Elektron Monomachine VS Machinedrum

[cynic one]

This past couple of weeks I've really been thinking about picking up a machinedrum. The thing looks dope. But last night I saw some demos of the monomachine on youtube, where it was generating percussion tracks as well as synth tracks.

My question is - does anyone own both? What's the difference? How much deeper does the percussion on the machinedrum go that the monomachine can't offer?

If I had the cash to burn I'd just pick up both - but I like learning one piece of gear at a time.

PS: I already own a sidstation.........

[ignatius]

you can do a ton w/both machines and they both do what they do quite well. the monomachine has longer patterns, flexible routing and triggering options, great for sequencing external gear (rouing internal LFO's to control cc's of external midi gear) and do paramter locks w/cc's on external gear.. it's really fantastic and can sound really surprisingly amazing and definitely amazingly weird and inspiring. great fun to jam with and play live with.

the machindrum is awesome as well. the UW sampling option is totally worth it even though it's only 2MB sampling RAM you can do a hell of a lot w/that 2MB. it sounds great, can also sequence external gear with paramter locks, is capable of more than just drum sounds and can really cut thru a mix. great bass.

the monomachine does great subs as well. quite versatile synth engine and you can do lot's of percussion with it as well.

i wouldn't give up one for the other. but i know someone who sold his machinedrum to get a monomachine and is very happy. i love them both thought and get very different results from each one.

you should download the manuals to both and read all the specs adn features. something might really jump out at you.

[Nordenstam]

In my very humble opinion, if I had to choose, it would be machinedrum. No doubt. The MD was the first machine in that wrapping, fitting the glove perfectly. The monomachine gives a wee bit of impression of being forced to fit in an existing reciepe. The MD is more wholesome in its approach, range and feeling. Again, this is my humble opinion and you may very well feel different. If I where short on synths and had enough drums, I'd take the mono..

Think one of the determining questions should be: what do you want more, drums or sounds?

[Cojo]

Hi.

I own both and they are both great machines!

One important thing to know is that the Monomachine is monophonic. So that means that if you program a drumpattern you can only have one sound sounding at the same time! However there is a way around this... The synth have 6 voices so what you can do is to use another voice.

The Machinedrum is superior at drum sounds and drum sequensing. It has 16 voices, meaning that you can have all sounds playing at the same time (if that's what you into).

Chose the Machindrum if you want a drummachine, chose the Monomachine if you want a great synth with the option to lay down a rythm track.

[cynic one]

I've heard the machinedrum make synthy noises as well, right?

Looks like the machinedrum is what I want...especially when I have a ton of vsti's, a se1x, sidstation, and z1 to play with....

[Cojo]

Originally Posted by cynic

I've heard the machinedrum make synthy noises as well, right?

Yes you can make it sound basicly like anything but I'm not sure how easy it is to get it to pitch track the keys on a keyboard. But if you want something like a single note it's easy to just dial in the pitch of that note.

[Nordenstam]

Machinedrum easily does pitched sounds! Use parameter locks to set the pitch for each note just like a midi sequence.

This(7mb mp3) track is 100% machinedrum.

[Cojo]

Originally Posted by Lupo

Machinedrum easily does pitched sounds! Use parameter locks to set the pitch for each note just like a midi sequence.

This(7mb mp3) track is 100% machinedrum.

Really cool!

[cynic one]

Originally Posted by Lupo

Machinedrum easily does pitched sounds! Use parameter locks to set the pitch for each note just like a midi sequence.

This(7mb mp3) track is 100% machinedrum.

the beat is hella erratic to me, but those noises are fresh!

definitely think i need to pick one up.

[DISCERN]

Originally Posted by Lupo

Machinedrum easily does pitched sounds! Use parameter locks to set the pitch for each note just like a midi sequence.

This(7mb mp3) track is 100% machinedrum.

I wouldn't say the MD does pitched sounds easily. Compared to the monomachine its very time consuming, but its still certianly possible. The drum machine in the MnM is very limited compared to the MD, but you can create some funky sounds by using the filters and LFO's. If percussion is what you want, I would go with the MD.

[ignatius]

if you go here:

http://www.myspace.com/sleepdepfun

and listen to the song called "gridpit" that's 99% machinedrum. the other 1% is an uber compressed reverb filter delay i added in the mix but it's barely present.

also, i'd say the MD and monomachine are totally different instruments. there are some thing in the monomachine that i wish were in the MD. if anything the monomachine expands on the MD and adds all those awesome synth voices and fx. it's really dope. i can't do w/o either of them.

if you get an MD ge the UW version w/sampling. it's really worth it.

edit: if you have a sub.. use it

[tomdarude]

I happen to have a MachinedrumUW for sale, if anyone´s interested....
like new condition!

will let it go for: € 1350,-

......awesome machine, I just don´t use it enough at the moment and want more guitar/bass/fx-stuff.

[Tibbon]

One of the machines on the mono is a Sid style machine. It has a little of the Sid vibe, but isn't at all like your sidstation. You have 1/6 machines already covered.

