Elektron Model Cycles Review, full tutorial and 7 tips and tricks
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- čas přidán 15. 07. 2024
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► Model:Cycles on Sweetwater: imp.i114863.net/PoYRY
► Model:Cycles on Thomann: www.thomann.de/gb/elektron_mo...
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► Model:Samples on Thomann: www.thomann.de/gb/elektron_mo...
► Model:Samples on Amazon: amzn.to/2I5uPjs
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► Digitakt on Thomann: www.thomann.de/gb/elektron_di...
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TIMELINE:
0:00 Overview
4:00 Preset sounds
6:30 Tone machine
8:50 Chord machine
10:15 Kick machine
11:30 Snare machine
12:30 Metal machine
13:25 Perc machine
14:15 Sound design
14:40 Effects
16:40 LFO options
18:00 Velocity mods
19:50 Sequencing
21:00 Automation
22:50 Cond. trigs
25:35 Preset locks
26:50 Machine locks
27:20 Misc stuff
28:50 TIPS & IDEAS
28:50 Retrig jam
29:35 Attack hack
31:00 LFO groove
31:45 Decay hats
32:10 Jam tips
33:45 MIDI control
34:25 Poly hack
37:15 Pros & cons
Want to email me personally?
► Ziv (at) loopopmusic.com
NOTE: Occasionally I’ll try out affiliate marketing and include affiliate links. This means that I may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via affiliate links. The content of this clip is entirely my opinion, and was not paid for or dictated in any way by the company creating the gear. Without addressing the particulars of products shown here as they might be under NDA, gear shown on this channel may be either sent by the manufacturer, on loan for review or bought at a discount.
only one problem with your channel...I will be ending broke...... your presentation of new instruments is a work of art by itself cheers mate
Your Synth Videos are THE MOST HOLISTIC videos of all. Straight forward, Info, timeline, man! I always turn to your channel when I want to know something about synths. Sad you don't make cooking tutorials too. A+++
PLEASE DO THIS!!! Here is the Ostrik Egg Omelette! Quite substantial shell....etc
That demo tune you treated us with is simply Excellent.
Just the best CZcams channel for music hardware demos. Period
You're very good at this.. always appreciate competent and highly organised reviews. Fantastic stuff! Thanks!
The best music tech specialist on the internet, by far the greatest on CZcams! Every video is a winner regardless of the equipment being rigorously examined! Superb work as always! Thank you Loopop! Always my first point of call when researching new equipment to acquire for the studio and always great content to watch even just for fun! Always awesome content!
Thanks - Glad you enjoy it!
I am learning so much about the world of acoustic synthesis just by looking at these videos!
Extremely grateful for this video, the best walk through i've found. Thank you!
Looks and sounds great.
I've been waiting for something like this. Was about to go for the Volca Drum and was wishing for a Volca Drum type synth/drum machine that had an Elektron sequencer.
Good price too. Will definitely buy.
The Dataline demo shows how wonderful this is. X
I bought this product this afternoon and I just spent more than 4 hours on it making tutorials and learning. Your video finally showed me how to change synth notes. thank you so much for your help with this tutorial! this machine scared me but now it will become my best friend.
Love that they went back to machines for this one. I love my machinedrum for that immediate odd prepatching
That’s a masterful introduction to this device. Thank you.
Another great review Ziv! I have digitonekeys and op-z but this looks like loads of fun!
Very nice and complete review. Just put an order in to add to the collection. Thanks
Great video and awesome track at the end - my type of music.
I love this little machine. It's simple and sounds great. It's easy to send pattern change messages, track mutes etc from DAW so the SONG mode isn't really missing feature here. In fact, once you have it properly set, your DAW tracks and records any parameter changes in CYCLES, so you don't actually need to input them manually. cheers
best reviews on youtube :) thanks loopop
Best Elektron machine since MD/MM in my opinion. Wonderfully focused and easy to use. And that price! Would be nice to have an additional machine or 2 and some more LFO options, but Elektron seems open to feature requests so it'll be nice to see what gets added!
Have they added anything to these since release? I’ve got the Digitakt and that has had some serious upgrades recently. I’ve a feeling these won’t be updated at all. I’ve ordered one anyway because I love fm percussion sounds and I love ekektron sequencers. It should arrive in a few days. Got it for a steal too. 175 gbp used but boxed as new condition. I’ve spent more than that on a night out.
