After their recent run of analogue-centric synth, drum and effects machines, Elektron have unveiled a purely digital device in the form of the Digitakt. An eight-voice, 16-track sampling drum machine, the Digitakt promises to deliver the genuine Elektron drum machine experience, with all the well-loved sequencing and performance features that implies, at less than half the price of something like the Elektron Analog Rtym.
Each of the Digitakt’s eight audio 'tracks' — effectively the eight slots that will hold your sampled hits — has its own digital multi-mode filter and assignable LFO, while delay and reverb send effects add further possibilities. Alongside the sample tracks, there are eight MIDI tracks for triggering external sound generators, giving you up to 16 sounds to play with. The 16 backlit drum pads double as sequencer step buttons, with up to 64 steps per sequence. The Digitakt has eight context-sensitive rotary knobs to adjust parameters shown on the yellow-on-black OLED screen, plus numerous function buttons. Elektron have included a range of sequencing tools found in the Analog Rytm and Analog Four, including conditional note triggering and micro timing, and this is very much a drum machine designed with live performance in mind. In terms of sampling capacity, there’s 64MB of sample memory and 1GB of storage from which sounds can be loaded into the sample memory. Other features include stereo balanced outputs, stereo inputs for sample recording and MIDI in, out and thru ports. The device also has a USB 2.0 port, with support for Elektron’s Overbridge software, which allows you to control Elektron hardware from within a DAW just like a plug-in. Best of all, the Digitakt, which is set for release in April, is expect to cost around 650 Euros$650.
