MultiTrack over USB-C — Someone Finally Does IT!

The Lounge General Discussion
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So, I am curious about something and why there is a lack of MultiTrack over USB-C in the latest and greatest gear these days? We mostly only get a Stereo Out on devices like the SP 404MK2, OP-1F, Roland gear, etc…

I just saw this video of the new Polyend Tracker Mini getting 12 Stereo I/O with your DAW.

Isn’t that essentially Overbridge on hardware over USB-C?

Check it out:

I hope this sets the bar for instruments moving forward…and hopefully a re-examination of firmware on modern devices.

Cheers!

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I admittedly found the idea of multitrack audio out via USB extremely appealing, but I never use it. However, I’m hopeful it becomes standard in the future–more features aren’t a bad thing!

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I think the newer Roland boutiques (JX-08 and JD-08) give this.

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Cool to see that this is possible. Also, nice Friends mug (timely, innit?)

The main difference between this functionality and Overbridge is you don’t need to select your Elektron as the audio interface in order to use Overbridge, which is nice if you have other inputs you’d like to record at the same time. Otherwise, this looks pretty similar, as far as I can tell.

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i mean, there was FireWire . . .

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Tracker mini also multitrack to iOS (class compliant) devices which is a real game changer for mobile peeps…
Come on Roland, sort your life out mate

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That’s what makes overbridge so special, you can use it along with an interface

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Have you tried this yet? @Juniper_Steels

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Great feature. Tried it before switching to M8, and it was a nice step in the right direction. Clinch here was the odd limitations, design and choices of the PTM.

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I’m just getting caught up here. Is this only for the mini? I only have the standard version…

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My bad, I thought you bought a mini before you got the M8.

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Prolly would’ve, but the M8 BRK came on the scene and I couldn’t resist.

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So, when you posted that update about the production delays you were just on their mailing list at the time, but you weren’t already locked into a pre-order? I thought you were for some reason.

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Correct. I thought it may be of interest to those that were on the preorder list.

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Roland TR-6S (and presumably TR-8S) will do this as well - though it’s sadly not class-compliant (requires a driver to be installed) so it won’t work with iOS.

As I understood it, the issue is that most DAWs are set up to only connect to a single audio interface at a time.
So if you hook up a multi-channel USB device like this, you have to mess with the DAW’s settings to switch from your audio interface, record the tracks, and then switch it all back - which can become a real hassle.

With Overbridge being a plug-in, you can multi-track audio into the DAW from many Elektron boxes simultaneously, without having to switch the audio device away from your audio interface.

Ideally devices would support both options. Multichannel audio over USB-C is great for mobile.
And even with only a stereo mix, being able to hook up the Digitakt in particular to iOS devices is really nice, because you can use it as an interface to bring audio from other instruments via the inputs, and directly sample anything being played on the device.

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