Chapter 4

Presets, kits & samples

Browse, load, edit and save sounds and kits.

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In this chapter · 7

4.1The preset browser
4.2The PRESET/KIT menu
4.3Playing a preset
4.4Editing a preset
4.5Saving a preset
4.6Assigning a sample to a track
4.7The SETUP menu: kit and track settings

4.1BasicsManual §9.2 p.30

The preset browser

The preset browser is the fastest way to try sounds on a track. It lists every preset in the +Drive library, lets you hear one before you commit, and drops it onto the active track with a single press. It’s the same screen as LOAD in the preset section of the PRESET/KIT menu (The PRESET/KIT menu).

Load a preset onto a track

Press TRK + TRIG 1–16 to make the track you want to load to active.
Hold FUNC and turn LEVEL/DATA to open the PRESET BROWSER. (Or press PRESET/KIT and choose LOAD under PRESET.)
Turn LEVEL/DATA or press UP/DOWN to scroll through the presets.
Press FUNC + YES to preview the highlighted preset.
Press YES to load it to the active track.

Key combinations

FUNC + turn LEVEL/DATA: Opens the PRESET BROWSER.
UP/DOWN: Scrolls through the preset list.PRESET BROWSER
FUNC + YES: Previews the highlighted preset before you load it.PRESET BROWSER
YES: Loads the highlighted preset to the active track.PRESET BROWSER
LEFT: Opens the PRESET SORTING menu.PRESET BROWSER
YES: Runs the highlighted sorting command.PRESET SORTING menu
NO or RIGHT: Closes the PRESET SORTING menu.PRESET SORTING menu

PRESET SORTING menu options

ADD TO PRESET POOL — adds the highlighted preset to the active project’s pool (The +Drive library and the pool).
SELECT BANK — shows one bank (A–H) at a time. The bank you’re in appears in brackets.
SORT ABC / SORT 123 — switches the list between alphabetical and slot-number order.
FILTER — opens the tag list. Press YES on as many tags as you like to tick or untick them, then NO to close the list.
SEARCH — lists presets whose names match or contain the text you type. Text entry works as on the NAMING screen (Naming things).

From the community

This Is Why You Need Presets On The Digitakt II
YouTube
Makes the case for the Digitakt II’s distinctive way of handling presets.

4.2IntermediateManual §9.3 p.30, §9.3.1 p.30, §9.3.2 p.31, §9.3.3 p.31, §9.3.4 p.33, §9.3.5 p.33, §9.3.6 p.34, §9.3.7 p.34, §17 p.90

Press PRESET/KIT for one hub covering both kinds of sound storage: single presets, in the +Drive library or the project’s pool, and whole kits. Use it to put a sound on a track, load a kit into the pattern, save your work back to the library, and keep a growing library tidy with banks, tags, search and write protection.

Move around with the ARROW keys or LEVEL/DATA, press YES to open an item and NO to leave. Inside the lists, LEFT opens a SORTING menu that narrows or reorders what you see; in the manager screens, RIGHT opens an OPERATIONS menu that acts on the highlighted item or on everything you’ve selected.

Menu items

Item	What it’s for	Side menus
`LOAD` (preset)	Browse the +Drive library, audition a preset and load it to the active track — the same screen as the preset browser.	`LEFT` sorting
`SAVE` (preset)	Save the active track’s preset to a library slot, with a name and tags — see Saving a preset.	`LEFT` sorting
`MANAGE` (preset)	The PRESET MANAGER, listing the +Drive library: load, save, copy, rename, tag, protect, delete and send presets.	`LEFT` sorting, `RIGHT` operations
`POOL`	A shortcut into the preset manager’s view of the project’s pool, where you add, select, rename and delete pool presets.	`RIGHT` operations
`LOAD` (kit)	Load a kit from the library to the active pattern.	`LEFT` sorting
`SAVE` (kit)	Save the active pattern’s kit to a library slot.	`LEFT` sorting
`MANAGE` (kit)	The kit manager: load, save, copy, rename, protect, delete and send kits.	`LEFT` sorting, `RIGHT` operations

