Getting to know your Digitakts from your Digitones and trying to figure out which Elektron product might be right for you with their wealth of often overlapping features is a challenging task. Here we have grouped together the devices by their primary feature, which is tricky since most Elektron devices can support several key functions, such as drum machine and synthesis (or sampling) all alongside the familiar Elektron sequencer.
Budget Devices – Model:Cycles / Model:Samples
With their light grey medical aesthetic distinguishing them from the rest of the range, these are Elektrons budget devices.
The Model:Cycles is a six track FM based groovebox, whilst the Model:Samples is a six track sample based groovebox
Drum Machines – Digitakt / Syntakt / Analog Rytm
The Digitakt is an eight voice digital drum computer and sampler, the Syntakt is a twelve track drum computer and synthesizer. The Analog Rytm MKII is Eight voice analog drum machine & sampler. This larger and more expensive deice has a massive amount of connectivity and functionality
Synthesizers – Digitone / Digitone Keys / Analog Four
The Digitone is an Eight voice polyphonic digital synthesizer, similiarly the Digitone Keys is a Digitone with a performance keyboard on the side. It pairs up and complements with its similar looking Digitakt sibling. The Analog Four MKII is a Four voice analogue synthesizer
Sequencer – Octatrack
The Octatrack MKII is an eight track dynamic performance sampler. With 8 audio and 8 MIDI tracks and plenty of connectivity, the Octatrack makes for an excellent hub in the middle of a DAWless setup to sequence other devices.
FX – Analog Heat
the Analog Heat +FX is a billed as a Dynamic Sound Processor. A very interesting device to add to the end of the sound processing chain to fatten and tweak the overall sound to your liking.
Software – Overbridge
Overbridge is for seamless integration of the hardware into a DAW
Summary Table
| Device | RRP | Used Price* | Description |
| Analog Four MKII | £1495 | £900 | 4 voice analogue synth |
| Analog Heat +FX | £879 | £550 | FX and sound processing |
| Analog Rytm MKII | £1583 | £1000 | 8 voice analogue drum machine and sampler |
| Digitakt | £829 | £550 | 8 voice drum computer and sampler |
| Digitone | £829 | £550 | 8 voice poly synth |
| Digitone Keys | £859 | £600 | 8 voice poly synth with keyboard |
| Model:Cycles | £349 | £200 | Budget FM based 6 track groovebox |
| Model:Samples | £249 | £200 | Budget Sample based 6 track groovebox |
| Octatrack MKII | £1399 | £800 | 8 track sequencer and sampler |
| Syntakt | £949 | £650 | 12 track drum machine and synth |
Conclusion
WIth there overlapping features choosing the Elektron device that is right for your setup is a challenging task. Something like the popular Digitakt or Digitone is a great place to start to find out wether the Elekron workflow works well for you before exploring the high end devices such as Octatrack and Analog range.