As the thread topic says, how many of you live performers use song mode and/or pattern chaining on your AR2? I tend to find myself using one pattern that I evolve over time, so I haven’t ever found a use for this, but I feel like I’ve paid for a feature I don’t use.
I haven t used song mode in live sets, and not in recording tracks either. I do all pattern switching manually, though i don t exclude using it in the future.
I would use pattern changing but it s incompatible with the direct pattern switch mode that I prefer. (Why Elektron?!)
I use pattern chaining on my MD but not song mode. Most use more though.
Oh and some of my tracks are made of just one pattern too.
1 Like
Same here. I have never used song mode or pattern chaining on any piece of gear either live, nor in studio. I do all pattern progression manually. And yes, sometimes a whole composition is just one pattern.
Song mode is useful for when you want to focus on a different instrument for a minute. Automated mutes on the AR is useful as another pair of hands. But don’t feel obligated to use all the features all the time, use whatever works for your flow.
The OT arranger is pretty neat, you can loop a selection of patterns infinitely and then choose to jump to a new section when you’re ready. So you can keep the progression open ended but the arrangement is structured.
3 Likes
OTs Arranger is also great for automation. I actually only use it for multitracking, in general I prefer switching patterns manually, but it does some neat tricks that could be very useful in a live situation.
For example, the Arranger can be used to automate tempo/tempo changes, automate scene selection, automate mutes and automate transposition for the midi tracks.
You can set each row to loop infinitely, so it’s possible to manually switch patterns, but with added automation basically.
I could imagine that instant pattern changes in Direct Jump and Direct Start mode are problematic, because there’s no time to cue up the pattern change?
It would be logical to me that whenever chain mode is activated it ignores the switch mode and works sequentially.
1 Like
I use song mode live. I also play guitar and sing, so song mode is crucial for me. I also don’t play techno or DJ style music, I’m more of a traditional songwriter.
1 Like
I’m planning in buying an octatrack specifically so I can play live. Are you able to use the arranger to set out a song structure and say use a footswitch to progress the patterns along the arrangement iv pre prepared? So each pattern will loop untill I tell it to move but I don’t have to worry about remembering where the patterns are. This is for verse chorus style synth pop so I could pre arrange it like say pattern 1-2-3-1-2-1-4 and just tell it to move to the next pre selected one?
I’m not sure if you can use a foot switch to progress through the arranger. IIRC the Arranger sends and receives midi song position pointer, it doesn’t recognize program changes.
Octatrack is midi clock master and sequencer for all my gear, I never tried to control the arranger from another device.
You can ofc do exactly that on the Octatrack; The arrow keys are used to navigate in the arranger, yes button to jump to a row.
So it’s pretty easy to navigate.
You can use footswitch to send program changes for changing patterns when not in arranger, though.
Maybe someone else knows for sure. 
…i use chaining here and there…but only if 64 bars, even in half time or single scales can’t realy contain some dedicated element within a pattern that needs more time to evolve, progress…which is a rare occasion…
same with ot…chains do pretty fine for me, in that case…
the ot arranger is always a bit spooky terretory for me…
really prefer manual flyby in realtime…
but, if u need hands free, it’s defenitly best way to go for…
no chance to remote arrange by footswitches or pedals, i’m afraid…
but end of the day, in any staging situation, songwiter like or dj like, more than three elektron devices at once are overkill…
I too am only switching pattns manually during a gig. In the studio however I might use it if a particular context called for it.
never use them tend to work over a few patterns for a song say A1-3 then the next track is within the same project B1-3 so on. I don’t play long sets so usually if I have A-D or E I can fill half an hour no problem. I use lots of scenes and performances on the fly to create live content over my basic patterns. I also now use BPM per pattern and scale per track ALOT