I just sold my Sidstation, but I have my Machinedrum and I'll never let it go. I might buy a monomachine (one with keyboard please...), but the Machinedrum is really perfect.

Doing pitched sounds with the parameter locks isn't hard. Someone out there has a chart that equates the pitch value to intervals. It might not be perfect tuning, but it's pretty good and I've never thought it was inadequeate. If anything it kinda frees me up from thinking too much about notes if i'm trying to make something new.

The UW option is great. Load up some good high-hats, a snare hit or two, and then use the rest of the memory for the RAM machines.

After having the MD for 3 years, i'm still learning new tricks on it. It's by far the deepest piece of gear that I own.

[pyvnd]

I am trying to pick one of these up as well. I would like both but I fear I can only afford for now. I am interested in using the sequencer to sequence external hardware (and software) as well as the internal Elektron sounds.

Are there differences between the sequencers of the two machines? I know monomachine does 6 channels of external. Does Machinedrum do 16 midi channels both internal and external? Basically I am trying to see if the two sequencers are pretty much the same. If so I'll probably go with the machinedrum.

[rids]

I don't mean to throw a monkey wrench in this, but if you want a killer synth (actually 4 of them) and about 11 different drum tracks (kick,snare,hihat,etc..) then I would seriously... seriously look at getting the Radikal Spectralis. That thing is awesome and you get a LOT of kit. That's all you need. It is more expensive, but worth it.

RADIKAL TECHNOLOGIES - Spectralis Hybrid Synthesizer

Spectralis :: Index

I had the Machinedrum for a while, but sold it. I was fun and a cool instrument, but I have the Quasimidi Polymorph, which the same guy Jorg Schaaf made the Spectralis, and it's the most fun and inspiring synth I own, well tied with my Sunsyn at least.

I think the Monomachine might have been a little more fun, just because I like to have a synth and drums teamed up with a sequencer - that way you can make whole songs if you wanted to or at least get a strong base (even though I like to mix different synths )

I've heard many say the Spectralis's synth are almost modular in design, they're so deep and you coax so much out of it. I should note that it has 1 analog synth and 3 polyphonic synths.


#1 to think about is what kind of box you want (a drum machine, 6 synths, or a combo of the 2) #2 do you like the 'sound' of one box over the others

[Tibbon]

I have an MD, and want a Mono (one with keyboard). The MD is unreal, but the mono is a totally different machine. I've realized that doing the pitch stuff is too much of a pita for realtime use on the md.

[rids]

Another thread I think you might find relavent is this :

slut on a 909, 808, or MD?

The 2nd poster has the same feeling as I do. Sound is most important and I can do similar synthetic drum sounds like the MD with other software. The Jomox drum machines have a deep strong analog sound, which I like much more than when I had the machinedrum. With that said, I still am quite interested in getting a Spectralis as it seems to have great everything and is nice and groovey. That analog synth in it is really cool. And it can do a variety of synthesis like FM and whatnot. You can check out some examples here, but there are more different synthesis examples in the forum. (scroll down)

Radikal Technologies Spectralis Synth/Filterbank V 0.97 - (eBay item 300183634522 end time Dec-25-07 10:03:44 PST)

Oh yeah, and you can import your own samples and use them as waveforms in the Spectralis and tweak them like any other sound in the DSP engine.

[sashbash]

I find the Mono and MD machines both fascinating, every time I use one I can get lost in hours of tweaking. Concerning the MD, you could get similar results tweaking away on something like Reaktor, but I really like the fact that I am not doing this in front of a computer when using the MD, and I find its much more intuitive/expressive tweaking a MD than using a mouse to tweak (two hands!).

That Spectralis Hybrid looks great, it would be nice to find more demos though...

One thing that I love about the Mono are the drum machine sounds in the DigiPro synthesis. You can't do as much to these sounds as you could on an MD, but for straight up 'old school' drum machine sounds (which I'm a sucker for) they are fantastic. Plus if you use them through one of the FX machines, such as the compressor you can get these sounds punchier/louder/fatter than you might expect.

For me I think the Mono is the better buy, as it features on more of my finished tracks than the MD does. Concerning the MD, I go through fazes of thinking its amazing and one of the most unique pieces of equipment I have, to thinking it's the most extravagant piece I have, that's slightly too 'far out' for daily use....?

[slipstytch]

Just in case you havn't seen these....

YouTube - MD liveset practice part 1

YouTube - monomachine jam

YouTube - Spectralis Groovebox and Synth Tutorial

Gear choices can greatly hone one's decision making ability....

good luck with it slutz!!!

[pyvnd]

Spectralis doesn't get me wet. It sounds pretty trance to me and I hear the sequencer is not very good sequencing external things. One of the reasons the monomachine excites me is that you do get 6 tracks of external sequencing so I can use my external sampler and my external keyboard in the mix as well. I like that.

