How I Drone on the Elektron Digitone
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- čas přidán 25. 06. 2020
- If you've been following the channel for a while, it'll be no surprise to hear that I'm currently into what I'll generically call "slow music".
And while I've not shied away from it in the past, it's definitely the case that in the last few weird months I've been going there a lot more often because it offers me a "brain break" - the process of preparing and arranging ambient or drone music is kinda meditative for me, just as much as the listening is.
One of my favourite instruments to create drones with is the Elektron Digitone and I've been asked about my process a few times so that's what this video is about. And it's going to be a long one (I know, because I'm recording this introduction last) because we're going from nothing to a finished piece, but hopefully along the way there will be some ideas and tips that you'll be able to apply to your own music, and while the Digitone is the instrument of choice here, a lot of the concepts are going to apply no matter the instruments you use. And either way, there's going to be some very chill music happening most of the time.
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![[Archived Stream] Digitone Ambient and Drone-stream 11th June 2020](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZrLPFEG_gkk/mqdefault.jpg)
The CZcams Algorithm is really pushing this video hard at the moment. I see it at least three times a day in my queue. And I find that fantastic ❤
That's good to hear!
I've been saving this video on a browser tab for a few weeks, and I finally found the time and headspace to watch and give it the attention it deserves. At times I found myself getting antsy because I was getting so excited by what I was learning. But I lit a candle, took breaks, took notes, ate snacks, made a night of it. Thanks so much for taking the time to make this, and thank you for the inspiring info-It was worth every minute!
The idea of someone watching one of my longform videos by candlelight makes me incredibly happy. Thanks for giving it the time and I'm really glad you enjoyed it. I hope you have fun taking these ideas and exploring them on your own terms.
Haha the same here. Follow this outstanding detailed video!
Do you realize that you made a perfect ASMR video simultaneously with gifting viewers a wonderful tutorial? 🙂 Thank you.
Fantastic video. I will say you’re missing out on a lot by not stopping, though. Motionlessness is a super interesting space, I highly recommend giving it a try
“Move slowly, but don’t stop moving.” Thinking about this while listening.
This advice is probably why the video is so long!
This is great advice for an ocean swimmer.
I learned a lot about drones on Digitone, but more importantly, this is possibly the best overall Digitone demo I've seen. I've learned so much. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for watching, I'm glad that it gave you some new ideas to explore!
+1
Really appreciate this video. Initially listened through, and now going back with my Digitone set up and playing along. So far the first ~25 minutes has taken me about 90 minutes as I experimented and listened and played. Made for a lovely evening after the kids went to bed. Thank you.
Really glad to hear that you are enjoying some drone-time!
Genius ! An absolute MasterClass in a) drone design, b) FM sound design and c) Digitone programming. Really stunning video with beautiful atmosphere throughout. Such a pleasure to watch you work. Like a skilled oil painter mixing his colours (sound design) and applying them to canvas (programming and mixing). Thank you. 🙏
Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Wow, just fantastic. Thank you for putting this together
Lots of good knowledge being dropped here, thank you!
👍🔝 cool to hear you’re finding peace in this genre 🎶 thanks for sharing your creative process.
Great job on these Digitone vids, you do a wonderful job explaining things perfectly as you go. Learning lots from this and your drum video .
Cool. So many ways to approach making music with this, it's nice to see things from your perspective.
Super insightful man! thanks for the beautiful music and stay safe!
Thanks OS ... another great and passionate tuturial. I learned so much.
a great insight to the depth of this amazing device, thanx for the video.. brilliant!!!
I really enjoy the methodical approach with explanations along the way. Well done!
Great video man!!!
A wonderful piece of tutorial!
I learn a lot!
Thanks and regards
I did exactly what you did, and I created something so very beautiful, I wanted to let it play forever and twiddle no further. Great tutorial. Thank you!
Patterns of Primes is a beautiful concept that makes me think of the patterns of nature. Consider tho locusts.
Ranjit
Great insight into the process. Thank you!
Thanks for your insights/expressions. Also very refreshing you don’t use comercials/adds, much apreciated no stress...
Mid-roll ads on chill videos are the devil's work. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you so much for sharing - so helpful - explaining so many features in detail is brilliant.
Thanks for watching!
Thank you for this. I found it relaxing, inspiring, and instructive.
Tick, tick and tick! Glad you enjoyed it!
This is incredible and exactly what I was looking for without really knowing how to look for it. Haven't finished yet bc 20 minutes in I had enough of the rudiments to get blissfully stuck in droneland for a well spent hour of slight adjustments. Thanks!
