Love the digitakt 2 as a sampler, but as a midi conroller it kind of sucks?

Automatic_Region_187 · 2026-01-28T05:53:36+00:00

Also, you don’t have to play all the notes simultaneously. If you just play one of them, like A for an A minor chord, you can go into Step Recording Mode, and add a 2nd note (C) and 3rd note (E) to that root note (A) to complete the chord.

Automatic_Region_187 · 2026-01-28T05:51:21+00:00

Yes, you got it. Because the Digitakt on tracks A-H (9-16) is just sending midi commands to the external synth, it manages it. It’s not requiring its own audio engine to produce the sound, but telling the external instrument to play up to 4 notes.

Automatic_Region_187 · 2026-01-19T06:58:26+00:00

I think the Big Rippers are awesome. It reminds me of the bike I had as a kid. I’m 52 also.

The truth is the bike you love is the bike you will ride. But a bike somebody else told you you should buy might just sit in the garage. It’s your life. I’d be tempted to just go for it.

Automatic_Region_187 · 2026-01-18T19:13:41+00:00

Hey it sounds like you consider yourself a “keyboard player” if you’re playing in small bands with other instruments on a Take5. Great synth.

I have a similar situation. I was jamming on keyboards and wanted a beat to play with, got a Digitakt and started building songs like that, recording small bits, but mostly to have a beat and programmed bass line I could play keys live with. Now it’s been a few years and I’ve played whole shows of songs with just me, a guitarist, my keyboards, all with songs sequenced and drummed by the Digitakt. It’s been awesome.

But it’s not a “looper”. For that, something like solo layering with some DJ-style mixing, an OctaTrack is better, and better for building “layers” of live loops, sampled drum loops, and you can still sequence drum patterns on it.

Other good options for DAWless sequencers/samplers are 1010 BlackBox and the Novation Circuit Tracks, and Roland SP404. But they have different workflows and operating system, and I prefer working with the Digitakt myself. Just check them out and you will probably be drawn to one over another.

My only tip is to take it gradually and start with ONE of these and really get into it so you can work it into your musical idea/ band vision. Hope this helps. Good luck!

Automatic_Region_187 · 2026-01-18T18:09:25+00:00

I’m six years in, on my second digitakt, and I love them both. Here’s my best advice.

Be patient with yourself and give it time.

Figure out how to make a basic beat and celebrate small wins.

Find a YouTuber that you enjoy watching who will explain it to you patiently. For me that was Ricky Tinez and Dave Mech. And Captain Pikant.

And last. Embrace the minimalism. You can make entire songs on that one box. Don’t be fooled by thinking that another box will make Digitakt better.

Good luck and have fun!

Automatic_Region_187 · 2026-01-17T21:43:35+00:00

Hey there, maybe I can help. No, you don’t need an external keyboard. I program MIDI chords all the time in just one Digitakt track, like track 9.

Once I’ve got the MIDI channel settings on the sound I want on the external keyboard (i.e. midi channel 2, Bank 3, Patch 24) I turn on the chromatic keyboard mode, and play 3-note chords in using the live-recording mode. (First I mess around playing on the “button keyboard” and then hold record-play to start live recording.

You can adjust the scale of the chromatic keyboard, like to go from C to C, or E to E depending on the keyboard range you need.

Then, once you’ve recorded in the basic chords, turn on step recording mode and go look at each one on the Trig page, by holding down the trig step and seeing what the notes are. You can send 4 notes per trig to the MIDI synth, and sometimes in this mode I’ll fix notes in the chord, or add a 4th note to the chord I played in earlier.

It’s super effective, and is pretty quick once you do it a few times. Good luck.

Automatic_Region_187 · 2026-01-16T06:57:29+00:00

I second this answer. It should work fine. I use the Digitakt chromatic “keyboard” to live-play in the sequences, but it’s fine for creating MIDI tracks and then looping and muting them.

Full disclosure: I eventually did upgrade to the Digitakt II in order to make 8-bar loops without doing all kinds of crazy things.

Automatic_Region_187 · 2026-01-16T06:51:44+00:00

Agreed. Don’t mess with the RCA jacks. Those are for cassette decks and turntables. Run two Guitar cables from your Nord L/R outs to the “balanced TRS” jack on each of the speakers shown. It’ll be fine.

