Elektron Model:Samples Reviews

Great sampler for creative musicians

I purchased Elektron Model Samples a few months ago and it has exceeded all my expectations. This compact sampler from Elektron is a true creative tool that helps me bring my musical ideas to life. One of the best features of Model Samples is its intuitive interface. I can easily create and edit my samples directly on the device, without the need for additional software. Plus, the built-in effects add extra depth and character to my tracks. I'm thrilled with the sound quality I get from Model Samples. Each sample sounds bright and clear, and the ability to mix and adjust parameters allows me to achieve the sound I want without any extra effort. Additionally, Model Samples is highly portable, making it an ideal tool for creating music on the go. I can take it with me anywhere and work on my projects in any environment. Overall, Elektron Model Samples are a great choice for those looking for a compact and powerful sampler. I am completely happy with my purchase and recommend it to all my music friends.

Nice little machine, but...

But the parameter labels on the front panel are disappearing after one year. Some of them are barely visible. The unit was never been exposed to sunlight. Quite strange.

Anything else is working fine. Playing on this instrument is always instant fun.

Great sampler!

I really like my Elektron devices. The combination of Model:Samples with Digitakt is super creative. The great thing is that, even with basic knowledge of the two, you can already come far in creating interesting drums and melodies. However, I also notice that, once you get deeper into programming, you can get even more fun out of them. It invites you to do something new instead of always programming the same thing you are used to. Every time, I'm surprised by what can come out of it and by how all-round the machines are.

Lately, I really started to like Model:Samples for creating melodies. I record samples from my modular synth or from the arturia_official V collection, which I then sample into new melodies. The downside is that the pads are not that nice as the Digitakt, but you can adjust them in velocity. But for the price you get a really nice machine!

Serious toy

Nice nice combination of constraints and depth. Has the instant quality you want from a groovebox and I got this over the more expensive units for the knob per function. The one thing it really misses is separate outs on USB (or audio) as it's nice and jammable but splitting the tracks out to DAW for editing requires you to play each track at a time. Kind of hoping they pursue this line and decided to get the cycles as well after a couple of hours with this.

Easy to use

Pretty straight forward, dont have to delve too deep into the manual, online tutorials will suffice if needed, sounds on board are kickass enough, of course it cant be compared to the higher end elektron stuff, but its a good gateway to get the hang of small parts of the workflow

Good choice

It was my second sample player. I love it!

Best gateway drug for electronic music production

Loved it in the beggining , my first piece of hardware. 3 months later, it was time to move on...

The best drum machine + sequencer

Pros

- Nice sample sequencer

- Infinite options to go deeper in the sample customization

- Very very intuitive and every control in your hands, you don't have to dig in rabbit hole

- Trigger + Probability + Samples Lock

Cons

- 6 tracks limitation (although you can add different samples per track)

- Material built, although the quality is good, it's plastic

- Velocity pads are a bit hard

In general is a great machine for the price! I am a Novation Circuit user and I am getting more in love with Elektron workflow :)

Good Enougth

Usage: Creation of Beats, manipulation of loops.

Pros:

Good Internal Sound

Good Sequencer

Possibility to import samples

Intuitive usability

Cons:

Don't have Direct Sampling

Not Have Internal memory

Few FX Effects

it's really easy to use, no need to read the manual once,.

With excellent built-in sounds.

Although I say there are 6 tracks, it can have Snare and Kick on the same track (for example)

If it had direct sampling it would be a perfect tool

A great machine for those who want to enter into the Dawless game

I would say it can be a standalone machine with not so many throwbacks. I would say it is a perfect start for a Dawless beginner and a perfect machine to build a setup with other machines as well.

Elektron Model: Samples is AWESOME!

It is important to read the manual and give yourself time to really comprehend this machine. Spend time on creating your own sample kits, your own sound and vibe... From there on out it is: go!

I feed it with a ripcord and a powerbank. In a full day it doesn't empty a quarter of my battery. I can work in the coutch, in the train, the park. I can take it with me everywhere.

It somehow brings me back to my first drumcomputer I bought in the '80s. (Kawai) I also feel that same enthusiasm I had back then. It gives me more ideas then I have time:)

It also triggers/sequences two synths. It sounds punchy and tight, its intuitive, perfect for live.

Yes it has some issues I believe no machine is perfect. This one is perfect for my needs though.

