As someone who has never had his hands on either machine, watching videos is not doing it for me. I still cannot decide which of these is what I’m looking for. I cannot afford both, so that’s out of the question. This is my confusion: the Octatrack is newer. It’s got USB. It most likely sounds better. Engine is probably better/faster. Why would anyone want a MachineDrum? is what I’m thinking. But apparently, it comes even more highly recommended than the Octatrack and it still seems to be very prevalent. I just want to sequence some drums. I have some samples that I’m happy to use. I have some analog synths that I’d probably like to sample and sequence too. I don’t have any outboard drum machines write now. Deadmau5 is also my lord and savior, so I’d like to emulate that umm genre or style.
I’d say you want the octatrack. If you can live with the limitation of 8 sample based tracks plus 8 midi tracks. Sampling on the machinedrum is harder, uploading only 2,5mb of samples to the md over midi is very limiting, and midi sequencing is not half as good as on the octatrack.
The md has its strong points though, it has 16 tracks and more simultanious fx per track (you get filter, distortion, eq plus the send fx reverb and delay).
The OT on the other hand has more fx to choose from and better quality reverb but you can only have 2 per track. It has a 16bit sound engine and can play stereo samples.
Sequencing drums with samples is just as easy on both, load up a sample, place trigs in the sequencer, done.
Why would anyone want a Machinedrum over the Octatrack ?
16 tracks over 8 ;
drum engines to easily generate percussion sounds on the go ;
Gentler learning curve.
But if you want to sequence and sample/process/mangle MIDI hardware, and already have a drums sample library at hand, I’d say the Octatrack is a safer bet…
I have an Octatrack and use it as a center piece to control/sync/sample my Analog Four and my LXR (DIY drum synth with 7 tracks). Sometimes, when I don’t need complicated drum patterns, I do the drums with the Octatrack too. It’s such a versatile machine that I’ll probably always have a use for it in my setup.
Still, if I’d have the money, I’d get the MachineDrum (non UW) too…
We’re all different, so in the end, don’t let anyone choose for you…
Listen to your heart <3
Here’s the problem I have with this: I feel like Elektron deliberately designed the Octatrack to not make the Machinedrum obsolete. Which is kind of nice, in a way, but it’s making this decision extremely difficult.
So for example, I have two drum sample libraries. If I was literally just going to load Goldbaby or Xfer samples onto either machine and sequence/edit those, and that was the only thing I was going to do with the machine (which it isn’t but this is just pretend) which is the better bet?
I don’t think so. That may have been an afterthought, but certainly not deliberate, IMO.
Agree with the above poster; the OT has the edge for that literal scenario.
But (and I’m going to sound a bit flippant here), once the Octatrack sets your world on fire and you get into all of the other things that’ll blow your mind, you’ll very possibly start wanting a dedicated drum machine, since the OT is so much more.
Also the Octatrack is 44.1kHz 16 bit audio (cd quality) and the machine drum is 12 bit (not sure what sampling rate). So the machinedrum will add color to your samples. Not bad sounding, but that is something to consider.
This.
At first glance the OT is obviously the more interesting piece of machinery, but the MDUW is an incredibly powerful and very relevant piece as well. The OT can accomplish more, but takes a lot more time to learn. The MDUW can get you going very quickly, and will teach you elektron technique relatively quickly in comparison. It’s a hard choice, which is why I and many others have both. In the end it really is a personal choice and dependent on what you want to accomplish. I can say though, if you plan to sequence external gear via midi to any extent, the OT is the way to go. If you just need a simple, yet very deep and capable drum machine / synth, MDUW.
Either way, you will enjoy it.
I’m not sure you fully understand what the MD is. They really are completely different machines. The overlap is minimal. The MD is primarily a 16 track drum synthesiser, with limited 12 bit sampling as an optional sound source. The OT is primarily an 8 track sampler/manipulator with no internal synthesis (except sample based sing cycle wave form stuff).