@@benhall2235They added the ability to change samples on a per-step basis to the model samples so they've probably updated this one or are planning on it at some point.
thank you once again for highly useful video!
Will comment again so this new video will get more traction :) Superb review as always! :)
I'm late to the party....but just got a Cycles yesterday and it's because you're tutorials and reviews are so meticulously detailed and informative that I already knew how to master the device before laying hands on it. Thanks for the awesome review and by the way, to anyone reading this, IMO, the Cycles is a really really great device for one of the more budget friendly options in the Elektron lineup. I highly recommend this to anyone who can't afford the Digitone or Syntakt. However...the capabilities of this device make me hungry to explore the Digitone....I was hoping they would come out with another FM synth though. We will see.
I've had M:C for a few days now (in large part due to your video).
I'm finding this video very helpful as a resource. Thank you for the content!
One thing I love about your videos (amongst all the rest) is the table of contents on the left. I know it would be a good bit of work, but I wish the current "chapter" were highlighted. If you let me know what video editing software you use, I'd be willing to look into writing a script to do that for ya.
Andy Tran thanks very much! Yeah I’d love that too, it’s just that by the time I’m making the TOC I’m eager to hit publish so indeed doing it manually would be a pain. If you can pull off a script that would be fantastic. I use Premiere (unfortunately...).
Very good job! Thanx for sharing!
btw a faster way to change an lfo is to just hold the lfo-button and wiggle the knob of the parameter you want to be influenced by the lfo ;)
TY
Cool. Thanks.
Yoo, good look
Amazing job! As always
Got one on the way.
Love being able to see a Loopop review, while I'm waiting :-)
Life is good, with CZcams channels like this, and the helpful dialog, in the comments section.
Best wishes to all, stay safe until the Covid Pandemic is over.
got one coming too! looking forward
@@theoschlossman1577
If you find the Track Pads (T1-T6) are two hard to hit, you might want to try this mod.
It involves adding duct tape to the bottom of the Track Pads, and it helps a lot.
czcams.com/video/ZSznaM3PfH4/video.html
Be careful, if it is new, as it will void the warrantee.
Also, if you have bigger, stronger hands/fingers, you may not find it necessary.
Best wishes, and hope you enjoy yours, as much as I enjoy mine :-)
Thanks again for another great review video.
fucking love being able to see the waves.....really helps to visualize the parameters.
Really good review. I want one!
Having just got one recently and revisiting all my favourite youtubers as video manuals I discovered this preset is in the unit. Not sure if I missed this originally but that was fun to find.
Also if folks haven't seen Jeremy (Red Means Recordings) opening jam on this, its a banger.
Unquantized sequencing + hands on sound design.... I'm legit 100% sold on this for a drum machine out of nowhere haha. I'm getting this. Thank you for this video. It's never easy for me to decide and the simplicity of this relative to the potential depth is perfect.
Thank you for another excellent review/tutorial. Er, also thanks for triggering the Alien Apocalypse!
I love it . It looks like like something you'd find on the Nostromo. I just wanna slap a weyland-yutani sticker on it and make space blips and bloops with the reverb all the way up. If only I could actually find one in stock...
I own Digitakt and have wanted Digitone for a long time now, but with FM sounds without the FM complexity and at less the half the cost, I gotta say this is looking like a much better option for me.
same.. model:samples was a better fit for me over Digitakt, don't need resampling and the one knob per function makes it much more fun to use
After solidly playing with the M:S for a week, I’m def converted to the “elektron way” I just wish they added Func+Decay=Attack and Func + sample start and end = loop point start and end for better tonal sounds. Seems these same options should be on the M:C - the missing attack parameter - and I think the chord types and inversions should be a on a Func+knob - that way leaving 4 knobs to control the timbre of the chord. Either way - I’ll def be buying this - it’s the portable composing groove box I’ve been waiting for
This looks like it would be a good Drum Machine option, for me. With the added bonus, of having other things. I just got a Novation Bass Station 2. These 2 things synced up, looks like it would be fun, without too much of a learning curve. Thanks for the great Demo!
