System
06:06 DX7 Compatibility (or lack thereof), Sound Quality
06:24 What else???, Thanks
06:42 Hate
07:06 Jam 1 (Techno)
08:00 Jam 2 (Downtempo, LoFi)
08:55 Finale (Drum and Bass)
09:28 Verdict

[ascendwithgorb]

I don’t understand how you can crank out a video of this quality every single week. There’s some dark magic here.

[RickyTinez]

hahahah yes! so happy to have made it into one of these. Great job 😂

[AudioPilz]

In all honesty, the FW update not working was my mistake. It was late, I was tired and I hate updating stuff 😂😂😂
Fail 2: Syn 1 Page 2 hosts - of course - ratio offset and NOT initial onset time




Audiopilz: *slaps roof of YT channel*

[MrFrattocchia]

You really give sense to the phrase "nothing is bad if it's in the right hands"

[BigMuff]

I’ve been waiting for this one. It did not disappoint. As usual, made me want to buy gear I don’t need.

[caleblaughlin]

At this point you should just rename the show to All Gear. You make every instrument overview entertaining. And obviously your producing skills are top notch. 👍.

[jimmywheelo]

By now we know that most of this BAD GEAR isn't actually that bad.

By now we all know this doesn't matter one bit. This channel is essential Friday night viewing.

Simply brilliant and very funny 😁

[pthomas]

This is the only channel where I know I have to be ready to pause instantly, dozens of times through the video, but its' so worth it. I love these videos...

[paulbmorgan]

Loved the Bob Moog FM Bell 'quote', he was quite the potty mouth, who knew. Always been tempted by the Digitone... Great show as always, thank you.

[shotfrmbehind]

Always entertaining and informative. Dude's channel is being slept on.

[rundtomrasmus]

What an honour to finally have some bad gear of my own ❤️

[meedily]

Your jams always sound so sweet. Wish you released albums with your short song snippets. I’d listen to all 15 seconds of them on loop for real.

[feliperojasc]

The best moment in 0:57 is the captions combined with your facial expression. I can feel that pain. Gold.

[Eli_B]

Your ability to get great sounds of a wide range of gear is only surpassed by your video editing and meme sourcing. One of the top couple of synth channels I immediately have to watch every episode of, regardless of what is being covered, kudos.

[culturetrash]

Really enjoyed this one. I wasn’t a big fan of my digitone until I started using it alongside the digitakt. Such a powerful combo.

[thegurkenkaiser]

this is my favorite synth soundwise and for live performances!

[mateuszwojt]

Oh man, the Critical Drinker vibes... THE WORKFLOW! I love it :)

[jgfjfgjfhjf]

This lovecraftian creature of a techstep neurofunk mockup sounded so good, it almost made me think that this electron thingy is actually decent

[e]

havent watched the video yet...but OH NO HE DIDNT

[Daphoid]

Another fantastic video to round out a Friday. Masterful work as always my man.