Lovely sounds and very inspiring process :) Thanks for sharing this!
Thanks for coming along for the ride!
This is the best lesson I‘ve ever had. Thank you!
Wow thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Such a beautiful and helpful tutorial thanks!
Another inspiring video ... helped make my weekend ... plus (as always) learned a great deal about the Digitone.
Thank you David, I hope you enjoy playing around with some new ideas Digitone ideas!
Impressive sounds presented in a nearly meditative way. Thank you 🙏
Thank you!
You're my hero and you know it.
As a new Digitone owner, this video was exactly what I was looking for. Thank you for doing it!
Thank you for letting us see your process. I've been wondering what making slow music entails. Amazing!
This was a big help to get me rolling along with the digitone.
Glad to help!
mate, this is fantastic stuff. Very well explained and absolutely gorgeous to listen to.
Thank you! Really glad you enjoyed it 🙂
So awesome to watch your step by step process! Picked up a bunch of tips/ideas, thx👍🏻
Thanks for watching!
I'm still just in the first sound but I had to stop and comment on how amazing and creative I've found the way you programmed the steps with all the note values, the modulations and parameter lock. I was wondering for a long time how people could achieve such a moving pattern, almost perceived as modular self-generative, with the digitone 'closed' pattern system and you just gave me the answer. I guess I still have to commit to the Elektron's sequencer potential. But this was nasty! Thanks a lot, now I'm gonna keep watching the rest!
I stayed the whole time. Thank you so much dude
i love this video! relaxing and informative. really helped remind me of many features i don't use while showing me ways to use other features differently. great narration and sounds. :)
Thank you, I glad you enjoyed this chilled format!
Fantastic.. drones ended up being the best digitone tutorial out there. Thanks! more like this :)
Thank you! I hope to do some more like this soon.
So nice to hear your thoughts here... fantastic video..!
Thanks friend!
Thank you for sharing this amazing knowledge. All the best :)
Thanks Andre!
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and process. This, for me at least, is where the Digitone shines. Fantastic work!
I'm glad you enjoyed it, and yes, I agree - the Digitone is an ambient box of wonders!
Even though I'm not that much into ambient this offers so many fantastic ideas to create versatile sounds on the DN. Fantastic work and inspiration as always, Alex!
I'm glad you took something useful away!
Great tutorial. The tonality of your voice makes the whole thing a Bob Ross experience for sound instead of painting.
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed the happy little accidents!
Thanks! This is very helpful studymaterial!
Great job, video and narrative...! Cheers and best. :)
Thank you! I took notes. I was having much trouble getting moving pleasant drones, so this really nudged me in the direction. You're a godsend
Enjoy your drones! Glad to have helped!
Very good teaching! Thank you! ‼️
This helped me in so many ways... Thank you !
So happy I could help out!
Thanks for such an in-depth proces! Really enjoyed following along with the process, then making my own tweaks as well!
Glad you enjoyed! I hope you found some sounds you liked!
@@OscillatorSink Coming back to comment again since I've started doing your drone process every other day and making new tracks, a very zen highlight of my day!
Learned so much from this - now blissfully droning
Drone on friend! Glad you could take something away from it!
Just wanted to say I learned a ton along that way. Took us to little corners on the machine I had not explored yet. Stuff I know I'll use all the time in a variety of genres. Thanks for taking the time to share your philosophy and approach to this kind of stuff.
That's really great to hear - thanks for watching.
Your voice is so relaxing. I'm gonna have trouble staying awake through this vid. That's not a criticism. :-)
We love you Mr Sink, with your golden ears, touch and silky smooth narrating:)
Narra-ting ting;)
hey hey hey, such a cool journey!
Nicely done, and thank-you for having the time and patience to "herd the musical cats" once again.
Wow, I learned more in 90 minutes than in 14 days of trying. Thank you!
Your voice alone is pure ambient. very enjoyable!
Never stop the movement! Greetings and thank you very much!
Thanks for watching, I'm glad I could help out!
i like the speed of labour here, this is when things grow, it appears.. what a wonderful video, i‘m happy to have come across with the channel
Thank you! And welcome to the channel
I love you saying "but anyways I digress" halfway through and hour and a half drone video 🤣
Great stuff, you've inspired me to put droning on my near future to do list on my DN! Seems awful relaxing.
You should, like you say, it's a good relaxing time.
I really enjoyed following threw this tutorial! thank you ver much for doing this
I'm glad you could drone along with me!