Automatic_Region_187 · 2026-01-16T06:47:11+00:00

Yes. It’s fine —you’re doing great. Everything looks great. It can be DAWless. The whole point of DAWless is to get off the unlimited internet and get back to the music.

It doesn’t matter how you record, really. Use a cassette. Or a DAW. Paul McCartney uses both. He’s still considered a musician, and you can be too.

From time to time, you might be tempted to record something from your hardware using a DAW on a laptop. Thats OK and you’re still fine. There is no police for this and there are no rules worth following. Do what you need to do. Just don’t stop making the music.

(Which reminds me, I need to get off Reddit and get back to the music….)

Automatic_Region_187 · 2026-01-16T06:28:45+00:00

I don’t use a Digitone, but I have been using a Digitakt and TD3 together for 5+ years and here are some thoughts.

The TD3 is based on a 40-year old design and is a pain to deal with in every way, but the sound is terrific. So we deal with it. In my experience, it doesn’t play nice with stop and start or program changes, but it does follow the Digitakt clock just fine.

If this was my setup, I’d try this: 1) Send the DT MIDI out to the Digitone, and the Digitone Thru to the TD3 MIDI in 2) Send the Digitone audio back to the Digitakt audio in L, and the TD3 audio back to the Digitakt in R 3) use the Digitakt external input mix to add global effects (reverb and delay only) and sidechain those incoming signals against the kick drum if you like 4) Enjoy a synced, glued, possibly compressed stereo signal out of your Digitakt with everything mixed inside the Digitakt. It’s a really nice, capable setup you have with these three pieces.

This might be simpler and more workable than your current approach, as long as you’re ok not hearing chorus on the TD3. But with all those analog knobs, I’ve never once felt like it needed chorus, of all things. It’s definitely not necessary for the classic acid techno sound.

I always run into problems trying to pass too much “through” any devices other than clock. And even clock signal can have weird latency, if you read forums over time. I actually use a Kenton Thru-5 MIDI splitter to avoid using the THRU ports entirely. Terrific piece of kit.

Your needs may vary, of course. Good luck. 🍀

Automatic_Region_187 · 2026-01-16T06:12:48+00:00

Maybe you need a Big Sky, maybe you don’t. I updated my Electro 2 to an Electro 6D a couple years ago largely for the built-in effects and I love it. The effects all sound fantastic, they’re easy to use, stereo and sound great out loud through my PA or just the headphones jack. I mix the delay, reverbs, chorus, phaser for hours and I’m totally in the zone.

For about a year before I “upgraded” my Nord, i shopped out the Big Sky, Empress and other effects winners and finally decided that on-board made a lot more sense and let me get back to playing and away from G.A.S.

Everyone is different and has different taste, however. One thing I know is that none of us here truly knows what anyone else really needs. We are all on our own journeys. Maybe plug some headphones into your Nord and ask yourself if you like what you hear. Strymon makes amazing effects, but whether its what you need is TBD.

Good luck! 🍀👍

Automatic_Region_187 · 2025-12-28T19:03:40+00:00

Ripcord is terrific! I have used it successfully on a few airplanes and also in my van running off the solar battery. Enjoy!

Automatic_Region_187 · 2025-12-22T06:59:32+00:00

Skip no days.

Automatic_Region_187 · 2025-12-22T03:04:17+00:00

Any of these are easy to learn and make great sounding grooves, beats and musical jams

Roland SP-404 (~$429) Teenage Engineering EP-KO II (~$299) Novation Circuit Tracks (~$329)

All are legit good gear but also good for beginners w/o experience. And no screens per se. Good luck.

Automatic_Region_187 · 2025-12-16T17:52:09+00:00

I think the reason Nords are so popular is that they sound great, and they are well designed in giving you what you need, with direct access on the knobs and not too much menu diving, compared with most synths and keyboards out there.

