AR mk2 / OT mk2 live strategies

Elektron Gear Octatrack
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Rytm is awesome, Octatrack is next. These two, with a mono synth will be my live improv setup for the coming months.

Question: what are your strategies to operate both machines in a live setting?

Would you use one for sequencing both? Can you program pattern changing from OT to AR?

I would ideally use the distortion and compression on AR end of chain, but AR into OT seems to make more sense for audio routing?

I guess I’m just trying to pick the experienced users’ brains to untangle my own. Thanks people…

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As far as audio goes, I’d consider maybe putting four channels of AR through the OT for mangling or extra FX, then the OT through the AR for the end of chain compression and distortion.

I guess it depends what you’re using the OT for, as transitions might get complicated…

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The idea is to use it as a mixer for the AR + the synth, also adding pad samples and use the live recording trigs to loop/manipulate parts.

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Instead of another monosynth I’d use a midi keyboard to play one of the dual vco synth voices on the rytm, in terms of routing I agree with what has been written here

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Got you. I Do use the dual vco intensively, but have other preferences for my 303 needs :slight_smile:

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This is a fun set-up:

  • monosynth -> OT in A
  • optionally one RYTM individual out -> OT in B
  • OT outputs 3+4 -> RYTM Ext In
  • RYTM out -> OT in C+D
  • OT out 1+2 -> mixer/PA/whatever

Thus you can treat two synths to some OT wonkiness, and you can pass whatever you like through the Rytm’s compressor… and you can then use the OT as your main mixer and 2bus processor. IMO the Rytm’s compressor is better left for it’s colour and brutality, but the OT’s cleaner tone makes for a better end of chain.

Careful not to anger the gods and accidentally trigger the Rytm’s audio routing bug. Best to start your new live set project whilst the Presets project is loaded, and never change the audio routing after your initial choice of which channel gets the indie output treatment.

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Thank you, this good info. You got me scared with the omniously looming buggything though. Not heard about it so far, will do my research…

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Understood, kind of. When the OT arrives, I will sit down and experiment with it, really like your routing suggestion - thanks for that.

Next, I need to understand how to sequence everthing efficiently. It makes sense to run the 303 from the OT, as the midi out of the AR is limited, to put it lightly. But how then, can I keep the switching AR and OT patterns in sync? That is, A1 AR should run together with A1 OT, etc., if possible. I did try and rtfm, but to no resolve.

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The Elektrons all share a common protocol. You can set them to send/receive MIDI Programme Change messages when changing patterns. Find the MIDI Sync menu on each device and turn “send” on for the one which you want leading, and “recv” on for the one which follows. Then when you (or a Chain, or Song Mode/Areanger) change Pattern on one device, the other will change too.

There are some quirks. Patterns have two lengths: Master Length and Change/Chain Length. When manually switching patterns, the devices will follow the Change Length setting (i.e. you can perform the keystrokes to set up a pattern change whenever you like in the pattern, and then the pattern will change when hitting a step count equal to the Change Length). When you use song/arranger mode, or Chains, to automatically change pattern, the units will change pattern after the Master Length (DESPITE WHAT THE MANUAL TELLS YOU). The upshot of this is that you need to make sure your patterns have the same length settings across both devices (and if you use scale mode to multiply/divide a pattern, have that match for at least one track on both devices too - just in case).

The setting I’ve called “Change Length” has a different name just on the OT and I can’t remember what it’s called right now: “change after” maybe…

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