Distribute your music with DistroKid - 7% Discount Link: ►distrokid.com/vip/liamkillen Interested in purchasing some of the gear mentioned in this video? Support this channel while you're at it by using the affiliate links below: USA (Perfect Circuit): ►Digitakt: bit.ly/3DJB4UB ►TR-8S: bit.ly/3itO8G3 EUROPE (Thomann): ►Digitakt: bit.ly/3Rnd2ZM ►TR-8S: bit.ly/3rd1IEP

Digitakt is deeper, but the TR-8S feels more like an actual instrument that you play, instead of a machine you have to work.

I can’t speak for the Digitakt but as regards to the Tr8s learning curve, once you’ve got it, you’ve got it! And it’s pure fun times onwards!!!

Digitakt was the last box I purchased from Elektron, having bought the Digitone and Syntakt first. It’s easily my favorite of the three, even in 2024. Digitakt can stand on its own, but it blooms when you pair it with other devices because it communicates so well with its eight MIDI tracks. I slept on the DT and I’m sad that i didn’t get it sooner.

Great video - I have the TR8S and I love it. I've got to say though, I don't know why anyone would get confused as to which to buy in a head to head unless they knew nothing about them. They are massively different - which did come across in your video. The editor software for the 8S is very good if you are comfortable using a computer to set up your kits, and then performing live later with just the hardware.

I had both but ended up selling the Digitakt. I kept the TR-8S because of how much faster it is to find or audition sounds, as well as inputting weak beats, and being more hands and more performative. Having a fader for each track is pretty really nice.

Lots of coverage ... content as usual .. great detailed information highlighting the ins .. outs .. ups .. downs .. hills and valleys .. leaving no stone un-turned .. cheers to your always easy to follow lead ...and thanks!

Thanks again Liam! Clear as water, like always. Im looking a decision for my very firt groovebox and you are helping /teaching me a lot. When i have, i will go directly to your patreon samples.

Really love your presentation style man. Very informed and even keel. Subscribed!

Great content!

I've had a TR-8S for a while now and it's been fantastic for me especially given I mostly do techno with it so I'm constantly using the 909 kits on it. It also pairs extremely well with my MC-707 that makes up the other half of my current hardware set up which I'm very happy with and have managed to squeeze several track out of so far. For me where live performability is a key factor even during the composition process it's been a huge boon. Plus never having to really look another TR x0x plugin or sample pack is a very nice thing.

When people perceive a degradation in their samples on the Digitakt, it may be due to the forced mono conversion. I don’t remember if it sums the channels or prompts you to pick one, but some stereo samples can sound subdued after that conversion. I used to convert mine before transferring them to the Digitakt.

Super comparison Liam

I owned a Digitakt several months and sold cause it was too addictive to me. The resampling live is absolutely a premium. The DG vII is my target to buy soon, addicitive I said !!!!. I had a lot of machines but not a TR8S, but I can tell you the Digitakt is insane and I do not see a sequencer on the market meeting half the value of the Elektron's one. But a Digitakt and then a TR6S, and it is heaven in ears.

I have the TR-6S and the Digitakt and use them both a lot for very different things. The TR-6S just sounds SO good (as does the DT), and it's very easy to get something going and jam some patterns on it. I'm actually hoping to upgrade to the TR-8S when I can afford it. The Digitakt just fits the way I think about music so well and it's always full of surprises. I kind of use it like a (limited) groovebox, but it's fun to use with external gear as well. Some of the most rewarding sessions I've had is with a setup of just the DT and the 0-Coast, it was kind of amazing how much I could get out of that. And the recent DT updates are so amazing!

I have both, and it's exactly that. Live/control vs 'power'. to me, the DT wins out. workflow. That sequencer. The sample control. it's also the brains of my set-up now. It's my Desert Island box, for sure. would love to know ore about the TR8s with Ableton...... that could be fun.

I have them both, and this video basically sums it up. I wish the Digitakt and TR-8s would make a baby. To have the best of both worlds in one machine would be amazing.

Excellent one thks !!! HNY & All the best )))

Thanks! Just what i needed. Got me decided on TR8s, there's no competition in this price range and it looks like a perfect live performance tool.

I’ve been gassing out over the Digitakt a lot recently but been trying to figure out if it would bring enough to my setup, I feel like it’s really awesome like you said for inspiring composition but I’ve already got a TR8s and the brain of my setup is an iPad so probably a lot of the roles it would fill I’ve got covered. I like your sending midi to Ableton trick, I’ve been doing the same with my iPad. Decided I don’t need kit sounds on all faders (I always end up in an “all faders up” situation so it’s good to have some limitations there) so one I’ve just started using as an fx fader for the mix value on an iPad app called Transit, makes for cool transitions.