Load a preset onto a track

Press PRESET/KIT.
Highlight LOAD under PRESET and press YES.
If the preset should go to a different track, press TRK + TRIG 1–16 to change the active track.
Highlight a preset with the ARROW keys or LEVEL/DATA.
Press the active track’s TRIG key to hear it — or press KEYBOARD and play the TRIG keys to hear it in the selected scale.
Press YES to load it to the active track.

Load a kit into the active pattern

Press PRESET/KIT.
Highlight LOAD under KIT and press YES.
Highlight a kit with the ARROW keys or LEVEL/DATA.
Press YES to load it to the active pattern.

Save the active pattern’s kit

Press PRESET/KIT.
Highlight SAVE under KIT and press YES.
Choose a slot with UP/DOWN or LEVEL/DATA.
Press YES. If the slot already holds a kit, confirm that you want to overwrite it.
Name the kit on the NAMING screen (Naming things) and press YES to save.

Apply an operation to several presets or kits

Open MANAGE (preset or kit) or POOL.
Highlight an item and press YES to select it. Press YES again to deselect. Repeat for every item you want.
Press RIGHT to open the OPERATIONS menu.
Highlight an operation with LEVEL/DATA or UP/DOWN and press YES to apply it.
To back out without doing anything, press NO or LEFT.

Key combinations

PRESET/KIT: Opens the PRESET/KIT menu.
YES: Opens the highlighted menu item.PRESET/KIT menu
NO: Exits the PRESET/KIT menu.PRESET/KIT menu
TRK + TRIG 1–16: Changes the active track that the preset will load to.LOAD (preset)
TRIG: Previews the highlighted preset when you press the active track’s key.Preset lists in the PRESET/KIT menu
FUNC + YES: Previews the highlighted preset.PRESET MANAGER
KEYBOARD, then TRIG: Previews the highlighted preset in the selected scale.LOAD (preset)
YES: Selects or deselects the highlighted preset or kit for an operation.MANAGE and POOL lists
FUNC + UP/DOWN: Scrolls the preset list faster.Preset lists in the PRESET/KIT menu
LEFT: Opens the SORTING menu.Preset and kit lists in the PRESET/KIT menu
YES: Runs the highlighted sorting command.SORTING menu
NO or RIGHT: Closes the SORTING menu.SORTING menu
RIGHT: Opens the PRESET OPERATIONS or KIT OPERATIONS menu.MANAGE (preset or kit) and POOL
YES: Applies the highlighted operation to the selected items.OPERATIONS menu
NO or LEFT: Closes the OPERATIONS menu.OPERATIONS menu
TRIG 9–16: Shows only the presets in one bank.SELECT BANK
YES: Ticks or unticks the highlighted tag.FILTER tag list
NO: Closes the tag list.FILTER tag list
FUNC + NO: Clears the search.Preset lists after a SEARCH

SORTING menu options (LEFT)

Option	What it does	Available in
`ADD TO PRESET POOL`	Adds the selected preset(s) to the active project’s pool.	Preset LOAD, SAVE and MANAGE
`ADD TO POOL`	Adds all 16 presets of the kit to the active project’s pool.	Kit LOAD, SAVE and MANAGE
`SELECT BANK`	Opens the bank selector; the current bank is shown in brackets. The library has eight preset banks, A–H, of 256 presets each. Pick a bank with `TRIG 9–16`, the `ARROW` keys or LEVEL/DATA.	All preset and kit lists
`SORT ABC` / `SORT 123`	Switches between alphabetical order and slot-number order.	All preset and kit lists
`FILTER`	Opens the tag list. Press `YES` to tick or untick tags — several at once is fine — and `NO` to close it. Narrows the list to the tags you pick.	Preset lists
`SEARCH`	Text search: lists everything whose name matches or contains what you type (Naming things). `FUNC` + `NO` clears the search in the preset lists.	All preset and kit lists
`SHOW ALL SLOTS`	Ticked: shows every slot, used and empty. Unticked: shows only the empty slots.	Preset SAVE and MANAGE, kit SAVE

