Mastering Digitone 1

Complete Course

Get a deep understanding of FM synthesis and sound & groove design

Learn to use Digitone as a complete track production instrument!

The complete Mastering Digitone 1 course experience!

Mastering Digitone is a massive course of close to 8 hours aimed at people that want to dive deep into the Digitone's FM synthesis, sound design, complete groove creation. You will gain all the tools to create full tracks from the ground up purely within the Digitone!

In the first part of the course we cover FM synthesis in a very applicable way, in depth sound design, and groove design basics. In the second part we dive deep into groove design. We create a complex and very detailed groove and set everything up to make it easy to extend it into a full track.

After completing the Digitone 1 Complete Course you will be able to combine FM sound design and groove creation as a joined workflow at a high level!

More than 2800 satisfied customers completed the Elektron courses successfully before you so far!

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Suitable for all knowledge levels

This course is perfect for all levels: beginners, intermediate and advanced users. Even if you've never touched an Elektron instrument you will be able to follow this course as we start from the very beginning. For advanced users there are many high level techniques and tricks for sound & groove design, mixing, arranging and performing.

Up to date

No stone has been left unturned. This course contains bonus material for every firmware update that was released after the initial course's design.

Subtitles & Translation

Watch the course in Google Chrome to get auto-captions and translations similar to YouTube. Instructions included in the course!

Start the Course

The course is divided into two parts spanning multiple chapters

In the first part of the course you will learn everything you need about FM synthesis and sound design to be able to create specific sounds and experiment as much as you'd like.

In the second part you will learn how to apply this knowledge and create a complete song structure within the Digitone that you can record and perform anywhere. Even though Digitone only has 4 tracks, you'll learn how much is possible within these limitations.

In this video you can listen to the groove that you will learn to create in the second part of the course!

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Course curriculum

1

PART 1 - FM Synthesis & Sound design
- Readme
- (Translated) Subtitles: instructions Free Preview
- Join the Discord server
- Cheat Sheet Free Preview
- Files
- PART 1 Introduction Free Preview
2

Chapter 1 - FM Fundamentals explained
- 1 Chapter 1 introduction Free Preview
- 2. The beginnings of Frequency Modulation Free Preview
- 3. Operators explained
- 4. Digitone & FM basics - operator's ratios and envelopes
- 5. Start modulating - clear sound
- 6 Feedback
- 7 Ratios explained
- 8 Calculating harmonics
- 9 Upper and lower sidebands
- 10 How to generate harmonics below the fundamental frequency
- 11 Visual of a modulated carrier - Sine waves as sources
3

Chapter 2 - Creating basic waveforms - analogue emulation - subtractive synthesis
- 12 Chapter 2 introduction Free Preview
- 13 Create basic waveform Sawtooth Free Preview
- 14 Create basic waveform Squarewave
- 15 Ratio offsets - Analogue emulation - Revertclear page
- 16 Detune
- 17 Mod-depth and feedback as LP filters - FM synthesis + subtractive synthesis
4

Chapter 3 - Algorithms and envelopes - Harmonics parameter
- 18 Chapter 3 introduction Free Preview
- 19 The algorithms - X Y output - Envelopes
- 20 Algorithm 3 - Multiple carriers - Stacking frequencies = addative synthesis
- 21 Algorithm 4
- 22 Algorithm 5
- 23 Algorithm 7
- 24 Move slowly to find gold
- 25 Harmonics Parameter
5

Chapter 4 - Sound Design analogy - Kick sound design - LFO's explained
- 26 Chapter 4 introduction Free Preview
- 27 FM sound design analogy Free Preview
- 28 Sound design Kick
- 29 Kick - Pitch modulation - LFO's explained in depth - Set parameter back to default
- 30 Kick - Adding a click - Horizontal and vertical layers - Modulators and envelopes
- 31 A few more undo tips
- 32 Kick - HP Filter for extra punch and body
- 33 Kick - Parameter setting, mod depth and decay time interaction
- 34 Kick - Feedback for overdrive - Using the mix parameter
- 35 Kick - Final tweaks
- 36 Grid Recording mode - Sequencer trigs - Trig note and length - Sound's default octave
- 37 Save a sound to the +drive
- 38 Try different notes
- 39 Kick - Amp envelope attack default - Settings for percussion
6

