Build quality of MKI vs. MKII units?

Elektron Gear Octatrack
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I have an older MKI unit that spontaneously lost it’s Step 1 button yesterday***, and it has gotten me to consider an upgrade to a MKII unit sooner than later.

My worry, however, is whether the MKI units are considered better build than the newer units – I’m not really in the “OT” scene, so entirely out of the loop in how the community perceives these things (especially now that more time has passed).

I’ve already messaged Elektron support for an out of warranty repair, so I hope to have this MKI fixed, but when I get it back (I’m guessing in six months time), do you think it would be smart to flip it for a newer unit to alleviate further headaches?

Mostly asking to see if others have lived through a similar concern (e.g. held onto their MKIs only to regret it due to things just falling apart?).

*** - For those curious, it really was the weirdest thing. My Octatrack sits, relatively untouched, on the top rack of a XTS 2-Tier Desktop Stand], and nobody enters that room but me (not even pets). After popping out the CF card to load some samples, something I haven’t done in years, I noticed the key just dangling loose from the unit under its own weight. I hadn’t even turned it on in days (and from a video recording I checked of my studio being patched up, it wasn’t broken then).

Only interaction I had with the unit was popping out the CF card. Could that have done it? I know people say never to do that, but that felt absurd given the unit was off, and it has an easy eject option. Oh well, live and learn…

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I’ve had both versions, and owned both concurrently for a long time.

I feel like the build is great on both. However, my understanding is that the mk1 encoders tend to pretty predictably wear out and need replacement. I have heard less complaints about that with the mk2 encoders.

It also seems like the old LCDs are maybe not as bulletproof as the newer OLED screens, but I never had a problem.

On the other hand, the mk2 uses soft touch plastic buttons which have several hate threads here on this board.

Finally, while the crossfader on my mk2 is fine, the fader on my mk1 felt amazingly smooth and fun to use. I do miss that.

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Could be wrong but didn’t the MKII have slight better headroom?

And of course a few more buttons

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Yes you can run modular strength signals into the MKII and not clip the inputs. They’re also balanced.

The screen is a big improvement.

The CF card eject is better but it’s still mounted directly on the motherboard so that potential problem still exists, but at least the card sits flush now and has less chance to damage the motherboard.

Personally, I prefer to the encoders on the older Elektrons, I find the newer ones a little too sensitive but the older ones do get worse over time whereas the newer models seem just as good as the day I bought them.

As mentioned above, the worse part for me is the button coating which will eventually degrade. Not much you can do there sadly (well not true, they now offer replacements but they’re not yet battle tested).

The MKI buttons will remain as good as they were on day one… unless they suddenly jump off and attempt to make a run for it :wink:

Overall though, MKI is built very well and aside from those differences and the extra buttons, it’s essentially the same. If you can live without those extras, the MKI is just as good and capable.

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True, I was aware of those difference. This less a “how are they different” thread, and more a “is the build quality of the physical components solid, and would a MKI owner who made the transition recommend doing so based solely on wanting the unit to remain viable as long as possible.”

Five years ago it was a moot issue; upgrading was based mostly on aesthetic, screen improvements and the headroom. If my MKI would stay operational forever I’d just keep it… but I’m finally being pushed to MKII (having a button just explode off the machine due to nothing I can account for has left me worried more will fritz out unexpectedly).

Years back a buddy had her internal battery die just before a show. I’ve also had that in the back of my mind for a few years.

Gah, I didn’t know it was mounted on the motherboard. So there really is a chance this issue was induced from simply ejecting the CF card? I mean, assuming some other structural instability existed between the board and the buttons. Creepy.

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I was in the same boat last year, or still am in a way. Bought my mk1 in 2011. It’s seen light but regular home use, and it’s still mint with the nice looking early paint job. Last year though the record switch went bad without any particular prior incident that I know of. From my understanding it’s not uncommon that these fail, just like the encoders. Apparently they’re not the easiest to work on, with risk of damaging the board during repair. I first failed at repairing the switch myself, and then had a good tech fix it. To my knowledge Elektron don’t offer repair for mk1 units anymore, but I may be wrong. Did they answer you about the repair yet?

