Hi, just got an OT mk2 a few weeks ago and today have been learning how to set up the arpeggiator following Max Marc’s youtube tutorial:
It’s pretty cool and has been really helpful. I have followed everything step by step (as far as I can tell). When I go to the midi arp setup the step sequencer shows steps one to eight lit up in green as they should be, but when I play the arpeggio it loops from steps one to four, not one to eight as Max shows in his tutorial.
If I change the length of the arp to sixteen all steps light up but it still loops at the same point.
Humble apologies in advance if I’ve missed something obvious. I’ve been making slow but steady progress with the OT but am now burnt out and have run out of ideas as to what’s up!
Can anyone suggest what’s up and what I’m missing.
Check SRC / NOTE page LEN parameter.
It is note length, and arp duration if arp is activated.
Set it to the correct duration, of INF.
Hoping it is that…
Function + Scale Button lets you set the track length for the currently selected track.
Press Scale Button to add 16 steps or use arrow keys.
If you have not set individual track length then track length is the same for all tracks and there is no Master Length setting.
Function + Bank when Grid Recording Mode is not active = Rec led off opens Pattern Settings Menu where you can toggle between Scale Mode Normal and Per Track.
Then you can set the track length for each track individually and also change Master Length which is the pattern length after which all tracks reset to step 1. (Can be set to infinite)
Setting Master Length has a nifty short cut btw. With Function Up/Down you can change it in 16 steps increments.
But a fresh project should have individual track length not active anyway and thus should not reset your arps in any way.
I’ll have to check on my OT. Always better to have the machine in front of me when trying to figure out such stuff.
So I’ve checked all your suggestions, tried rescaling the pattern to two pages and tried changing the length of the arp again but it’s still looping at half a bar. When I change the arp length the sequencer keys light up accordingly and I can edit the steps but in the arp setup page the sequencer does not go further than step 4.
Ok, sounds weird. I watched the video while I switched my gear and made more coffee^^
It ahould work right away.
Does it always loop 4 steps even when you dial in LEN of 3 steps or less?
If note length is correct and track length long enough, don‘t know what could cause this behaviour especially because you started from a fresh project.
Midi LFO modulating note length could interfere with the arp, but a fresh project has all depth at 0 and note pitch as mod destination.
Check midi lfos.
Any midi going into your OT btw?
Try switching OT off and back on again.
Seriously, sometimes Elektron stuff acts weird and power cycling usually solves the problem.
I‘ve had it a few times already^^
Hey Schnork… I was wondering if it might be something to do with the synth and midi? I have a Nord micro but can’t connect to it visa the editor so am just playing with the patches that are loaded.
Any synth receiving midi should be able to play the arp sequence correctly.
There are synth with limited note range, but Nord Modular should be able to play it.
I don’t own one, but the Nord Modular has sequencer modules, right?
If you load a patch on the Nord which runs it’s own sequence, maybe, maybe it could interfere with the arp sequence from the OT.
Try loading different patches on the Nord.
Try to start again from a fresh project just to make sure there’s nothing unwanted going on.
It should work with a fresh project right away.
Any other synth you could connect to the OT?
With midi going into your OT it could be possible that a device sends midi cc #16 on the auto channel (which controls note length on midi tracks).
That’s why it’s always best to disconnect any not needed midi devices for troubleshooting.
I’ve started a new project, disconnected midi out from the nord so the OT can’t receive any midi. I’ve also tried different patches on the nord.
Everything looks OK and seems to be functioning properly in the arp setup page except when it comes to playing it. Then it just keeps looping the first four steps. I’m totally baffled.
I’ll have to borrow another synth and see what happens… I’ll let you know if I get anywhere.
In the meantime I’ll go back to learning other OT stuff… I’m getting there slowly and really enjoying it!
Btw, if you see the chaselight on the Octatrack jump back to step one after step four, then it’s clearly something in the Octatrack.
The Nord can’t influence the Octatrack when connected OT Midi Out -> Nord Midi In, it’s just that a sequencer running inside a Micro Modular patch could influence the sound in a way that could appear like the Octatrack arp resets after four steps, but if you see the little light on the Octatrack running four steps and then jump back to step 1 then it’s pretty clear that it’s happening on the Octatrack.
Thanks… I’ll check it out. I didn’t think it would be the nord as I can programme a sequence into fine. I’ll just have to come back to the arp thing tomorrow!
Morning Schnork… Just thought I’d let you know, I was playing around programming some beats on a new project. This time when I went to set up an arp it’s all working fine. I’m not at all sure if I did anything different but it’s working now!!!
Cool! Sometimes Elektrons act weird and usually turning off and on again solves the issue.
Sometimes loading a new project or reloading is enough.
I’ve had stuff like that happening once or twice in a year.
So if any Elektron starts to act in a way that doesn’t make sense, I’ll just turn them off and on again instead of trying to investigate