Chapter 5 - Snare sound design - HiHat sound design
- 40 Chapter 5 introduction Free Preview
- 41 Sound design Snare - creating noise Free Preview
- 42 Snare - Utilizing envelope stages - Detailed pitch modulation
- 43 Snare - Change algorithms to spice things up - Add ringing via mix
- 44 Sound design HiHat
- 45 HiHat - Subtly dialing back from noise
- 46 HiHat - Play across octaves
- 47 HiHat - Live record decay time for hihat rhythms
7

Chapter 6 - Bass sound design - Woody sounds - Key scale - Analogue-ish emulations
- 48 Chapter 6 introduction Free Preview
- 49 Sound Design Bass 1 - Inharmonic Woody Pluck - Snappy mod envelopes
- 50 Bass 1 - Mixing outputs X & Y
- 51 Bass 1 - Play with feedback - Add subtle modulation - Detune
- 52 Key scaling
- 53 Sound design Bass 2 - Analog emulation - LFO to Filter frequency
- 54 Bass 2 - Second modulator as sub-OSC emulation
- 55 Sound design Bass 3 - Trouser flapping bass - Adding feedback + modulation
8

Chapter 7 - Stab Sound design - Send FX explained - LFO voice phasing
- 56 Chapter 7 introduction Free Preview
- 57 Sound design Stab 1 - Repeating what we've learned so far
- 58 Send FX explained
- 59 Reverb page - Double tap stop = kill sound
- 60 Stab 1 Softening the transient
- 61 Delay page - Riding the feedback
- 62 Chorus page
- 63 Sound design Stab 2 - Chords - Note edit menu
- 64 Stab 2 - LFO subtle pitch mod - Detune - LP filter
- 65 Stab 2 - FIlter key tracking
- 66 Stab 2 - FIlter key tracking
9

Chapter 8 - Pad sound design
- 67 Chapter 8 introduction Free Preview
- 68 Sound design evolving pad - create a lot of harmonics - Subtle harmonics modulation - Filter sweep
- 69 Evolving pad - Slow modulation with LFO's and envelopes
10

Chapter 9 - Creating a basic groove
- 70 Chapter 9 introduction Free Preview
- 71 Creating a basic groove - Selecting and copying the sounds
- 72 Sequencer - Grid Recording mode - Note edit menu
- 73 Parameter Locks - Copy & Paste multiple trigs - Preview a trig
- 74 Add the dub chord - Scale mode explained - extend sequence
- 75 Conditional locks
- 76 Live Recording Mode - Use base width filter to mix
- 77 Filter on dub chord - Adding delay
- 78 Add more detail - Ghost note feel on hihats - Mix
- 79 Outro
11

PART 2 - Advanced Groove Design
- Readme
- Files
- PART 2 Introduction Free Preview
12

Chapter 1 - Creative groove techniques with just a kick
- 1 Chapter 1 introduction Free Preview
- 2 Load new project - Load a sound to a track Free Preview
- 3 Grid recording mode - editing a trig's note - note edit menu basics Free Preview
- 4 Kick and bass on one track - Utilizing polyphony
- 5 Algorithm 7 - dotted and straight lines - Analyzing the kick - pitch offset mod - temp save & revert
- 6 Mix parameter - Adding kicks - Creating a drop with revert to save
- 7 Lock voices - Note locks - Dissonant bass rumble
- 8 Kick's focus in the mix - parameter locks - base width filter
- 9 Tempo menu - Swing - Microtiming - Copy paste trigs
13