Stellar content as always! Can you provide a link to those fancy light blue rca wires w the white?

Thanks for this, I haven't seen these devices compared that way. when you play live(if you do idk) anyway are you using Both, or something entirely different.?

I use tr6s and digitakt. I use both…switch between them for projects. Keeps it fresh for me. I also sometimes sample from tr into Digitakt. I love 606 based kits :)

I miss my Digitakt. Currently running a TR8-s and MC -707. They work well together. On top of that an added an SP-40 mk2 which I’m not gelling with. The Digitakt is way more intuitive and malleable.

Thanks Liam, will be a TR-8S for me then :)

love my tr8s and how easy it is having everything in front of you, but would love to see a video just about using the tr8s with Ableton, for someone who's never used Ableton. thanks for the videos!

Im struggling here. I leverage my SP404MK2 for sampling but my main drum machine is a Roland T8. Deciding on which of the two is the ideal replacement for the T8 is tough. Do you use the midi controller on thr digitakt often? I could see that as a win over the tr8s

The only thing about the TR8s that makes me sad is no generic driver, it would be so clutch if i could connect it right to my iPad... I think of digitakt as more of a sound design machine, compared to the TR8s it's got much more perimeters for tweaking.

I think they make good companions. TR8s for all the "traditional" drum sounds and DT for perc and one-shot samples, clutch!

Digitakt allows you to make the hole track or even full live set without anything else added. TR8S is a nice drum machine that is nice to have as an addition to other gear like Microfreak or whatever. I'd rather buy Syntakt instead of TR8S.

Great machines, both! If you have only one of them, you can create almost any kind of beat or rhythm. Where the Roland has more tracks and multiple sound sources, the Digitakt can resample, which gives a lot of other possibilities. And yes, mono… but it’s aimed at drums, hits, stabs and short loops. With that kind of source material it’s a creative beast! As I use both of them together (and also a Syntakt) I don’t use the sample import function of the TR-8s at all. I use it as a classic drumcomputer with a lot of hands-on control… as one said before, it’s an instrument. The Digitakt for me is much more of a creative sampler for sculpting beats and top-loops, besides that it’s a great sequencer in a DAW-less set-up.

very odd question but - what are those jack cables? looking for something to make my studio feel as neat as possible :). great video btw

In the last section of your video. Where you’re controlling Ableton on the first five voices of the tr8s, are you sequencing those voices with the tr8s also or have you put the steps down in Ableton and then just using it as a controller to change delay, reverb etc?

So enjoyable to watch

I have the Rytm, but the Digitakt is still the default machine I turn on if I want to make a beat. I’ve been promising myself that I’ll make a set with just the Rytm so I can get super deep into all the amazing things it can do, but I haven’t done it yet.

Loving the FM from the TR8S.

This is a great case for "why not both?"

That's pretty dope bruh

I find it very fascinating that each sampler have their own flavor when it comes to the sonic quality. I noticed that the same sample loaded on the SP404 and the DT will end up sounding different in a very obvious way.. It's hard to explain it some times, I would probably compare it to different guitar pickup tones.. Btw, this is why I don't use the SP404mkii as much as I would like to, because to me it always sounds lo-fi even with no effects on. I prefer DT's ''dark'' tone

I have both. Nobody wants to worry about sample space in 2024 or dig through Roland menus. I don't think Digi lacks performance wise. Digitakt wins in my book.

Would like to see you do a video comparison in performance mixing between the Roland MX1 vs the Elektron mixing workflow.

The TR-8s sounds incredible, especially in this comparison.

Is there anything that comes close to the Syntakt Pattern and Track Sequencer for an alternative drum synths thank Nick

Absolutely love both machines. In the case of the TR-8S I prefer to use it with one pattern, and do everything live on it. If I'm going to program music, I'd much rather use an Elektron. (Syntakt is actually my favorite.) Really, there would be no reason not to have all of them or a couple of them, and use each one to its own strengths. There aren't a lot of things out there that are better than these, so they're still just as relevant as they ever have been. (Maybe the Modor Dr-2 or Erica Perkons, etc. if you want to go in more unique directions.) However, I'd say ANY Elektron is going to be amazing no matter what year it is. (did you catch the 1.7 update for the Rytm?) The Roland machines are great too, for different reasons IMO, but will remain relevant indefinitely. If you get along with the flow, then they are all very usable.

