Digitone MIDI Tracks - Sequencing External Gear (feat. Korg Volcas)

Following on from my last jam, here's a detailed walk-through of how I set up the Volcas and Digitone to play nice together and look at some of the key features of the excellent Digitone MIDI tracks.

Let me know in the comments below if you'd like to see any of my other gear take a ride on the Digitone.

[oscarfriberg]

My jaw dropped when you demonstrated how to control CC values with LFO. This is opening up so many great new opportunities for my Volcas.

[mortgagejunglist]

Just went through this again but with the new USB-MIDI capability updates in digitone, happy to report it works

[dadam]

Thank you so much, I'm so happy to find out that we can control and parameter lock the Volcas directly from the Digitone, it's a good surprise for me !

[knobs_matrix]

Wow, so many posibilities.
Thank you for this video 💥💥💥

[PM-yzfx]

I was struggling to use the DT sequencer in my DAW, after about 1 hour of nothing I told myself, let's see if Oscillator has some tips...and voila', what you did is not even related to USB and DAW connection, but all of a sudden thanks to your video, magically everything made sense. Also that trick of connecting the cc values to the LFO is so neat! I am using it with various Kontakt VST instruments and with self learning cc function it works wonders. As usual you are absolutely great! Elektron should pay you :), how on earth one can find the things you do in a manual! Thanks a lot, your video are always a great source of inspiration.

[lozza]

Brilliant explanation. I have a Keys I use with my DT but have not explored this side of things before.
Understanding how to control external gear with the DT properly is worth its weight in gold. I was struggling to understand how it would work when the DT only has two inputs for external gear, but you're using those two for the Keys and sending those from the Kick, to your USB interface.
I understand this now! I'm going to hook up my Keys and my Roland TB03 to my DT and have fun exploring how they can be externally sequenced and tweaked/locked all from one unit, my DT.
Just effing awesome! Thanks so much!

[FrozenLonesome]

This is exactly the tutorial I needed. Had my Digitone for 5 days now and could not figure out how to enable midi send. Looking forward to driving my Peak, BS2 and IPad synths from my Digitone. Thanks!

[maxmatson]

I just bought me a digitone used with no manual so I need all the help I can get thank you for this!🎹🎧💫😵🙏✌

[ringandtones]

Good job explaining how to MIDI sequence CC values on other synths. I remember it took me quite a while to understand. I felt neither was it obvious how to do it nor well explained in the manual.

[silas]

With this video you help with my general „MIDI Problem“, I don‘t understand it fully, so that I can start now with a bunch of opportunities. Thank you.🙂

[larsuk]

Great video thanks! The manual is not super clear on the midi tracks so that helped a lot. One time saving tip is that the midi out can be setup to USB, MIDI or both. Mine was configured to USB so it took me a little while to figure out why it wasn’t triggering my external synth... 😬

[t.n.]

The Digitone is the brain of my setup, or at least the conduit between Ableton and everything else. So many people seem to get hung up on the 8-voice polyphony (which has not been an issue for me at all), but once you factor in all of the external sequencing capabilities it becomes clear that it really is an incredible bargain. I think people also underrate its ability to moonlight as a digital drum machine; sometimes it feels like I have a mini Machinedrum jamming alongside my Acidlab Drumatix. Those crispy FM blips complement warm analogue toms very nicely. I wasn't much of an Elektronaut before this, but I can say without a doubt that the Digitone is my favorite groovebox ever. <3

[jean-pierrejoubert]

Thanks again for the breakdown. As I mentioned on Facebook, I tried this with my Volca Beats last night. Some interesting things to note:

1. The Digitone doesn't have a ratcheting function like the Digitakt, so if you're missing something like that you may need to find a workaround. (Haven't found one yet but haven't looked too hard.)

2. The notes used by the Beats aren't sequential. In fact, they're spread out seemingly at random, so you need to reference the MIDI data document for each different drum voice that you want to trigger. I haven't done this yet, but I think the most practical way to handle this would be to use something like a Brother tape machine and print out a sticker with the note numbers so that you can stick it onto the Beats as a quick-reference.

As I said, I'm not too keen on the snare so if I keep this I may want to mod it, but otherwise it sounds pretty good ... especially when you run it through the Digitone's Master Overdrive!

[monodux]

This video just changed my whole life. I have to thank you again- you inspired me to get the Digitone in the first place, and I’ve been playing with it extensively during the election madness here in the states. I hadn’t yet considered the midi tracks. Goodness, what a game changer. Cheers!

[BettinaCalmon]

You saved my life man, I saw many videos before, no one was showing how to configure the midi in the Digitone, so I was connecting the cable only and hoped to sync like that. I can sleep in peace tonight thanks to you. Lol Appreciate the great content. :)

[fahadha]

Came here to confirm 8 note midi polyphony per midi track and you did that straight away, brilliant! I'm used to the digitakt's 4 notes. Planning to combine both, reckon they'll make a powerful sequencing combo for old rack gear!

[dwdougherty]

Brilliant tutorial; absolutely riveting. You’re an excellent teacher.

[theenglisharmy]

Excellent vid. Concise and Quick. So many drag on. Thank you.

[ross_ykm]

Excellent walkthrough! Would love a demo of Digitone sequencing a relatively complex drum machine (TR-8S etc).

[monkus]

Incredible find. Pair this with a koala sampler and you basically turned your digitone into a digitakt!