Which Elektron box to start with?

[cryophonik]

If you are new to synths I wouldn't recommend elektron as your first instrument in this adventure.

Look for a simple synth, maybe novation bass station 2, moog sub25, and look for used stuff near you.

Elektron stuff is all about programming and not much about "playing", I think for a guitarist you will want to play first and then program when you get a grab of synths.

I totally agree with this, if the OP is looking at Elektron for a dedicated synth. But, if he's looking specifically for a drum machine/groovebox, the Elektrons are all pretty stellar IMO. And, yeah, aside from the pads on the RYTM, they don't really excel at "playing" the parts in.

[roman.i]

Start with the DIGI format, one of the Syntakt, Digitone, Digitakt.
Digitakt mostly for playing samples, recording samples, sequencing samples.
Digitone can make FM synths or/and FM drums, this is a versatile box, but you will have to dig into FM synthesis.
Syntakt can make drums and basic synths, it's more streamlined compared to Digitone, because it has drum specific tracks and not just raw synthesis like Digitone.

So if you're into sampling - Digitakt, otherwise Digitone or Syntakt.
I think Syntakt will be more beginner friendly.

[pdxindy]

If I could only have 1 Elektron box (I have 4), it would be the RYTM. It's one of the few pieces of gear I have that I would never part with.

The Rytm is a wild untamed beast that has a unique character and nothing else can touch it.

[zerocrossing]

not knowing what the hell those sexy black boxes do.

but I don’t think I’d recommend it for someone just starting out who’s overwhelmed by their website. There are a lot of great instruments out there now that are more straight forward.

I'm starting to think that it's over my head, yes.

In the current market then, as a guitar player, where would you start now?

(And thank you.)

It's hard to say because I don't know what your goal is. If you're already using a computer DAW for recording, maybe start looking into some free software instruments and see what you think before getting into hardware. It's a good cheap way of getting the lay of the land, and there are many excellent options right now for free or very little. Then, when you have a clear idea, come back and ask again.

[zerocrossing]

Okay, gotcha.

Almost like my whole backup band, then, if I was a lead guitarist...

Don't forget, there are also things we call, "workstation" keyboards, which are essentially deluxe grooveboxes with keys. Something like the Roland JD-Xi is that. Something with just a single FM voice is a lot more limited.

[kritikon]

not knowing what the hell those sexy black boxes do.

but I don’t think I’d recommend it for someone just starting out who’s overwhelmed by their website. There are a lot of great instruments out there now that are more straight forward.

I'm starting to think that it's over my head, yes.

In the current market then, as a guitar player, where would you start now?

(And thank you.)

I'll second wot zerocrossing said. You might be better looking at some software synths. If you have a full DAW to record your guitar into, it'll have some kind of synths in there, so check them out. And most DAWs have some kind of drum machine or drumming sequencer. Those are likely to be far more intuitive to use than something like Elektron units. If you then want h/w, then an all-in-one might be more useful - in which case you still can't go far wrong with both Roland and Yamaha. They both make good workstations and they've got easier to use over the years.

I like me some analogue gear - I have quite a few hw synths. I also started out many years ago on a hw sequencer - which is some of what Elektron sequencers do (though they're far more advanced). And for advanced, read complicated. So I like what Elektron do, yet I run screaming from any of their units. They absolutely exude unintuitive, complicated, fiddly. I'm sure they can do lots of things but you are never going to come at them cold and figure out how they work. They would be the last thing I'd ever suggest to any beginner in synthesis or sequencing. I like some sounds I've heard coming out of Elektrons but I just don't want to have to learn esoteric obfuscating GUIs. Gimme an analogue one parameter per knob synth any day. It says envelope - you tweak the envelope. Filter tweaks the filter. Not shift/control/ press/click/alphanumeric just to get it to play. Elektrons are for fiddlers and analogue obsessives - I count myself as one of those but still don't like Elektrons...

For sequencing - a DAW makes way more sense. It's graphical, pictures on screen show you how it works. You might want an Elektron for live use - I get that, but a DAW is still a very viable option with a laptop. Still easier.

[ErikHeirman]

I would go with a Digitone. It can do drums and amazing synth sounds. Think it s better in the latter category than Syntakt

[m00g]

I used to be in the same boat. I was debating Digitone and Digitakt but eventually decided for a flexible combo of Digitakt and Arturia Microfreak. I found 4 tracks on Digitone a bit cramped and would have to layer drums in a single or two tracks losing visibility in a pattern. I greatly prefer single track having a single sound.

For me Digitakt is usually serving a role of drums+bass (don't forget there's a monophonic synth option with single-cycle waveforms which can produce a mean bass on Digitakt) and delegate pad/chordal work to Microfreak via Midi cable using the sequencer pattern on one of the 8 midi channels on Digitakt which are also polyphonic (can play 4 note chords with them). I then route Microfreak back to Digitakt's input and can also use built in delay/reverb to spice it all up and make it stereo.

Midi tracks on Digit* products are often overlooked but they tend to add quite a bit of flexibility to these boxes (one example would be controlling video/VJAY software transitions on one of those tracks).

Also the chance/probability options on these boxes is what makes them really great for complex rhythms that are always changing. Great for layering guitar on top!