Minimalist set up

dotYOUTH · 2017-05-16T16:50:53.663Z

Trying to make the arrangement/mixing process more engaging. Improving sequences and trying to add more depth to my tracks past what my laptop can handle (8GB ram, i3 processer).

I want to start remixing too and I’ve heard good things about the OT in that department. The OT will hopefully open up possibilities of eventually putting a live set together

G0n35y · 2017-05-16T16:54:23.115Z

If you get one just be patient with it. Work your way through the video tutorials, keep it simple and after some time things will click.

There’s like dozens of ways to use an Octatrack. That’s it’s blessing and curse so figure out your own path with it.

It’s a great machine. Has plenty of quirks and leaves you scratching head a few times but seriously, when you dig it, you’ll never be able to replicate the shit you can do elsewhere.

sezare56 · 2017-05-16T18:29:21.855Z

If you remix stereo tracks > OT.

dotYOUTH · 2017-05-16T20:28:14.886Z

It’s gonna be fun being best friends with an Elektron manual

stutech · 2017-05-17T09:38:13.385Z

If you go with the OT, the first piece of documentation you want to read is the merlins guide for ot

dotYOUTH · 2017-05-17T09:42:08.368Z

Is there anything else you could recommend too? Maybe video tutorials or courses?

I’ve already begun reading the manual and Merlin’s guide

The OT arrives tomorrow

sezare56 · 2017-05-17T09:44:47.100Z

Practice !

Tokin_Tone · 2017-05-17T09:45:08.589Z

I’ve found FM4 with fugue machine, etc on my iPad with a midi interface is great OT food !

dotYOUTH · 2017-05-17T09:50:04.076Z

This is probably the way I’m gonna go unless I get a surface pro 4 and use the cable @sezare56 linked.

Seems a better fit too since I’ve got the Arturia V collection and Komplete 9 + Reaktor 6 blocks

Anyone use it for audio production?

ruebe · 2017-05-18T02:10:21.899Z

dotYOUTH:

Maybe video tutorials or courses?

MindMeister

Elektron Octatrack Video Tutorial Index by Modula...

by http://www.MarkMosherMusic

this guy got the best tutorials
https://www.youtube.com/user/cuckoomusic

robotunes · 2017-05-20T19:13:02.988Z

Well, you’ve had it a couple of days. What do you think? What are you using with your OT?

dotYOUTH · 2017-05-20T22:09:44.770Z

I’ve never been more in love or more sure of a hardware purchase

So far it’s mostly loops from sample packs and figuring out the machine … once I’m confident enough then I’m gonna try my hand at remixing some grime tracks

robotunes · 2017-05-21T07:41:06.991Z

Nice. I’m minimal too: OT + iPad. I love it so much that I have an OT avatar even though I’m not affiliated with Elektron.

If you’re like most of us, you’ll lose work or accidentally overwrite samples or wonder why you’re recording silence or run into any number of wtf moments. We’ve been there. Or maybe you’ve already become an OT genius!

dotYOUTH · 2017-05-21T10:40:48.296Z

Yeah dw plenty of wtf moments ha

I was curious about what apps you’re using on the iPad with OT and how you’ve got the two connected?

G0n35y · 2017-05-21T12:15:52.649Z

I had been hankering for an Octatrack after getting sucked in to some videos on Youtube (again…). One popped up on Ebay at a cracking price and I crumbled. Immediately got buyers remorse. Even after it arrived I was sitting thing “ffs, what am I doing…” haha.

But got things set up and spent a bit of time with it yesterday. Amazing how much you can remember having not used one for months. Really enjoyed myself! The guy I bought it from left stacks of samples on it so will live off them for a while. Still not sure how I will use it. I have the MPC Live on pre-order and I do think that fits my approach better but I think the OT actually shines more when you keep it simple. Like, it’s easier to do what it is amazing at and turn standard samples into something crazy.

Anyway, I think this will mark my last serious OTB effort. Will see where I’m at in a few months but quite excited about the OT-MPC combo.

Anyway, will stop blabbing on. @dotYOUTH - take your time and enjoy. Don’t get ahead of yourself thinking about things to add to the set up too soon. Stick to the minimalist ethos and you will love it.

dotYOUTH · 2017-05-21T12:25:01.178Z

I think the OT is best described as a needy girlfriend. Your relationship won’t go anywhere unless she’s the only thing on your mind.

Adding anything else can only be a temporary affair in efforts to spice things up between you two in the bedroom… studio

previewlounge · 2017-05-21T12:57:46.647Z

hmmm sounds like a somewhat inflated maintenance plan … how about a Digitakt?

as regards getting out of ruts, i think the sequencer on that is going to offer much.
also if you are keen for an Mpc Live then that would be doubling some of the functionality of the OT,
whereas the Digitakt is its own thing.

also carry a pocket tape recorder for conversation snippets, atmospheric rain sounds, and bird calls.

sample a few soft synths from the computer here and there.

variety is the spice of life in the interactive multiverse

sezare56 · 2017-05-21T13:15:01.845Z

Me + OT + A4 = awesome threesome !

robotunes · 2017-05-21T15:58:59.702Z

If you just want to sample loops and mangle them on OT, the free apps Blocs Wave and Launchpad offer cheap ($1.99) sample packs and trigger them Ableton Live-style. You’ll need the Live Link app to sync them to OT, with OT as the slave.

To create your own stuff to sample, Gadget has a great starter set of synths and drum machines. KRFT is another ingeniously conceived groovebox. Those two also are Link-enabled to sync with OT using Live Link.

Nave and Animoog are expressive and evocative synths that you can trigger with OT’s arp and/or chromatic keyboard. They respond to CCs as well for some p-locked and LFO-to-CC madness.

There are thousands of apps and more every day. These are my main apps.

For physical connections, I use:

Apple Lightning to USB3 Camera Adapter goes into the iPad to charge it while Octatracking:

A USB-to-MIDI cable connects OT to the iPad:
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61Lrb%2BqxdXL.SL1105.jpg

xidnpnlss · 2017-05-21T16:44:39.237Z

That’s my setup too though didn’t know you could charge it with that device. Nice.

Anyway: setup works beautifully.

dotYOUTH:

I’ve never been more in love or more sure of a hardware purchase

I feel that. Often when I sit down to it and think over what I’m about to do with it I blow my mind without even having touched it. After I’m done I often think to myself, “Damn that was good. What a machine”

The lover metaphor is apt.