Some drum machines give you a set of fixed sounds and a grid. The Digitakt II gives you a sampler, a deep sequencer and a box of ways to mangle anything you feed it. It is small enough to sit next to a laptop and powerful enough to run a whole live set on its own.
Here is what the Elektron Digitakt II is, what makes it special and where to buy one.
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What it is
Elektron calls the Digitakt II a 16-track drum computer and stereo sampler. Each of its 16 tracks can play samples in stereo or mono, or act as a Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) track that sequences your other gear. You can load your own sounds, sample straight into the machine from an external source or from its own output, and build patterns on a step sequencer that Elektron has spent years refining.
It follows the original Digitakt, and Elektron says the new model offers many times the power and sonic possibilities of its predecessor in a familiar shape.
What is bigger this time
- Stereo tracks. All 16 tracks can play samples in stereo or mono.
- Much more memory. Elektron describes the memory capacity as radically enhanced, with 400 megabytes of sample memory and 20 gigabytes of storage. It holds up to 30 minutes of stereo samples per project and over a thousand sample slots in each project.
- A longer sequencer. Patterns now run up to 128 steps per track, double the previous amount.
- Song Mode from day one. You can chain patterns into a playlist to build full songs and set lists.
The sound engine
Every track starts with a source machine, and there are six to pick from. One Shot handles crisp drum hits. Slice and Grid chop a sample into fragments. Repitch and Stretch fit a sample to the tempo, and Werp opens up stranger sound territory.
Next comes filtering. One filter on each track is fixed as a base and width filter, while the other can be swapped between Multi-Mode, Lowpass 4, an equalizer, two comb filters and a legacy lowpass and highpass. There is a filter envelope, a separate amp envelope and three low-frequency oscillators (LFOs) per track for movement. Each track also has its own overdrive, and you get bit reduction, sample rate reduction, delay, reverb and chorus, plus a master compressor and master overdrive on the mixer page.
The sequencer
The sequencer is the heart of the machine, and Elektron says it has had its first significant growth spurt in years. Parameter locks let you change almost any setting on a single step, so one sample can sound different every time it plays. Trig conditions and trig chance let patterns vary as they loop. Each track can run its own pattern length and time scale, and a Euclidean sequence generator, built on ancient algorithms, can turn up surprising rhythms you might not have played yourself.
For playing live, keyboard mode lets you play samples chromatically across 10 octaves with more than 30 scales to choose from, and five trig modes cover velocity, retrigs, slices and a preset pool. Perform Kit mode, which Elektron says was inspired by a dash of Machinedrum magic, lets you tweak a kit without overwriting its saved state.
The details
- Tracks: 16, each stereo or mono audio, or MIDI
- Sequencer: up to 128 steps per pattern and track
- Memory: 400 megabytes of sample memory, 20 gigabytes of storage
- Audio: two balanced quarter-inch outputs, two balanced quarter-inch inputs and a headphone jack, with 48 kilohertz, 24-bit converters
- Connections: MIDI in, out and thru, plus a Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0 port that works as a class compliant audio interface
- Computer integration: works with Elektron's Overbridge software
- Size: 215 by 176 by 63 millimeters (8.5 by 6.9 by 2.5 inches) including knobs and feet
- Weight: about 1.48 kilograms (3.25 pounds), in a steel casing
- Warranty: three years from Elektron
Why it is worth buying
- It does more than drums. Elektron points out that melodic and harmonic sounds are part of the fun, right out of the box with the built-in sample library.
- The sequencer is world class. Parameter locks and trig conditions keep simple loops interesting.
- It plays well with others. Sixteen MIDI-capable tracks can run a whole rig of synthesizers.
- It is built to travel. A compact steel box with balanced audio is ready for the studio and the stage.
Who it is for
The Digitakt II is for producers who like to work with samples and want to step away from the computer screen. It is not the simplest machine to learn, so if you are just starting out, compare it with the options in our best drum machines for beginners guide. For a synth to pair with it, look at the Arturia MicroFreak or our best synthesizers for beginners. To record it properly, see our picks for the best audio interfaces for home recording.
Where to buy
Elektron sells the Digitakt II directly through its own online store, and it is also sold through music retailers. A protective lid is a smart extra if you carry it to gigs.
Digitakt II at Elektron
Elektron Digitakt II drum computer and sampler
Elektron PL-2s protective lid
More gear for making music at home is in our home studio hub.
