Multi track recording problems

Elektron Gear Octatrack
1

Hey, I have an OT and AR mk1 and previously a monomachine. I’m in love with both but i have a really big problem for years. I’m not a fan of making tracks in a daw. Instead, i do prefer recording a jam session directly from my machines. That means end up with only one stereo track for the OT. Most of the time the volume is not right at certain time of the track recording. The fact that i can’t edit it give me a lot of frustration. I’ve been dreaming for a OT MK3 for years and after talking directly to an elektron guy at superbooth i understood we’re not going to see a MK3 in the near future (but he told me that many many people are asking for it and we should keep asking). This problem block me a lot on making music. Like not doing or recording music for months. Since the syntakt is out i started to look to the DT and thinking maybe i should change my combo. In my dream, direct output will the best but overbridge is also fine. My OT and AR are loaded with tone of patterns (+100) waiting to be turn into tracks. what should i do? The OT and AR are my dream machine, there is no weeks where i don’t repeat to myself why elektron didn’t put multi tracks recording on my OT. it’s really hard for me. i could pay someone if he’s able to add overbridge to OT or custom it to have direct output. Also i wish recording all the tracks from AR mk1. Yeah, it’s just a dream i know!!

Here is a track recorded in jam session. the stabs are coming from the monomachine, all the rest 100% OT.

2

These two ideas are in opposition. Commit to one or the other and go deeper into your choice.

The “DAW-less” route is slower, but very satisfying. The instruments you have all include many controls for levels which you can use when composing or performing. If you don’t like performing, you have song mode. I enjoy this route, but it does take a long time, a lot of editing and many recordings to get a good performance and mix. It’s important to remember that when you record to two channels, you’re doing three jobs at once: performing, tracking (recording), and mixing. Making jams starts out treating them as one task, but it’s worth making time to focus on separately as well. Practice playing one day; do mixing (which might include duplicating patterns but with different automation) a different day.

The DAW route gives you more control and is much easier (but you’ll have to work with Overbridge, sync, timing… some people find that frustrating. I’ve not tried it).

Nice sounds, nice flow…