Lost in Elektron's Space!

Elektron Gear Octatrack
21

Hey IMO get an OT :slight_smile:

After you love one Elektron product, you will love them all unfortunately lolol…

I agree with many of you guys here about a life changer, to explain a bit of my experience I bought the OT as soon as it was available, of course in Beta mode and with quite a lot of Bugs… I actually play 3 weeks after I bought it, in beta mode, in front of 4000 people… was really scared :slight_smile: but it worked fine!

Hector Video sold it also hehehe but what is more important is the fact that the OT yes, is limited in some ways, but so powerfull in others like loading huge samples, that for me was THIS IS WHAT I WAS WAITING FOR!!

Now I could take entire productions from my studio, with huuge amount of samples, 2 stereo inputs, external gear, effects… Scenes… and play it with no latency and having a lot of fun. It weights less and takes less space than laptop + sound card + Midi controller… so now I can take some extra underwear in my lugagge!!! lololol

I´ve been playing my music live since 2003 with no computers, carrying in many ocassions ridiculous amount of hardware… When I started to be booked internationally, I lost my chance of playing with all the gear, so I shrink the setup, had lots of trouble in airports, then switched to a Laptop setup… Mistake!! 2 years of fear, problems on stage, latency, not having fun at all :frowning: …

So yes then the OT came out and changed my life, I´m able to play again live with no laptops, and go anywhere… As I said I bought it exclusively for the live situation but now changed my way of composing, I use it for a way lot more, Single cycles for synths, extreme drones, ambient, incredible drum loop mangling, live looper…

All in all a very versatile swiss army knife :wink:
Sorry for the long text! and I hope you get your choice sorted soon,
Good luck!

22

If you want to leave the DAW behind, I think OT is the way to go. It doesn’t work like DAW, so you need to start from scratch in a way.

I bought mine 2 months ago after years of hesitation. I am in the middle of learning though. I have used the MDUW and MM since 2008 so I am quite acquainted with the Elektron way of doing things, but the OT is on another complexity level. So many possibilities in such a small box means you have to set things up. I expect to know this beast in a year or so… I agree though that the OT changes your life. It is also much more fun to perform using an OT rather than a laptop.

Good luck!

23

Write my name under Multiman :slight_smile:

24

Guys thanks so much for the feedback!
Much appreciated :joy:

Keep it coming, just love talking about gear :+1:

Seems a lot of leaning towards the OT ( well we are in the OT’s tread ahah )

25

The Octatrack is a Real Lifechanger !!! Go for it

26

Sold my Octatrack, then realized I can’t live without it. Waited for RYTM to be announced so I could make a decision, and even though I GAS so hard for the RYTM, I decided I need the Octatrack, and wanted it back before getting a RYTM. Can’t wait to add a RYTM to my Octa, but don’t regret getting Octa first. Also want an A4 to complete the dark trinity but that will take quite a while.

27

Leaving the DAW behind is the end goal for sure but right now I wanna tweak and jam… compose, create.

Complicated workflow’s do not scare me though when we are taking about diggin into menus and all but spending two hours setting up samples to get something done in the OT will do my head in coming from the DAW… but i am definitely getting an OT in the long run!

It’s just the first bit of kit that is the hardest :confused:

The choice is even harder when I can get the MD UW, A4 and OT for exactly the price second hand right now! we are taking around 900 Euros…

When I see that the OT in worth 1250 Euros and the MD UW 1450 Euros, getting for 900 Euros seemed like a bargain and that also had some weigh in my choice ultimately ( not to mention that it seems that they are hard to come by here in EU )

I guess i will have to jump in and see for myself :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

By the way, do you guys now how it works with warranty?
If somebody has already registered the machine on the Elektron’s site, does the warranty transfer to the new owner?

Thanks again for all the infos, you guys rock!
Let’s talk about it some more :slight_smile:

28

We have some many drum machines, synths, samplers, sequencers at our disposal (check some of our posts you’ll see what I mean), my favorite OCTATRACK

it is deep and can be very complex (but thats where it’s flexibility lies) I am just restating what others have said.

The worst thing thing you can do, is not do anything , find a reputable dealer(if there are any Octa’s available) with a fair return policy and start making some GREAT music !!!
If its not for you then exchange/return another Elektron box.

This in-depth 2012 video review sold me on it :

29

Look into a monomachine. It’s a complete synth studio in a box. Great for the type of music your into. Although. It doesn’t sample like the OT it has drums and several different synth machines. Plus an out of this world vocal synth. You can get it to sound like Stephen Hawking on acid! I love the OT but the monomachine is the perfect box to get into the elektron world with. You can knock out a complete minimal techno set with just monomachine. :+1: :alien: :+1:

30

having tried all the elektrons apart from the RYTM, it seems to me that they are all really different so you may just have to add up the features of each machine and decide that way…

SIDSTATION really nice organic sound for a SID based synth. solid warm bass and complex ‘ghost’ sounds which can add flavour, complex architecture which is a little tedious at times to program but very rewarding.

