For those of you who use just hardware (such as a couple of electron boxes), do you generally use a mixer or route them all to one machine? I guess that everyone will have a different way of doing this, so maybe the better subject of this thread should be ‘tell us your signal flow’.
For example, I have an electribe 2, A4 and I’m just about to get an AR. I’m not really sure how I can hook these all together without using a mixer.
When i use only AR and A4, i send the AR into the A4 input.
It would be better to do it in the other way (A4 in AR input) to go trough the compressor, but all the AR input has a problem of very low level!!!
When i use a third device with them, like the electribe, i use a little mackie 802 with all device on stereo input
The inputs on the A4/AK are fantastic. The effects are super and being able to modulate them is very cool. Also with OB, you can record into USB from here. This is my preferred setup but if I’m using a drum synth, I don’t run it here because I like them crispy and unhindered.
True what they say about the AR, unfortunately. Using the compressor in a master mix would be great but you have to boost the signal with something before you put it in the AR which take a lot of the fun out of it.
I have a thread on the OT forum about using it as a mixer. TL:DR it is well spec’d for that duty but there is some tone degradation. If what you’re going after is the high fidelity of your beautiful instruments, this is not for you. If you’re looking for the features and effects. it’s a great value. If Elektron makes a mixer and uses top quality AD/DA, I will buy it. Until then , I use a budget mixer.
I generally try to keep it simple and just route via whatever machine I’m using …it constantly changes.
I have been known to use an 8 channel mixer though for more complex setups.
i used to use a mixer to get everything into one place;currently i’m working with an hardware only setup which comprises an AR a MM and a Blofeld, without using a mixer.
the AR goes into the MM and the Blofeld into the AR via a little signal amplifier. a mixer is an extra piece of gear you need to power and cable up, much depends on your needs as well
A couple mixerless options.
Electribe into Rytm, then Rytm into A4. This way you’ve got A4’s FX as an option for the other two.
or
Electribe into A4, then A4 into Rytm. This way Rytm’s compressor can compress it all. However, Rytm’s input is a bit low level with no fader to utilize. You may need to reduce the level of your Rytm tracks to get it all to mix well.
Option one is my recommendation for mixerless. Personally, I use a mixer live as it means I can cue any one machine without having to turn down another.
Good luck.
I was running a SlimPhatty and a WarpFactory into my A4 > OT, and RYTM > OT.
Lately I’ve just been using the Elektrons in the same way, RYTM and A4 > OT.
I’ve been committed to that to help learning/mastering navigation on the elektron boxes.
As soon as I get some tracks finished up using that method, I gotta try the A4 > RYTM, maybe ditch the master track on the OT.
I’d have a hard time giving up running machines through the OT for the fx and scenes just to get the RYTM’s compressor, but the idea is intriguing.
What I’d really like to do is go back to a small mixer, but one that doubles as a soundcard. Hoping the Soundcraft MTK mixers do this well.
I run MnM in A4, A4 in OT AB.
I run Evolver in MD, MD in OT CD
I use a Rolls MX-28 minimixer. It doesn’t take much space, its volume pots are handy, and it has 2 headphone outs, which are very convenient.
Nord Modular main out–>Ch1
OT Aux out–>Nord input, Nord output–>Ch2
OT main out -->Ch3
I can never remember every sound on every track on the different sources and hence required a mixer for cueing. It took me several weeks to figure out what I need and like. I ended up wanting at least 12 channels (AR, A4, OT, 2x FX returns, OT cue), plus an interface to link, if only for recording, up to a laptop. The mixers got then too large and I ended up with an expensive solution that has a lot more in it than I need … but which also keeps me happy fiddling around with those many options and on-board functions 
I summarized my setup, decision making and use HERE. I recommend downloading the User Manuals of the mixers and then map you wish list onto their functionality. I bought the Allen Heath Qu Pac but was otherwise fond of the Mackie and Yamaha mixers I looked at. The range of options for mixers is great and it was fun to figure out which to buy.
Thanks for the link Olaf!
Main squeeze for last few years is an OT/MD/MM setup, with the MM sequencing a Nord Rack.
OT is master clock and sends program change (using notes) via 2 Midi tracks (mutable) to the MD & MM.
MD & MM run into the OT inputs (via processing below) and are routed to direct out on OT.
OT Cue outs are sent to MD for ram record for transitions & occasion doubling of sounds.
MM sequences Nord, & nord main outs run into MM where I have a reverb/delay/fx track to effect its sound.
MM main outs run into an Overstayer FET Compressor then into the OT
MD main outs run into a Niio track thickener then into the OT
Main OT outs run into an Overstayer VCA Compressor & then a tc finalizer.
Also I have one of Guga’s awesome Morph4’s which I use for messing with particular track parameters I have on every MD pattern which comes in via a midi merge.
Have a small roland r05 recorder for taping, although most times easier to use ableton as a recorder
Just bought a virus so might swap out the nord, shall see.
Also got a BD9Q9 kick module recently and been wondering whether/How to incorporate that. Guess a mixer will be required.
Currently though its 4 units + a portable 4u rack.
Hey SpeakOnion, interested on what you are doing with your Nord mod processing the OT. Also are you working in mono?