I just bought an OT Mk2

Elektron Gear Octatrack
#102

I have been having a lot of fun with mine since it came in last week - glad I made the swap from the Cocoquantus - which I did love. It’s just a vastly more flexible instrument, and really powerful for abstract but tempo-oriented music. The live recording mode, LFO’s, scene changes, part changes, pattern changes all work together in a great harmony.

Live recording param changes, working fast, and not worrying too much about the outcome has been the most gratifying so far. Some of the limitations I thought would bother me a lot (not being able to pitch down more than 12 semitones, no pitch envelopes), have proved easily solved with part-swapping or sample-locking on a per step basis.

The ability to only map each LFO to a single parameter is also kind of annoying, but its easy to turn the knobs live instead anyways. Very fast track to what could only be described as autechre-ish timbres and rhythms. Should have an albums worth of material in fairly short order.

#103

Good day to all :slight_smile:
I have been playing with my OT for the last couple of days and had a lot of fun (at my level of understanding…) with flex and thru machines.
I have been taking it VERY easy due to the daunting depth of the machine.
So far I have hooked up a Bassline DB-01 to input A and DFAM to input B. Have managed to sync/start/stop with no hassle :blush: Working with a DT previously has greatly helped in this regard.
I am starting to see what I am expecting from the OT (mainly resample thru machines and mains) on the fly. I have not gotten there yet as I am trying to build a couple of templates so as to facilitate my workflow.

I have a question on another matter though. For the moment my setup is basic:
DB-01 in A OT
DFAM in B OT
I am not sure about connecting the OT main out to the DT in. Am I going to loose stereo due to the DT sampling in mono? Are the INs of DT reflected to its main outs?
I could have DB-01 to DT in Left and DFAM to DT in Right then DT main out to OT A+B.
I could even have:
DB-01 to OT in A
DFAM to OT in B
Digitakt to OT in C+D
The advantage I see in my current setup (DB-01 in A OT and DFAM in B OT then OT mains to DT in L+R) is the fact I can track through OB through DT.
What is your take/advice on that?

Edit: @LyingDalai I am most definitely going to get in touch soon for a little bit of advice :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

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#104

Yes. Any stereo information coming from your OT, and sampled by the DT will get summed to mono.

If just using DT to pass audio through then Stereo image will be preserved (providing you set up the ext input channels appropriately)

Personally I would have all the gear connected to the OT inputs, for maximum sampling/mixing/mangling possibilities.

I can’t offer any advice regarding overbridge since I dont have it. And I dont multitrack anything.

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#105

@Microtribe thanks a lot for your feedback.
I am not intending to sample into DT (apart from basic drums/perc/one shots to be played by DT). My question was not put precisely enough… Sorry about that :pray:
My only interest was to know if what goes through DT INs would not alter the stereo image. And you answered my question :pray:
Multitracking from OB is (was) an option but not the main point.
After thinking a bit about it, I might just follow your advice and have DFAM, DB-01 and DT go directly into OT :slight_smile:
I will then have Hydrasynth fed into DT INs.

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#106

Nice.
Find a set up that works for you, and stick to it for a while. At least while getting to grips with the OT. Thats two elektrons and a hydrasynth you got there, thats a lot of possibilities.

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#107

For the moment it is “only” 2 Elektron machines (DT and OT) and DFAM.
Hydra not in the mix yet. Taking the time getting used to OT workflow.
Setup is working fine:
DT/DFAM/DB-01 into OT.
OT mains to MOTU UltraLite Mk3.
DT is clocking DFAM through a Kenton pro solo for clock/cv/gate.
Pro solo thru to OT.
OT thru to DB-01.
Everything is in sync :pray:

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#108

Just wanted to say that guys at Elektron are nice people:
Received my second hand OT Mk2 in an overall very good state.
Headphones volume pot was way too wobbly (confirmed by Elektron staff after submitting a ticket) and sequencer buttons in pretty bad state for some of them (rubber coating).
As the unit is still under warranty, they were really quick in accepting to fix the headphones volume pot and replace the sequencer buttons.
Delighted and thankful :slight_smile:
Thank you Elektron :pray:

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#109

Soooo…
I am sending my OT to Elektron for a fix of headphones volume knob and sequencer buttons thanks to the nice people @Elektron :pray:

In the meantime, I have drawn an audio routing for my setup :slight_smile: and as I will have to move all my gear to the top floor of our house, that gives me time to plan…

That’s how it should look like:
DFAM > OT in A
DB-01 > OT in B
Hydrasynth > DT in L/R
Or:
DFAM > DT in Left
DB-01 > DT in Right
Hydrasynth > OT in A/B

Then:
DT > OT in C/D
OT Main > MOTU in 3/4
OT Cue > Doctor A > Specular > MOTU in 5/6
MOTU Main > FMR RNC > JBL Nano

How do you knowledgeable people see this?
Does that make sense?

I am looking at the OT to serve as a live mangle whose outputs (main and cue for effects) could be tracked in my DAW.

Any advice/opinion more than welcome :pray:

#110

Consider the things you probably want to effect/sample the most. Run those directly, and on their own, to the OT inputs.

You might wanna consider a small mixer with sends - that would allow you to choose which signals get sent to the OT for sampling/send effects by simply turning a knob.

