Gain staging advice needed

Elektron Gear Octatrack
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I use Prophet 12 as my main synth, i have the problem that when i change patches, their overall loudness vary quiete a bit. It depends on the role the synth plays, sometimes its small pluck, sometimes an epic lead. (Somerimes also als percussive fm tones)

Do you recommend that i synchronize my patch changes with different, compressor settings on each part?
Its a bit tedious to keep track of this. Not sure if its worthwhile.

Better sample it and gainstage it correctly, use a strong mono synth instead? Leads plucks run possibly into similar problems? Map the compressor to a midi controller and adjust if neccessary?

How do you go about live input instruments? Gainstage all patches beforehand?

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You’re going to struggle, the sound quality of the OT is terrible.

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I’m glad that myth is still going in 2026 :+1:

That’s what I would do, gainstage your patches as much as possible beforehand and have some compression for the peaks.

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I’m going to assume you’re sequencing the synth with the MIDI track of the OT and then monitoring it with a thru track?

Just use the volume parameter and p-lock it on the first step of the pattern

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i use a hapax, but the idea is good. I just fear the amount of work involved, or i narrow down the patch range.

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Personally I would fix this on the synth. Not other gear.

Level matching patches on your synth should not be hard. And once its saved, youre good to go for ever.

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I’d do it on the synth, too. Know the max output voltage of the synth, the max input voltage of the Octatrack. Set it so you won’t clip the input. Then dial in your patches.

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Had a similar situation with my Virus Ti. Ended up mapping a macro knob on it just for patch volume + setting thr individual patches to fit the overall volumes.
Doing that with a comp will hardly work for all situations.

So, yeah, do it patch by patch and by hand.

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seems like a job for the volume knob on the synth… ? :slight_smile: