I big reason I got an OT was so I could sample serum and incorporate it into my live set without the optics of a laptop.
I don’t actually play live though. Heehee.
I just got mine after actively avoiding OT for, like, 3–4 years. My excuse was always “I don’t play live and never intend to…”
I swear to god, if 
just started shipping these in demo mode to random people, they would sell every single one. It’s such a hard thing to explain but such an easy thing to use. All the youtube videos in the world won’t persuade anyone that they need it, but now that I’ve played with it all of 10 minutes I’m completely convinced.
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I think you can assign a recorder buffer to a flex machine, pre slice in the audio editor.
Then the slices remain once you record a sample, and even if you record over it.
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I think I did this. By mistake 
Had recorded in a REC buffer, sliced, then cleared the slot.
When I did record again, the slices were there with their track trigs 
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Alrighty, I’m hitting a wall here octatrackanites…
I can’t get manual record to work on a flex machine. I just want to sample a snare hit from another device. Following the manual isn’t working for me. What’s the easiest way to sample a snare hit?
Also, does play always have to be on (with a trig) to get sound through a flex machine?
Do you have the Flex track set to use the according Rec Buffer? Because you won’t see the Sample show up in the audio editor, if you don’t (Although you can make it visible by pressing FUNC + REC3…then edit this recording)
Lol, Idk. When I double tap T5, it shows it’s assign to “recording5”.
How do I get my sound source to play through the track without putting down a record trig first so I can hear what I’m doing?
Edit: I can get it to record using a one shot record trig from the recording setup 1 screen no problems, but I can’t figure out how to manual record just using the record button as described in the manual.
Edit: Do I have to blow a track on a thru machine to hear what I’m doing before I want to sample to a flex machine on another track?
- In order to hear the sound while sampling, go to the mixer and turn up the direct signal.
- Check your REC setup page and make sure you have selected the correct inputs.
- Go into the personalize menu and see if have QUICK REC enabled. If not, you need to press T1-8 + REC1-3 in order to record onto that track. If you have it enabled, you can record using only REC1-3.
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Ok! I’m turned up the mixer DIR for T5 but my source is mono (input A) and it only monitors on my left headphone.
I always have to be in “play” to sample? Even when manually sampling?
If you want to monitor the inputs in mono you probably would have to use a through track.
No, you don’t have to play your sequence in order to sample.
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….hmmm, okay then I’m am doing something wrong, I’m gonna take a break for the evening and give it a try again tomorrow. Thanks for the help!
no worries! the OT needs patience in the beginning.
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This is normal. Flex machines do not and cannot record anything. Ever.
Track recorders do the recording.
Yes. And No. No trig = no sound. You can manually trig the machine of course.
Set up a track recorder to record your incoming audio.
You dont need to pass audio through a track. You can use the mixer page, and use the DIR (direct) level controls to monitor your incoming audio.
No. See previous answer.
This is normal. Use A+B to get summed mono.
No. Sequencer does not need to be running in order to sample manually.
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Flex machines don’t record, they play back.
Track Recorders do the recording. Each track has a recorder (so there’s 8), and each recorder records into a buffer (so there’s also 8).
You might be getting flex machines and recorders muddled up, because you might be using a flex machine to play back a recorder buffer. I recommend not doing that unless you’re “live sampling”.
For sampling hits and other stuff you plan to use later on, rather than in-the-moment, forget about the track machines, and focus on the recorders.
I’m not at my OT right now so I’ll mess up any other other advice on buttons and settings.
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PS what @Microtribe says. 
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Yep! I understand how the recorders work and the difference between playing back the buffer or a sample using a flex machine and the recorders themselves.
I just wanted to easily record a bunch of “one hits” and I figured it out - from the manual:
• HOLD makes the recorder, once the sampling process is initiated, sample for as long as the [TRACK] + [REC1/2/3] keys are pressed and held, given they are not pressed longer than the time frame of the RLEN setting allows. The outcome of the sample depends on if manual sampling or recorder trigs are used.
This allows me to quickly make short samples by holding the button (quick record mode), then trigger my source, and then let go of the button to stop recording. Easy.
Sometimes you just have to step away when it’s not working, clear your mind, and come back to it with a refreshed vigor and attitude.
Thanks everyone!
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Yeah, I think I’m going to have to burn a track and set it up as a thru track… or… I’m thinking I can make a new part in my project that reconfigures the Octatrack quickly for some mono input “one shot” sampling (using a thru track for monitoring) but then I can quickly switch back to my other part with a bunch of flex machines so I can assign and play back all the newly created samples. I think this is possible… we will see.
Hey Karl, from my experience you don’t need to sacrifice a track. Just use direct monitoring and you can capture all your samples.
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Through the mixer page right? I tried that, but my source is mono (connected to A) and only comes in the left side of my phones which isn’t the end of the world when I’m just generating a bunch of one shot samples for later use.
This just blew my mind. Burning into memory. Hadn’t thought of it like this b4. Thanks.
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