How to sequence all tracks within Overbridge of the Digitone

Jeronan · February 7, 2020, 8:41pm

I did some more experimenting and here is another way to do it, if you want to use Ableton as Sequencer to the Digitakt/Digitone and still want to use Overbridge to split the Audio channels.

You still limited to one instance of the Digitakt/Digitone VST, as like I said, the sole purpose of the VST is to split the audio tracks. That’s it.
But at least for those interested. Here is an example screenshot of my experiment, to send individual Ableton sequences to in this case Track 1 and 2 on the Digitakt and then Output them over separate channels back into Ableton via Overbridge(Digitakt VST):

Dani538 · February 7, 2020, 9:18pm

Thnx for experiment this. To be completely honest then I don’t understand the fuzz about Overbridge and why it is so “big”. If it only splits the audio in selectste channels. The VST is for me the biggest thing in there. So I can tweak and modulate from there and put it in the arranger. Sure the split of audio is nice, but just a “minor” thing and not perse needed.

They could just leave the current vst out of it then and just created a plug-in for the split instead of tweaking the parameters. As I saw the idea was that you can program and sequence the whole thing from your computer. So you get a 8 track midi in your DAW for the Digitakt. Where you get automation for all the parameters. That’s where for me the fun starts.

But I ques I misunderstood. So for me Overbridge is not really suited.

Jeronan · February 7, 2020, 9:41pm

In all honesty. Me neither and totally agree with you. Elektron has really oversold Overbridge and some of their marketing is outright misleading.

I don´t understand the purpose of the VST either and why it exist in it´s current form. It´s just a useless gimick. It´s easier to fiddle with parameters on the actual hardware, than with the mouse.
It´s why we bought the hardware for in the first place!

Dani538 · February 8, 2020, 6:17am

I couldn’t agree more. Been using hardware more and more lately and left my DAW alone. Just record sometimes something in. But nothing more.

JoncourBlanche · April 13, 2020, 9:35pm

A bit late to the conversation but I’ve read the thread about a thousand times trying to figure out how to set up Digitone with Ableton, so I felt I should contribute. I agree that Doing sound design on Overbridge < Doing sound design on the hardware, so in that sense Overbridge does not bring much. However, when I figured out how to do automation of all Digitone parameters in Ableton, I think that is where the power and potential of Overbridge is. I just got the machine not long ago, but I feel like I’ll have fun with that part of Overbridge.

Other than that, the whole thing was a pain to figure out with the lack of instructions/tutorials or even a proper Digitone section in the Overbridge manual, so your conversation and everyone’s input helped me a lot!

DanJamesAUS · April 13, 2020, 9:53pm

Have you tried using total recall? one of overbridges best features being able to open an ableton project and your elektron gear automatically loads there status so it’s all saved withYour project !

also love how overbridge gives you the ability to use you hardware seamlessly with your daw…
perfect sync and smooth automation from the plugins… it gives you the choice truly great feature to have

danlukas · April 18, 2020, 12:44am

Jancour —

Any insight on how to automate DIGITONE in Ableton?

StreetDeezy · April 18, 2020, 1:21am

On the plug in shell? At the bottom window with the plugins, hit the configure button and then, say you’re on the filter page, turn the cutoff knob and the res knob. You’ll see boxes appear with those parameters. You can do for as many as you want.

danlukas · April 18, 2020, 2:42am

there is a limit of 128, which gets you about through T1 and T2.

djwashedup · January 22, 2021, 11:25pm

So is the consensus here that we cannot use Overbridge to receive notes or sequences from Ableton? I’ve tried everything I’ve read and nothing seems to do it aside from not using Overbridge and making an external Instrument.

Dani538 · January 23, 2021, 5:37am

It is a bit weird indeed. When you want to sequence from Ableton you have to use an external instrument and can route the audio from the OB plug-in. And then there is a separate channel for the OB plug-in.

If you want to automate you use the OB channel or cc from the external plugin.

Still think OB is highly overrated. It is a weird way for splitting the audio so you don’t have to use a Audio Interface. That’s the only reason I use it to get stems from my Digitakt or Digitone. But to set it up for sequence & automate from Ableton is a bitch. If I work in a DAW that is what I want.

It would be so simple like add 4 midi tracks. Drop the OB in each of them for the Digitone. Set the midi channels and sequence and automate. But no you can only have 1 OB per project and they want you to add external instruments to do the sequencing.

But I guess I want to use OB for something it never was intended to use. It is intended to use as a hub so the boxes are joined into your DAW and in sync. But sequencing and all still goes from the boxes instead of the DAW and you can record them per track.

I have made peace with it and therefor don’t use OB not that much.

pdp · January 23, 2021, 6:58am

Dont know if here is some additional information. (Episode 12 and13)
I never used it this way from a daw.
Only sometimes as audio tracks for bitwig.

Using a4 as mididrummachine controller gave a bit too much latency, didnt test often.
That is on my old hp.
Digitone on macbp maybe a bit less latency but it seems less stable or maybe a4(mk1) is more stable.
Anyway i think its great for audio from one device and one hw synth on audio in and the rest from daw (i dont even have an audio interface bc of fear of t2 chip problems at the time…) , just as always I never made something serious…

Dani538 · January 23, 2021, 7:31am

Well I learned something new that I do t need to use a External Instrument. But still need a shitload of channels haha and automate is still on another track then on the track where you sequence from.

auditorycanvas · January 23, 2021, 7:31am

Give this a try.

djwashedup · January 24, 2021, 10:10pm

I got it to work using this, so thank you! Although I still cannot seem to get my digitone to record incoming notes even though I have “receive notes” checked off.

djwashedup · January 25, 2021, 12:19am

NEVERMIND I GOT IT TO WORRRRRRK!!! YAAAAAA! I am SO excited! I just used an external instrument and I think I just had the settings off in ableton! I’m gonna jam SO HARD NOW!

Aen · January 25, 2021, 1:33am

yyyyyeahhh, Overbridge has only been an exercise in frustration for me. By the time I get it set up for whatever “trick” I’m trying to do music time is over.

I’ll stick with a midi cable and an audio interface.

nathanielad · May 19, 2021, 12:00pm

Good to hear that! As I’m also currently struggling with my OB-DN-Ableton setup. Would you mind sharing your current settings/routing using the External Instrument on Ableton? Can you still record incoming notes into the internal sequencer of the DN?

nathanielad · May 19, 2021, 12:13pm

Also I’ve found this thread in which you can download pre-made Ableton project templates for each machine! Gonna try this out now

https://www.elektronauts.com/t/templates-daw-overbridge-settings-mac-by-me-and-pc-by-rafh/34281/79

otzcz · May 19, 2023, 1:49pm

Hi, it’s pretty dumb idea to sequence DT/DN tracks from DAW, tbh, it’s like 8+8/4+4 track HW Ableton on steroids. Elektron sequencer is way ahead of any pianoroll, it’s developed for fast and useful work, if you doesn’t get it and your choice is still to spend years due mouse clickin, go and sell it. Any old-fashoined simple sound module (DX200 or RefaceDX, or PreenFM…?) will be more suitable for you.