Ableton Forum

I have a korg esx that I have been using for a couple of years. So I'm Kind of nervous about selling it so I can jump on the elektron train via machinedrum. Is the machinedrum that good?!
Thank you!

In short, yes. Make sure you get the UW, though, as using your own samples with the MD's processing is SICK. You can even do melodic stuff using the drum synthesis options with just a little work. It's one of the most flexible pieces of hardware out there. Also, don't pay attention to the horrific demo songs on the Elektron site. Check out elektron-users.com for some great discussion on these machines, as well as links to some cool music.

The ESX is a lot of fun as well, but honestly it's not even comparable to the MD in terms of features, depth, and flexibility.

- Nick

I've done some neat stuff with the esx I'm leaving it behind on ebay like the red headed step child that it is. Thanks for the input. I get that empty feeling in my gut. Like holy crap here goes a bunch of money to the hungry studio who needs to feed. This music thing is fun as hell. But it can sure get expensive.

For sampling I considered kaoss kp3. So Should I go Machinedrum and Kp3? Or machine drum uw?

UW, hands down. The KP3 is a really fun little box, but the advantage of the UW is how it integrates with the rest of the MD, such as the sequencer and control options. I highly recommend reading through the MD manual on Elektron's site. You'll see what I mean.

Keep in mind that the UW is only 2.5 mb of sampling memory. You aren't going to be playing back long vocal loops or anything like that. The power lies in loading up small samples such as drums and stabs and warping them beyond recognition with the MD's processing.

- Nick

SPS1-UW FTW

+1 for the SPS1UW


can't fade it

I've got my MD for about a week and it fucking rocks. Great inspiring gear
with depht and flexibility. I decided to get the non UW version cause i do my
sample mangling and sound design inside the computer which offers me way more capabilities than the MD UW. Sure, i can image that it's fun to P-lock
trigs, and such, but seriously what does the MD does to the samples ?
pitching, retriggering, lenght, AM, filter, lfo mod. zhis hasn't convinced me for the extra money.
(and i tried an UW in the store).
for what i wanted the MD is perfect. a drumsynthesizer - i love it.

How many parts are availble for the drums for the md?
Is there more parts available with the uw?
Or are they shared samples and drums?

m:o wrote:I've got my MD for about a week and it fucking rocks. Great inspiring gear
with depht and flexibility. I decided to get the non UW version cause i do my
sample mangling and sound design inside the computer which offers me way more capabilities than the MD UW. Sure, i can image that it's fun to P-lock
trigs, and such, but seriously what does the MD does to the samples ?
pitching, retriggering, lenght, AM, filter, lfo mod. zhis hasn't convinced me for the extra money.
(and i tried an UW in the store).
for what i wanted the MD is perfect. a drumsynthesizer - i love it.

i love md too cool machine...

KU wrote:+1 for the SPS1UW


can't fade it

yeah I so WANT one!!!!!!!!


...kind of expensive!

...but as far as drum machines go today, we are not swamped in choices! Pretty incredible that no one seems to make drum machines anymore....

...I so wish there would be a usb trX0X midi controller!

The MD has 16 parts/tracks, each can be assigned any of the synth machines or RAM/ROM machines. Here's an example of the UW aspects in action, this time for live tweaking:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtxX0VEpMSI

When you get into resampling with the UW parts, you can just go off into some crazy stuff. I use it to do the same thing in this tune as well:

http://tarekith.com/mp3s/Dualate.zip

I've been considering an MD as well...but with Live7 and Drum Machines (and many MD samples already available online) what does the MD hardware offer that Live7 and Drum Machines, etc. doesn't already offer? What makes it worth $1600+??? I'm trying to figure out if I can justify this...thanks for any advice!

Tarekith wrote:The MD has 16 parts/tracks, each can be assigned any of the synth machines or RAM/ROM machines. Here's an example of the UW aspects in action, this time for live tweaking:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtxX0VEpMSI

yeah this is one nice exemple

earsmack wrote: what does the MD hardware offer that Live7 and Drum Machines, etc. doesn't already offer? What makes it worth $1600+??? I'm trying to figure out if I can justify this...thanks for any advice!

if you don't know, you don't need it!



-the best step sequencer on the market
-crazy innovative synthesis
-a crunchy digital innovative signature sound

In my opinion, the monomachine/machinedrum are the best electronic instruments since the TB-303/drumatix combo

I haven't laid my hands on a nicer instrument since I had a tr-808-909-cr78 setup. And it is not vintage, but very 2000ish For me it is the end of a very long tunnel... finally, a real nice electronic instrument. Cost an arm and a leg, but in those days a 909/808 or and Oberheim expander was expensive stuff too

If I didn't want to lay down the cash for a MD, what would be 2 goods options for a drum machine? I am looking between 300-800 to spend