Looking at your output setup, I see you have outboard fx on the cue outputs. There are some limitations with the control of cue sends. If I remember right, you can’t use the crossfader for dub-style fader throw effects - but you can adjust cue send with the track volume knob, though. A detail, but maybe worth knowing.

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#111

Thank you for your input @josker :pray:

I totally agree but since I would like to be able to run whatever synth through any of those 2 external FX boxes (Doctor A and Specular) I would like the flexibility… Hydra probably would not require it though the Specular has some stellar Reverb presets and a little analog delay from Doctor A would not hurt either :slight_smile:
Plus the fact I could run one Reverb into the other is also appealing.

I thought about it to be honest for convenience and I know a basic little Mackie with 4 stereo line inputs + a couple of mono ins would be nice but I am downsizing to the maximum and my MOTU can serve as an external mixer (not as extensively as a dedicated mixer I know) in standalone mode.

I am looking into this right now through the manual and it is not all clear yet :slight_smile:
The use I would have for the cue out routing would be (in my mind… Bare with me I am new to all this OT depth…) that while engaging a track in Cue, it would then be removed from OT Main outs and sent to the Cue outs for processing. I believe the “studio” option is the way to go no?

#112

I wouldn’t call myself knowledgeable as I’m just getting started (or just getting lost) in this music making hobby.

Got the OT MkII about a week ago. I currently use it in a setup with the DT (mainly for drums and oneshots), the A4MkII (for multi-timbral synth voices) and the Modal Cobalt 8M for extra synth voices/poly synth needs.

As I do enjoy having stereo effects on the synths themselves and the DT, I wanted them all stereo into the OT. Furthermore when I apply effects to the synths (with the crossfader f.i.) I usually do it to all synth voices at the same time. Same for drums.

So I’ve got the following setup:
Cobalt -> stereo into A4MkII
A4 MKII -> stereo into OT A/B
DT -> stereo into OT C/D

I’ve got the DT stereo or dual mono inputs left to get plug in more if I’d want to.

This works for me in the current setup. I can imagine at a later time I’ll try going 3x mono and seperate effects layers a bit more. But currently this is working fine :slight_smile:

I’ve got a neighbour track on the synth inputs for extra effects, so that leaves me with 4 voice tracks on the OT and a master track.

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#113

Yeah, I would probably do it like you’re planning – but maybe if there’s some single thing, like the DFAM, that you’re going to be sampling extensively, run that onto an input on its own. It cuts down down on having to mute/unmute things to get a clean sample. But yeah, it’s not all there is to consider :slight_smile:

I am looking into this right now through the manual and it is not all clear yet :slight_smile:
The use I would have for the cue out routing would be (in my mind… Bare with me I am new to all this OT depth…) that while engaging a track in Cue, it would then be removed from OT Main outs and sent to the Cue outs for processing. I believe the “studio” option is the way to go no?

Going by memory, but in Studio mode, you get separate level controls for main and cue. In non-studio, you can ‘cue’ tracks by pressing cue+track button – so it’s more of an on/off thing but still useful.

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#114

Isn’t there an option under Personalize where you can while engaging Cue having the track muted from Mains and directed to Cue Outs?
Going to check this anyway.

Been thinking about it to be honest but…
Again I like flexibility :slight_smile: and options and the compressor on the DT does nice work on inputs. Since the DFAM will serve mainly as a drum machine compliment (which will prove otherwise I am sure with time :joy:), I wouldn’t mind having it into the DT In L or R input. I could therefore resample DFAM along 1, 2, 3 or more 1 shots from DT :slight_smile:

#115

@TN_Virgo thanks for the heads up :pray:
Much appreciated.
Setup pretty similar in a way :slight_smile:
Do you find you are loosing quality over sampling your Cobalt through the OT?

#116

Yeah, think so – was just pointing out that the studio mode gives access to faders :+1:

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#117

As a new OT user too my current setup is: Everything (some volcas, microfreak, o-coast & my pedalboard) into a small mixer with some reverb and delay on send, which runs into the MC707 where I do a bit of processing (mostly compression) before it goes into OT A B. OT is transport + clock master.

I’m well aware that I could split the 707’s output into incoming stuff on main and the internal sounds on assignable (or vice versa) so I can record both at the same time but I’m just sampling stuff one thing at a time atm which works for now :slight_smile:

And I have a Tascam DR-05 running into C D as a mic to record random percussive stuff.

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#118

Not audible to me. I have a grunty bass on the cobalt right now, sequenced by the DT, and it sounds excellent on the OT. Especially in the mix through the OT compressor it comes pretty close to a final mix for me.

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#119

Thanks for that @TN_Virgo :pray:
Appreciate the feedback.
I think I will eventually run both DFAM and DB-01 through DT and send to OT A/B.
Then Hydra through OT C/D. The idea of sampling some patches and slice them up on the go really appeals to me :slight_smile:

Yes I am actually willing to experiment with compressors: I am thinking compression from DT with DFAM and DB-01 connected to it, OT compressor as well as a final one (FMR RNC) at the end of the audio line :relaxed:

#120

Not sure I understand this one yet… Need to get back to the manual :slight_smile:

#121

In studio mode, for every track, you can individually set the amount of signal sent to Main and Cue outs, 0-127. Without studio mode, Cueing is an on/off-type deal.

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