Liam Killen Keeps the Rytm: Why the Analog Rytm MKII Still Bangs

Right out of the gate, Liam Killen asks the question many of us have secretly wondered: is it really worth keeping the Analog Rytm MKII in a world crammed with newer boxes? His answer is loud and clear—this machine’s fully analog drum synthesis is in a different league. No Digitakt or Digitone is going to give you that fat, hands-on punch, and the Rytm’s individual drum engines let you sculpt every hit to taste.

Liam isn’t just waxing lyrical; those juicy pads and the immediate workflow keep the Rytm feeling live, not like some stale sample scroller. It’s got its own vibe, and for anyone who loves building beats from scratch, the Rytm is an instrument, not just a sequencer. If you want to dial in gnarly, custom kicks instead of sifting through endless folders, this box is still the one to beat.

Layering samples with analog sounds is where the Rytm really stretches its legs. Liam brings in Berlin artist Zoë McPherson to show how stacking a hi-hat with a longer vocal sample creates rhythms you won’t find in any preset pack. The trick is to let the analog transient punch through while the sample adds texture and weirdness.

He demonstrates how this combo breathes life into otherwise ordinary patterns, making them pop and glitch in all the right ways. It’s not just about adding layers for the sake of it—it’s about mixing the best of both worlds for a sound that’s original, gritty, and, frankly, a bit mad. You want your beats to sound like they crawled out of an underground rave bunker? This is how you get there.

Here’s where things get properly wild. Liam, inspired by Stereo_IMG, uses the Analog Rytm as a filter bank—yes, you read that right. By loading the same sample onto all eight voices and assigning different filter types and frequencies, he turns this drum machine into a multi-band monster. With a Faderfox controller mapped to each band, you can sweep, boost, and mangle frequencies like you’re running a modular rig at 3am.

The filter pinging trick is a personal favourite—sending impulse hits into highly resonant filters to create percussive blips, bleeps, and fat 808-style kicks. Modulate with LFOs, overdrive, and effects for even more chaos. It’s a bonkers way to transform a drum box into a sound design playground, and Liam and Stereo_IMG make it obvious: don’t sell your Rytm if you like sonic mad science.

Just when you think you’ve seen it all, the Outbox 8 enters the arena. Liam shows how pairing it with the Rytm MKII changes the routing game—digital channel assignment makes separating and processing tracks a breeze compared to the old multi-cable mess. While the Analog Rytm’s own outputs are fine, Outbox 8’s workflow wins for speed and flexibility.

He runs channels through tasty outboard like the Louder Than Liftoff Chroma 500 for saturation and West Audio Mimas for transient-smashing compression. Everything stays mono, but that’s a fair trade when you get this level of control. In a live rig or studio bunker, this combo is a street weapon for anyone who wants their drums to punch through the mix.