Read the thread @guga as to why not the Oktakontrol.
The DIY Livid stuff looks nice, but bigger, heavier, and more expensive than a Bitstream 3x! Also if they couldn’t provide the software for my Code v2 to work, there’s no way I’d trust the other stuff.
@analogback I’d like something like your 8 fader boxes, with 3 knobs above each fader. Perhaps a row of buttons couldn’t hurt either. How small/heavy/expensive would that be?
Even something like the Doepfer Drehbank, but cut in half:
why the heck you need an midi controller for OT. OT is a midi controller!!
@ van
because 100mm faders are for pro mixing applications
because the elektron encoders wear out fast, save money on paying a tech to replace them.
because a controller has no screen on which to focus, less cerebral for jamming/muting and playback only. program on the machine interface, mix tweak and jam on a controller
@ automating
for 8 x 100mm faders, and 24 knobs… about $500 i think.
also if you wanted encoders instead of pots add another $200
as you can see, it adds up when you buy everything in small quantities…
ill break it down… rough estimated costs only
2 x doepfer pocket control units $250 or 2 x doepfer pocket dial units $300
8 x alps faders $50
24 x pots $50 or 24 x panasonic metal shaft encoders $130
Face plate $50
case $50
assembly $150
if you are serious about ordering something like this, please understand its built to order… 1/2 of the cost would be required up front, the remainder on completion.
it would take about 4 weeks to gather everything and finish construction.
please note that the doepfer units have 16 inputs per unit so any more than 32 inputs would require 3 or more units pushing up the price considerably
regards, analogback
How about a Maschine hardware…a MIDI controller set-up created in NI’s Controller Manager application for the hardware?
I have an old MK1 I’ve been using for a 4x4 pad controller where Push lacks…just thought of this.
If the Nektar Panorama mappings included several mappings you could try banks or different templates
From the Nektar site I found this info on that mapping which could be used as a guide.
"This template includes 5 presets and 4 Pad maps for Panorama’s Internal Mode. The Presets correspond with the Octatrack’s ‘Playback (Note)’, ‘Amp (Arp)’, ‘LFO’, ‘Effect1 (Ctrl1)’ and ‘Effect2 (Ctrl2)’ pages on the Octatrack and the pad maps correspond to the Sample Trigs, Track Trigs, MIDI Track Trigs and Record Trigs.
One of the benefits of using Panorama to control your Octatrack is the ability to control Volume, Pan and Mute for all tracks at once. No matter which preset you have selected, the faders, encoders and buttons to the left of Panorama’s display will always control the mixer parameters.
Features:
Used to Increment/Decrement track selection on Octatrack
Used to select Presets on Panorama to change control mappingPlay/F10: Start/Stop sequencer playback
Stop sequencer playback
Start/Restart sequencer playback
Enable Cue for selected track
Cue level for selected track
Mute selected trackSolo: Solo selected track
Track Pan/BalanceFaders 1-8: Track volume
Track Mute
Parameter assignments depend on selected Preset and follow the selected track. These encoders a configured to transmit on MIDI channel 11. Make sure the Auto Channel on your Octatrack is also set to channel 11.
Controls parameters on the Playback page
Encoder1: Pitch
Encoder2: Start
Encoder3: Length
Encoder4: SceneA select
Encoder5: Rate
Encoder6: Retrig Times
Encoder7: Retrig Rate
Encoder8: SceneB select
Controls parameters on the Amp Page
Encoder1: Attack
Encoder2: Hold
Encoder3: Release
Encoder4: SceneA select
Encoder5: Volume
Encoder6: Balance
Encoder7: No Assignment
Encoder8: SceneB select
Controls parameters on the LFO Page
Encoder1: LFO1 Speed
Encoder2: LFO2 Speed
Encoder3: LFO3 Speed
Encoder4: SceneA select
Encoder5: LFO1 Depth
Encoder6: LFO2 Depth
Encoder7: LFO3 Depth
Encoder8: SceneB select
Controls parameters on the Effect1 Page
Encoder1: Effect1 Parameter1 (depends on the selected effect)
Encoder2: Effect1 Parameter2
Encoder3: Effect1 Parameter3
Encoder4: SceneA select
Encoder5: Effect1 Parameter4
Encoder6: Effect1 Parameter5
Encoder7: Effect1 Parameter6
Encoder8: SceneB select
Controls parameters on the Effect2 Page
Encoder1: Effect2 Parameter1 (depends on the selected effect)
Encoder2: Effect2 Parameter2
Encoder3: Effect2 Parameter3
Encoder4: SceneA select
Encoder5: Effect2 Parameter4
Encoder6: Effect2 Parameter5
Encoder7: Effect2 Parameter6
Encoder8: SceneB select
By default, you cannot control MIDI Track parameters directly. Any MIDI data that you send to the Octatrack while a MIDI track is selected will simply be passed to the the MIDI Output. If you would like to control MIDI Track Parameters from Panorama, follow these steps:
Here’s a new controller that might go nicely with the OT, not sure if you can program the hardware directly though.