I was thinking of just getting a RS7000 instead because I have used the RM1x sequencer in the past and it's pretty powerful. But why buy old technology at this point. I may just make do and sequence with Live 5.2 for now and see what winter NAMM brings. The monomachine is sold out for now anyway. Just one more question. Can I sequence chords with the monomachine sequencer?

[rids]

Originally Posted by pyvnd

I hear the sequencer is not very good sequencing external things.

Actually that is one of the OS updates I think Joerg has planned for the Spectralis. Don't be fooled by the demos. The Spectralis is almost as deep as a Modular. You can do serious tweaking.

One thing I remember about my Polymorph is that when I got it, I was disappointed because the presets sound/sequences were Tangerine Dreamish. I thought I made the wrong choice when I played the presets only. Then I went into the synthesis and tweaked to my heart's content Wow, I never knew it could be so nasty and funky ( instead of the plain jane techno presets - patterned after Tangerine Dream, which Joerg the creator likes ).

Disclaimer: the stuff you see on Youtube and mp3s elsewhere are often vanilla. Guys will do a Youtube Video tweaking one preset. The Polymorph videos on Youtube are presets which I don't like. It's quite a bad representation of the synth because it can sound completely different. It's all about the person that is Youtubeing it and what they like to make or what is easy to make for them.

[Sofine]

I have to chime in and say that the Spectralis is one of the best sounding pieces of gear I have ever owned, which I reluctantly sold to fund the purchase of more necessary gear. It is a very deep machine and also leads to many "happy accidents" with its deep routing capabilities and fantastic filterbank.

I will almost certainly buy another one at some stage.

The monomachine, which I spent an hour playing a while back, is also a brilliantly creative tool, and is certainly on the wishlist too.

[ignatius]

a guy i know had a spectralis for a while. he sent me a song he made w/it and i was impressed w/how it sounded. weird, spongey, sharp etc. it was alive. he got rid of it because he said it was too deep for just jamming with and that's what he wanted.. i guess there's lot's of menus and button pressing to get around for certain tasks but with that much under the hood i guess that's expected. i didn't realize it has a full sampler in it

[rids]

That's what I like about the Spectralis is that it can do so much. It really is like a modular groovebox and it can do a lot as far as synthesis goes. This isn't something that when you buy it you will sound like everyone else who has it because there's so much different ways and sounds you can go with it. When I hear an EMX-1, which really shouldn't be mentioned with these other 2 great machines, it sounds similar from one guy to next using it. The Mono or Spectralis are much more than your run of the mill machines.

I would like to try the the Monomachine as well. I just think in the end, I'd choose the Spectralis, just because I like analog, and I've never heard of any other analog groovebox. Although the Spectralis is a lot more than that. I like grooveboxes to an extent because most are often limited. So the Mono and Spectralis are the ones I'd choose. Too bad Elektron won't put an analog filter in the Mono.

[sleestack]

the MD sounds pretty bad judging from all these samples. Flat and thin

[amenbrother]

Seems like the majority of the machinedrum owners love their machine, and the one that seems disapointed is the ones listening to samples...

[pyvnd]

Is there anyone here that can break down the difference in the sequencers of the machinedrum and monomachine for me. Someone that has both perhaps?

I appreciate all the opinions on spectralis but I'd appreciate hearing useful info on the Elektrons right now.

[Tibbon]

Originally Posted by pyvnd

Is there anyone here that can break down the difference in the sequencers of the machinedrum and monomachine for me. Someone that has both perhaps?

I appreciate all the opinions on spectralis but I'd appreciate hearing useful info on the Elektrons right now.

I don't know why people are asking for this. It's like comparing a Juno and a Prophet, or even further off. It's apples and oranges! Yes the Mono can do some drums, but these are totally different beasts.

If you want a breakdown look on the Elektron page. It's not really that hard. The Machinedrum UW is a sampling 16 part drum machine. The mono has 6 different machines, only one of which is made for percussion specifically.

Also, many of the monomachines have keyboards! Just because it has a nearly same interface doesn't make these the same.

[pyvnd]

I am asking because I need to know. I have looked at the Elektron site but a few lines of specs doesn't answer it for me. I would like to reiterate my question please. If you have useful information please share. Otherwise, why say anything you know?

[rids]

Originally Posted by amenbrother

Seems like the majority of the machinedrum owners love their machine, and the one that seems disapointed is the ones listening to samples...

Well that's why I sold mine. I wanted to try it out (and didn't think I would keep it), but it was too crisp and digital for me, although I loved how wacky you could make the drum hits, that was total bliss. I just need more warmth. Elektron makes quality products and it's very groovey.

I'm guessing the Mono and MD have similar sequencers. I'd be suprised if they were too different. But I'm sure there might be some small sequencer differences. I would suggest this:

If you like the Elektron 'sound', then ask yourself if you want a ton of wonderfully crazy drums (in a good way) - it can do typical to wacky drum sounds, or do you want an actual groovebox (to make a song with drums and synths) - then I'd get the Monomachine because you'll have your drum synth and 5 different other synths. I like that vocal synth on it, nice and funky.