You definitely want the Octatrack if you’re just using samples. The Machinedrum is my favourite by far, but if your not into building sounds yourself from scratch then you will find the machinedrum very limited. There are no presets and only 2.5mb at a time. (EDIT: Sorry, I forgot there actually are 30 preset kits because I deleted them)
Just to clarify, the Octatrack can be set to 24 bit recording and fed with 24 bit samples
I agree with what others have said here. I have both and appreciate their individual strengths. I got the MD about a year before the OT was released and the OT a year or so ago. The MD provides a good primer in Elektronese and I’m glad circumstances dictated that I bought them in that order…
If I were in your position now though, I’d go with the OT…but be warned you will possibly find yourself wanting to partner it with a second Elektron machine before the end of the year .
If you plan on getting both eventually, I’d go with the MD 1st. It’s more fun, but has some limits. OT is incredibly flexible, but has more learning frustration.
Taking the info from your original post I would say without hesitation that you want the Octatrack. I disagree wholeheartedly that the MD is more fun. With the OT the sky is the limit (well actually there are no limits). It will do everything that you want (and some).
Initial learning curve is quite steep but once it clicks you have a Game Changer in front of you. A sonic chameleon who will be un relenting in its willingness to please your ears and knob tweakery
If you are focused on using samples, then you definitely want the OT. The MD is a super bad ass drum machine, if you like designing your own sounds. But loading and organizing samples on it is a pain in the ass, to say the least.
I just confirmed a purchase for a Novation Drum-Station. Between the OT and the MD, which is better for sequencing this particular module? Is the OT limited to 8 tracks of sequencing?
Yes, the OT is limited to 8 tracks of MIDI sequencing (+ 8 tracks of samples sequencing but that’s including p-locks so you can in practice do more with less), but I’ve read that the MD wasn’t as good as the OT for sequencing…
But with the OT, you could record and overdub your sequenced drum tracks just like on this video by SB-SIX : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJhT1MTeP2A
What do you wish to improve or add to the music you can make with the gear you have currently?
What do you want to improve in your workflow? What tools or functions are you missing in your current setup that would help you move towards a SOUND/STYLE you prefer?
Although it is absolutely fine to compare your goals with others’ results I find it more proactive to reduce your requirements to simple terms.
Octatrack: known to be a powerful sampler, very useful for live performance mixing and mangling across 8 tracks multiple line inputs/midi etc much more control over external sources but steeper learning curve.
Machinedrum: a drum machine to end all drum machines, if you don’t have a dedicated one now and you want to improve/change the way your percussion elements sound this is a better choice. 16 tracks, but not the best midi clock or flexible controller for external sources but instant UMPH.
I’m going to be a dick and disagree with some things here :). Imho, the MD is not an end-all drum machine. It has a certain sound thats hard to escape from unless you use samples. You can hear it in the youtube vids to see if its a sound you like.
And the OT has many limits too. With only 8 tracks and 2fx per track, most of us are constantly fighting those limits, solving them with crazy tricks or adding more hardware.
Both have their purpouse, both are great fun though. Having limits encourages creativity anyway.
[quote=“” ctoth666""]
I just confirmed a purchase for a Novation Drum-Station. Between the OT and the MD, which is better for sequencing this particular module? Is the OT limited to 8 tracks of sequencing?
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I use the Octatrack to sequence the DrumStation, and control all of it’s tweakable parameters. It works great! Like others have said you are no limited by 8-tracks. For example I usually use Track 1 to sequence a Kick drum and OHH. Track 2 is usually Snare and Toms. Track 3 is usually CHH, Claps and something else. You get my point. In fact, because of this I don’t usually end up using more than 4 tracks for drum sequencing, saving the other 4 for MIDI sequencing my other gear. If you find you need more tracks for drums or synths just sample a couple of the MIDI tracks and use the loops in an audio track (also good for further mangling).
One thing that is really important when sequencing drums (even in techno, trance etc.) is that you don’t actually want more than 3 or 4 drums being hit at the same time. Things become too busy, and if you want to keep things realistic to the human ear a drummer only has two hands and feet even if I was programming my beats in software I would usually make sure I had no more than 4 hits at once. If I want to add more drums I always try and fill in the gaps. So what you might see as a limitation in the OT will probably force you to think about your beats a bit more and will ultimately lead to more realistic sounding drum parts.
With the MD I’d miss being able to instantly sample my loops. I’d also miss being able to load any 24-bit drum sample from my large collection to use. Polyphonic sequencing for my synths I would also not manage without. That being said I’d love a non UW version to use purely for the synthesis side of things