Nice, thanks for sharing
I am watching this video the third time. Next week i will get my digitone and i am excited to applying the techniques i have seen here myself
Am so late to the party with this I feel as if flares have come back into fashion in the time elapsed! But wow! This is such a helpful and fascinating video both for the lovely ambient music vibe and the detailed FM sound design. I will come back to this over & over as I learn and play with my new Digitone which arrived yesterday.
Interesting to hear you say you don't use Overbridge. Overbridge is the single most important thing Elektron have introduced, for me personally, as I like expanding my hardware setup along with still using a DAW. I actually have no more inputs available on my Apollo interface and don't have physical space for even a small mixer without totally reorganising the room, so Overbridge allows me to use the Digitakt and Digitone without need for analogue inputs to my system - an absolute godsend. I wish every hardware synth by all manufacturers had an equivalent! In fact my Volca Keys is now also going into my system via overbridge, through the analogue input of the Digitone.
By the way, the finished piece puts me in mind a little of the slow intro section to Tangerine Dream's Ricochet. 👍
the best digitone creative process
❤️
Oh this one comes in handy! Kinda stuck with my Digitone I end up using every other tool around just to avoid frustration. Now I am following your tutorial to find new ways to my favorite synth. Thanks!
I hope I can help you to unlock some fun stuff!
@@OscillatorSink you can :)
Thank you so much for this video ❤️
Thanks for watching!
What a masterclass, thank you so much! it would be amazing the same type of video using the digitakt instead
your best video to date.
Wow thank you!
Great tutorial, actually really liked the slow tempo of it all 👍
Cheers! I'm glad you enjoyed the slower pace.
Probability has to be one of the most powerful functions. I used to have to record 2-3 min audio loops to achieve the quality of a 13 step seq with probability! The first time I experienced the wonders of probability functionality was with the Novation Tracks. Then the Peak update gave us probability on arp. Really great tool for ambient composition because you no longer need 128+step seq to achieve a natural organic random quality and the illusion of long spaced out loops.
Amen to this. It's the staple of generative music and the first thing I go to check is present on any sequencer.
I own the Five12 Vector sequencer for Eurorack and it has my favorite flavor of probability. You can have it on/off like the Elektron sequencers, but you can also choose another note that will be hit x% of the time. I love this because you can have a regular sequence with no breaks that has variation built in. I haven’t figured out how to do this with my Elektron sequencers.
Beautiful and thank you
Thank you.
Thank you! So informative.
You're welcome, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
lots of excellent tips in here, will absolutely be rewatching with my Digitone in front of me. Incredible effort doing an almost 90min tutorial too, i would not be able to talk for that long and still make sense haha
Really pleased you enjoyed it! The secret to a 90 minute tutorial is to have lots of slow, reverb-laden sounds so that you can take verrrrry long pauses to let your brain recover.
@@OscillatorSink lol, true though then the struggle becomes maintaining focus and remembering to vocalize everything!
very helpful!! thanks mate ❤
No problem - drone on!
Very good video! Thanks a lot!!
Thank you!
Thanks a ton for this video! I'll watch it in full soon and try out droning on Digitone. It's already a blast on Deepmind, and I'm sure the sequencer of Digitone (plus FM!) is going to be awesome.
Why not control the Deepmind from the Digitone at the same time for double Digideeptone goodness?!
@@OscillatorSink Definitely! I've done this a few times, but I don't know good tricks for the Digitone yet, sadly. This video will be super helpful for it!
Very very inspiring, thank you! Let me start think about a Digitone keys for the vocies out (other reverbs etc.)
thanks man this is am epic video
Legend!
Great tutorial. Many thanks. Just where my head is at 🙏🏽
Cheers, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
I've gone there as well, mournful ambient and occasional plinky shimmered piano over the top. Its a sign of the times I think! I'm loving this so far, got my digitone next to me and I'm trying to take notes!
Enjoy following along - and I agree, it's definitely a sign of the times: "very 2020"!
Sehr gutes Tutorial ! Merci.
Amazing Mystical tones and drones that drive my toughts floating to Tibet. Thanks so much for this tutorial !
Thinking to port this too to my Yamaha (8 operator + formant) FS1r for even more mystical tones.
The formant stuff will be amazing for drones. I endorse this suggestion!
@@OscillatorSink Microgranny is great for them if you have a note+cc sequencer. It's not very user friendly, but it's not that bad.
Oohhh thx alot for this Man!! Great✨
You're welcome!
Thank You!
Thank you so much. I recently purchased the Digitone primarily to make generative drones and after playing with it for 2 weeks this is exactly what I needed to see.
