First world problems of routing

Elektron Gear
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I have a Digitone, Digitakt, Octatrack, Micromonsta2, and a Syntakt somewhere on planet Earth in the clutches of FedEx.

Octatrack - Mixer and looper - NO master channel
Digitakt - Drums and Percussion, one shot FX
Digitone - Leads/Arps/FX
Micromonsta2 - Pads and bass
Syntakt - FX, percussion, drums, leads, bass, all the things

For my live set, I have the DT going into AB on the OT, the DN going into CD on the OT, and the MM2 going into the DN. I can’t have anything going into the DT because there’s no way to bypass the compressor on the external signal.

Now on the OT, I have the DT track set up with some scenes for the types of drum FX you’d expect (filters, delays, compression, etc). Same thing for the DN.

So now I’m in a pickle. Where do I route the Syntakt? Do I put it on the DN track, but then accept that any percussion from the ST won’t be effected by the DT stuff, or do I put it on the DT track and accept that if I use any synths or basslines from the ST, they get effected by the DT stuff?

OR do I put the Syntakt AFTER the OT and let the whole track run through the analog filter/distortion for final touchup? That at least bypasses the issues with the FX, on the DT/DN channels of the OT, but then, of course, there are other issues with that.

Depending on space, I may also have the whole set running through an iPad for master EQ and compression, so that’s at least there to help.

Of course, when the OT isn’t in use for a smaller set, the whole thing is messed up again by the DT compressor’s lack of bypass since the MM2 has no audio input and HAS to be the last in the chain.

BOOOOOOO on the DT compressor!

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I’m not 100% that I get your setup issue, but I think you could go DT into DN, DN into ST, ST and MM2 to OT. This keeps the DT compressor in its own lane. Putting the ST at the end seems odd to me, but I guess it could be nice to run it all out the ST AFX.

Still figuring out where I’m fitting mine as well.

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The problem with DT not having it’s own track is that I have specific FX routing for the drums specifically - master compressor, filter, delay, and reverb. Same for the DN. What I really need is to find a way to get 2 sets of stereo outputs from the ST! I feel like, out of all the Digi boxes, the ST really would have benefited from 2 sets of stereo outputs so you could route synths and drums to separate places. Oh well!

The ST being at the end definitely seems a bit weird. My only other option would be to have the ST go into the iPad on a separate track and then mix them in there, but again, I then miss the OT stuff. Ugh.

Maybe I just need to buy 2 Syntakts?

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I feel you here. I think ultimately its the OTs lack of inputs that hamstrings the whole thing. Last thing I can think of is to run one or more of them mono. I’ve half considered doing this for an expanded setup. Hard to give up stereo though.

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I’d pick the option that ticked off the most boxes in terms of how you want the OT’s scenes and effects to work…which to me would seem to be to have the DT run into the ST, which then runs into the OT’s AB. Yes, you’re applying the OT’s drum effects chain/scenes to whatever melodic/harmonic parts come out of the ST, but on the whole you’re keeping your percussive elements together. Plus you can dirty up and unify your DT and ST percussion with its analog FX, which should help glue things together.

First World problem indeed!

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It’s only a matter of time until somebody will suggest what I’m about to suggest, so it might as well be me: Might it be a good idea to reduce the amount of gear in your setup? Maybe ditch DT and let the ST take over its role. Use the OT for everything that can only be achieved with samples. Less gear, less problems with routing. As you said, your first world problem is you’re spoiled with too many choices, and there is quite some overlap in the roles you assigned to each device. I’d suggest to keep it as simple as possible, but maybe I’m just a simple man. I couldn’t even make more than 2 elektrons work together flawlessly so take my advice with a big grain of salt.

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Was thinking something similar. Maybe ditch the dt for it’s current purpose? Sounds like with the addition of the ST, the DT is there as a compressor and for when you want a drum sample?

Maybe wait for ST to get a compressor (I legit see this happening soon)
Or just make a master track on OT and add a compressor there?

Also I am having similar issues with my own setup. Expect to see me back here looking for advice on my own setup

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A small mixer with two stereo bus will solve all your problems (and even more)
I’ve been reluctant to incorporate a mixer in my setup for a long time as everything machine was routed into each other and it was working pretty well. But once i incorporated one i could not go back.

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No can do. The whole purpose of the rig is to compose, program, record, and finalize an entire album right on the machines. My goal is to be able to play the entire album out live as it was written, with the ability to remix and rearrange on the fly.

