MachineDrum or Octatrack?

udenjoe · 2014-01-07T18:37:01.000Z

I had an MD MK I back in the early 2000s. I eventually got bored of it. The parameters eventually became limited to me. I sold it around 2005. So this is a non UW perspective.

I eventually purchased the OT and I’m always finding new ways to use it. The ease of use is much lower than the MD but the possibilities are 10x the MD. Expect some learning time if you are going beyond simple drum patterns.

With all the countless sample packs out there you can have any drum sound and create the same patterns as the MD on an OT (including MD samples). You could potentially have 16 drum machines layered on an OT. Then you have full drum pattern (beat) samples…

ctoth666 · 2014-01-12T04:43:50.000Z

I have an MC303 now. It’s mostly a PITA, but I like elements of it. I love the 909 kit for example.

Here’s a question: could I sample the entire 909 kit on the MC303 into the OT and then sequence it on the OT on one track? Like a dedicated percussion or rhythm track?

And here’s another question: could I multisample a modular synthesizer into the OT, like notes C2-C6, slice it up, assign each sample to the correct key, and save it as an instrument or kit or whatever, and then sequence it on the OT? I’ve done this Ableton.

prettyboy · 2014-01-12T06:08:00.000Z

""ctoth666"":

I have an MC303 now. It’s mostly a PITA, but I like elements of it. I love the 909 kit for example.

Here’s a question: could I sample the entire 909 kit on the MC303 into the OT and then sequence it on the OT on one track? Like a dedicated percussion or rhythm track?

kind of. you couldnt have any of the individual hits play at the same time on one track unless you sampled a kick+snare at the same time.
you could always use all 8 tracks to build a rhythm and sample it as a loop for use on one track.

prettyboy · 2014-01-12T06:09:53.000Z

""prettyboy"":

[quote=“ctoth666”]I have an MC303 now. It’s mostly a PITA, but I like elements of it. I love the 909 kit for example.

Here’s a question: could I sample the entire 909 kit on the MC303 into the OT and then sequence it on the OT on one track? Like a dedicated percussion or rhythm track?

kind of. you couldnt have any of the individual hits play at the same time on one track unless you sampled a kick+snare at the same time.
you could always use all 8 tracks to build a rhythm and sample it as a loop for use on one track.[/quote]
actually, at that point you might just want to use the OT’s midi sequencer on the mc303 if it’s the 303’s sequencer you hate. you could still use the effects of the OT on a thru machine

djadonis206 · 2014-01-14T18:36:46.000Z

I started with the Machinedrum then bought an Octatrack. I’m always learning something new on both. Either way, you can’t go wrong. But eventually you could end up with both.

There’s some nice stereo tricks and compressor settings that makes the MD sound like amazing (huge and wide).

I can’t live without either. But I started with the MD.

heck · 2017-04-28T22:23:28.531Z

MD just really is a character piece of gear i cant get the edgy type of MD sounds out of the OT… LFOs for instance are lame slow in the OT compared to MD… just the sound sculpting ways in general are unique…
…or GND-SN for the bass using HP res for sub boost! just sounds somehow a lot more juicy than doing the same on the OT with a sinewave sample…

elektrobot7 · 2017-04-29T03:34:52.284Z

heck:

just sounds somehow a lot more juicy

Interesting… i feel that this silverbox have so much to offer in terms of synthesis - sequencing.

heck i use this for bass sometimes as well how you set your lfos for the sub? Thanks

heck · 2017-05-01T19:02:57.132Z

i use the LFOs for bass and the HPF reso for bringing out the sub of that bass. Then the LFO usually on pitch or HPF or LFP pretty slow usually… in trig mode…

orangehexagon · 2017-05-01T19:23:27.557Z

If it hasn’t been mentioned yet, the workflow on the MD is unsurpassed. The OT is the most clunkiest workflow.

That being said I’ve bought and sold both twice and here I am with an OT again.

husc · 2017-05-01T19:28:26.342Z

heck:

LFOs for instance are lame slow in the OT compared to MD… just the sound sculpting ways in general are unique…

Slowest LFO on the MD is 4 bars (set speed to 1), there are workarounds to get it slower, but that’s not the topic. The OT LFO’s speed can be multiplied way up to audio range, thus they have a larger range than those on the MD.
For your other comment… one is a percussion synthesizer, the other a sampler. There is no justifiable way of comparing ‘sound sculpting’ on a machinedrum with the octatrack, no matter how long this topic gets to be.

I am not trying to defend one machine, in my humble opinion the best machines are the ones that are used a lot in making music, not compared and discussed online to death!
Go make some music, stop spreading nonesense and GAS on forums and share your results, play gigs, have fun and be nice to one another.

(Edit: spelling and toned down my rant a little bit)

GovernorSilver · 2017-05-01T19:55:53.480Z

I agree - can’t really compare the two machines.

The OP clearly said he wants to sequence drums. That sounds like a job for Machinedrum or other purpose built-drum machine, which the OT is not.

psyclone001 · 2017-05-01T20:28:06.487Z

The obvious choice for drums only would be the Digitakt now imo
Latest hardware and software so should sound much better than the OT for drums only

orangehexagon · 2017-05-01T20:43:38.543Z

i love rants like this

Nikarga · 2017-05-01T20:48:31.349Z

Hahahah

GovernorSilver · 2017-05-01T20:58:00.170Z

psyclone001:

The obvious choice for drums only would be the Digitakt now imo

Al least you said “imo”.

Digitakt appears to be more explicitly designed to be a drum sampler. If I wanted a drum machine I’d be more inclined towards Digitackt than OT.

Then again, I’m more likely to go with a drum synth than a drum sampler if I were that serious about drums - just my personal taste.

previewlounge · 2017-05-01T21:10:18.057Z

as regards the the OT LFO’s:
having the option to make LFO’s slower than the MD is a very desirable thing.
( i still haven’t implemented the MD workaround to achieve slower LFO’s lol).

as regards MD workflow:
truly Orangehexagon was correct when they noted:
“If it hasn’t been mentioned yet, the workflow on the MD is unsurpassed.”

all three would be the optimal option, the correct select:

MD
DK
OT

heck · 2017-05-01T22:40:06.081Z

@husc: wow… YOU are having a BAD day

i LOVE these machines man… whats wrong with you?

previewlounge · 2017-05-01T22:44:27.036Z

heck:

i use the LFOs for bass and the HPF reso for bringing out the sub of that bass. Then the LFO usually on pitch or HPF or LFP pretty slow usually… in trig mode…

let’s raise up the fabulous ratio here for a second … tell me more about this LFO technique? i would love to know. any LFO technique that enhances the sound is always something i’m keen to learn about, no matter what the model of machine it is applied to…

husc · 2017-05-01T22:44:52.975Z

I guess I am in need of sunshine, sorry if I came across as a douchebag… i’m nice and goofy most days!

heck · 2017-05-01T22:48:14.991Z

nah LFO just use it to fuck with the pitch for instance the GND-SN or the filters and whatever, and totally independent of that, usig the plain ol HPF reso trick to boost the sub… thats all there is too it, really simple jut love the way it sounds on the MD, has somehow a ridicoulously steep LF rolloff on the DAC filters… (analyzer tells) maybe something to do with that…