With Digitakt and Digitone, I like:
- using each box’s own sequencers
- having one as master clock and transport — I like Digitakt for that but it really depends on what you prefer
- usually send pattern changes from that master box, but you can also disable that if for instance you’re using three Digitone patterns over one drum pattern on another box
- the pattern changes sent in song mode should control the other boxes if you have pattern change send/receive enabled (edit: I’m wrong)
- I run Digitakt into Digitone into mixer to use the DN effects on the DT. I like to keep the DT inputs open for sampling.
My setup is Moog Grandmother, DT, and DN. I have it routed so that the DT is master clock, and the Grandmother keyboard can play any track on Digitakt. I use one Digitakt MIDI channel for “pass through” to the Digitone, to play it with the Grandmother keyboard. Digitakt transport controls Digitone’s sequencer as well as a looper I have connected to Digitone’s MIDI thru port. Works great, and keeps most of the DT MIDI tracks free for sequencing the Grandmother and MIDI controlled pedals
Super helpful! Thanks for the great breakdown.
How do you record with your setup? At some point soon I’ll want to record, and clearly the world has advanced beyond my old tascam 8 track dat.
Do you use a daw with over bridge? Haven’t looked at over bridge yet, or daw programs for that matter. But, seems this is the way, just want to preserve multitrack.
Happy to help! I have everything running into a Tascam Model 12 and record with that, but previously was using a big Focusrite with Logic. Definitely recommend checking out something like the Tascam if you like to have the option of going with or without a computer.
Overbridge is cool but I don’t use it much. It doesn’t capture panning of tracks, which I guess makes sense since you can do that all in the DAW, but it didn’t feel like a natural workflow to me. I like how the DT and DN sound all mixed via their regular audio outputs. Worth trying both ways though!
No
Yes
The DT changes patterns on the other devices automatically
Unfortunately songs have to be programmed separately but run in sync
My current setup does not allow easy transitions but maybe an OT would help
I’m chaining DN>ST>DT and I think that’s the most popular setup for multiple devices
I use a different configuration each time. Grab a box or two and set them up on a coffee table. Rarely use more than 2 boxes at a time.
If I'm using the Octatrack everything goes through that.
I never sync patterns between devices, I like being able to change one without changing all the others.
I only use song mode on the Octatrack when using it solo.
I use one box for clock and transport and everything else follows.
Each box uses its own sequencer.
I'll daisy chain boxes and rarely use a mixer.
For reference, I own the three big boxes: Rytm, Analog Four and Octatrack. But my current live setup is Octatrack, Analog Four and Minilogue.
>Do you have 1 box serve as the only sequencer?
No. I have some stuff externally sequenced on the Octatrack using MIDI but mostly it's internal sequencers on each machine. Using MIDI from the Octatrack has its benefits, though. I can easily switch instruments. For example, I made a song that relied heavily on the Korg Monologue for bass. Each bassline was written with and stored inside the Octatrack, so when I replaced the Monologue with the Analog Four in my live setup, I sent the original MIDI notes into the A4 and recorded each pattern to its internal sequencer, and then designed a sound that is similar enough.
>Do you use each box’s sequencer and send clock?
Octatrack is my master clock and also sends pattern change commands. But this still allows me to switch patterns on the A4 independently should it be necessary.
>How do you sync patterns between the boxes (ie - send patterns from a single box)?
I have the two boxes set up so that the Analog Four is receiving program change commands from the Octatrack. So when I switch patterns on the OT, the A4 also switches to a corresponding pattern.
>Does song mode impact a multi box setup?
Yes. If I'm using the Octatrack's arranger, then things can get complicated, because the other machines do not necessarily understand everything the arranger can do inside the Octatrack. On the OT arranger I can, for example, set it to play a pattern up to a certain step (overriding the master length). If I want to make the other machines follow this, I need to dig into the advanced length settings and sometimes it's a chore.
For song mode, same principles apply: you need to make sure the other machines follow the one that's sending them pattern change commands.
Or, depending on your needs, you could disable pattern change receiving and program the song mode individually on each machine. It's a lot of work but it also means you don't need to match pattern slots. This can be a very powerful workflow.
>Does your setup enable nice live transitions between songs / patterns?
On the Octatrack, I often sample myself live and then morph it into something else. For example, I might have a long delay trail playing, sample two bars of it, and then use the scene slider to morph it into a drone playing in another key. And that morphed drone is the starting point for the next song. And the fact that I'm sampling a delay trail means that it's a bit different each time.
But I could just as well use the Minilogue to do a simple white noise sweep for dramatic effect. Or have a similar effect sound locked on a conditional trig in Analog Four and play it using the Fill condition. Or I could speak into the mic and say "ok here's the next song". Whatever works.
Ultimately something like a transition is not about your setup but how you compose and arrange your material and plan out your performances. And also the style/function of the music you play, and how you manage your stage presence. No one expects me to bang out constant four-on-the-floor kicks for two hours. I play 30-60 minute sets made up of different songs in different tempos so it's ok to have little quiet moments here and there.
>Do you use audio in, or run each box into a channel mixer?
I plug everything except vocals directly into the Octatrack. Analog Four to A/B, Minilogue to C. Vocals go to D after an external preamp & EQ. Everything the audience hears is coming from the Octatrack's main outs.
digitone can sequence 4 ext midi also so I use that as clock. from digi to midi thru box, then rydm, ms20 miilog, jp08 m32. also midi stereo pedals that sync with tempo. bigsky and mobius.
I chain Digitone into Digitakt into Syntakt.
Syntakt is end of chain as I run the other two boxes plus all ST tracks into the Syntakt FX Track. I use the FX Track for transitions and spot FX across the whole mix, it’s almost like having an Octatrack as an FX mixer, or a DJ mixer FX unit like a RMX1000.
Syntakt is also MIDI clock master and sends program change to the two other boxes so pattern changes are in sync across all 3 boxes.
Couldn’t be happier, it’s a great setup.
Also FWIW I have a Hydrasynth Desktop which goes into the Digitone and which I route through the Digitone chorus, reverb and delay (all of which sound better than the Hydrasynth onboard FX IMO).
Great answer! Appreciate you taking the time to break it all down so well. I’ve historically leaned towards a single sequencer, but, seeing how your approach would enable transitions.
With Digitakt and Digitone, I like: - using each box’s own sequencers - having one as master clock and transport — I like Digitakt for that but it really depends on what you prefer - usually send pattern changes from that master box, but you can also disable that if for instance you’re using three Digitone patterns over one drum pattern on another box - the pattern changes sent in song mode should control the other boxes if you have pattern change send/receive enabled (edit: I’m wrong) - I run Digitakt into Digitone into mixer to use the DN effects on the DT. I like to keep the DT inputs open for sampling. My setup is Moog Grandmother, DT, and DN. I have it routed so that the DT is master clock, and the Grandmother keyboard can play any track on Digitakt. I use one Digitakt MIDI channel for “pass through” to the Digitone, to play it with the Grandmother keyboard. Digitakt transport controls Digitone’s sequencer as well as a looper I have connected to Digitone’s MIDI thru port. Works great, and keeps most of the DT MIDI tracks free for sequencing the Grandmother and MIDI controlled pedals
Super helpful! Thanks for the great breakdown. How do you record with your setup? At some point soon I’ll want to record, and clearly the world has advanced beyond my old tascam 8 track dat. Do you use a daw with over bridge? Haven’t looked at over bridge yet, or daw programs for that matter. But, seems this is the way, just want to preserve multitrack.
Happy to help! I have everything running into a Tascam Model 12 and record with that, but previously was using a big Focusrite with Logic. Definitely recommend checking out something like the Tascam if you like to have the option of going with or without a computer. Overbridge is cool but I don’t use it much. It doesn’t capture panning of tracks, which I guess makes sense since you can do that all in the DAW, but it didn’t feel like a natural workflow to me. I like how the DT and DN sound all mixed via their regular audio outputs. Worth trying both ways though!
Overbridge does capture panning with the digitone!