PRESET OPERATIONS (RIGHT)

Operation	What it does	MANAGE	POOL
`LOAD TO TRACK`	Loads the preset to the active track, making it part of the active pattern.	✓	✓
`COPY TO BANK`	Copies the selected presets into the first free slots of a bank you choose on the +Drive.	✓	—
`SAVE TO HERE`	Saves the active track’s preset into the highlighted slot.	✓	✓
`RENAME`	Opens a screen for renaming the highlighted preset.	✓	✓
`EDIT TAGS`	Tags the preset: press `YES` to apply or remove each tag, then highlight `<SAVE>` and press `YES`. A preset can carry any number of tags, but only the first two show in the list.	✓	—
`DELETE`	Deletes the highlighted preset or all selected presets.	✓	✓
`SELECT ALL`	Selects every preset in the list.	✓	✓
`SELECT UNUSED`	Selects every pool preset that no pattern in the project uses.	—	✓
`DESELECT ALL`	Clears the selection.	✓	✓
`TOGGLE`	Turns write protection on or off. A protected preset shows a padlock and can’t be overwritten, renamed, tagged or deleted. Only available while browsing the +Drive library.	✓	—
`SEND SYSEX`	Sends the selected presets as SysEx data (SysEx send and receive).	✓	—

KIT OPERATIONS (RIGHT in kit MANAGE)

Operation	What it does
`LOAD TO PATTERN`	Loads the highlighted kit to the active pattern.
`COPY TO BANK`	Copies the selected kits to the first free slot of a bank (A–H) you choose on the +Drive.
`SAVE TO HERE`	Saves the active kit into the highlighted slot.
`LOAD TO EMPTY`	Loads the kit to every empty pattern in the project. Added in OS 1.10.
`RENAME`	Opens a screen for renaming the highlighted kit.
`DELETE`	Deletes the highlighted kit or all selected kits.
`SELECT ALL`	Selects every kit in the list.
`SELECT UNUSED`	Selects the kits that no pattern in the project uses. Follow it with `DELETE` to clear them out of the project’s pool; the +Drive library isn’t touched.
`DESELECT ALL`	Clears the selection.
`TOGGLE`	Turns write protection on or off. A protected kit shows a padlock and can’t be overwritten, renamed, tagged or deleted. Only available while browsing the +Drive library.
`SEND SYSEX`	Sends the selected kit’s presets as SysEx data (SysEx send and receive).

From the community

Tweak freely during a jam. PRESET/KIT + NO reloads the pattern’s saved kit, and PRESET/KIT + YES keeps your changes by saving the kit. via Elektronauts: Digitakt II kits question

Digitakt II kits questionElektronauts — Owners work out exactly what Perform Kit mode keeps and what it throws away.

4.3BasicsManual §9.4 p.35

Playing a preset

Every track in the active pattern has a preset, and the TRIG 1–16 keys are a quick way to hear them — handy for checking a kit, auditioning edits or just jamming over the sequencer. Each key lights briefly when you press it.

Key combinations

TRIG 1–16: Plays the preset on the corresponding track of the active pattern.

Playing from an external MIDI device

An external MIDI controller connected to the Digitakt II can play the presets too.
Each track’s MIDI channel is set in the MIDI CHANNELS menu (MIDI configuration: sync, ports and channels).
In KEYBOARD mode, an external MIDI unit can also play a preset chromatically (KEYBOARD mode and keyboard setup).
Which MIDI note numbers trigger which tracks is covered in Playing the Digitakt II from MIDI.