A few months ago the switch incident prompted me to buy an mk2 that was just a few months old, mostly to get a unit with warranty. In a way it feels nice having a unit with warranty, but I can’t decide what to do next.

Keep only the mk1? So far it’s been rock solid apart from that one switch. My tech should be able to fix similar future issues. Other, more major fixes? No idea…

Keep only the mk2? I was a bit disappointed with the screen (it’s a fair bit smaller, my bad for not doing proper research). One of the encoders is ironically a bit nervous, which is odd for a unit that’s hardly been used. Besides, mk1s are dirt cheap now so why sell it. But then there’s the mk2 warranty that gives me peace of mind.

So far I feel silly for owning two OTs, but I can’t decide what to do. I will probably keep both until either my mk1 crashes fatally, or I need the mk2 money for something else…

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Personally, I prefer the extra buttons on the mk 2 and the screen. I’ve thought about getting a second.

If you like the mk 1 and would be seriously inconvenienced if it breaks, why not get a spare mk 1?

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The PAGE/Scale button on my MKI failed, bought a MKII, build quality seems slightly better. I like how the MKII’s audio I/O is bolted to the chassis - if you often plugin/out cables, that might be useful. Plus the extra buttons, integrated button LEDs, more recording headroom, etc are handy.

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I had my MK1 unit for more than decade, of course it was slowly wearing out, but I was lucky even with the encoders, no real issues and I did 0 maintenance

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They did, and they do. I wasn’t especially nervous they’d turn me down as I had an out of warranty repair approved for an A4 I actually did break myself while moving a few years back. The downside are:

1: You have to ship it to California.
2: $50 per service hour.
3: You pay parts if needed.
4: It’s a low priority repair for them, so expect a four week turnaround, if not six.

They assess, and confirm pricing before the repair.

They’re great to work with, and even gave me some useful extras when they accidentally screwed up the return shipping of my in-warranty Digitakt II (screen developed white lines; known flaw with the first batch).

I could probably find cheaper locally, but no idea where to start, or even how extensive the damage is (I haven’t opened the unit up), but I hear stuff sliding around when I tilt the unit, so Ekektron direct feels a superior choice.

On the plus, I don’t use my OT much at the moment, and need to focus on the Tonverk (my OT was turned into a performance mixer, but I can live without that for now).

This years marks 11 years for my unit. First issue, and it came out of the blue.

That’s just it, I wouldn’t be too inconvenienced. I have even considered selling it, but have kept it around because it’s very immediate, and is the only sampler I own that can quickly snag a bar or two of audio without stopping (with precise step length precision). As a modular guy this is important ‘cause you often get modulations and rhythms going that are in time but not locked in synch, so a stop/start will change its nature. This is part of why paying the difference for MKII feels hard, I want my OT to keep working, but I’m no longer passionate about it.

So for all that I’m keeping an OT. Buying another MkI just puts me back into the same position (worrying if another random failure is around the corner).

Yeah, I probably should sell it, and upgrade. I just prefer the MK1 aesthetic (and maybe slider?)…

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MKI main weakness imo.
Plastic base can break over time…

I had a few of them brocken.
I could repair with glue, except pattern button ! No more arranger.
I sold it as is for cheap…

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I much prefer the MKII !

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Dig your custom MKII buttons. Easy mod?

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Once you got the Digitone 1 buttons, yes.

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No need to sell an Octatrack for something trivial.
Mine had 2 broken buttons in more than 10 years. Ordered a few from Elektron when the first broke. For someone with soldering experience it’s easy to just replace the whole button on the circuit board.

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Not trivial. I ruined the PCB unsoldering the switch. No more pattern button : no more arranger.

No reassuring to see switches breaking one after the other…
No regret to have sold it.

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Exactly. Even for an experienced tech it’s not an easy repair.

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I should have said ‘it’s trivial for any tech good at soldering’ :wink:

The I/O board is a standard through-hole PCB. When soldering electronics it doesn’t get any easier than that. If you can’t solder it’s hard of course.

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Not that easy even if you know how to solder. These switches pins are not easy to insert, you have to properly remove solder…and pins can move up inside the switch when you insert them : can’t work after.

PCB solder “rings” are fragile too. No more contact possible if you fuck them trying to insert the switch pins.

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