I’m curious what kind of audio cables those are? They look really nice!

Recently, I had first live with digitakt and the sound on 70% master was very quite, and when try to make it louder it start to hit the peeks:(( is there some solution for it. Should I get some external gear for it or have some other solutions? 😊

Anyone knows whether there's a way to connect the two so that you can kind of edit the drum samples live through the digitaly but "perform" them on the 8s?

I just bought my TR8S... when you take the already made kits you can quickly have fun. However, to really get into the heart of the beast, you have to really invest yourself like any drum machine. On the other hand, I find it really affordable in terms of price and accessibility. I hope that I will give myself the perseverance to complete this device. I really like it at the moment. I spent another 4 hours on it and I feel like I spent 10 minutes.I wonder if we can take an instrument from a predefined kit and paste it into a white pattern? Because frankly there are predefined sounds that are incredible!

I found it interesting that this comparison focused on stuff you can do with the Digitakt versus stuff you can do with Ableton, using The TR-8S as a controller. As someone trying to create music without the assistance of a laptop, it seems like an apples to oranges comparison. You pointed out some of the great stuff Digitakt is capable of, then you kept showing screens of Ableton when you talked about the Roland. Based on your description, the only things missing from Digitakt for live performance is a few knobs and sliders, which you could easily add by getting something like a MiniLab3.

It's not a Digitakt but a Model:Samples gets quite abit of Digitakt functionality for a fraction of the price - worth considering if on a budget to pair with a TR8s for sure. I found your tip on using the TR8s as a performace mixer ane audio interface useful, i map a few sliders and knobs to control synths - cutoff, resonance etc on D16's Phoscyon and some fx as well.. really handy 🥳

Would you say your thoughts about the Digitakt mostly apply to the Syntakt as well?

I’m eyeing that digitakt severely. It sounds like once you get passed the learning curve it’s a keeper for sure.

Agreed! Thanks! Digitakt for me. Adding a tr6s later (not tr8s).

The TR8-S is an machine offering ACB variants of all the Roland classics with samples as added bonus. The Digidakt is a sampler, right? Wouldn't it be more 'fair' to stack it up against the MC-707?

New subscriber here. Can you do classic rock style drums that are convincing? I am putting together a studio for the first time, though I have played guitar seriously for 50 years. I have always used a real studio and a good engineer. I want to try it myself. Is the TR-08S what you would choose?

I have both and a Rytm because GAS. And I can’t face selling any of them as they’re all great. The main TR-8S issue I have is that the USB MIDI and multi track audio driver only works by treating the 8S as an audio interface in its own right so on Windows it is tricky to use with an ASIO interface. I tried an ASIO4ALL driver to run both simultaneously which caused timing and latency issues so now I don’t bother with the editor and use physical jack leads on a per drum output basis. Elektron with the Digitakt can use Overbridge and you can get every track via a plugin in your DAW so that works fine with Windows - just one USB lead and bringing in multiple audio as it effectively bypasses the audio interface.

Before anything, sorry, I don't care what anyone says. Electron CANNOT justify what they charge. I make 6 figures but with a family to support, Electron's gear is just utterly, prohibitively expensive for me to access (no matter how good it might be). So that led to me choosing the TR8s as the dedicated drum module for my live PA. And boy did I get a surprise that its so much more than just a drum machine. Like it' has been mentioned here, it behaves SO much more like an actual instrument than any other synth/drum machine/groovebox or controller I've EVER laid hands on. I can spend hours in a perfect flow state jamming out on it exactly like I'm playing a piano/guitar/live drum kit ect ect. I swear I use the damn thing as much (probably more even) to meditate, than I do to write stuff. It's just exquisitely designed to use live (in so many different ways/approaches). My only issue has ever been that I wish it had some kind of poly ability where you could have MIDI pitch control over the individual instrument's tuning. A wider range of pitch modulation in general would also be nice. I can't seem to get a lot of my kicks/bass sounds as low as I want them without re-sampling them externally (say into Ableton), pitching them down then reloading them as user samples back into the TR8s Otherwise, its just a fkn perfect piece of kit. 😊

My ultimate sound test with any digital box that I wish these videos would do is sample rate reduction plus pitch shifting (16 levels or something similar). Reduce the sample rate of a sample to 22khz or less, hear if it sounds like metallic trash like on a computer. If so, is just a plugin in a box for me sound wise. And no problem with that cause other aspects count but Im interested in sound. And I think this simple test would tell very obviously about digital calculations on these chips that manipulate the machine’s sound. Im curious about this on digitak.

forgot to mention digitakt's updates, it turned it into a whole other beast

You can use the TR8S as a beat sequencer for eurorack, which I have done often. but I agree that sequencing pitch or midi devices doesnt make much sense

I'm an indie pop/rock musician mostly looking for something to add rhythm when I'm playing solo on guitar or piano and singing. Does one of these feel more suited than the other?

