Different Samples on Different Parts Not Working

Elektron Gear Octatrack
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I’m surprised I have to ask for help with this. Even though I just got my Octatrack a few days ago, I’ve been able to navigate around pretty easily and create an interesting Pattern with p-locks, multiple Scenes, etc. (i’m usually quite technically adept.)

But the one simple thing that I want to do, won’t work, despite following the exact instructions on both the Merlin’s Guide and the Octatrack manual. So I’m asking for help here… Did this feature get taken away in the latest OS update (my Octatrack came with 1.25E) or am I missing a step in what I’m doing?

Here is what I want to do, and what I’ve done to do it thus far… I am trying to have different Samples loaded into the tracks when I switch Patterns, knowing that I have to have said Pattern(s) assigned to different Parts. So for example and clarification:

On Part One I have:
PATTERN A01
Track 1 - Synth Sample 001
Track 2 - Bass Sample 001
Track 3 - Sound FX Sample 001
etc., All tracks have been assigned as Flex tracks beforehand in Pattern A01

… and all of this is saved as Part 1, with it’s own Scenes, etc.

Then I go to PATTERN A02 and immediately assign it to Part Two and also Save it to Part Two, and it gives that Pattern A02 and all the Tracks a fresh clean slate. So far so good!

Then I change all the Static Tracks on Pattern A02 on Part Two to Flex tracks and as soon as I do this, it assigns all the Samples I have on Pattern A01/Part One to the tracks on Pattern A02/Part Two. So I then do the following:

Part Two
PATTERN A02 I assign:
Track 1 - Drum Loop 002 (from an empty/different Sample Slot in the list as I learned from here - Can't get samples to follow parts )
and then I save Part Two.

And as soon as I do this and switch back to Pattern A01 (which switches to Part One as it should) the Drum Loop 002 from Track 1 of Pattern A02/Part Two is now on the first track of my first Part and first Pattern!? Even if I Reload that Part One. And if I change that first Track/Pattern 1/Part 1 back to the original sample that I originally had, it somehow changes it on Part 2 as well! And I keep going back and forth like this… very frustrating!

I hope I’m making it clear, but basically I thought the whole point to having different Parts was to have different samples loaded, yet I can’t seem to do this even though I think I am doing everything properly. If I’m not, PLEASE let me know what I am missing! Any help is greatly appreciated!

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Yes, that’s one of 3 tutorial videos I watched already…

The only thing I didn’t do, because it seems completely counter-intuitive (and would be completely stupid if this is the only way to get this to work) is that I didn’t copy Part One to Part Two, because then it copies all of my Samples and Scenes over to the new Part, which I would then have to proceed to delete [each Sample and every Scene] one by one just to fill it with all new Samples and create all new Scenes.

So, are you telling me this is the only way to have a second Part have new Samples and Scenes, by copying the first Part over to Part Two and then deleting everything that’s filled in there? Wouldn’t it make much more sense to simply select a new Part fresh, then fill it with what you want, save it, then be able to switch between the two parts with two different groups of samples?

Or is this one of those ridiculous things people talk about when they say “the Octatrack is frustrating”?

EDIT: Nope, looks like I don’t have to copy parts and patterns over… all sorted now. Whew!

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It seems like you’re doing it right. But the OT behaves as if there’s a sample slot double-reference. Make sure the flex machines in part 1 and 2 actually reference different slots. Loading a sample to a slot and actually assigning the slot to the machine happens in two discrete steps. The second step can easily be overlooked.

As you switch patterns, check the display.

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I thought that’s what I was doing, but as it turns out, though I was assigning a new Sample to an empty slot, I guess I wasn’t assigning that slot properly to the Track… but now it works! THANK YOU!
Now the only problem is, when I switch from Pattern A01/Part One to Pattern A02/Part Two, the samples from the previous part keep playing in addition to the newly assigned sample. Not sure what’s going on there…

1 Like
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I thought that’s what I was doing, but as it turns out, though I was assigning a new Sample to an empty slot, I guess I wasn’t assigning that slot properly to the Track… but now it works! THANK YOU!
Now the only problem is, when I switch from Pattern A01/Part One to Pattern A02/Part Two, the samples from the previous part keep playing in addition to the newly assigned sample. Not sure what’s going on there…[/quote]
Noob here, but try switching loop off.

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I thought that’s what I was doing, but as it turns out, though I was assigning a new Sample to an empty slot, I guess I wasn’t assigning that slot properly to the Track… but now it works! THANK YOU!
Now the only problem is, when I switch from Pattern A01/Part One to Pattern A02/Part Two, the samples from the previous part keep playing in addition to the newly assigned sample. Not sure what’s going on there…[/quote]
Noob here, but try switching loop off.[/quote]
Nope, but I did get it sorted.

I guess when I switch to the new Pattern on the new Part, I have to have each track filled with a different Sample, with Triggers on, but the Levels at Minimum until I’m ready for them to play (by crossfading to a new Scene, etc.) that way it cancels out the previous Part’s Samples that are looping… it works. I’m happy.

Thanks to you all for the help! I am really loving this Octatrack, despite the occasional hurdle. Amazingly powerful!

1 Like
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the final issue - sample still playing after pattern/part change - can be managed. in fact it can even be controlled. in pattern settings you have the START SILENT item. if you set it to auto, it follows the global settings for the project; if set to no - samples continue to play until a trig happens on second pattern.
if you set to yes - sample is sort of stopped on patt chng: th sample will not be instantly cut, rather it will enter its release phase once the pattern is changed. sooo you have to factor in the envelope settings in the AMP track page.

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I did not know that. That seems like a much better way to manage what I am trying to do… thank you!