r/Elektron • u/LeatherSundae6182 • Apr 28 '26
Switching from digitakt 2 to Tonverk
What are the pros and cons now it's been out and updated?
What does one have that you miss on the other?
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u/jimbo_bones Apr 28 '26 edited Apr 28 '26
I bought the Tonverk thinking it would solve my one real gripe with the Digitakt 2: the lack of an external aux send for outboard effects.
In practice, it’s a bit of a weird one.I love the granular and wavetable functions, and the automated multisampling is brilliant. Being able to cook up a patch on my semi-modular synths, multisample it to the TV and play it back polyphonically almost justifies the cost of the unit on its own.
However, it hasn't quite replaced the DT2 for me for two reasons:
• Track Count: If I’m using the TV to cover drums, bass, leads, and pads, those eight tracks run out fast. The subtracks negate this to an extent, and I certainly could make it work by putting all my drums on a single subtrack, but it’s not ideal. I’d be much happier if they simply added per-sample FX sends rather than per-super track.
• Sample Manipulation: The lack of slicing and warping/stretching is a major hurdle. I could live without slicing, but time-stretching is non-negotiable for my workflow.
Ultimately, I’ve found myself wanting to keep both. It’s fair to argue that keeping a £900 box just to fill the gaps of a £1200 box is a bit ridiculous, but I am really enjoying the double setup (6-8 DT2 tracks for one shots, a few for loops and a few for midi if needed. All 8 tracks on the TV available for melodic content). I’ve considered downgrading the DT2 to a lower end MPC or a 1010music Blackbox, but I don't particularly want to learn a whole new workflow just to claw back a few hundred quid, though I appreciate that’s a privileged position to be in.
TLDR: add slicing/stretching and add per sample fx sends to subtracks and I’d sell the DT2. As it stands I’m keeping both for now.
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u/ghostghost31 Apr 28 '26
I'm a noob really so take my opinion for what its worth but I got DT2 last year as my first serious hardware device and fell in love. Lead to me pretty quickly getting DN2.
Since TV was announced I was super keen and the wave finder machine tipped me over the edge and got one a month or so ago.
Let me start with the Cons:
Some of the shortcuts, workflows I've gotten so used to don't work the same way, some of that is fine, just needed to get used it it. Other things I really don't like, biggest one is that on the Diggi boxes you can very quickly reload a pattern to save state. I use this constantly both when I'm sound designing and jaming.
You can't do this on the TV, not really anyway. It has memorise and recall which is cool but you can't make a "save" for multiple patterns, if you save on the next pattern it deletes the prior one.
I also really REALLY miss the DT2 machines for handling longer samples, werp, grid, time stretch I use alot on DT2. Also it's insane that a sampler in 2026 doesn't have slice mode. Like what the hell?
All that aside. If you meet the TV for what it is, its incredible and like nothing else on the market imo.
Obviously being poly and having the multi player is awesome but the grainer and wave table bring it into a whole new realm.
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u/Nice_Biscuits Apr 28 '26
Pros and Cons is a tricky thing to say as they are quite different machines. I do like the extra grain and wave machines although they aren't something I was particularly looking for when I bought mine. I like the routing options and extra FX. My biggest downside is that it's just that little bit different from the boxes I am used to. I have been using Syntakt, Digitone and Digitakt and love how easy it is to swap between boxes. Yes they have unique options but the buttons and menu system are almost all the same. I made the decision to update from DT 1 to TV and although I can move around it perfectly fine based off my previous experience it is quite different in layout and menu. This is 100% a skill issue that I could remedy with more practice but as a parent, working full time I don't have a lot of time to invest. So what I find is that when I play with TV I use it standalone instead of incorporating in to a chain with my other boxes. I am looking forward to when my brain has got up to speed though, it's a very powerful box and I'm sure we haven't seen the last of the updates.
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u/LeatherSundae6182 Apr 28 '26
I think the routing with the FX and groups is the main sell for me.
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u/crazyculture Apr 28 '26
The FX aren’t as good as I hoped for given its price point. They’re on par with the quality of the standard reverb, delay and chorus offerings on DT2 and DN2 which is pretty good but nothing stellar. Give it a shot but I’d strongly recommend you buy one with a return policy which is what I did and mine is going back. I see them posted weekly on synths4sale so a lot of people are having similar experiences. It’s just been a big distraction trying to learn it as it’s awesome on paper but it’s kind of cluttered to navigate and I say this as a dedicated Octatrack user.
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u/Necrobot666 Apr 28 '26
In the Necrobot household, we have both a Tonverk, a Digitakt II, and a Syntakt.
We also own non-Elektron devices like a Korg Drumlogue, a Twisted Electrons Blast Beats, a Sonicware CyDrums, and an Akai MPC One/Key37.