http://uk.novationmusic.com/midi-controllers-digital-dj/launch-control-xl#
this looks nice…can’t see MIDI on the back so i’m assuming is only USB 
it could replace my old bcr which i do like but this is something i would prefer; faders for the levels and your dedicated knobs for pan and sends
I believe USB only ( maybe use it in conjunction with the iconnectivity devices) We are looking at ordering a few for our inventory. This is pretty much one of the better possibilities for externally controlling the Octatrack
would have been nice to have midi on board.
I think the price point makes this great addition as most of us have hybrid setups and it can control other daws/software as well
That sounds interesting! Thx
Not the best controller, yet works well for my purposes at the moment is an older Axiom 49 ,
7 faders mapped to track vol.
2 faders mapped to LFO depth
buttons below faders arm tracks
Encoders for effects page
Midi in to Octatrack>midi thru to Analog 4 to use the keys to play the A4 and a Yamaha Tx81z routed back to the OT.
What about a bridge like say… the
Roland UM-ONE MKII USB MIDI Interface
[/quote]
Unfortunately it only works with Keith McMillen products 
The Kenton one looks ok but not cheap @ $170
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/feb12/articles/kenton-midi-usb-host.htm
But
These guys looks like they got the best options:
http://www.iconnectivity.com/iConnectMIDI2plus
[/quote]
Unfortunately it only works with Keith McMillen products
The Kenton one looks ok but not cheap @ $170
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/feb12/articles/kenton-midi-usb-host.htm
But
These guys looks like they got the best options:
http://www.iconnectivity.com/iConnectMIDI2plus[/quote]
I am waiting on the “Cerebal USB” with some excitement.
Small and basic, hopefully cheap as well.
http://www.inspektorgadjet.com/cerebelusb/#comment-186
With that & a Korg NanoKontrol 1st generation, no extra kg or space issues.
[/quote]
Unfortunately it only works with Keith McMillen products
The Kenton one looks ok but not cheap @ $170
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/feb12/articles/kenton-midi-usb-host.htm
But
These guys looks like they got the best options:
http://www.iconnectivity.com/iConnectMIDI2plus[/quote]
I am waiting on the “Cerebal USB” with some excitement.
Small and basic, hopefully cheap as well.
http://www.inspektorgadjet.com/cerebelusb/#comment-186
With that & a Korg NanoKontrol 1st generation, no extra kg or space issues.[/quote]
Excellent!
Wow, looks even better than the Code, but I’d check if you can independently control which MIDI channel each control sends to. Read my experiences earlier on this thread.
are these features not available on the Oktakontrol? it seems to be a good solution for the OT …
if i had an OT (and a bit more time :|), i would probably give it a try and see what i could come up with; may have a think about it though, would it be worth it?[/quote]
… just read that thread and want to add:
The Oktakontrol fullfills (almost all) of these requirements.
Brgds,
Bruce / AG-KW
mpc 1000 lol …2500 is probably good too.
guess it depends on what you want out of a midi controller.
I’m looking for a controller too and found this alternative to the Nano…
http://www.icon-global.com/Keyboards%2FPads_Pads_iConPad.htm
But I guess I’d still need a Kenton or iConnect box.
Akai just launched the new APC40 Mk II…
Looks like a great match for the Octatrack. What do you guys think?
looks nice although, as in the previous version, there’s a missing row of encoders 
… one row for pan, one row for send a and the missing one for send b, ach well…