Top notch Sample playback thingy

Built like the proverbial tank, the Model:Samples offers basic sample playback, some parameter f*ckery and USB-Audio and mono(!) external MIDI sequencing. YouTube says you can get some banging tunes outta this box. I couldn't. Mea culpa. Samples, reverb and delay are mono, and stereo panning can not be locked to a step. Gateway drug to the elektron universe? Maybe. Center of a DAWless setup? Nah. With just six tracks and a limited parameter set this is not your Schaltzentrale. But who am I to judge? Live free and be happy!

Peace,

Martin

Lots of fun and interesting features

really easy to load samples from my laptop, and very easy to start programming a beat. the 6 track limit is a bit annoying, but with sample locking it's ok, and i plan to use this along side other gear anyway. It loads large samples very fast, pretty much instantly, unlike my old MPC500 which would take an age to load anything big.

Make sure you do the free firmware update to get the sample locking. Easy enough to do.

If you get past the maddening learning curve, it's a phenomenal sampler/groove box

Love the sound, the one button - one function (almost) layout, the preloaded patches, the swing, re-trigger, and chance functions, etc. But I almost sent it back after 1 week, so frustrated I was with the Elektron workflow and way of writing a user manual (not 1 word too many.) I'm glad I bit my tongue (and watched 234 YouTube videos); this thing is worth the effort. Perhaps not the monster drumbox or sampler, but its limitations make for its charm. Which allows me to focus on other instruments! Recommended for the patient hearts out there.

Well, this is my first sampler and it is pretty good for what I paid. It is a bit light and a bit clunky always going through my computer to load sounds. But for the price it is a good intro into this world. There are some useful tutorials on YouTube too.

Affordable insane sampler

I've owned a Digitact before. I can say with certainty that a lot of the feel & workflow of the Model:Samples is derived from the Digitact (as a lot of youtube reviews & demo videos will show you)!

Of course, there are a lot of features not present from the Digitact, such as all the multitrack midi sequencing. The sample sequencer & sample "mangling" section is Elektron-levels of good. You can go really crazy with some of the conditioning triggers & effects.

The semi-modularity of the Model:Samples also gives you a vast amount of different ways how you sequence & modify your sounds.

The build quality is phenomenal, I really enjoy the "non-button-but-still-velocity-sensitive" pads, as opposed to Digitact's more button-y approach.

All in all, I highly recommend it. Go watch some review & demo videos, & make sure this thing is for you.

Love this thing. Swapped my DT for this. No regerts.

I love my M:S!

Pros

- closer to one knob per function than DT

- easy to use out the box

- i'm far more productive with it than i was with the DT

- smells like success

- is not a horse (little known fact: horses are not good drum machines)

- not made for long form samples, but i've had some fun doing weird things to disco loops (just gotta keep the tempo the same as how you bounce em out the DAW, though)

Cons

- tiny screen. when you transfer folders of sample over it's impossible to see the date of the transfer folder, so you just have to count and guess...

- i miss the 2 extra audio channels that the DT has

- no individual outs so i have to hard pan kick/the rest and work in mono to use my outboard compressor w/sidechain

- midi control is not amazing but i don't use it for that.

People say the pads are not that responsive and they're not wrong, but I am perfectly fine with how they... respond.

Anyway I think it's amazing for the price and a great introduction to Elektron sequencer/workflow.

Great piece of kit for the 'bedroom' musician

After 6 months of use, I can say this exceeded my expectations. it's super versatile and after you get used to its workflow it becomes quite natural.

Pros:

The sequencer works really good and the factory sounds are a great starting point for learning it.

Straight forward process of uploading samples and they get converted to mono automatically

Sound quality is really good

Midi and USB

For the price point, I don't think there are better alternatives

Cons:

LFO can be assigned to just 1 parameter at a time

Perfect introductory sampler!

Don't get a volca sample. Save up a bit more and buy this machine. Not only have Elektron made a budget friendly groove box, with the classic Elektron sampling capabilities, the M:S can now be used a sampler with the use of a mobile phone thanks to the new sample transfer app!

Great sample playback device with good features

A great machine with some good features and effects. Definitely an upgrade from the Volca Sample although it has less tracks.

It's missing a step jump feature and choke function but if you dive into parameter lock you can get around the lack of choke function. I would have liked to be able to step jump though but it has other cool aspects like retrig and fills. Having 64 steps is great too along with the ability to have different playback speeds and steps per track.

The samples that come with the machine are quite good too. I haven't gotten around to uploading my own yet but the software seems fairly intuitive.