Faderfox UC4 <3 Octatrack?

[marcelvidela]

you don’t need a USB host for this? Will it work like a Beatstep works (no computer needed?) I couldn’t stand the beatstep with the OT, the knobs were awful

[Rusty]

you don’t need a USB host for this? Will it work like a Beatstep works (no computer needed?) I couldn’t stand the beatstep with the OT, the knobs were awful

FaderFoxes are standalone units.

[casewoo]

I am so happy with my Faderfox UC4. What an incredible little standalone MIDI controller with direct connection to the Octatrack.

Here’s my first performance. Merry Christmas and thanks everyone!

YouTube:

Soundcloud:

[door]

just finished programming the faderfox uc4 for the octatrack.
editing is quick and easy, the acceleration feature is great!

capped the upper value for the track level faders at 108 in order to prevent clipping, super nice this is possible.

really invites you to…well…PLAY

[Octauser]

Hi!

I would love to know how you setup all the stuff out?
I have to say Faderfox feels really really good!!
I enjoy this machines a lot!
Can only recommend them!

Cheers!

Ps. Ok I think I’m getting into this now thanks Rusty!!
One thing guys and I might get it during the coming hours… I want to use also some for controlling the effects how did you go by? I mean Parameter 1, 2 etc. So is it possible to have more pages in UC4 since manual says 264 parameters! Wow in this little box!! Ds.

[Offbeat]

Dears,
I have setup where OT (master) sends MIDI to Analog 4 (slave). Analog 4 is connected via MIDI Thru to Nord Lead A1.
Analog 4 receives only transport and clock from OT as I use it’s internal sequencer. Using MIDI Thru in A4 OT is sequencing Nord Lead A1.
That is my setup.
And question; is it possible to control volumes using UC4 faders not only OT, but also A4 and NLA1? It is 16 tracks (8 internal audio of OT + 4 of A4 and 4 of NLA1).
That would be great if UC4 could control all 16 tracks.

Best Regards!

[depuratumba]

Since yesterday I also got myself a UC4 and managed to set up some controlls. So far bi-drectional communication works perfectly between both device.

But when you change patterns or parts on the Octatrack, for sure the control values on the UC4 are not matching anymore. Therefore the Octatrack provides a Midi CC 61 parameter called “Send requenst”. If you send this Midi CC (e.g. via a Button) from UC4 to Octatrack the Octatrack is sending back all current CC Paramters of all audio tracks.

Unfortunately the UC4 seems to ignore this “parameter dump”.

Could someone managed to get this “Send request” to work?

sorry to bump this thread, but I’m having a bit of a G.A.S. moment…
I currently use a NanoKontrol + USB Host to control the Octatrack… wich works pretty great, but since I’ve added a few synth modules to my setup, I’m looking for other possibilities…
I’m also interested in using it for the iPad, since it’s class compliant… specially since it has that Snap mode for the faders - I don’t know of any other controllers that have that function from hardware…
@novosonic, I’m curious about how that “Send Request” MIDI CC works along the UC4… would you mind giving an example? I mean, I understand the concept (I even tried to make it work some time ago with a Novation SL MKII, but unfortunately it didn’t), but I would like to hear an example performance-wise…
currently my main use with the NanoKontrol is volume (AMP page, so it doesn’t cut FX tails) and mutes/solos…

[MDM]

speak_onionO hai

Dannny Vibes on Instagram

that’s by far the sexiest Midi controller for the Octa ever / I’d use it on the Octatrack for sure, I do want instant access to the leves and the effect parameters without menu jumping…

[papernoise]

I have a UC4, which I primarily use for Ableton Live. I can only give praise to this little piece of gear! Best MIDI controller I’ve ever had, and I had a whole bunch of them. It’s really easy to set up, well designed, compact and I am told that it also uses very high quality components (I’m not expert enough to judge that myself). I sure feels different from the cheap crap you find in most controllers from bigger brands, like the Novation ones I had, or from the Korg Nanocontrol (though of course it also costs more than the latter). The thing that impressed me most are the encoders. Usually I’m not a big fan of encoders, but these really have a great feel! So if you have to go with a controller for the OT, I think this is really one of the best you can find!

[papernoise]

I did try to set up the UC4 to use it with the but there’s something I don’t get. Is there a way to map the 8 faders to the 8 level controls on each track, so I have instant control on the volumes of all 8 tracks? As far as I can tell, the incoming MIDI CCs will only control the currently active tack on the but maybe there’s some trick I’m not aware of…

[vehka]

In the OT settings, you select which track responds to which MIDI channel. In the Faderfox settings, you set the channels per fader settings accordingly. You always use the same CC value for channel volume, just the MIDI channel is different.

