Live Set / Jamming with OT only

Elektron Gear Octatrack
1

Dear all

I have a project going on which is much about jamming and producing a continuous live set with OT only. It’s probably much like what Dataline does, but no machines except OT.

Musically we’re talking about 4/4 house/techno.

I am surprised by how much practice it takes to make it all sound more or less nice. It’s not only about doing things fast and accurate - it’s also about focusing on what you’re going to do next.

I also find that I am constantly developing my way of organizing the OT.

I am curious to know if there are others out there who do the same and how you organize yourself and how you practise.

Here is my organisation:

The wavetable contains about 50 wavs, grouped in 4. E.g. 4 bassdrums, 4 snares, 4 hats, etc… This accommodates the slot system and helps with on-the-fly playing in slot mode.

two of these groups are single cylce wavs. One group is bass style and one group is lead style (with plenty overtones). One slot is with a 64 matrix.

Tracks:
1: bassdrum
2: hat
3: clap/snare
4: single cycles - for bass, leads and pads
5: freestyle track, e.g. for slot playing, e.g. percussive sounds
6+7: recording tracks, with oneshot rec trigs.
8: master with compression and filter

Re recording tracks:

  • files are sliced upfront - this allows for much extra flexibility in manipulation
  • source is CUE - this allows me to select the tracks I record from (I can dump the entire pattern or just singular tracks.
  • Having two record tracks allows me to stack up more and more tracks by copying them to each other, adding tracks 1-5

Scenes: 1-8 are generic, e.g. overall stutter in different speeds or vinyl style slowdown

9-16 are track specific, eg. reverb and pan on the claps, ringmod on bd.

LFOs are always attributed to pan, pitch and filter base. this keeps me from thinking about assignments and having to launch the setup page.

I record from the main out, with no cue signal. However, on the phones I have cue signals going at about 5%. This helps me to preview individual tracks.

I generally use just one part, saving all the machine assignments, scenes and page setups.

I believe this setup is quite optimal and I just need some practise to pump out some nice jams. However, does anyone of you work differently?

Thanks for your responses!

2

Techniques worth considering: When you make the transition from creating your set to practicing the performance, try running your tempo at 3/4 of the original speed. Gives you more time to prelisten and plan.

3

Word up guys. The OT is a Pandora’s box. The Allerian for the tip. Your well know for being a badass on the OT. Hmm I still get sample loading errors sometime which messes up my live sets. I don’t know if my way is good but it seems to work 80% or the time. I put all audio file in the audio folder of one project. That’s the “jam type” for live pa. They are the same as when you buy a good baby or loop masters sample pack. In the same type of folders then I just weed out the wack ones and remember the ones that are good. I know I should rehauL this way but I’m having such fun with out slaving to my OT.

4

maybe you’re getting the wav errors because some parts are pointing to now empty but previously occupied slots?

5

btw, I expanded my setup. I run my OT into Ableton where I have my favourite compressor (roughrider vst) on the OT audio channel. this comp makes the OT fx shine really bright, as it pronounces the hidden details of sounds. I am overwhelmed by the sound quality this produces!

I further have tracks for pads, leads and basses that I play independently from the OT. Like this I can create patterns that are much longer than my OT 4x4 setup (I’m too lazy to set individual track lengths).

I’m now figuring out how to sample back some VST synth sounds into the OT.

But really guys, the sound quality along with the OT’s manipulation possibilities… amazing…