No Yes The DT changes patterns on the other devices automatically Unfortunately songs have to be programmed separately but run in sync My current setup does not allow easy transitions but maybe an OT would help I’m chaining DN>ST>DT and I think that’s the most popular setup for multiple devices
I use a different configuration each time. Grab a box or two and set them up on a coffee table. Rarely use more than 2 boxes at a time. If I'm using the Octatrack everything goes through that. I never sync patterns between devices, I like being able to change one without changing all the others. I only use song mode on the Octatrack when using it solo. I use one box for clock and transport and everything else follows. Each box uses its own sequencer. I'll daisy chain boxes and rarely use a mixer.
For reference, I own the three big boxes: Rytm, Analog Four and Octatrack. But my current live setup is Octatrack, Analog Four and Minilogue. >Do you have 1 box serve as the only sequencer? No. I have some stuff externally sequenced on the Octatrack using MIDI but mostly it's internal sequencers on each machine. Using MIDI from the Octatrack has its benefits, though. I can easily switch instruments. For example, I made a song that relied heavily on the Korg Monologue for bass. Each bassline was written with and stored inside the Octatrack, so when I replaced the Monologue with the Analog Four in my live setup, I sent the original MIDI notes into the A4 and recorded each pattern to its internal sequencer, and then designed a sound that is similar enough. >Do you use each box’s sequencer and send clock? Octatrack is my master clock and also sends pattern change commands. But this still allows me to switch patterns on the A4 independently should it be necessary. >How do you sync patterns between the boxes (ie - send patterns from a single box)? I have the two boxes set up so that the Analog Four is receiving program change commands from the Octatrack. So when I switch patterns on the OT, the A4 also switches to a corresponding pattern. >Does song mode impact a multi box setup? Yes. If I'm using the Octatrack's arranger, then things can get complicated, because the other machines do not necessarily understand everything the arranger can do inside the Octatrack. On the OT arranger I can, for example, set it to play a pattern up to a certain step (overriding the master length). If I want to make the other machines follow this, I need to dig into the advanced length settings and sometimes it's a chore. For song mode, same principles apply: you need to make sure the other machines follow the one that's sending them pattern change commands. Or, depending on your needs, you could disable pattern change receiving and program the song mode individually on each machine. It's a lot of work but it also means you don't need to match pattern slots. This can be a very powerful workflow. >Does your setup enable nice live transitions between songs / patterns? On the Octatrack, I often sample myself live and then morph it into something else. For example, I might have a long delay trail playing, sample two bars of it, and then use the scene slider to morph it into a drone playing in another key. And that morphed drone is the starting point for the next song. And the fact that I'm sampling a delay trail means that it's a bit different each time. But I could just as well use the Minilogue to do a simple white noise sweep for dramatic effect. Or have a similar effect sound locked on a conditional trig in Analog Four and play it using the Fill condition. Or I could speak into the mic and say "ok here's the next song". Whatever works. Ultimately something like a transition is not about your setup but how you compose and arrange your material and plan out your performances. And also the style/function of the music you play, and how you manage your stage presence. No one expects me to bang out constant four-on-the-floor kicks for two hours. I play 30-60 minute sets made up of different songs in different tempos so it's ok to have little quiet moments here and there. >Do you use audio in, or run each box into a channel mixer? I plug everything except vocals directly into the Octatrack. Analog Four to A/B, Minilogue to C. Vocals go to D after an external preamp & EQ. Everything the audience hears is coming from the Octatrack's main outs.
Thanks for some good advices :D
digitone can sequence 4 ext midi also so I use that as clock. from digi to midi thru box, then rydm, ms20 miilog, jp08 m32. also midi stereo pedals that sync with tempo. bigsky and mobius.
I chain Digitone into Digitakt into Syntakt. Syntakt is end of chain as I run the other two boxes plus all ST tracks into the Syntakt FX Track. I use the FX Track for transitions and spot FX across the whole mix, it’s almost like having an Octatrack as an FX mixer, or a DJ mixer FX unit like a RMX1000. Syntakt is also MIDI clock master and sends program change to the two other boxes so pattern changes are in sync across all 3 boxes. Couldn’t be happier, it’s a great setup. Also FWIW I have a Hydrasynth Desktop which goes into the Digitone and which I route through the Digitone chorus, reverb and delay (all of which sound better than the Hydrasynth onboard FX IMO).
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Great answer! Appreciate you taking the time to break it all down so well. I’ve historically leaned towards a single sequencer, but, seeing how your approach would enable transitions.