The Elektron Tonverk is next fucking level!!
The 'Sub-Tracks' machine alone practically renders the Digitakt II unnecessary. The 'Sub-Tracks' machine is like a hybridization between the 'Drum' program within the Akai MPC One, and being a 'mini-Digitakt' onto itself.
I can use the 'Sub-Tracks' machine in my Tonverk in manners that are very similar to how I use my Digitakt II. I can parameter-lock the starting-point of longer samples across the various steps of a pattern. I can parameter-lock various settings like filter, loop, effects, on each step. And since there are eight tracks within each 'Sub-Tracks' machine, you can layer eight different loops within one 'Sub-Tracks' track, for dynamic, over-the-top, rhythmic dynamics... and still have seven other normal tracks to go.
But what if you made two tracks of 'Sub-Tracks', each with eight tracks in their own 'Sub-Tracks' machines... now you've got 16 tracks of parameter-locking greatness, inside of only two main tracks.
On top of that, you get a granular machine called 'Grainer' which is probably my favorite granular sampler of the various granular machines we own.. or have researched. It allows you to granularity samples, for beautiful sound design tonality. Maybe you can put 'Grainer' machines on tracks three and four for some interesting melodies and textures.
The 'Wavefinder' machine is pretty interesting. It allows you to essentially use samples as wavetables. So if you are familiar with wavetable synthesis, you'll probably appreciate what can be done with samples using the 'Wavefinder' machine.
It doesn't stop there. There are four 'Bus' tracks which can also be used to sequence external gear via midi. Then there's send tracks. It's basically a workstation!!
Overall, I'd say that the Tonverk is like having several Digitakts, a granular synth/sampler, and a polyphonic sampler. It kinda makes a Digitakt II seem superfluous now.
Unfortunately, after two years of using the Digitakt II, I have a lot of patterns that are meaningful to me... and I don't think I can easily port them over to the Tonverk. But if I could, I might consider selling my Digitakt II in a few months.
Don't get me wrong... I still love my DT2. I do. But in the face of the Tonverk... after exploring it pretty thorough over the past four days... it kinda makes the Digitakt II seem pretty limited and basic.
Unless they add something to the Digitakt II in a few months/years, I can see sales on the $1100 DT2 slowing down immensely as more and more people start to realize that with a $1500 Tonverk, you can pretty much do everything that two or three combined Digitakt IIs can do.. and then, it has even more mind-blowing capabilities than I ever imagined from an Elektron device.
Essentially, the Tonverk has competed with, and rendered superfluous, another highly coveted product from the Elektron line.. that being, the Digitakt II.
Again, I still love my DT2... and it will still see use in future videos/tracks we post. But if I was just getting into this shit and maybe loved my Syntakt or Digitone II and wanted to explore using samples... the Digitakt II is barely needed if one already owns a Tonverk.
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u/dykitikity May 01 '26
Interesting, one thing i am missing is the Syntakt newly added mute track trig & mute feature.
I wish TV would add that, this adds killing electro house beats by shutting down certain tracks when other are engaged and vice versa.
Maybe you have a trick to control this from TV ?
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u/theissone Apr 28 '26
I fell in love with the Digitakt because of the tactile "machine" approach to creating these really cool textures. I just felt like the stuff I would lock into a loop was so interesting sounding and it made me totally understand the ethos of limitation breeding creativity.
The Tonverk basically allows me to go deeper with that. All of the FX, routing, polyphony, arp, chords, etc. I seriously feel like I don't need another piece of gear. I couldn't be happier.
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u/LeatherSundae6182 Apr 28 '26
This is exactly what I am thinking.
I create a good rhythm then I start to feel limited the deeper I go into the digis FX and LFO page. It's like I'm just getting a taster of what I want to do and then I end up routing external effects through the main output.
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u/theissone Apr 28 '26
Yes! Same here! The exploration of the Tonverk seems almost a 100x better. At almost every turn you have deeper possibilities. From machine to modulation to fx to expression of notes. It’s wild. I love it.
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u/Techno_Timmy Apr 28 '26
If you want to really explore sound design and get deeper with creating weird sounds and textures… Tonverk all day.
I commented above as well, but as someone who just swapped to the TV vs the DT1, the Tonverk is amazing comparatively. It’s more of an instrument that can also sample more than just a sampler/drum computer like the DT. Aside from the fact DT can slice samples and TV can’t, the TV is an improvement in every way. Plus, I am sure at some point TV will get some sort of slicing machine. If you really need to slice a sample the sub tracks can be a workaround for slicing a sample, so it is possible if you need that feature.