From the community

4.4BasicsManual §9.5 p.35, §17 p.88

Editing a preset

Editing a preset is just editing the active track: pick the track, then turn knobs on its parameter pages. Every change is stored in the active pattern, so you can sculpt freely without touching the original preset in the +Drive library. Save it (Saving a preset) when you want a reusable copy.

Edit a track’s preset

Press TRK + TRIG 1–16 to choose the track to edit.
Turn LEVEL/DATA to set the overall volume of the active audio track.
Press a PARAMETER key — SRC, FLTR, AMP, FX or MOD — to open that page.
Turn the DATA ENTRY knobs A–H to change the parameters.

Copy a whole preset to another track

Hold TRK and the source track’s TRIG key, then press RECORD to copy the preset.
Hold TRK and the destination track’s TRIG key, then press STOP to paste it.

Key combinations

TRK + TRIG 1–16: Selects the track whose preset you edit.
PARAMETER: Opens that PARAMETER page for the active track.
TRK + TRIG 1–16 + RECORD: Copies that track’s complete preset, including its sample and every parameter setting.
TRK + TRIG 1–16 + STOP: Pastes the copied preset to that track.
TRK + RECORD: Copies the active track’s preset.
TRK + STOP: Pastes the copied preset to the active track.
TRK + PLAY: Clears the active track’s preset.

Every parameter on every page is explained in Editing track parameters and the pages that follow it.

4.5BasicsManual §9.6 p.35, §9.3.2 p.31

Saving a preset

Your edits live inside the active pattern. Saving exports the active track’s preset to the +Drive library, where every project can load it — and from where you can add it to a pool for preset locks (The +Drive library and the pool).

Save the active track’s preset

Press PRESET/KIT to open the PRESET/KIT menu.
Highlight SAVE under PRESET and press YES.
Turn LEVEL/DATA or press UP/DOWN to highlight a slot — an empty one, unless you mean to replace what’s there.
Press YES. If the slot already holds a preset, confirm the overwrite.
Name the preset on the NAMING screen (Naming things) and press YES.
On the TAGS screen, move with the ARROW keys and press YES to apply or remove each tag.
Highlight <SAVE> and press YES.

Helpers on the SAVE screen

Press LEFT for the sorting options: ADD TO PRESET POOL, SELECT BANK, SORT ABC / SORT 123, FILTER and SEARCH (The PRESET/KIT menu).
SHOW ALL SLOTS — tick it to see both used and empty slots; leave it unticked to see only the empty ones.
Press FUNC + NO to clear a search.

From the community

Found a great p-locked hit? Hold its TRIG and press PRESET/KIT to save that step’s sound, locks included, as a new preset. via Elektronauts: Digitakt II Tips & Tricks

Digitakt 2 Live Lesson: Sampling and Sequencing Your Synthesizers
EZBOT
A beginner-friendly live lesson: sample an external synth, save presets and build a pattern from scratch.

Digitakt II Tips & TricksElektronauts — The long-running community tips thread — dozens of pages of sequencing, slicing and sound-design tricks.

4.6BasicsManual §9.7 p.36, §9.7.1 p.36

Assigning a sample to a track

The preset on each audio track plays one sample, chosen from the samples loaded to the project — up to 1016 of them. Pick from that list on the SRC page. If the sample you want isn’t loaded yet, the quick assign method fetches it from the +Drive and puts it on the track and in the project’s pool in one go.

Assign a sample that’s already in the project

Press TRK + TRIG 1–16 to select the track.
Press SRC to open the SRC page.
Turn D to open the list of samples in the pool.
Keep turning D: counter-clockwise moves up the list, clockwise moves down.
Press the active track’s TRIG key to hear the highlighted sample.
Press YES to choose it, or NO to close the list without changing anything.

