Ableton Forum

Hi,
Which is better? One is a "drum machine" the other a "sampler".
I need something that lets me to create "spontanelty". I don't like wasting time editing a kick, a snare ecc. for hours on a computer. I need something to turn on and play!
Somebody says that Elektron is limited, because you can't upload samples on it....but its sound is better, because korg plays samples (as a software) and elektron has a sound generator....
There is another problem: korg is 550 € ... Elektron 1190 € ... ....
What do you suggest?

if you have the money go for the elektron!

superb machine, has a sampling option too...

The Machinedrum is fantastic. Great control, and sounds FAR better than the Korg.

aber wrote:Hi,
Which is better? One is a "drum machine" the other a "sampler".
I need something that lets me to create "spontanelty". I don't like wasting time editing a kick, a snare ecc. for hours on a computer. I need something to turn on and play!
Somebody says that Elektron is limited, because you can't upload samples on it....but its sound is better, because korg plays samples (as a software) and elektron has a sound generator....
There is another problem: korg is 550 € ... Elektron 1190 € ... ....
What do you suggest?

you can upload samples to the elektron MD UW , 2mb worth. enough for drum hits.
That model is even more expensive...if you got the cash, there's alot of weird & wonderful sounds you can generate from the MDUW pretty easily. You can always buy a used MDUW for something like 800 - 900 euro

I have a korg es-1 too (not esx-1), they're cheap-as-chips these days on the ebay. lots of fun, sounds nice. If I were in your shoes I'd pick one of these up, and keep saving till I had enough for an MDuw. accept no substitute!

I had an ES-1 and it was a great little box, I still curse the day I sold it.

I've never touched a real Machinedrum, but featurewise they're two completely different beasts... I think the MD will do everything the Korg does. Unless you're strictly after its interface (which is really its strong point, for all its barse ackward-ness), the Korg will feel very limited in comparison. This my or may not be a bad thing..

Thanks!!
Now I have to choose MD basic or MD UW....(400 € difference, I wait for something used).

If you're getting a Machinedrum, you HAVE to get the UW version IMO, especially since you were considering the ESX-1. The UW version is without a doubt worth the extra money, it lets you do so many cool things. I debated long and hard too about this when I was getting ready to buy, but luckily I had a friend who had one and he refused to let me get it without the UW aspect. So glad I did, it really opens up some of the more interesting aspects of the machine.

Here's one for sale from an Elektron user I know:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0203455081

aber wrote:Thanks!!
Now I have to choose MD basic or MD UW....(400 € difference, I wait for something used).

did you know that there is a MKII version of all the elektron machines since the end of last year ?

MD UW mkII ..has has some nice improvements. like less noise on the ins & outs, 64 step patterns, 2.5mb sample time, more ram machines....



worth considering.

That's the one I got. Love it.

<--- I hate you ^

Tarekith wrote:If you're getting a Machinedrum, you HAVE to get the UW version IMO, especially since you were considering the ESX-1. The UW version is without a doubt worth the extra money, it lets you do so many cool things. I debated long and hard too about this when I was getting ready to buy, but luckily I had a friend who had one and he refused to let me get it without the UW aspect. So glad I did, it really opens up some of the more interesting aspects of the machine.

2mb seems like very limited capacity, can you tell me how many 1 single shots you can have with that memory? or how many seconds of audio loop you can record?

Wouldnt it be better to use something like logic's esx24, ultrabeat, stylus in combination with the machinedrum sps-1 ? I just dont see the point of paying more for the 2mb.
I want to know from your perspective as user, thank you

You have to NOT look at it like any other sampler, but as a drum machine more than anything to appreciate the 2MB. The MKI MD's let you store up to 32 samples in that 2MB, and the MKII's let you store up to 48 I believe. Also, the MD only let's you use 12bit samples (the C6 app that transfers samples to the MD converts them for you), so that helps as well. So it's very easy to fit all 32 samples you might want in there IMO. For instance, in my MD I have 4 kicks, 4 snares, 4 open high hats, 4 closed high hats, a ride, crash, 3 bass samples, a couple chord samples, 6 synth samples, and a couple random samples in there, and I'm only using half the sample memory available.

You definitely can't compare it to something like EXS24 though, entirely different kinds of samplers. It's hard to explain because on paper 2MB looks tiny, but once you get it and start using it, you realize it's a lot actually. Provided of course you're not looking for an MPC replacement. You need to think of it more like an old school drum machine like the emu SP1200, which is inded where they got the idea for the 2MB from.

The other benefit of the UW option is the RAM machines. These let you record external audio, or the main outs of the MD internally, and then do all sorts of neat audio tricks with the audio. For instance I use my MD in my DJ sets as a loop sampler sometimes, capturing up to 2 bars of audio and then tweaking it, retriggering it, resampling it further, etc. RAM machines are LOADS of fun.

Here's a Tips and Tricks guide I made for the MD, it might give you an idea of how much depth this machine has:

http://tarekith.com/assets/machinedrum_ ... tricks.htm

It's really hard to try and tell someone why they should get the UW option when it seems so expensive, and yet 95% of Machinedrum users will say it's essential. Elektron has approached the idea of drum sampling from a really unique perspective, and once people start to play with it and 'get it', it'll really open up loads of new doors for your sounds.

Thank you very much, but I had to buy a MD mkII not UW, not enough money for UW....
I have a question for you: is it possible to control "Impulse" via MD? If I could do this I can expand my MD with samples running on Impulse (and tweak them on MD...)
Thanks.

Yes, you can use the MIDI Machines on the MD to control Impulse, not sure how much control you'll have though. The MD isn't really a control surface like that. Bummer on the UW part man, you shoudl have kept saving, you're going to regret that one...