I own a Digitakt 2 and an Analog Four Mk1. Using the Digitakt, I often find myself wanting multiple long samples and a time-stretching function. Do I need an Octatrack now?
My concern is that the Octatrack’s basic design is over 15 years old, and its firmware hasn’t been updated in 5 years. Furthermore, it still does not support overbridge.
With changes in the company’s management and anticipated new developments, I’m unsure whether I should wait for a new version of the Octatrack or accept that the current product is the final version and purchase it.
Also an Octa successor won’t necessarily replace the old Mk1/Mk2s. It would probably be something new entirely, probably doing many things better, but also differently.
If Elektron will ever make one, that is.
Octa’s OS has been refined over 10 years, it’s just a solid piece of equipment, the love child of a past era. It’s on a level a newly released Elektron sampler flagship would have to grow into first.
That doesn’t mean it’s perfect, of course not, but it’s different enough I wouldn’t worry about a potential successor.
You have to put in the work and actually learn it, though. Rtfm and all that. It’ll be a rather frustrating experience if you don’t have the time for that.
Now I probably jinxed us and Elektron announces the Mk3 next month.
Having gotten a used octa lately:
It’s its own thing.
There’s a reason ‘octa templates’ are a thing.
I even find sequencing less fast then on digitakt.
If your main goal is triggering and time stretching long samples, Ableton/an iPad via usb to the Digitakt is your solution. Can be found for 200-300$, has a huge amount of high quality FX if you need some to resample. Now if you want to mange and manipulate then on the fly with the sequencer, only then the octatrack starts to make sense.
When I catch myself wondering that, I ask myself: Do I want to make music now, or later?
An OT mk1 is currently less than €550 here, that is a pretty good deal. But many people who don’t need the OT’s flexibility seem to consider the OT overly complex. YMMV/
Another option is a Blackbox, which can be had for €300-350. That is probably be the cheapest solid option for long samples and timestretching. I actually prefer the workflow over the OT, it’s much more streamlined. Has some neat features to (autosampler, usb host, granular mode, 6 outputs).
