Hey Elektronauts,
I have a lot of synths, and thanks to newly acquired Elektrons Octatrack and Analog Four I now have some pretty big plans on making them all work together. The problem I keep running into is how this stuff should be hooked up for optimal live performance results.
So here we go. Here’s what I want to have hooked up, and how id like to use it.
The Octatrack seems like the best choice for master transport and clock.
It is MIDI OUT connected to the A4, and Thru/OUT to a Korg Kaossillator, and KP3 chain.(I dont sync the KP3 so I can mess around with polyrhthymic effects times)
From the A4 I am using both Sync outs to slave a TR606 with one port, and TR707 set to recieve DIN, which is then MIDI OUT to a TD-12 brain. The other MIDI OUT port of the A4 is to a DSI Mopho keyboard, and then to a Microkorg XL. I also want to use its CV outs to do some interesting things with a pair of MS20’s.
With the Mopho, I generally just do drone percussion stuff with its sequencer. It is to my understanding that I can program either the A4, or the OT to play Mopho’s notes, and also live sample whole measures to free up hands on Mopho’s knobs to do other stuff.
Everything is going to a mixer that is fed in the OT (set up so I can sample any combination of any of that stuff), and the OT and the A4 are being fed into another mixer that feeds my monitors.
Sounds confusing, yes its incredibly confusing, I’ve been tearing down and setting up this home studio numerous times since I got the OT in Feburary, and at least 3 times since I got ghe A4 last week.
Thought it would be a good idea to learn in baby steps, but then, that way is going to be so different from the end result I’m ultimately after, that it seems foolish to not just jump in the deep end. Yes I know I have a tonne to learn, and have to work really hard for a lasting eureka moments that mastering these babies demands.
Anybody using any of these things together, or have a better understanding of a setup concept like this feel free to chime in.
I have been building this setup for years, but the two Elektrons change the whole game here.
I cant wait to be fluid on this new beast.
Here’s a shot of it all in prototype mode
Seeing that you mentioned that you’re going for live results, why not consider sampling a lot of your sequences and loops and let the Octatrack work as your live sound source for all your music, except for the A4? Your live rig would then be Octa and A4.
I get that in a studio environment, it’s great to have everything hooked up so that you can capture, blend and mix anything and everything as inspiration strikes. But once you’re live, having it all contained within fewer units has its advantages for your focus, your jamming and your shoulders.
But I could be reading you wrong, and also I know a lot of people enjoy jamming on their gear in live situations as well, so I could be off track here. Just a thought, though.
A4 doesn’t send out Midi data except the clock sync. You would have to use the Octa’s midi sequencer to sequence the Mopho.
…i also admit to not go for all…every piece of gear in the chain is an error source…
you can take a huge shortcut, if you skip the idea of handling all those gear live right away…
focus on the ot and one favourite synth…which should be clearly the a4 here…
prepare and know what you gonna do…still enough to happen to surprise yourself on the fly…no worries…
i play frequent shows with an ot and an a4…and that’s more than enough to handle…
focus and dig deeper…
your sets gonna take a huge advantage from that…
and your nerves, also…
For my meaning to many different gear in one setup is not the best for live.
To many possible error sources and the risk that the music gets to complex.
Also I think that the studio setup should be nearly the same as for live to be familar with.
OT, A4 and Mopho or TR and one effect box (aux or direct). All in sync.
That is fine.
my current live set up is similar to yours. Roland TR with Midi Clock out to Octatrack. Octatrack sends Midi Clock thru A4 and Midi notes via A4 to Xoxbox and Korg Volca Bass. Xoxbox und Volca Bass sends Audio to A4, A4 to Audio in AB Octatrack and Roland TR8 to Audio in CD Octatrack.
On Top of that I added now Eventide Space and EM600 from Behringer which are feed by Octatrack out CD as send effects and going to Audio in from TR8 … so amazing set up for riding live your gear.
BUT … there are a lot of knobs to handle and more knobs more possibilties … even to turn the wrong knob or push the wrong button. … i guess that´s why it is called live 
I also hat problems with midi notes for the Xoxbox. So Octatrack sends Midi for Xoxbox to A4, and A4 Midi Thru to Xoxbox (and Volca). Xoxbox have some problems. They are randomly like ghost notes or notes are just hanging sometimes. I thought it was a problem with the xoxbox, because, volca just worked fine. But no problems with the xoxbox when connecting to the Octratrack directly. So at the end … maybe a problem with the A4 or Midi cable … or what ever.
So yeah … more gear mean also more possibilities to run into problems. But sending 4 octaves arpeggiator to the xoxbox … is where the fun begins 
Hey friends,
Thanks for taking the moments to offer me some insight into this beast.
I feel like the way im setup now, that sources of error are mostly dealt with, for instance, when the Mopho was connected after the TD12, playing the drum trigs would also play the Mopho for odious results. And that the TR 606 does not insist on being the master clock anymore, (thank you A4)
Probably as I go along I will eliminate things performing static measures by just sampling them, but there is a part of me that wants to do some shows with the mountain of gear wow factor.
Anyways, gotta dig more, and focus more precisely.
Can’t wait to share music with you all.
It sends midi program change data as well.
For a while I had been building custom cases to take all of my gear to shows and have some wow factor as well.
Although it made setting up really easy, it’s a lot of gear, super heavy, and not always practical to fit on stage.
Eventually I tried to trim it down to this case,
still though, just too much hassle.
These days I just take out the Elektrons.
As others have said, it’s more focused, and convenient, which keeps me at ease for a show making it more fun and I can concentrate on a performance.
If you ask me, 2 Elektron boxes is still packs a lot of WOW.
Eventually I may make a case kind of like the top one, but have a breakout case thats just Elektrons, so then I can take it all if I want.
It sends midi program change data as well.[/quote]
Yep. Forgot about that one.
My main point to the OP was that it will not send out midi notes like he wanted to his other synths.
You friends are all great!
And those cases are dope!