My Work Flow

Deaf_Eric · 2015-03-12T18:01:41.000Z

Just thought I’d share my method of transistioning between my tracks.

Usually my tracks are about 6-8 patterns long and I use one part

Let’s say this track has 6 patterns

once I have my track built I copy part 1 to the other 3 parts.

I copy pattern six to a free slot, I like to leave a couple of empty trigs between the end of my track patterns and my transition patterns so let’s say slot 9.

I change this pattern to part 2 and start to alter the content towards my next track, usually I bring in a couple of percussive elements at this point the copy the pattern to slot 10

I change this pattern to part 3 and have some melodic elements from my first track change pitch to harmonise with my next track, bringing in some melodic elements from track two, then copy to slot 11

Change pattern 11 to part 4 and drop the bass from track 1, change the main drum pattern and filter out all of track 1 melodies

Then when I change bank to my 2nd track all the elements of the new track come in.

Just my method of transitioning, obviously it’s slightly different every time in the way I bring different sounds in and out but it sounds really smooth and most importantly it’s good fun

stuartm · 2015-03-13T10:28:20.000Z

Neat idea!

But if I got it right you have a “fixed setlist”, i.e. these transition patterns and parts mean you always have to go Track1 -> Track 2 -> Track3 etc.
Rather than jumping freely between tracks.

giftown · 2015-03-13T13:59:10.000Z

I’ve fallen into a new system which is working nicely for me. Designed to add machine saving and extended pattern lengths.

I open my template project and save it under a new name.

In the template project I have 3 parts which contain machines with settings ready to go. Lots of round robin drum chains with the LFOs set up. Lots of thru and midi machines with the effects and LFOs that I like on my synths. Some really wild waveform synths I’ve built with the sort of LFO controlled delay modulations that I have no patience to recreate.

What I do is copy each of my template tracks over to my main Part, assembling the pieces of song that I’ll want to jam with. I’ve only ever used one part on the OT, so keeping the others as a holding pen overcomes the OT’s inability to save kits.

Keeps things loose and allows a fun sort of copy and paste system in which I have a palette of sounds that can be shared across my different compositions.

From there I spread my patterns straight across the trigs and use a bunch of different arrangements to work on sections. Normally arrangements that play 2 patterns back to back on repeat.

Deaf_Eric · 2015-03-15T11:15:35.000Z

Hi yeah it’s for a fixed set list, it leaves quite a lot of room for improvising during the transitions though

depuratumba · 2015-03-20T14:07:58.000Z

hi everyone! I’m pretty new here (both on the forum and elektron machines)
I’ve had my Octatrack for two weeks now… trying to find a workflow that fits my brain (coming from an infinitely simpler but still loved Electribe EM-1)

I thought of sharing an approach that helped me develop a few ideas faster

so up, until one or two days ago, I would browse for sounds each time I wanted to add a track… wich was extremely time consuming and kind of a turn-off…
so instead I just loaded around 100 samples from different libraries all at once, in the static list - and then started playing around with the slot mode… it helped me develop ideas a lot faster, just messing around playing samples, adding one shot triggers, lfo’s and effects afterwards (I still haven’t played around all that much with scenes and parts though)

anyway, nothing special, but it might help some other people wich, like me, have some sort of ADD aproach to making beats…

what I’ve learned so far though: I was diving thru folders and adding samples on the go, so my samples got a bit mixed up… like a few BD, a few SD, a few HH and maybe some other BD again… if I do this again on another project I think I’ll try to keep them more organized.

I didn’t added any sample chains, but I might do that on the flex list (along with some single cycle waveforms, as they’re smaller files)

I think that if you focus on rythm, you could easily come up with a full set with just single-shot samples, considering how far you can mangle a sound on the Octatrack.

I hope it helps, or inspires someone to develop more on their own worflow