So cool for a french guy to understand everything you say. You're a really good pedagogue. It's a great kiff to learn so much in such a few time. Excuse my english
I bought this today. Tomorrow is dedicated to this video and learning. 😎👍
possibly the best power to price ratio on a groovebox EVER
Very clear thanks a lot!
Fun looking machine.
Cheers to Elektron for making "entry level" gear; and to Loopop, for the great review
This is cool... I’d been debating a M:S to sequence my Nord Drum but kinda wanted more controls. This looks like a good alternative.
Did you end up doing this? I’m still looking for some way of sequencing my nord drum. There’s a lot of ways to do this via iPad but I always like being able to have a hardware option just based on preferring buttons and knobs over screens...
You reuploaded it!
Hands down! ;)
Great video !!!!!!!!!
great video thanks. doing the poly hack through ableton/m4l is also another easy way to do the poly hack and as a poly synth the M:C is great fun. Surely elektron could put a "polysynth" mode in the main config options that makes the M:C do the round robin thing for you as well as default to 'control all' so you can one handed twiddle knobs while playing the external keyboard?
great video thank you so much
hi this model sam...cycles😬. no offeense. you know i love your stuff. great content as always.
lovely stuff
About the poly hack, if you want to change the sound of a track and don't want to use the function "ctr all", you can just modify one track, and then copy and paste the new sound to other tracks with this command : [Track] + [Cpy] and then [Track] + [Paste], which copies only the sound and not the trigs
Wow Thank you so much! Amazing!
Thank you!!
Recently bought a Torso T1 thanks to your review on it. If I understood you correctly, it seems I can use it to sequence the Model Cycles, right?
Thanks for your incredible videos, always a real pleasure to watch!
Elektron and all the others should give you a royalty for every gear they sell. You made me buy a lot of stuff! Thanks for your great videos!
Thanks :) I don't take money from companies but the store affiliate links pay a commission regardless of what you buy
@@loopop i was only joking. But thanks again for teaching difficult subjects in a such light and enjoyable way.
Nicely done! If this thing could send midi cc's with the automation recording along with notes via midi, it would be worth it for that by itself... still pretty awesome for $300. It also makes me laugh about back when it was said for the more flagship elektron boxes that sending midi out was an impossible firmware update. What a great time to be a music maker!
I would buy it in a heartbeat if it did that! But I'll probably have to save for a Digitakt instead
@@Tony2dH wished Digitakt looked like Cycles...
@@VDJ4500 I personally prefer the Digitakt look and feel. I actually bought the Cycles but returned it and recently got the Digitakt instead and very pleased with it :) to each their own!
It does send CC messages out when turning knobs etc. And these can be recorded in your DAW or whatever and basically play back a performance
Thxsomuch loopop🔊🎵u Fantastic💥💥💥💥💥
Loopop is like a new gear review race horse!!! Yay!
Great video
I've had mine for a few weeks now, and I can confirm that the T1-T6 Track Pad velocity sensitivity is not good (the 16 Trigger pads, though not velocity sensitive, have a nice light touch).
Hitting the T1-T6 Track Pads, hard enough to get a sound out of them, makes my finger and wrist joints, hurt after a short while (quick way to get carpal tunnel syndrome).
The minimum threshold, for just getting them to trigger at all, is way to high for me.
I have developed a few workarounds for this...
1) Go into the pad menu, and leave the Fix-OFF, then turn the VDep, all the way down to 0.
This keeps the volume of each track pad hit, loud, while still allowing the modulation destination, to respond to velocity.
(NOTE: if you set Fix to a number, then the modulation destination, no longer responds to velocity).
(NOTE: Pad settings only effect the T1-T6 Track Pads, and have no effect on the 16 Trigger Pads, the 16 Trigger Pads always send max velocity).
2) If you want to use the Track Pads for velocity, use a yarn/felt covered marimba mallet, or some other soft, heavy item, to smash the Track Pads with.
3) Forget about Velocity on the Track Pads, and only use them for selecting the active track. Then use the 16 Trigger Pads, for recording your hits.
This has three advantages: First, it will save your finger and wrist joints. Second, it allows you to vary the pitch of your triggers. And Last, all your triggers will sound a max velocity, even with a light touch (you can change the volume of each hit manually afterword).
Until (if ever) Elektron releases a firmware update to address this problem, I hope these workarounds help.
