Connecting OT and DT and finishing tracks

[Thunderghoul]

Yo, so basically I got a DT and fell in love with it. Then decided to get the OT. A much harder box to learn. Now that i feel like i’ve come to grips with the device and what i’m making needs the use of a second machine to handle my drummy things. I gotta figure out how to connect them and what i’m working with. What would be the most efficient way to connect these two boxes and is there a way for pattern changes on one to make patterns change on the other. (I’m at work while i’m mulling over these ideas so i can’t test things myself. Just looking for a base to have before i go home). How do you guys finish full songs with the OT. My mastering will probably be done in Ableton but i’d like to get as far in as possible before touching a mouse and keyboard.

Thanks a ton.

[PeterHanes]

@Thunderghoul

What would be the most efficient way to connect these two boxes and is there a way for pattern changes on one to make patterns change on the other.

The simplest way to get started is to keep sequencing on both instruments and have their pattern changes synchronized. This post from a previous topic gives the basic instructions:

Octatrack and Digitakt Program Change

No. The OT does not have this feature, unlike the other Elektron instruments that have MIDI sequencing capability. There is no such MIDI CC. The MIDI message type that Elektron uses for communicating a change of pattern to another instrument is the MIDI Program Change message. You can set this to happen automatically on the OT in the PROJECT > MIDI > SYNC menu by activating PROG CH SEND and by setting the PROG CH SEND channel number to be the same number as is set for PROGRAM CH IN CH in the…

@Thunderghoul

How do you guys finish full songs with the OT.

This is a bigger question and there is plenty of discussion for you to check out already:

Making full songs with the Octatrack

Alright everybody, I have a very cool little setup at the moment with an Octatrack, a modular, a Digitone and a few guitar pedals (delay, reverb and compressor) and I want to dedicate at least a few months to this groupe of machines and making music only with them and without a computer. The OT is gonna be the brain but every time I sit and try to work on something, I end up with a generic beat which never goes anywhere, so I believe I need to work on a method. So two options come to mind: eit…

How is octatrack at finishing full tracks?

Hello! I am thinking about getting myself an octatrack to get away from computer and kind of wondering how reliable is it at arranging and completing tracks without computer interference? Of course i would do the mastering on computer, but besides that how capable is the machine? Thanks for answers! : )

Mixing on OT vs in the DAW

Hi all I use my Octatrack a lot as a drum machine routed into Ableton Live. Usually I mix my drums on the Octatrack, route the audio to Ableton Live, and do some finishing compression and a little reverb on the high end perhaps. All you other people – do you mix directly on the OT, or do you record each track to your DAW, before treating it further? Alex

[Thunderghoul]

Dude thanks! I think you’ve commented on a few of my earlier posts months ago as well and you pretty much always come through. Also is your avatar from the movie waking life?

[Thunderghoul]

Quick question? I have everything set up how I’d like between my OT and DT. but I do a lot of editing on my OT and the tracks on my DT also adjust to the knob turns there. What setting would fix that if any? or do I just need to P lock all of my steps/change the knob back after every OT edit?

[PeterHanes]

@Thunderghoul

I have everything set up how I’d like between my OT and DT. but I do a lot of editing on my OT and the tracks on my DT also adjust to the knob turns there. What setting would fix that if any?

The quickest method is to disactivate RECEIVE CC/NRPN in the Digitakt’s SETTINGS > MIDI CONFIG > PORT CONFIG menu.

Or you could stop the problem at its source by setting AUDIO CC OUT to “INT” in the OT’s PROJECT > MIDI > CONTROL menu.

[Thunderghoul]

I thought those were the settings I needed to have for the DT to detect pattern change signals?
I’ll give it a shot though and play around with some knobs. Thanks

[PeterHanes]

@Thunderghoul

I thought those were the settings I needed to have for the DT to detect pattern change signals?

They are not; those would be PROGRAM CHANGE SEND or RECEIVE.