Elektron Digitone

F
M is deservedly
starting to gain
traction again in the
synth world following
the release of
Yamaha’s Reface DX
in 2015, the flagship
Montage in 2016 (with Yamaha’s
latest FM implementation FMX) and
more recently, Korg’s Volca FM
groovebox (also 2016). At the upper
price point (alongside the Montage)
there’s also the DSI Prophet 12 which
now features four-op linear FM paired
with its ‘character’ effects and
and shape of the two instruments is
near-enough identical, and many of
Digitakt’s best features are carried
across here, including the external
MIDI sequencer, the great parameter
lock automation system (P-locks), the
fill and variation modes, and the
excellent probability-based system of
‘conditional’ sequencer triggers. As
before, the hardware build quality
feels tank-like solid; essential, as
you’ll be giving the buttons and
encoders a full workout!
So what’s at the heart of this
machine? Well, it’s good old familiar
four-operator FM (where waves
modulate each other) but with some
very welcome new twists and turns.
The native FM engine is eight-note
polyphonic and has four dedicated
tracks (accessed directly via the sweet
shop style T1-T4 buttons), along with
four MIDI tracks for controlling/
sequencing external MIDI gear (much
like the Digitakt). What’s clever here
is that you have a user-configurable
voice allocation menu (accessed via
the Unison button), with several voice
allocation, stealing and layer modes,
so that you can distribute the eight
analogue filters. However, while we
have those high- and low-end options,
and numerous great secondhand FM
synths, we’ve not seen a mid-priced,
truly hands-on FM groovebox since
Yamaha’s DX200, which launched in
2001 and now commands silly prices
second-hand. That is until now, with
the launch of the Digitone; an
FM-based desktop synth which comes
pair with Elektron’s powerful,
much-lauded sequencer.
The Digitone will look familiar if
you’re au fait with last year’s splendid
Digitakt sampling groovebox. The size
THE PROS & CONS
+
Well built, portable.
Seamless integration
between sequencer
and sound engine
Can also be a great
FM MIDI module or
a powerful external
MIDI sequencer
Clear yet fat sound
quality. Can process
other external gear
via inputs
-
Elektron sequencer
and file system are
tricky (if new to it)
No individual outs on
hardware, no pattern
chain saving on
power down
Elektron Digitone | Reviews
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FMU330.rev_elektron.indd 81 19/03/2018 16:52