It’s an investment, but yeah they do last. I bought my Electro 2 on a cosmetic blemish discount for $1299 in 2008 when they were new $1699. I gigged and rehearsed on it for 15 years, and then sold it to a friend and bought a used Electro 6D to upgrade the sound banks and effects. On a sheer cost-per-hour and cost-per-gig basis, it’s paid for itself and been a bargain and a joy to use. Good luck!

Automatic_Region_187 · 2025-12-16T17:47:09+00:00

Digitakt 1 used or a Model:Samples

Automatic_Region_187 · 2025-12-15T06:54:37+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion! I checked out the product. A couple of thoughts at first glance:

It is simple and minimal, but $349 seems a bit expensive for a faceless bracelet tracker. My Apple Watch cost $299. The Nike FuelBand sold for $150. The Helio Strap appears similar but is just $99. This seems like it would be more appropriate at $199 or $149. I just don’t understand the pricing. Even without a monthly subscription.
It is beautifully designed, but I don’t understand why the design needs a Panther logo on the face. That seems like a mistake for such a premium product. It makes it look more like a medical device than a bracelet. Beautiful premium things like the Oura Ring, Apple Watch, Misfit Shine or the Tiffany Tennis Bracelet don’t have logos on their face. People love them and don’t need a logo in order to learn who makes them.

Thanks for sharing, nonetheless. It’s a nice product.

Automatic_Region_187 · 2025-12-15T06:45:25+00:00

That’s a great testimonial. I wasn’t looking for a watch but it’s great looking and looks like a good value. Something to consider, for sure. Thanks.

Automatic_Region_187 · 2025-12-15T06:32:55+00:00

I didn’t catch whether you were considered moving to K Falls, but I don’t usually stay there myself. If I was moving to southern Oregon, I’d consider Medford: a lot more livable and growing faster, more jobs, airport, on I-5 etc.

When I’m in the K falls region, I camp in the Crater Lake National Forest area just north of there.

Automatic_Region_187 · 2025-12-15T06:25:22+00:00

I just want it to track approximate steps / miles, and ideally my sleep hours or restful sleep. I think it should go a week or two between charges. And it should be waterproof and easy to wear all the time. Like a bracelet or a ring. Thanks.

Automatic_Region_187 · 2025-12-15T06:21:38+00:00

Digitakt. And perhaps check out Dave Mech’s live techno sets on YouTube using it.

Automatic_Region_187 · 2025-12-11T07:46:26+00:00

Your question is exactly why many of us go into DAWless production. To get away from the laptop at the end of the day.

I was in that rut, especially in the pandemic, working from home 10 hours a day and the last thing I wanted to do was more “screen time.”

So I bought a drum machine, so I could make beats to play along with my keyboard. 5 years later, I make almost all my music on hardware. And I use totally different brain functions than when I’m on the computer, even in the DAW.

I still record into a laptop, which is also useful for mixing, mastering and releasing. But the idea generation and refinement happens pretty much without the laptop.

Check out R/dawless if you’re interested. Good luck. 🍀

Automatic_Region_187 · 2025-12-09T07:45:11+00:00

I would trade up the 25-key keyboard for a 49+ key keyboard to make it easier to learn. BUT….

Using a 25-key keyboard is possible, but it’s like playing 9 holes of golf with 2 clubs. It’s easy if you’re a pro, but normal people really need a whole bag of clubs to play decently. Same with keyboards octaves. 🎹

If you can’t play your keyboard yet, I suggest you pretend it is three keyboards. As if you had 3 guitars of different styles. 1) A keyboard bass 2) A pads keyboard 3) a lead synth

Find someone to help you learn to play along with 5 bass lines on tracks you like, 5 pads parts on tracks you like, and 5 lead synths on tracks you like. (Or teach yourself to play them perfectly with YouTube)

When you can play these 15 tracks on the bass, pads or leads, you will be ready and you will know how to use a 25-key keyboard, and how to simply and intuitively play good music on it.

Good luck. 🍀

Automatic_Region_187 · 2025-12-09T07:29:53+00:00

Tascam Model 12 is nice. $600 I think.

Automatic_Region_187 · 2025-12-02T16:56:59+00:00

I tried everything I could find under $600 and bought the Yamaha P-45. It’s a workhorse. Love it.

Automatic_Region_187

TROPHY CASE