I run a spare pair of outs from my mixer into one of the OT input pairs. That way I’m ready to sample anything I’m doing, on any gear, at any moment.
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Also, check how parts and patterns work together. Unlike the AR & A4, the OT shares some of it’s settings across patterns in a bank. There are no kits, only 4 parts per bank. This is IMO perhaps the biggest workflow diff from the analog machines.
Have fun, and patience!
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Thanks guys!
I can’t imagine that this is possible in 3 years. More like a lifetime task
Well, I won’t tap this thread too much more but the first couple days with the OT has been pretty interesting. Definitely find the way of getting around to be very similar to the Analog boxes, the only real esoteric function seems to be Function + Bank, which seems to be a way to get deeper options in a given menu.
But it’s interesting the way the manual is written. Reading through it, it all makes sense, but I find in practice things don’t ‘click’ initially until you kind’ve figure it out for yourself.
The Swedish way seems sort of, almost forward looking, to achieve x, do x. But often a question a user has is I am doing x, but why isn’t x working?
My initial insights that weren’t immediately obvious: 1. you don’t have to select a thru machine in order to hear inputs. 2. You must select a record buffer on Flex machines in order to hear inputs. 3. And just the general roll of ‘playback’ and ‘recorder’ trigs as being two seperate things.
Anyway, a nice start! Tarekith’s transition trick vid is nice not just for that trick but for some very quick understanding of the OT’s underlying processes.
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I have had my OT for about a year now and use it every day. I have found that going back to the Elektron instruction videos, the dataline demos and Cuckoo’s instruction videos (even now I am very familiar with the machine) always teaches me something new. I absolutely love this device, it is an amazing source of inspiration!
The use of “parts” is super valuable, the expanded pallet of available configurations is immensely useful. As far as sampling is concerned, I tend to do my basic sample editing in Wavelab on my mac. This way I get the very best plugins and can get my loops or one shots sounding awesome as .WAV files. Then I simply drop them into the OT as files and manipulate from there. I find this faster than working on the OT, but I’m not live sampling so maybe this doesn’t work for you.
I’m pleased you seem to be having fun! The OT is pretty awesome!
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I’m currently in a trio, and the other guy has an MPC, so don’t have any use for the sample side of the Octatrack at the moment. However. the MIDI sequencing is great, and the 4 ins and outs means we get 4 different FX for the sends and returns on our Mackie mixer. It’s versatile and can be used in a miriad of different ways, so I think it’s a worthwhile investment. And even if you’re not happy with it, it won’t be hard to sell on without making much of a loss financially. 
Gotta say, after trying one shot record trigs, simply having a quantized record setting to PLEN and just manual recording is much less hassle, no jumping back in to set or remove record trigs or having to deal with arm or disarm. I can see where there are times that you would want to use trigs, especially if playing live, but for at home use a quick tap of the record button (removing Track btn from the personalise menu) is pretty seamless
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You know mattleaf, I think I should do a refresher on sampling as you describe and give it another chance. I messed around with this when I first got the OT and then established my workflow using the computer. I think now I’m a lot more fluent in using the OT doing everything in the OT may make more sense.
One thing I think is super important for anyone thinking of buying any elektron product is that these machines require you to learn. They are so freaking deep and offer massive potential but the only way to unlock is to sit down and do the learning work! If you do that the payoff is huge.
I agree. I really enjoy that aspect of it - I can’t really rest on it till I’ve grok’d the whole system so to speak. That said, I think that knowledge of the logic of the box, and the actual muscle memory of moving around are two different things, the latter comes with practice.
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