I think it really excels in that role - you're going to get a lot out of it!
@@OscillatorSink Yes, I am very happy with it so far and I came via Model Samples and Electribes so it has been a smooth learning curve so far. I am yet to get a big deep rich sound that I am after, although I only discovered the Unison page yesterday!
Ideally I want to create similar sounds to this, although with hindsight perhaps this is more Digitakt territory: abulmogard.bandcamp.com/track/desires-are-reminiscences-by-now
@@rgrant I want to buy one of them for drones/ambient too but I can't decide which! This video is pushing me towards the 'tone though. ..
@@tomfrascina5846 I ended up with both and to be honest the Digitakt I find better using existing drone samples, but I do love just playing around with the Digitone.
Brilliant tutorial. Like the guy below in Berlin, I'd like to offer you lodging should you ever want to visit Brooklyn, NY.
Fantastic
Thank you!
Awesome thank you
*BRAVO* 👏🏼 Wonderfully done! Thank you so much-I learned a lot of technique that can be applied to many machines with similar capabilities-like my MPC ONE, on which I can literally replicate everything you’ve done here on the Digitone, though not as handily! I also love the way you explain how and why you’re selecting and adjusting the various parameters of each control/filter and so forth, _”to punctuate…some goddam reverb…in context…”_ 😎
The composer of the ‘The Outer Limits’ main theme score and much of OL’s background music would have no doubt sacrificed at least one limb to have this sonic capability, it is simply immense-esp. at around 45:00 (I’ve been trying for decades to electronically replicate that _reverse-running electric vacuum cleaner_ sound-I often came close, but no luck to-date). 😊
Personally, I’m reluctant to ever buy one of these or any other *_ELEKTRON_* synth because of the display-it is profoundly, inexcusably bad in every way shape or function! Even if they were trying to present it as _a cool old 8-bit world reminiscent of the earliest LED display technology,_ it just plain massively sucks. If actually trying to be ‘retro-cool’ or something, it is a miserable, unfathomably ridiculous, insanely absurd failure. Why? Even the cheapest toys out there have better displays, x 100%! It makes me wanna hammer an old Casio Data-Watch into it! THAT would be a hundred times more preferable than Elektron’s current LED display technology! _and the _*_voice stealing! THAT is a total deal-breaker!_* My God People! THIS IS 2023!_ 😂😉
Thanks, on the screen, eh, I dunno, it's fairly large and very readable at all angles and in all light and the information density is just right for me. Well designed minimalist UIs are a force for good.
Thank you!!
Thanks for watching!
lovely
Cheers!
Thanks.
Fantastic!!!
We need more Digitone videos!!
Please!!!
Please!!!
There will always be more Digitone videos.
@@OscillatorSink it would be great if you make one about the voice stealing 😰
Job done.
angel music magic
Friend, if you can, look for a similar drone sound of these two instruments: Shruti box and tampura + Bansuri. Thank you
I love drone. I have a Model Samples, Mininova and a Microfreak. And a Zoom effects box. I need to get my drone on.
I think you're well equipped there!
Thanks for this. Aces as always.
I followed your instructions to the T - except - for each wave in each LFO, I used S&H. As you might imagine the resulting sound is a good deal more bleepy and bloopy than yours!
Keep up the good work!
Bleepy bloopy can be just the thing sometimes!
@@OscillatorSink I’m not complaining!
Also turning off reuse on the voice menu will remove click as each successive note even if two consecutive identical notes play they will use separate voices so there won’t be a voice cut off.
Absolutely - but if you do this then you probably don't want to turn off amp envelope reset and be a bit more restrictive around your voice allocation as you're more likely to steal voices from other tracks if both are using dynamic assignment. I think the whole voice management stuff on the Digitone is full of nuance and everyone can improve their use of the DN by understanding it better (and then using it better, of course!).
Oscillator Sink true true.
you've said Korg OP6 is (was?) one of your fave instruments, I think. It and the Digitone are nominally both modern FM instruments with interesting sequencers, etc. Can you compare/contrast them, for us? I have used neither and don't see myself acquiring and learning both (hence my admiration for you). So it would be useful to have help choosing and understanding their relative advantages and differences. I HAVE watched several demo/tutorials for both, esp DTone, FWIW.
This is a lovely video btw, really blurring the boundary between demo/tutorial and beautiful musical performance. I love your channel so much!
I've been wanting to make that exact comparison video for a long time, and it's still on my list, but it's a tough one to structure because feature comparisons are kinda boring so I'd want to build the video differently and I haven't quite worked out how best to approach it.