Quick assign a sample from the +Drive

Press SRC, then turn the knob for the SAMP parameter to open the sample list.
With the list open, press FUNC + YES to jump to the SAMPLES menu.
Navigate to the sample you want.
To audition it, highlight it and press FUNC + YES — roughly ten seconds plays through the active track’s voice.
Press YES on the highlighted sample to load it to the track and the project’s pool.

Key combinations

SRC, then turn D: Opens the list of samples in the project’s pool.
TRIG: Previews the highlighted sample when you press the active track’s key.SRC page sample list
YES: Assigns the highlighted sample to the track.SRC page sample list
NO: Closes the sample list without choosing a sample.SRC page sample list
FUNC + YES: Jumps to the selected sample on the +Drive, opening the SAMPLES menu.SRC page sample list
FUNC + YES: Previews about ten seconds of the highlighted sample through the active track’s voice.SAMPLES menu, quick assign
YES: Loads the highlighted sample to the active track and the project’s pool.SAMPLES menu, quick assign

Loading, replacing, moving and otherwise managing samples happens in the SAMPLES menu (The SAMPLES menu). To load a sample to the active track from the +Drive side, see Loading a sample from the +Drive onto a track.

From the community

Preset Pool vs Sample PoolElektronauts — Clears up the most common Digitakt I-to-II confusion: when to use presets and when to use samples.

4.7IntermediateOS 1.10+Manual §9.8 p.36, §9.8.1 p.37, §9.8.2 p.38

The SETUP menu gathers settings that don’t fit on the parameter pages. The KIT part decides which tracks respond to control all, what feeds the compressor, and lets you swap two tracks. The TRACK part shapes how the active track’s preset responds to playing — legato, velocity, portamento — and lets MIDI controllers and note pitch modulate up to four parameters each.

Open and move around

Press FUNC + FLTR to open the SETUP menu.
Press UP/DOWN to move between the options.
Press YES to confirm a selection or open an option.
Press NO to exit.

Key combinations

FUNC + FLTR: Opens the SETUP menu.
UP/DOWN: Moves between the options.SETUP menu
YES: Confirms the selection or opens the highlighted option.SETUP menu
NO: Exits the menu.SETUP menu
TRIG 1–16: Chooses which tracks are included.CONTROL ALL CONFIG or COMPRESSOR ROUTING
UP/DOWN: Switches between the two routing pages.COMPRESSOR ROUTING
Hold two TRIG keys: Swaps those tracks once the screen reads “TRACKS X AND X SWAPPED”.TRACK SWAP
YES: Confirms the destination parameters chosen with A–D.KEY TRACKING, VELOCITY MOD, AFTERTOUCH, PITCH BEND, MODULATION WHEEL, BREATH CTRL

KIT settings

CONTROL ALL CONFIG: Use the TRIG keys to pick which tracks control all affects — that’s holding TRK while changing a parameter (Editing parameters). MIDI tracks can’t be picked, and the active track is always affected whether it’s picked or not.
COMPRESSOR ROUTING: Use the TRIG keys to pick which tracks, inputs and effects go through the compressor; UP/DOWN moves between the two pages. MIDI tracks can’t be picked. See Compressor.
TRACK SWAP: Makes two tracks trade places, taking all their settings, presets and sequencer data with them. Hold both tracks’ TRIG keys until the screen confirms the swap. Added in OS 1.10.