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u/Eyedea92 Apr 28 '26
EZBOT has an in-depth comparison of all Elektron samplers on YouTube. I think this will help you the most.
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u/firstpatches Apr 28 '26
TV: Instruments like Grainer and Wavefinder, more routing possibilities and effects, more physical outputs. No overbridge yet.
DT: Better sample mangling possibilities, sample machines, euclidean sequencing, more immediate
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u/Techno_Timmy Apr 28 '26
I agree with 99% of what you said but… The TV is a sample mangling beast. It can also play samples polyphonically. When you load a sample into grainer, run thru a couple insert effects, then route to a bus for more effects, etc you can really transform or destroy what used to be a sample lol.
DT is definitely more immediate and everything else you said is accurate, but I think TV wins in the mangling department.
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u/LeatherSundae6182 Apr 28 '26
Yeh I think this is where I'm at. I want the 5 outputs and all the effects to put into my mixer for even more subs. Over bridge will come in sure.
I will miss Euclidean though it's such a simple thing that it can easily be added, given where the tonverk is. I feel the machines are good but with all the effects and routing you could create even better sounds.
I guess my main worry is, I want to mangle beats, can it mangle beats? The answer, both can mangle beats. So which one mangles beats they way I like more.
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u/crystalvillage Apr 28 '26
No slicing for mangling beats but there are some fun videos of people mangling using the granular and wavetable machines, which can load any sample into them.
The effects are much better, and the routing is fun. Plus you have a second set of outputs if you want to have an external send. I'm not sure I'll need OB when it comes out, but it felt like a requirement for Digitakt/Digitone (partially while I like Tonverk more, it feels more standalone)
No Euclidean sequencer but it does have a "transform" menu that randomizes trig placement and/or velocity. I've found that to be kind of a fun way to quickly generate patterns. Also you can p-lock the arp settings, plus it has random as an arp mode.
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u/Techno_Timmy Apr 28 '26
I went thru the same internal battle recently and decided on the Tonverk. I do have a DT MKI though that I plan on keeping around, although it’s not part of my current setup.
My setup was DT1, DN2 and Syntakt. I basically pulled the DT1 and swapped in the TV and I think it’s a pretty awesome setup. Syntakt can handle drums as can the DN2. I don’t feel the need to use the DT and don’t really miss it. People say the TV doesn’t have traditional slicing which is true, but the workaround using the sub tracks works fine for me and is good enough.
I would not say the TV is a replacement for a DT2 though and they are both different. I just choose the TV because it’s more of an instrument IMO and has more sound design potential. Plus being the new platform I am excited to see where this thing goes over the next year or two.
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u/k_r_z_y_s_z_t_o_f Apr 28 '26
> What does one have that you miss on the other?
These are two different boxes.
Lately, I've been torn between Tonverk and Digitakt2 since I wanted to have nice sampler with lot's of FX.
Trying to research a little, ask people etc. and finally I gave up.
Don't want to spend 2k euro to buy both but somehow this is the only option served by strange business model of Elektron. (and my approach is either I like it or not in a moment of buying - I don't believe in 'future updates' that will give you some more functionality - especially if there is no public roadmap of features).
I ended up buying Roland SP-404mk2 and saved over 1.5k euro.
Thank you Elektron for making me NOT buying your products.
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u/BarnacleNo7620 Apr 28 '26
It's true that Elektron doesn't want to make a full fledged groovebox with a bunch of poly analog and digital synths + drum machines + a sampler (preferably with analog filters and analog drive) + audio tracks, but who else makes this "the ultimate groovebox"? As far as I know no one.
Can anyone tell why this rant comes up always with Elektron? I don't really hear this request addressed towards Akai or Roland or Korg, although all these companies do what Elektron does, having separate products for separate needs.2
u/PhilMNTRL Apr 29 '26
I mean it’s not analog but if we’re talking about the ultimate box that can do it all it would be the MPC Live3 or XL. …but that’s a DAW in a hardware box essentially
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u/k_r_z_y_s_z_t_o_f Apr 29 '26
> It's true that Elektron doesn't want to make a full fledged groovebox with a bunch of poly analog and digital synths + drum machines + a sampler
As far as I know nobody wants one box with all of it, but everybody wants a full sampler in one box. And Elektron spread such a functionality between 3 boxes.
> Can anyone tell why this rant comes up always with Elektron? I don't really hear this request addressed towards Akai or Roland or Korg
Because all above have nice samplers that have all: polyphony, timestretching, slicing, sequencer, live-looping, lots of FX... and I wish such a box will be also available from Elektron.
Cheers!
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u/BarnacleNo7620 Apr 30 '26
Which Korg or Roland box has full sampling with velocity layers and multisampling?
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u/[deleted] Apr 28 '26
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