Chapter 2 - Adding a detailed bass groove on the kick track - Parameter lock deep dive - Voices
- 10 Chapter 2 introduction Free Preview
- 11 Bass - On kick channel - parameter locks continued Free Preview
- 12 Operator envelopes - ADE explained - envelope delay
- 13 Plocks - tweak bass trig - Change note, modulations and more - sample & hold LFO - save project
- 14 Reverb - Create a space - Shelving EQ
- 15 Plocks - Another bass pluck - Plock release time
- 16 Plocks - Algo - XY mix - Mod level - AMP envelope
- 17 Plocks - LFO - How an LFO modulates
- 18 Plocks - Reverb send - Mod A level - BW filter
- 19 Algorytm 7 - Utilizing X Y mix - Operator envelopes - Combination of signal and mod outputs
- 20 Shifting a track's sequence
- 21 Voices - lock the least amount of voices - time based voice count
14

Chapter 3 - Detailed polyphonic stab design
- 22 Chapter 3 introduction Free Preview
- 23 Stab - track note menu - lock scales - easy chords within scale
- 24 Stab - sound design - change octaves - input chords via note edit menu
- 25 Stab - filter slopes explained - filter envelope
- 26 Stab - filter envelope delay - utilizing the filter rhythmically
- 27 Stab - frequency response balancing using filters
- 28 Chorus
- 29 Stab - more tweaks to envelopes - LFO modulation to ratios
- 30 Delay
- 31 Stab - Lock trigs - Parameter locks - Conditional locks
- 32 Scale Menu - scale - ch.len - m.len
- 33 Stab - Add more modulations
- 34 Stab - Live record filter movement - Chance conditional locks - final adjustments
15

Chapter 4 - Hihat and clap design - Utilizing rhythmic LFOs
- 35 Chapter 4 introduction Free Preview
- 36 HiHat - sound design - creating noise and chaos - try different notes - harmonics parameter
- 37 HiHat - LFO as retrigger - LFO for humanization
- 38 Clap - Creating a clap based on the HiHat
16

Chapter 5 - Melody - Arpeggiator deep dive - Musical scale
- 39 Chapter 5 introduction Free Preview
- 40 Arpeggiator - ARP menu - ARP within scale - Copy Paste possibilities
- 41 ARP - utilizing scale lock - chord mode onoff - melodies within scale - modes - range - length
- 42 Arpeggiator - sequence
- 43 Arpeggiator - speed - harp like structures
- 44 Melody - extend sequence - one more sequence shift - record arp melody into sequencer
- 45 Melody - LFO on ratio - add conditional locks
- 46 Melody - filter tweaking - filter frequency LFO
17

Chapter 6 - Tweaks to main sounds and mix - master pages - FILL
- 47 Chapter 6 introduction Free Preview
- 48 HiHat - LFO to VOL for more groove - Plock to change track parameters
- 49 Final tweaks - Mix balance - presence in mix of each element
- 50 Fix minor problems - hihat AMP Vol LFO starting phase
- 51 Master pages - Overdrive - Gain stages
- 52 FILL - adding detail - humanization
18

Chapter 7 - Creating a break and build-up - Detailed pad design
- 53 Chapter 7 introduction Free Preview
- 54 Building a break pattern - Switching banks and patterns - copypaste pattern
- 55 Cut the lows - Finding parameters to build a break - Make X and Y outputs both useful - Land on happy accidents
- 56 Embrace the happy accidents - Copy parameter pages
- 57 Melody - Extending the melody
- 58 Stab - make the stab darker and more subtle - Free up voices
- 59 Add build-up pad to break
- 60 Pad - sequence scale - extending track's sequence beyond 64 steps
- 61 Pad - programming the pad's chord build-up - note editing without default note
- 62 Pad - adding movement & vintage vibes - detune - LFO - phase reset - pitch mod
- 63 Pad - LP4 filter and envelope - filter keytrack - Stab - Darkening the sound
- 64 Pad - portamento - constant time - Preview break
19

Chapter 8 - Finalizing mix - Adding one-shots and variation patterns
- 65 Chapter 8 introduction Free Preview
- 66 The mix and making final adjustments
- 67 Adding one shots
- 68 Variation 1 - per pattern scale mode - switch between note and lock trigs - mute trigs
- 69 Editing plocks - Plock and modulate ratios
- 70 Variation 2 - Control All
- 71 Revert control all
- 72 Mute modes
20

Chapter 9 - Song mode basics
- 73 Chapter 9 introduction Free Preview
- 74 Song Mode - song mode menu - creating a chain - navigating song mode
- 75 Song mode - creating a basic song
- 76 Song Mode - playback
- 77 Outro
- 78 Mastering Digitone part 2 Groove Performance

Customer Reviews

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Lazly B.