The first workaround is brilliant, thanks!
@@rossbowling9797 thanks for letting me know, you found it helpful. Model Cycles is pretty cool.
I think they chose this hardness so retrig variation is more gradual. But definitely it's a tradeoff
Hi! Has there been a firmware update to fix this … ?! 🙏🏼
@@kierenmoore3236 not that I’m aware of. Seems unlikely at this point, as there has been no significant updates for this product in quite a while.
The cycles is great and everything. But dang I want that midihub!
(repeating the comment from the first uploading)
I want it just for the tone it made at @33:31
That was a sick wobble.
I also noticed that one, it got me thinkin'of byjng the MC :-)
awesome video
Really nice💜💜💜
Great video, thanks! Mine gets here tomorrow. Can't wait. Week off next week to get to know it and get it wired into the modular via the Hermod and blck_noir.
what do you think after 3 months?
@@earthhuman5448 Big fan. I started to write a full reply, but decided I had to start a blog again once I made it to the third paragraph...
Short story: love it. Great fun, good sounds, not a Digitone, but I would say more fun, more immediate and - now it’s paired with a Digitakt and a TD-3 - I don’t really think I want a Digitone anymore. Given the current situation, I haven’t gigged this yet, but I reckon you could turn up to an open-mic with this and turn out a pretty decent set…
When paired with the modular, it gives me a huge amount of confidence that I can quickly and easily return to something 'normal' and in a proper key if I find I've wondered to far away from things with the knob twiddling.
@@missfroy663 thanks for the deep insight! ive been diving back into my model samples lately and having so much fun getting bizarre results. differing track lengths & chance. minimal ambient with the included single cycle waveforms. some nature samples. spent the weekend hypnotizing myself. hahaha.
i wanna be you when i grow up, you are having too much fun.
Seems excellent for composers
Another good review. Is it possible to have multiple tracks with different sequence lengths to do Euclidean rhythms/polyrhythms? Thanks!
Love it
that outro track was hittin.
love the cleanliness and versatility of the effects and lfo-s. guess it could get really wild with additional effect pedals. this will be the one for me instead of the Nord Drum 2 which I cannot find anymore. thanks for the thorough tutorial/demo
im going to try to get this for my birthday next year. im trying to get into physical and it would be my second synth if i dont get a synth from christmas.
Did you get it?
@@MaskedMenace94 yes :)
Looks like a modern Korg ER-1. Perfect!!!! :)
Hi, many thanks for the discussion! If you use a part to sequence an external synth, can you use a keyboard to enter the notes and trigger the external synth, like on the digitakt? Does it have the "auto channel" functionality so that I can use one midi cannel on the controller keyboard to play/record whichever part is currently selected?
9:39 sounds like opening scene in There Will Be Blood.
awesome thx EleKtorn
I miss the old Elektron. Hector came and we knew it will be something big (never forget that octatrack teaser lol). Since the analog rytm I think they didn't really come up with something really new and exciting (ok, digitone was kinda new). I'm sure it's not an easy task after all they did already, but if they really going smaller and more digital, they should enter the eurorack market imo. I'm sure they could make some cool modules, or some super megabrutal cv-heavy sequencer in a desktop format.
Superb vid as always, sir. Anyone know how to program this thing to get some interesting presets, like the built-in ones? I cannot figure out how to make the magic happen, haha. Testing this thing out for a student of mine, trying to learn it so I can show them. Thx!
thanks for this, very detailed as usual - any idea if it can sync pattern changing with the Analogue 4 mk2 - change patterns on both with 1 button press?
Hi! I watch almost all of your videos, even for equipment I'll probably never consider to buy :-) Question: what Spectrum Analyzer & Oscilloscope are you using in your videos?
Toni B thanks! I use MOscilloscope and MAnalyzer by a company called Melda - they’re free with some limitations in the MFreeFXBundle. Occasionaly I’ll use scopes by VCV
As a takt and tone owner. I see no need for this. But as always, your videos as great and show exactly what it does, weather i need it or not. Thank you sir.
Thats what i thought until i bought one! Its so fast to whip up a track while most would still be piss farting around in DT
@@NathanChisholm041 ok i retract my comment. I just got one. Very cool indeed. I like it. 👍
@@nalaeel219 As you have both, would you mind commenting on sound quality ? Some say Digitone has more depth, what's your take on that ?
