From Ableton Live to Octatrack

marktheis · 2014-01-23T15:51:44.000Z

Hi. I’m considering switching my live setup to use the octatrack instead of ableton live and a computer.

After many searches it seems it can do a lot! So I have some questions.

Is it possible to use multiple samples in a track as a keyboard and play that live with a midi keyboard? (I use simpler or sampler in ableton where each note is a sample)
Is it possible to use multiple midi controllers to control multiple tracks at the same time? (I currently have 2 keyboards for synths and 1 controller for effects in ableton)
Is it possible to use a midi controllers knobs or sliders on different tracks? (One knob for effect on track 1, another knob for effect on track 2)
Is it possible to split the stereo input into 2 mono inputs and apply different effects for each input?

Great forum btw. A lot of good information!

avantronica · 2014-01-23T17:27:42.000Z

quick reply from a recent OT buyer - so no guarantees these are 100%

not sure externally, internally yep
yes - you’ll need a merge
same as 2
fx are stereo, so nope

i don’t like live or computers for that sorta stuff much
but i struggled with the thought they were comparable (and i own Live9)

having played the OT for a month or 2 now
i’m convinced they are not now
The OT is an instrument, it does loads, it reacts and sounds like an instrument

It’s serious dough because it’s serious kit - it’s not a DAW, but it’s a load more fun imho

sabo · 2014-01-23T17:47:49.000Z

do you mean like you have a sample linked to C3, then a different sample linked to C#3, then another sample linked to D3, etc etc? Im not sure about the answer to this question, there might be a way. that seems like a very straightforward functionality for a sampler to havr, but the OT isnt really a traditional sampler.

2+3. you can have complete CC control of all the internal midi parameters, though there is only one midi input.

this is absolutely possible. Thru machines let you select which input you want to process, either as a stereo pair, two individual mono channels, or a combined mono channel.

its not ableton, but it is a very interesting and powerful machine. i wouldnt expect being able to directly translate your liveset from ableton into the OT, but you could probably create something similar, and perhaps, ultimately, more creatively satisfying.

marktheis · 2014-01-23T18:11:42.000Z

Great.

Yeah that’s what I mean.
I have seen posts about using one sample and then pitch it up and down. But if an update to the OT or something makes it use multiple samples instead that would be great.
so if I have 2 keyboards and press C3 on both of them the first will go to track 1 and the other go to track 2 for example?

avantronica · 2014-01-23T18:15:04.000Z

""sabo"":

this is absolutely possible. Thru machines let you select which input you want to process, either as a stereo pair, two individual mono channels, or a combined mono channel.

is that possible, he asked for separate FX per input pair ?!

avantronica · 2014-01-23T18:18:36.000Z

""marktheis"":

Great.

Yeah that’s what I mean.
I have seen posts about using one sample and then pitch it up and down. But if an update to the OT or something makes it use multiple samples instead that would be great.

so if I have 2 keyboards and press C3 on both of them the first will go to track 1 and the other go to track 2 for example?

multiple samples per track (mono of course) is easy on the unit - triggering the different samples remotely is something i have not tried - that means playing slots or slices via midi - but you can play one sample chromatically +/- 1 oct
midi channels, you can even do this on some (singular) keyboards with splits

rhizome · 2014-01-23T21:23:44.000Z

1 - no. one of the most requested features.
4 - yes, you can sample and process the inputs in mono. doing this on any one input requires its own track though.

avantronica · 2014-01-23T21:27:23.000Z

""rhizome"":

you can sample and process the inputs in mono. doing this on any one input requires its own track though.

doh ! - sometimes it’s the simple solutions we overlook

marktheis · 2014-01-23T23:22:02.000Z

Ok.

Good that it’s a requested feature. Maybe one day it will be possible.
I think it will open up the octatrack to a lot more electronic musicians that makes more melodic music. Or even just a keyboard player in a band.

The only alternative right now is a DAW on a computer which is a shame.

This forum seems very professional and dedicated which really shows!
Thanks for all the info.

sabo · 2014-01-24T06:15:22.000Z

for 1+2, an mpc can accomplish this. it has two midi inputs, and you can have either the keys of your keyboard linked to different samples chromatically, or create an instrument which will change playback speed according to pitch, as well as being able to determine which samples are linked to what part of the keyboard range. an mpc also has 20-voice polyphony, and up to 64 tracks, versus the OT only having 8 (or 7 voices) and 8 tracks. but the ot has a much more fluid, live workflow, a more powerful sequencer, a much vaster and higher quality array of effects, and much more interesting possibilities for routing.

marktheis · 2014-01-24T11:26:47.000Z

So if I have a MPC with the keys scaled chromatically connected to the octatrack.
Can I then for example change the tempo on the octatrack and that will slow down the samples on the MPC when I play?

I have read up on this use of a MPC but I have also read that you can quickly use up all the ram if you use that many samples?

I maybe play 8 songs on a gig. that’s 2 keyboards with 8 sampled instruments for each. So that will probably only be 2 octaves per song, per keyboard.

So 8 * 2 * 2

That’s 32 octaves worth of samples in a set. Would that be possible?
I have never used a MPC so don’t know how the ram and the disk space works.

sabo · 2014-01-24T12:24:20.000Z

an mpc’s samples are static, they don’t get timestretched based on the BPM. all the sequencing is MIDI based, so you use midi notes to trig samples. if you slow down the BPM, the midi notes will be triggered at a slower BPM but the samples will remain the same. An interesting effect in of itself, but not the same as an octatrack or ableton where the samples are continuously linked to the tempo.

an MPC has 128MB of 16bit 44.1khz memory, which comes to about 11-12 minutes of stereo samples (double that if using mono samples). it’s not a lot, but it’s not a little. an OT on the other hand can play back GBs of audio, just depends on your CF card. if the samples youre using for your instruments aren’t too long, then it should be fine. it sounds like you only need to create 16 different sample-based synth sounds, which is totally do-able, in either machine really.

the MPC has a greater range and flexibility in designing sample-based instruments. every instrument can be comprised of layers and layers of samples (same applies for its drum kits - that’s prolly why artists who heavily use an MPC like Clark or Prefuse73 tend to have really layered sounds). layering on the MPC is great, and the device has a really big sound. the FX are pretty lackluster tho (except for the compressor, which will smack you in the face). there’s also a lack of “hands on” FX (at least the MPC1000 really suffers from lack of knobs and interface). the OT’s lack of polyphony doesn’t allow for too much layering; the OT is more geared for loop manipulation, live FX+processing, and live resampling. it’s fx are all very hands on, and the machine is well designed for live use but doesn’t have the pads :-/ they’re amazingly different as machines, i’d say the OT overall has more uses and is more enjoyable for me to use based on how I like to make music, but the MPC definitely has its place and there’s others who prefer the MPC.

marktheis · 2014-01-24T13:59:06.000Z

That explains a lot thanks. Will have revise to my live set and see what I need.