I recommend this product

1 month ago

Fantastic course, fantastic teacher

I’m really satisfied with Dave’s course. It’s very well structured and easy to follow, covering both theoretical foundations and practical knowledge. I finally understood aspects of the Digitone that I couldn’t figure out before. By the end of the course, I felt much more confident using the instrument, both for music production and live performance.

What I especially appreciate is Dave’s teaching style: very friendly, encouraging, and always clear. There’s no unnecessary fluff, yet it never feels dry or overly technical. He teaches you not only how to operate the Elektron workflow, but also how to truly enjoy it. The value of this course is far beyond its price, it’s easily the best investment if you want to get the most out of your Digitone.

Jojakim C.

Verified Buyer

I recommend this product

1 month ago

Great course

A highly recommended starting point for anyone looking to truly master the Digitone 1.

Eric

I recommend this product

1 month ago

Dave Mech is a superb teacher

I have taken multiple courses with Dave Mech and they have all been excellent. The courses are well organized into meaningful lessons; the supplementary material is clear and useful; and Dave’s demeanor and approach is inviting and encouraging.

If you take your time and follow through the lesson plans you will gain both theoretical and practical knowledge. You will understand the principles of synthesis and have a mastery of the Elektron workflow and sequencer. After completing the course I was confident in my ability to play the instrument both as a standalone groovebox and as a component in a larger ensemble.

The Elektron machines are both powerful and fun. Dave’s instruction allows you to harness that power in a short period of time while increasing your confidence and enjoyment without frustration. The value of his courses is undeniable; I cannot imagine a better supplement for enjoying your Elektron devices.

Andy R.

Verified Buyer

I recommend this product

1 month ago

Fantastic course from a brilliant tutor

The Digitone was my first Elektron box and whilst I fumbled my way to getting something out of it, I quickly realised I needed to build a deeper understanding of the machine. After watching a few various YouTube videos and not making much progress, I stumbled across Dave's channel and was instantly taken in by firstly the music he was making, but also his tutorial and delivery style.

After reading feedback on various pages and forums, I took the decision to buy the course. It absolutely transformed my understanding of the Digitone, building a solid knowledge of the elektron sequencer and workflow, and FM synthesis. My love for these boxes was absolutely down to the tuition and support from Dave. I don't think I would have kept it if trying to muddle my way along myself. Dave is always quickly available for help and support questions. Highly recommended.

Prabhakar R.

Verified Buyer

I recommend this product

1 month ago

An exceptional course

I'm a teacher myself, and have designed several online courses. I don't usually purchase any, the exceptions being two courses of Dave's, Digitone 1 and Digitakt 1. I understood the manuals on a technical basis, but I didn't know how to put that knowledge to work effectively. That's what I was paying to learn, and it was money well spent. I could see the quality in Dave's numerous free short videos, and the materials he has produced such as his cheatsheets.

Dave's course videos give me the impression of his teaching me in person, one on one. This is harder than it sounds, because we learn to ignore pauses, wrong words, and incomplete sentences in normal interaction, but these are more noticeable on a video that one repeats. Yet too much practice or too much editing, and things start to sound canned or lifeless. Dave gets the balance just right. It looks artless, but I know how much work he has put into this.

Digitone's FM engine is technically complex, and again Dave hits the sweet spot in his explanations, not just giving you instructions that you follow without understanding, but not overwhelming you with the full complexity all at once. As a performing musician, he has thought about how he creates and adjusts, in the studio and on a stage, and can communicate the relevant details to you. The courses are well-structured, and I appreciate how he has kept them up to date with Elektron's habit of significant firmware releases.

Highly recommended!