TRACK settings

LEGATO: When on, a new note or key press doesn’t retrigger the envelopes if the previous note is still held.Range ON / OFF
NOTE PRIORITY: Decides which note sounds when several are played at once. Only available when LEGATO is on.Range LAST, LOW, HIGH
VELOCITY TO VOLVelocity to volume: Sets how MIDI velocity changes the volume when you play the preset from a MIDI keyboard. Added in OS 1.01; OS 1.10 added another curve.Range OFF, LOG, LIN, EXP, EXP 2
OCTAVE: Sets the preset’s base octave. Because the octave travels with the preset, presets used together in Preset locks need less transposing of sequencer notes.
PITCH BEND DEPTH: Sets how strongly pitch bend from an external MIDI device affects the Digitakt II.
PORTAMENTO: Submenu with SLOPE, AMOUNT, STYLE, LEGATO ONLY and GATING (table below). Portamento is switched on with PORT and timed with PTIM on TRIG page 2 (The TRIG page).
KEY TRACKING: Up to four parameters that follow pitch — driven by both the NOTE parameter on the TRIG page and incoming MIDI notes from external devices. Added in OS 1.10.
VELOCITY MOD: Up to four parameters driven by velocity — both the VEL parameter on the TRIG page and the velocity of incoming MIDI notes.
AFTERTOUCH: Up to four parameters controlled by MIDI aftertouch.
PITCH BEND: Up to four parameters controlled by incoming MIDI pitch bend. Separate from PITCH BEND DEPTH, which sets the pitch amount.
MODULATION WHEEL: Up to four parameters controlled by the MIDI mod wheel (CC #1).
BREATH CTRLBreath controller: Up to four parameters controlled by a MIDI breath controller (CC #2).
RENAME: Opens the NAMING screen so you can rename the active track’s preset (Naming things).

NOTE PRIORITY options

Option	Which note wins
`LAST`	The note played most recently.
`LOW`	The lowest note.
`HIGH`	The highest note.

VELOCITY TO VOL curves

Curve	How volume responds to playing strength
`OFF`	Velocity has no effect on volume.
`LOG`	Logarithmic: soft presses differ from each other more in volume than hard presses do.
`LIN`	Linear: volume follows playing strength in direct proportion.
`EXP`	Exponential: hard presses differ from each other more in volume than soft presses do.
`EXP 2`	Exponential like `EXP`, but starting higher — low velocities have more effect on the volume than with `EXP`.

PORTAMENTO settings

Setting	Option	What happens
`SLOPE`	`CONSTANT RATE`	The pitch glides linearly at a fixed speed, so longer glides take longer to finish.
`SLOPE`	`CONSTANT TIME`	The pitch glides linearly but always finishes in the same time whatever the interval, so wider intervals glide faster.
`AMOUNT`	—	Allows partial glides that cover only the last part of the interval. 100 glides the whole way; lower values start the glide nearer the target pitch.
`STYLE`	`GLIDE`	Ordinary, continuous portamento.
`STYLE`	`GLISSANDO`	The glide moves in semitone steps.
`LEGATO ONLY`	`ON`	The pitch glides from the last note that’s still held down to the next new note played on the track.
`LEGATO ONLY`	`OFF`	The pitch glides from the last note played to the next new note on the track.
`GATING`	`OFF`	The glide carries on after you release the key.
`GATING`	`ON`	The glide stops when you release the key.

Assign modulation (KEY TRACKING, VELOCITY MOD, AFTERTOUCH, PITCH BEND, MODULATION WHEEL, BREATH CTRL)

Highlight the modulation option and press YES to open it.
Turn A–D to choose up to four destination parameters from the SRC, FLTR, AMP, FX and MOD pages.
Press YES to confirm the choice.
Turn E–H to set the modulation depth for each of the four destinations. Depth is an offset from the parameter’s own value.
Turn LEVEL/DATA to try out the settings.

From the community

Digitakt II & Digitone II OS 1.10 Upgrade
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Elektron’s trailer for OS 1.10: Comb+ filter, key tracking, mono sampling and more.

Digitakt II OS 1.10 Video Guide
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Walks through the OS 1.10 additions on the Digitakt II one feature at a time.

Digitakt II OS 1.10 is here! // Deep Dive
Dave Mech
An in-depth tour of the OS 1.10 additions from the author of a 17-hour Digitakt II course.

Elektron Unleashes Double D Update, Bringing New Features To Digitakt & DigitoneSynthtopia — Synthtopia’s write-up of the OS 1.10 update for Digitakt II and Digitone II.