Not sure if this equation makes sense, but I’ll try lol
Basically, I’ currently barebones and looking for a live sample mangler, or so I think.
I’m buying my first piece of hardware and I got it down to a Digitakt as after (too) much deliberation it has everything for a start. Sampler, versatile for all kinds of electronicambiental music, time stretching, fakish granular, immediacy… and I’m saving up for a second hand while looking for a good deal.
In all that wandering, I figured out that well octatrack can process external audio while Digitakt can’t, whch might be a feature I’m into, as DT won’t be my only intrument, I want o sample smaller synth maybe, like a Micromonster,hook up a Audio Recorder, and sample and resample live…
So, I’m terrifie of the Octatrack as it would be my first hardware, and not sure when I would manage to even save up for one… what are my other options? SP-404?
If stereo sampling is important then keep in mind that DT is mono (with stereo effects though AFAIK?), OT and SP 404 Mk2 can record in stereo. Might be worth noting if you want to capture any chorus or reverb type effects on synths.
How much experience do you have with audio tech in general? Because if you’re well versed with using DAWs and editing audio that gives you a bit of a leg up with learning something complex like the OT. Whatever you get be prepared to spend a fair bit of time reading the manual and learning the interface, that’s especially important if you value immediacy in your workflow.
The notion that the Octatracks workflow is something to be feared, is a fallacy. It’s over ten years old now, and this idea just needs to die.
The internet and forums, are rife with this type of comment,usually from people that have spent five minutes with it, and didn’t take the time to actually learn it. however it is as easy or as hard to learn, as any other piece of equipment.
Yes, it doesn’t do things the way you (not you op, but the royal ‘you’!) would expect, but that’s about your own perception of how X should do Y in order to get Z.
If you take the time to break it into manageable chunks, then it’s as straightforward as anything else.
So, if you are interested in getting it, then get it and learn it, like you would with any other instrument, and take your time to appreciate the engineering and design.
As Blue Oyster Cult once said - Don’t fear the OT…
I recommend having a closed off system that fits in a case! Many people here use flight cases and I think one way to quell hardware GAS is to buy items as they fit into the case, and then upgrading when it’s full.
Find a case that can fit the digitakt, and something else, go with that to start, and treat it like a semi modular synth/pedal board that you make through hardware. If you have two pieces of hardware and they take inputs then you will be able to mix and “mangle”.
It’s okay to dream, but if you’re living in a place where you don’t have a vigourous used market, and you’re still saving for a DT, then you also have to be realistic. How important is live sampling and mangling to you? Is it just another cool feature that it would be nice to investigate and explore, or is it essential? Because there are tradeoffs. You shouldn’t be afraid of OT, but it costs more, and has a different workflow. An SP-404 might be affordable, but you give up certain things. DT is possibly the most loved device on this forum, but there are plenty who moved on, or never clicked with it to begin with. There aren’t simple answers, which is why we talk a lot and buy/sell a lot. These conversations might be frustrating for you, because many of us have more money than sense. I suspect your choice may be driven more by what reasonable buying opportunities arise for you than anything else.
If you are willing to put in a bit of an effort, the OT is not that hard.
That was my first machine ever, never even touched like a synth before and it’s ok.
It might be even easier that way since i suspect most of people who gave up on OT were doing it because it was not their workflow or they had little to no patience because they were used to hardware where you push a button to get sound going.
To be fair, a mkI octatrack costs about the same these days as a good used digitakt, although better deals can be found from time to time. Otherwise, I’d say this is mostly verbatim my thoughts. Especially if you’re new to hardware, biting off more than you can chew is probably what I’d be mostly concerned about. It’s great to learn new equipment, but no one perfect piece of gear exists that does everything for everyone, there are always trade offs.
And the local used market will play a huge part in this kind of decision making, otherwise your cost goes up exponentially depending on where you live trying to buy, ship, pay fees etc.
I’ll also add I am in a country where the 2nd hand market is not super amazing and I can find a DT for 500€ and an OT MK1 for 630€ (MKII goes for 900).
So you can basically pay an OT MK1 for 200€ less than a new DT.
The Octatrack is the first sampler I properly clicked with. I think it’s because it’s a very versatile and deep system that I felt it was worth putting the time in to learn.
The Octa, given patience, can grow with you.
Even though v1 and v2 are functionally identical, it’s worth paying extra for v2 because of the rec buttons and fewer button combo needed to operate it. It is easier to learn.