@davestasiuk I get your point, my concern is that that DCVO looks like it’ll be great for basslines and monoleads, so that would get all messed up by the filter stuff. Ugh.

I may incorporate @big_job_head idea of a mixer, but instead use my MOTU M4 into my iPad. 1 channel for the OT/DT/DN, and another for the ST. @big_job_head, can you share your routing?

I also, going back to my idea of having the ST at the end of the chain, be able to attach some MIDI controls to various aspects of the ST so that I can emulate my OT drum chain scenes on there while also rocking them on the OT.

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sure, you need to have a small mixer with at least two stereo output busses (or four mono busses)
plug the first stereo out bus into AB on the OT, the second stereo out bus into CD on the OT. the OT output goes into the PA/speakers/outboard/…
put all the remaining machines into the mixer’s channels.
This way you can route any machine into any OT input.
you can even use the sends into the inputs of the DN or DT to use their effects like outboard gear.

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I déco d the idea of mixer, with sends towards the OT and your iPad.

And to be more precise, this one is really convenient:

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I definitely second incorporating a mixer. It would add the flexibility you don’t have due to OT’s lack of inputs.
Ideally you want as many separate signals as possible and with the amount of boxes you have, i would not rrecommend saving on a mixer.
Although it seems flexible, going from a box into another into ot inputs is a nightmare to mix, spatialize and for scenes and goodies of the OT.
The only downside i see is to get a cheap mixer with cheap preamps to sum elektron neat signals.

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On a cheap mixer i would be more worried by lack of headroom, EQ quality and proper calibration between channels than preamps, as line levels usually needs little to no gain from the preamp - but i recon some mixers could add some coloration to the sound (eg mackie ones).

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Side equipments like a mixer, a MIDI hub or monitors are less rewarding on the paper than the new fancy groovebox, yet have such a deep impact on the quality / playability of the system that they should not be a place to overlook. And most of the time, such equipments are here to stay as they quickly become essential. So it’s a place where the right amounts of time (to really identify the needs) and money (to get the right quality) are needed, IMO.

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I too have bunch of instruments that I’m using for various tracks, but the only thing they have in common is that at one point or another, I want them through the Octatrack. But the Octatrack only has 4 mono inputs (or 2 stereo), so what to do?

My solution was to get a mixer that has aux sends. So everything is hooked up to the mixer, including the Octatrack of course. The Octatracks inputs are hooked up to the aux sends, so when I want to route something to it, I simply use the aux sends, record my stuff, then activate that track in the Octatrack. It takes some setup to get the levels right, but after that, it’s a pleasure to reroute stuff and record it on the fly. Bonus with a mixer is some EQ before it goes into the Octatrack.

The mixer I use is a Mackie 1604, but as long as it has enough aux sends, you’ll be able to do this with any mixer.

Edit: Ah, and as @LyingDalai said above, I also have a MidiHub from Blokas to hook up the MIDI all over the place, so shit stays in sync and I can send MIDI to various places.

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Everyone has some great ideas! I do have a Mackie vlz3 804 or whatever. It technically has 2 sets of stereo outputs. I could find a creative way to route everything. Of course, then the live rig just gets even bigger! Man, these first world problems are the pits! /s

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Yeah, my reply was a bit studio focused, and my setup do take up a lot of space, wouldn’t go to a gig with all of those things for sure.

With that said, there does seem to be some mixers who focuses a bit more on being on the tinier side, if that helps.

One of them seems to be “StudioLive 16.0.2” by PreSonus. Less than 0.19 m2, it seems to be quite a bit smaller.

Bunch of other recommendations in these two threads, in case you decide to dig deeper into finding a mixer for this purpose:

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Yeah. I’m thinking, if anything, my iPad and MOTU M4 would be my “mixer” as I could send the DN and ST into the iPad, then those into the OT, and the DT into the OT, then the iPad out to the master. We’ll see. Once I get the ST, I’m sure I’ll move things around a lot. Thankfully, I have a patchbay in the studio for easy routing and testing.

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A patchbay can also be interesting : small footprint, passive, it makes rewiribg easy.
As you rarely use everything at the same time, and actually make better use of what you have when you restrain the number of pieces, it can be the path to investigate.

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I have 2 Samson S-Patches all wired up in the studio. They’re indispensable in the studio. I’ve been hoping to keep my travel/live rig as small as possible, but maybe I’ll just have to accept that the way I want to do it isn’t exactly 100% feasible just yet. We’ll get there!

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