My current set up is Hapax, MC707 and now the newly added Digitakt 2. I’m completely new to elektron gear and the Digitakt 2.
Would you advise someone in my position to use the Hapax to sequence to Digitakt 2 or just send it clock and transport and sequence on the Digitakt 2 and thus invest time in learning the Digitakt 2 sequencer and incorporating it into live performance?
Will I be missing much if I don’t make use of the Digi sequencer? Can much of it be replicated?
I do prefer the idea of having the one sequencer and using that as much like a single instrument as possible. However I was planning to use the digitakt 2 sequencer for some transitions when loading new projects on hapax.
Would be interested in peoples thought on this
i sequence my Digitone completely from Hapax but it only has four “tracks” that I need to dedicate a MIDI Channel/Hapax Track to. as long as i set the Digi’s project BPM to match the Hapax BPM, then all the stuff like arpeggiators and LFOs stay locked to the Hapax’s BPM (without having to mess with transport or sync). But not sure if that would work with triggering Digitakt samples in the same way to ensure timestretching etc. works the way it would normally if you sequenced it on the Digitakt. also, with 16 tracks on the Digitakt that means you’re potentially dedicating all of Hapax’s 16 tracks to just sequence each one discretely
I’ve discovered you can trigger all 16 tracks from 2 midi channels (8 on each) if you want to use them as a single note/pitch. Midi notes 0 to 15 do this. So you I need not use anymore than 2 hapax tracks. However perhaps I will end up using 4 to 6 channels depending on groupings of things.
Not sure which particular control aspects you lose if you group midi tracks like that on the Digi2, but seems a good way of going about things.
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This certainly works but now you’re basically using the DT2 as a dumb sample playback machine. You could still use trigless locks on the DT to mangle your samples while having the triggers come from Hapax. Actually, this might open interesting possibilities.
My advice though would be to get to know the Elektron sequencer and then figure out when to use it vs the Hapax depending on your own workflow. For example on my Syntakt I used to have two tracks reserved for being sequenced on Hapax (and played via keyboard) the rest I would program on the device itself. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
Make sure tempo and transport are synced, use the pattern change pre-send feature on Hapax. Then they’re great companions.
Ok thanks, that makes sense, I guess it’s going to be worthwhile looking into the elektron sequencer then working out which and when to use it as you’ve suggested.
Probably makes sense to use the Digitakt by itself for some time as I get to know it.
What’s the hapax pattern pre send feature?
The pre-send feature is used to sync Hapax and Elektron pattern switches.
When you send a program change (used to switch patterns) from the Hapax to an Elektron box on the first count of a bar, the Elektron box will finish its pattern before switching to the next. Sending the program change a fraction earlier (before the next bar) will sync the pattern switch to the Hapax.
If you don’t pre-send the program change the Hapax will switch its pattern but the Elektron box will switch one pattern later after it finishes playing the active pattern.
Hope my explanation makes sense.
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