Elektron Digitone MKII

16 track polyphonic digital synthesizer

Pull your sound through the prism and into a spectrum of dazzling tones and timbres. Digitone II unleashes layers of exciting sonic possibilities. Get set for the reimagining of our box of FM Synthesis into a multi-machine, many-realm-reaching wonder, taking the evolution of Digitone synthesis and sequencing to new heights.

Transcend tonal realms

Digitone II is a multitimbral polyphonic synth framed in a modular workflow. Its 16 tracks can be used for any of its synth machines or for MIDI, with 16 voices available across those selectable synth machines. On top of this flexible flavor, there’s also an abundance of filters, an expanded Elektron Sequencer, playability unlocking goodness, a powerful note editor, and a whole bunch more. The rabbit hole is deeper and more magnificent than ever imagined.

Machine by machine

Synth machines are your route to generating sound with Digitone II. There are four synth machines to play with, each with their own character and every single one stuffed with tweakability.

Dive into Wavetone, a fresh take on the classic 2-oscillator synthesizer. Morph between oscillator shapes, add phase distortion and oscillator modulation, or define with precision the flavor of your noise. Take the buzz to the next level with Swarmer. A super saw-in-origin cluster offering lots of waveform control across the swarm. Pick your shape, combine detune and noise modulation controls, and reach rich, complex textures. FM Tone is the original Digitone FM synthesis engine, and still capable of twisting your sound in all manner of delicious directions. Unleash FM Drum, with heaps of percussive flexibility and fine-tuning on offer to craft your own smacks and booms, and everything in between. And despite the name, capable of melodic magic too.

Modularity & modulation

This is a box with modularity at its core, and full of modulation goodness. Its flexible workflow, featuring swappable synth machines and a variety of filter options, gives you the freedom to shape your soundscapes depending on your creative vision.

Digitone II’s augmented filters show how much depth is possible. Experiment with Comb- and Comb+, or try out Multi-mode, EQ, Lowpass 4, and Legacy LP/HP. The base width filter is also more flexible than ever – place it before the other filter or at the end of the audio track chain. There’s a dedicated amp envelope for each voice: ADSR for increased control and clarity, or AHD, for maximizing percussive sounds. Use the three LFOs and their many destinations and controls to push your sounds into unpredictable yet inspiring territories.

Full of FX

There are a bunch more sound-refining options over at the FX page. Immerse your sound in lush delay and reverb, shimmering or dissonant chorus, or brutal bit reduction, sample rate reduction, and overdrive that can be placed before or after the filter, whatever works best. Mix them all into the perfect potion.

Utilize the master compressor via the mixer page, opening up sidechaining and other parameters, as well as the master overdrive, for even more distortion control.

The sequencer

The Elektron sequencer is the beating heart of your instrument. It’s 128 steps offer heaps of Parameter Lock possibilities, letting every step propel you into different realms. Or live record your tweaks as you twist. Switch to Euclidean sequencer mode and combine two pulse generators to create mathematically-driven sequences that feel almost primordial, opening up new creative pathways. Per-step conditions, settable probabilities, and retrig only give you more control. Use page loops when composing or performing for oodles of extra refine-ability.

And that’s just the start. Mix math and music, with the Euclidean sequence generator, courtesy of ancient algorithms, leading to the discovery of surprising rhythms; let the pattern roll the dice with conditional trigs. And use trig modes for a variety of fun functions - 16 levels of velocity, retrig mode, or bring the Preset Pool to the surface of the 16 triggers to record multiple sounds into one track.

Playability
 
Digitone II is brimming with tools to maximize performance and playability. Note edit gives you huge editorial control over every single note of your chord. Tweak the note, length, velocity, and even micro-timing of each one. Hit the arpeggiator button to explore rhythmic and melodic ideas. Take your sounds even further with a customizable modulation setup for aftertouch, pitch bend, mod wheel, velocity and breath control, and the newly added key tracking – each with 4 assignable parameter destinations and independent depths. Plug an external MIDI controller in and go to town.

A deeper control all allows instant parameter command across all or specified tracks. Trig modes offer super-fun ways to activate 16 levels of velocity, retrain, or bring the Preset Pool to the surface to record multiple sounds/different Preset Locks into one track. Activate keyboard mode, and play chromatically across 10 octaves, with over 30 different scales to try on for size. With that range you can warp a sound with ease.

And tons more

Loaded with outstanding preset sounds to work with straight out of the box, Digitone II is ready to inspire from the get go, or serve up something you can twist into exactly what you need. Save any clutch of special sounds into a kit, storing all your tracks’ sounds, synth parameters, modulation destinations, and more for quick and easy recall when starting the next track. Use Perform Kits to try wild tweaks on for size or experiment with entirely different kits from your ljudlab, safe in the knowledge you won’t overwrite your save state.

Control All offers full, simultaneous control over parameters, allowing you to tweak settings across all tracks or on individual ones. Four trig modes let the 16 trig keys take on different functions, such adjusting velocity levels, changing retrig speeds, or selecting multiple preset sounds to record into a single track. Song Mode is here too, letting you effortlessly put together playlists of your patterns. Edit and adapt as they play.

The 16 tracks can be used for MIDI in, out, and thru, so you can sequence, play, and control full flocks of external instruments. MIDI is now able to quickly learn from your devices, sending them rename-able CCs, triggers, sequences, and LFOs that can be saved to your kit for quick recall.

Connectivity 

Connect with ease to any gear – from the gems of yesteryear to the future classics of tomorrow – via balanced stereo inputs and outputs. Blend it in using Digitone II’s send effects, overdrive, and compressor for full stereo delight. All 16 tracks are MIDI-compatible, and MIDI now adapts quickly, learning from your devices to send customizable CCs, triggers, sequences, and LFOs – all of which can be saved to your kit for instant access.

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