"THIS IS MODEL CYCLES!"
Sorry you had to re-upload. Hope it doesn't hurt your views.
It does, but, for posterity, better have fewer views than throwing people off to what's going on....
@@loopop Nobody will be concerned clicking on a later link, CZcams is so frustrating for not giving the facility to replace videos.
Highranger yep, or how about just letting me replace two seconds...
Now I understand why I find the model series video more pleasing to watch. The pads are not clicky. They sound, look and feel smooth, and that transitions thru the computer screen and loudspeaker. They should have used this construction on the Takt and Tone.
thank you once again loopup for your insightful review and helping me getting rid of my money :)
one question: is Color available as a LFO and Velocity destination?
You’re welcome and yes
Great demo as always! Can you switch patterns by MIDI? Didn´t find any info on that in the manual. If not, do other elektrons offer that?
Thanks! I think so but haven’t tried it and my only source would be the manual
thx u so ! ❤️
Damn it I want one!
There’s another piece of kit I’m adding to my arsenal
I really dig the way you dig into all these cool devices. What are you using for your wave visualizations?
Hi, I use MOscilloscope and MAnalyzer by a company called Melda - they’re free with some limitations in the MFreeFXBundle. Occasionaly I’ll use scopes by VCV
Hi, thanks great review. Can you apply ballance. So have say Metal only coming from left for a wild EG
Can this be synced to the DFAM Advance Clock In, similar to how you can do with the Volca series?
I must be missing something, but is there a way to edit a preset after you've saved it, without deleting/resaving? Thanks so much for this video, learned a ton!
10:50 Death Grips, Come up and get me
This might finally be a reason to sell my novation circuit
I was thinking the same ... but I think I’m going to keep mine ... because it can hold samples
This one resembles Play in outlook at least. Seems very jammable❤❤❤ i want to try this one out
15:18 *gets credit card out*
Hahahahha me too!!
@@charliehale4960 Yup, me too. It's on my lap right now. Just sorting the stickers out.
Some say that it’s still reverbing today...
Awesome videos. Even though it might have been mentioned somewhere, what plugin do you use for the oscilloscope? Is it an actual plugin, or an effect of your video editing software?
Hi, I use MOscilloscope and MAnalyzer by a company called Melda - they’re free with some limitations in the MFreeFXBundle. Occasionally I’ll use scopes by VCV
Can you control other synths and daws with its sequencer via MIDI (I mean sending MIDI notes not only MIDI clock) like with Electribe 2 and Novation Circuit? Thanks
I think the snares, hi-hats, pops and sizzles are great, but that the kick is a bit shallow. I wonder if it would pair up well with the Volca Kick.
Can you apply conditionality to automation/sound design (e.g. change preset every 3rd play through)? Or does conditionality apply only to whether a step sounds on/off?
Great review! Can you use for example chord engine on all tracks or can they be assigned once?
Thanks! Yes, you can use chords on all channels
@@loopop Nice. I'm looking for an affordable soundbox i could great ambient soundscapes with and I think I'm leaning towards this one and then saving on digitakt :)
Awesome video!
I have the MPC One, use it to control all the other instruments. Though I also use a PC to actually finish songs or add digital instruments I cannot get on analog gear.
Would you recommend Cycles considering that or Samples? Also can it be easily used for more regular music producing instead of more live evolving sounds? I mostly mean like traditional produced music that has electronic instruments instead of electronic music which is quite different in how it is produced.
If you don't want a sequencer that is less conventional, like an MPC then it's probably not of much use. You could however use it to generate more esoteric or varied patterns via midi and record these into your DAW, but it really depends on how much you like to write tracks traditionally or if you're looking for more experimental results. Polyend have a couple of new devices that also seem to really be pushing into the 'generative' field of music production.
So much of music production now is 'use an algorithm' to make musical choices, speed up production and fast track creative choices. Who knows maybe that really is the future of a lot of production, hit the make music buttons, key, scale, chord progression, insert into template here here and here, pick beats, randomize, add chance.... ect. ect. output to platforms A,B,C,D... next.
Boomer insults incoming in 3, 2, 1 ....
I'm not saying these features aren't insanely cool to have, but with great power comes even greater responsibility!