Digitakt was a super inspiring tool for me: bought it, realized that any DAW is so much more versatile than hardware drum machine, sold Digitakt, incredibly happy.

I use the digitakt as loop player in song mode, my drums come out of the tr8. Thats possible sine the latest update on digitakt

Hey! can you tell me about this lrft and right into trs cables please?

Tr8s looks very similar to a dj mixer whith 11 chanels😂. Do you think it can act like a mixer controlling the dj mode on sp 404 mk2? And have extra control on effects, like bus 3 and 4 on other 2 chanels? It would help me a lot!! Great content❤❤❤

I wish the TR had the build quality, and screen of the DT. The screen and build on the MC707 is also depressing. I love the aesthetic of the Elektron boxes, they look and feel mature, and professional. But the fact is Roland makes better performance devices. Having faders and knobs per track at your fingertips is how all grooveboxes should be. I’ve tried using a LaunchControl XL with the Elektron boxes but it’s not the same. On the TR I can change the mapping of the knobs on the fly, doing master effect sweeps is easier, it’s all just more jamable. I just hate the screens 😅. At least the SP404mk2 is a step in the right direction, but what the hell were they thinking with the MC707???

where does one find those sweet stereo cables

will never get why anyone says elektrons are hard to learn. To me the jomox xbase 999 was a hard one to completely get... The elektrons are just pure logic and bliss tbh.. U don't feel limited quickly and if u seen things once you will remember it because it sounds so amazing

So question is, will you do a new video with tr8s vs digitakt mk2? :-)

Is the Digitech Elekdrum still manufactured?

The more I move towards IDM, melodic techno, future garage, electronica, glitch, etc. the more these sort of drum machines call out to me. This reinforced my interest in the Digitakt. I'm a little bit over my SP404Mk2 a year in. I hate to say it haha.

The best is the yellow sweater.

I love elektron sound. I have the m:c and i would Iove to get more - analog rhytm, octatrack and a syntakt. But it is so expensive even second hand. I have a verselab which I love but I just saw a mc707 secondhand for half price and definitely considering it. It’s so much cheaper going the Roland route and I have a sp404. I love the size of the elektron. So many decisions. The thing that stumps me about the tr8 is that I can figure out if you’re stuck with only 16 steps and if you can have more- is it the banks? Idk

So, do you get a Korg with the TR8S

Both are good.

I just got the tr8s off that 10 sec explanation 👌

can you live sampling on tr 8s?

Is the 606 not in the TR 8s? 606 is my favorite Roland kit.

Do they have sidechaining ?

Oh you can dj with this

I would certainly not call the DT's effects "really interesting." I would call the serviceable. The overdrive doesn't get the love I think it deserves. The delay is fine, very much a vanilla digital delay with a filter in the feedback. The reverb is... okay? Like, it gets the job done, but to me it sounds like FreeVerb. Very basic and dull.

I wonder if the rhytm mk2 would have been a more apples to apples comparison?

The TR-8s feels and sounds like a proper drum machine and the Digitakt feels and sounds more like a Teenage Engineering OP-1

I always wanted to love the Elektron boxes, but I just can't get over their incredibly loud clicky buttons.

22:55 you can totally do all what you've just shown with Digitakt

For more expansive and evolving standalone jams, the Digitakt has been optimal with live sampling, trig locks and of course the sweet sweet happy accidents while the TRK button is pressed 🪄

the Elektron screens SUCK bit time. BUT their retro lit buttons are a big plus in a live situation.

THE TR8S SEQ BUTTONS ARE A DEAL BREAKER , THEY ARE SO BAD , THEY FEEL LIKE THEY ARE BROKEN

Odd premise for comparison, very different devices. And the Elektron is double the price of the Roland for starters.

"dark sound"? all elektron devices have decent converters operating on sufficient sample rate. People are nuts really with this "dark" Octatrack lol.

TR8-S all day

As a long time Tr8s user, don't get Tr8s

I got the tr8 when it was released it sounded so bad I returned 3days later

octatrack wins . 😂

How about the drumloque....isn't good enough to compete with this two? 🫣😵‍💫

can you live sampling on tr 8s?