[papernoise]

@vehka: Oh that’s the trick! Right… that makes sense. thanks a lot!

[papernoise]

I was wondering, how did you set up the UC 4 to work with the ? I use the encoders to control the cue (since I need to be able to send the signal to my modular) and the faders for the track level. The problem of course is that I get parameter jumping when changing patterns/parts, does anybody know if there’s a way to solve that at least for the encoders?

BTW, arming one-shot trigs is done by holding the YES button (or the assigned button on the controller) and it will only arm the trigs that are “played” while the button is held, since playing a re-armed trig will automatically disarm all one-shots. Is there some setting to change that? I can’t find any… but maybe I’m looking in the wrong place

[josker]

I think something like CC 61 was something like “parameter request”, but don’t know enough about that to be honest… Hoping somebody chimes in.

As for the ‘arm trigs’, I think that can’t be changed in the Octatrack – but couldn’t you change the button on the UC4 to be a toggle instead of a momentary button?

[papernoise]

As for the ‘arm trigs’, I think that can’t be changed in the Octatrack – but couldn’t you change the button on the UC4 to be a toggle instead of a momentary button?

yes I can do that. I was more wondering in general. But I guess you are right. I can’t be changed.

[josker]

Quick note:

This probably rocks as a controller for the Novation Circuit. You can just use a TRS minijack cable to get MIDI going between the two, just tried it!

[papernoise]

The annoying thing of TRS mini jacks is that some use a certain polarity while others have it the other way around. So for example you can plug this directly into an Electribe 2…
But fortunately the OT still have some good ol’ DIN connectors.

[Psypher]

Hi there fellow Elektronists!

I just received my UC-4 the other day and I have mostly used some time to make a second DIY mini-jack to DIN (with multimeter and soldering iron, so it should be bulletproof).

But I did try it out for 40 minutes and I realised a couple of things (one was, that the manual is VERY simple, so the things you understand is short and precise and tight when you need to go back and look up a certain thing, which is good, but when you don’t understand a feature you are fu****!).

I havn’t managed to find Faderfox userforums or support yet. (I assume it is a small and simple company).

I stumbled over two specific questions:

1. How do I actually copy settings among the controls (So I can set all the green buttons to toggle switch, CC49, etc. and only change the MIDI-channel for each of them, to make mute-buttons for all the 8 channels)?

2. I tried to go to edit mode and change Grp1 to Grp2, set it up differently than Grp1 (making Grp1 mute-buttons and Grp2 Solo-buttons) and then exit and switch between Grp1 and Grp2, but suddenly both groups were solo-buttons.

I have to investigate more and give it more test, try and error - but it did annoy me that they didn’t explain it with a couple more words, so there wasn’t any doubt.

After I solve these two, I will LOVE to here about how other people have it setup and maybe even sharing some good templates for some good inspiration?

Thanks
Psypher

[papernoise]

I havn’t managed to find Faderfox userforums or support yet. (I assume it is a small and simple company).

Yes afaik Faderfox is basically one guy doing everything.

How do I actually copy settings among the controls (So I can set all the green buttons to toggle switch, CC49, etc. and only change the MIDI-channel for each of them, to make mute-buttons for all the 8 channels)?

What do you not understand about copying? It’s pretty clear from the manual to me… but I have never tried to actually copy/paste something.
When in edit mode try to push all the buttons that you want to have the same assignment as the one your are editing, until you see an animated pattern on the screen. This should apply the same settings on all controls inside that group.

I tried to go to edit mode and change Grp1 to Grp2, set it up differently than Grp1 (making Grp1 mute-buttons and Grp2 Solo-buttons) and then exit and switch between Grp1 and Grp2, but suddenly both groups were solo-buttons.

You need to understand how the Faderfox works first. There’s Groups and there’s Setups. Setups are your presets, you get 16 setups, + 2 which are setup for Ableton live (17 and 18).
Once you pick a setup (let’s say you have picked #1) you can edit it and save its configuration.
Settings on controls like encoders and fader/buttons are organized in groups (8 groups in total). So for example you can set up different CCs for each group. You need to select the setup/group before entering edit mode if I remember that correctly. groups can be changed for everything or independently for encoders and faders/buttons. If I remember that correctly the faders and buttons are linked together.