Noob questions

So here is one more , just to keep the habit :smiley:

In my current setup, i use a Roland A88 controller plugged on Octa’s Midi in, to play / record all my synths by selecting each one using the Midi tracks on the Octatrack. For instance, Rev2 is on midi track 1, Voyager on track 2 and so on. When i want to record the Rev2, i select the midi track 1, hit the Rec + Play and do my improvisation.

My question is : if i plug my synths directly into the Octatrack Midi in (by using a Midi in merge box), can i record them without having to select each synth’s Midi track ? Does the record mode will capture / record all Midi incoming signal or only the current selected Midi track ?

Is it possible to do something like this guy do with his Pyramid and his (huge) synth collection ; note that he won’t touch the Pyramid after he starts to play :

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You can use Auto channel or selected track channel, but audio tracks channels have to be different, or off.

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The answer to this question, regarding midi, is no. The OT does not multichannel record midi, it only records the selected midi track.

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I had the impression after reading the manual that the samples loaded to t1,t2,t3… could be played by just pressing play. With no need for recording (yet) Found out that was not the case. I can only seem to play them by triggering them with the “keys”(1-16) where the triggers are linked t1-9, t2-10,t3-11etc. what am i missing here? and why link tracks t1-9,t2-10etc. instead of the obvious t1-1 t2-2, t3-3? help wanted…

Track button + Play will start the sample or a Thru machine
Track button +Stop will stop it

The track trig arrangement T1>9 will make sense when you understand how everything fits together T1-8 has a specific role for disconnected tracks

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8 audio tracks (T1-T8), 8 midi tracks (T1-T8)

IN AUDIO MODE

Track Trigs
Trigs 1-8 trigger Plays Free audio tracks (tracks T1-T8 can be played independently from sequencer)
39

Sample Trigs
Trigs 9-16 trigger track default sample (T1-T8)
29

Track buttons
If you press Track T1-T8 button + Play / stop, you can trigger / stop track machine
51

IN MIDI MODE

Track Trigs
Trigs 1-8 trigger Plays Free audio tracks (T1-T8)
39

Midi Trigs
Trigs 9-16 trigger Plays Free midi tracks (T1-T8)
29

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I think i’m really exploring the boundaries…

Is there a way , when i’m using the Rec + Play mode, let’s say in pattern 1. I want to keep playing, so when the pattern 1 end, automatically the pattern 2 stars and keeps recording ? This would be useful when i’m recording a synth solo. Instead of record the pattern 1 and when it ends, i manually select 2 and start a new record, Octa would keep adding recording patterns and until i hit stop.

Chain the two patterns.

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Also get a copy of Merlin’s guide to the OT, it really helped to demystify the Elektron OT manual for me.

I must say I was hoping that the answer to this question would be the missing link to understanding how everything is fitting together (can be used together). So if i`ve understod you right: Loading samples and machines to t1-t8 and pressing play will not play any of the samples nor simultaniusly? (all unmuted) For me this is a key point because it determines how i must go by to form an arrangement. Eliminating one way of thinking: Step sequenser way.
Thanks a lot for informative and constructive response…

You’d have to add the small step of placing a trig on step one of each track. Then it would do your thing when you press play

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Even after about 4 months i’m still learning this powerful machine and sometimes i still have moments in which i don’t know exactly what is happening… So here is more noobies :slight_smile:

  • I have a sample in a track. It’s programmed only on trig 1 of the pattern 1. But somehow it is looping and playing in all my patterns, even if it’s not programmed in other patterns. I know somewhere there is a option to not loop, but where ?

  • Is there a fast way to hear the sample loaded in a track, without having to enter on it’s machine config and hit Func + Yes ?

Thanx

Ooh I can answer this one

  1. Double press playback, set loop to off. If you ever need to force-stop a track hold its track button and hit stop.

  2. With rec mode off, trigs 1-8 trigger the audio tracks and 9-16 trigger midi tracks. There are a few modes for this (slice trigger, freeze delay etc) but I forgot how to configure it :slight_smile:

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  1. If you need loop there is also a Silence Tracks function.
    Loop behavior can changed and saved in Attributes and File menus. When saved you can use Auto in Playback Setup.

  2. track + play

Only in midi mode, otherwise they trigger default track samples. :wink:

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And the silence tracks can be activated globally in the control/sequencer menu and also overridden on a per track basis for any pattern in the pattern settings (start silent: auto, no, yes).

By default any looping or long sample from a previous pattern will play until a trig is reached on the same track number of the next pattern. If using global silence tracks or individual track start silent, the sample will enter the release phase of the amp when switching, so sometimes you need to mess with that setting too…

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Can someone please explain me in details how can i use a track as return effect, like you can do in Ableton ? I want to put a Reverb in the return track.

Thanks !

I explained it in that thread. Ask if you don’t understand something.

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Is there any problem to change the ‘AUTO’ channel of my Octa to 1 ? What issues could happen ? Currently i’m using ‘8’, but everytime i turn on my Midi controller, i need to change it’s channel to 8, because its default is 1…

Hurricanes maybe…
No problem I guess. Try.
Change audio tracks channels if you need individual control.

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Well i think this would want too much for a sequencer, but anyway :slight_smile:

Can i microtime using conditional trig ? For instance, i want only the 2/2 to microtime, not 1/2.