MDUW MK 2 great fast drum programming style, the kit system is dead easy and its cool to flip around with your kits and change up the beat. being able to use any track for any machine type is great too. its probably the simplest one to use but has some pretty hefty limitations on the sampling, midi tracks and sequencer trigs are always quantised. great for sound design and kind of does everything but in an incomplete way so it can get frustrating if you want more than just a drum machine. OS is complete but still has a minor bug here and there.

MONO MK 2 really fast and fun to get little melodies and grooves happening and it sounds better than the MDUW to my ears, great filter and synthesis options. The mk2 ability to load digipro waves adds a much needed sonic enhancement. some oddities with the sequencer like note off trigs shown on the grid and a few other lightly confusing concepts like multi trig and mapping. Awesome to have dedicated midi tracks and one really rad feature is to port the internal synthesis tracks to midi tracks so you are able to use it as a sketch sequencer on your lap then bust out the tracks later to your outboard midi synths. OS is complete but still has a minor bug here and there.

OCTO the architecture is complicated at first as it does not follow the earlier MD and MONO KIT structure and u need time to soak up the double button combos or you will end up with a frustrated migraine. Way deeper machine that the previous two, but most of the limitations from the elektron past have been removed so for users who have learned to work around these drawbacks its a really welcome fresh breeze. Soundwise its HIFI, although some are not too happy with the inputs weather it’s the A/D converter algos or hardware so for some its not really usable as a mixer. Scenes are fantastic and the microtiming is awesome. its a really cool sampler and FX . OS is complete but still has a minor bug here and there, many people want elektron to keep developing this OS as the machine is inspirational and people use it in so many different ways.

ANALOG 4 enter the mini screen era, a shock for previous users but for newcomers with good eyesight maybe its a non issue. It sounds very analogue compared to the earlier machines… duh. So the updated filter is really great and a big improvement on the earlier one, to me its a familiar filter sound like a ms20 clone or something so its pretty versatile. the immediate sound out of the box was disappointing but after some fiddling it springs to life. i cant comment too much as my experience with this is limited but the modulation possibilities with this synth are staggering. I cant imagine many people dislike this synth. The OS seems to have some bugs still so if you want 100% reliability maybe wait until the bugs are squashed. nice synth. The keyboard version is freaky and feels delicate but im sure its tough enough!

just my 2c

:slight_smile:

31

@multiman just found your vids on youtube mate, good stuff! sub’d and waiting for more :joy:

@analogback Thanks for all the infos on different machines mate in a detailed way like this :+1:

And thanks you all again!

I think I am almost sold on the OT ( and I gotta say I was lurking on the mono also but I think i might wait and get the A4 or the AR ) :joy:

32

Hey guys!

I have placed an order on the OT! :imp:
Now comes the unbearable wait…

Just wanted to thank you all for the input.
Now I am lucky enough after selling some gear to have some budget left.

Dunno between geting an A4 or a MnM now!

I am really drowned to the mono seems that it can cover more ground than the A4 but it seems that the A4 and the OT kicks ass…

MnM second hand prices are quite attractive as well :neutral_face:

33

OT is a life changer for sure. Use it alone or hook up a bunch of synths to it. Unlimited fun.

Bury me with it pls.

34

My favorite elektronic :wink: setup by far has been a MachineDrum + an OctaTrack.
Part of me feels like I’m still working my way back to that setup for multiple reasons. /facepalm

35

Yeah MD + OT seems a bit overkill for my personal needs.

That was the big question since the beginning, OT or MDUW :joy:
OT it is so it will have to serve as MD as well.

I love ambient stuff so looking at synth before drums now and once again, dunno which one to get between the A4 and the MnM!
I have been listening to a lot of A4 demos and it seems that it has a most restricted sound palette compared to the MnM… but I could be wrong :wink:

36

get a machinedrum because you aren’t getting your hands on an AR or OT anytime soon. apparently they are made out of unobtainium and the unobtainium mining team won’t be back for another light year or so. you’ll be jamming at the old folks home by the time you get your hands on one bruh. just sayin…

37

@c304 my OT is ordered and coming soon mate! :+1:
Gonna wait on the AR ( soft updates, etc… ) as I am less into it than I thought I would be :zonked:
Now i gotta choose between the A4 and the monomachine… or a slim phatty, MS20 mini etc… ahahah too much gear to be bought!

38

Welcome to the octatrack club bud!
…now go buy some aspirin and read the manual 10-15 times :wink:

39

get a used monomachine. make sure its mk2 with the plus drive. youll loove it when you learn its tricks and are comfortable.

40

@nakedbob yeah mate! can’t wait :smiley:
manual already done lol

@2Bit just found a MnM SFX60+ Mk2 second hand… and also an Analog4!
i need to stay calm and think this through!.. :imp:

Listening to LEM on the mono is just killer but his set on the A4 sounds pretty good too. I might end up with both ahahah

Holy s#@t 3 elekton boxes to learn at the same time = completely overkill, I like it :+1: