OctaEdit - Octatrack Software Editor and Librarian [ OSX / Windows ]

[Rusty]

OctaEdit Survey

The results are in?

Are you planning on buying OctaEdit?

What Octatrack do you have?

What Octatrack OS are you using?

What OS are you using?

Any Feature requests?

“Dark Trinity” mode (already requested)
Will pay additional $100 for this feature

That is a different product(s)

Conversion of sysex data to allow for import export to/from other Elektron machines on a best guess basis.

That is a different product(s)

Trinity mode sounds amazing! At least RYTM MkII compatibility if not full on Trinity.

That is a different product(s)

Feature: a python script that converts an OT/OE project file into an Ableton Project that plays just like on the OT and can be edited in Ableton (within strict constraints) … a python script that converts that Ableton Project back into an OT project

Or Bitwig

That is not going to happen I’m afraid. Would rather be working on my own DAW / hardware.

Primarily looking to slice, work on megabreaks, re-locate samples that were otherwise reorganized so perhaps a “randomize” feature for a particular page if none of that is possible.

a) MegaBreaks is just a configuration / process.
b) Easy enough to do / browse / search in the [ Audio Finder ] module.
c) Everything can be randomised.

Already implemented. RTFM.

Sample import from ios device?

No. Afraid not. No plans for that.

Grid controller support for editing sequences? (this… I was inspired by the question. I don’t actually expect this. It seems involved.)

I don’t understand the request? You mean like midi control with a Novation or something?

Is there a way to build a support for dark trinity management within the Arranger module? Mainly talking about being able to retrieve the AK/AR row info or even just manually being able to add the info for reference?

That is a different product(s)

would like an A4 editor

That is a different product(s)

Android support

No. Afraid not. No plans for that.

Rex file import would be a timesaver for us Reason folks.

Potential licensing / cost issues with regards to Propellerheads, utilsing there API etc. So really not worth the hassle tbh. And considering I’ve also developed my own approach to such things… not going to happen.

Could you calculate crossfader value to new scene in Octaedit? Sometimes you find that perfect thing on the crossfader but you don’t want to just resample it. You’d have to know what your current crossfader value is though…

I could do that. Would be a little bit of juggling, in/out USB mode; midi support etc., but not impossible. Not exactly high priority though; so don’t expect it tbh.

Sample chainer: Gain adjustment possibility per (active/highlighted) step/sample within a Chain,
for new and old (loaded) OT chains !

a) Chainer Module.
b) Sequencer Module -> Step Sequencer -> draw in values as required.

Conversion from OT chain format to .wav incl. marker files !

No plans on doing that.

Pattern and kit Manager for Rytm and Analog4

That is a different product(s)

If possible, a project manager thingie for A4/AK/AR (projects, sounds, kits, patterns, banks n stuff would suffice, I guess).

An AnalogEdit kind of thing is probaply way too much to ask for, also given the fact we can edit on the machine and use sysex to transfer stuff from and to the computer.
Just wanted to say that I’d happily spend another 99€ for the A4/AK version.

That is a different product(s)

nope, finding time to use it would be enough maybe …

If you find some spare time, ping some my way?

Maybe some kind of sample fuckery/character to make samples sound like old samplers then convert to OT format, but probably outside the scope of OE?

Probably outside scope. Depends what I build into Chainer… no promises though.

Resizable windows, adjustable fonts

a) Done.
b) If you are asking about changing fonts? No, won’t happen. Resizable fonts? Yes, done.

Refer post #1756

option to type values rather than dial

Typed values: Each and every parameter has a context menu which displays [ Default | Minimum | Maximum | Random | Values… ]

So typed values are not going to happen. Why? too many variables / list values etc.

And if you do / are / already have implemented some basic sample editing features, please offer finer gain adjustments than the annoyingly not-fine-enough +/-3dB that we have on flex machines (0.1dB should do it).

Chainer: Refer post #1817

Keyboard shortcuts would benefit anything repetitive

There’s a few in there.

Export to Ableton Live set ala Korg Electribe 2 (I know … wishful thinking).

That is a different product(s)

Sorry I forgot my suggestion, more a business opportunity extension. Your new service, training with you covering software and hardware. Could be an online training product.

Don’t have the time / energy for that kind of carry on I’m afraid… and, um, wouldn’t be worth my time of day I’m afraid?

I should really just try OctaEdit out but can you easily reorder tracks in a pattern because I may or may not be torturing myself with track orders right now

Sequencer Module has a [ Swap Track nn with… ] function amongst other tricks. (Yes, that does work between Audio and Midi Tracks)

That’s one request no? Everyone knows love

Re: Gain adjustment:

I think I replied to this earlier?

I don´t think so… yet

Example Templates.
This may be remedial for more sophisticated users of the OctaTrack, but I am still climbing the Elektron learning curve with the OT, DN, ARmII, A4mII (and probably an AHmkII, soon). So, I would find it very useful to have some templates to build from:

I don’t have the time/energy to be making those. The [ Library ] module and all the Copy / Paste / Save to Library / Load from Library makes this all easy enough to do.

Library Entries can be imported / exported / shared between users…

I will second the vote for “Dark Trinity” mode.

That is a different product(s)

Wish list an audio emulator to audition stuff in the app.

There is audio playback of samples.

streamlined project management

a) Not sure what exactly you want streamlined?
or
b) As good as its ever going to get.

saving Sample-Slot List-Assignments, to use them like playlists and be able to inject them into projects (maybe via Library Module).

Sort samples by key. And a quick way to move batches of in key samples all together.

How is the key stored? If it is the file name, both the [ Samples ] and [ Audio Finder ] modules provide wildcard filtering.

More than 128 slots.

There is a finite limit of 264 Sample Slots on the Octatrack. There are clever ways to work with/around those; any more then that, you’d need to ask Elektron, or I’d need to develop an aftermarket OS.

Move samples from one project to another.

Manager Module.

Auto warp- samples are automatically set at 4,8,16 bars without having to go into the sample menu

Length is auto set / calculated when importing; and you can change it very easily / quickly in the [ Samples ] module.

Moonbeams, Bunny Rabbits

Already implemented. RTFM.

Is there midi import?

No comment.

Write what you want…

Will add a text editor for you

Ability to rename samples in a project while intelligently maintaining dependencies - I remember requesting this a long time ago but I’m not sure if this has been implemented yet

This won’t happen as it would require the force saving of Projects to ensure dependencies are maintained. Easy enough to do it yourself manually via [ Save and Assign ] in the [ Samples ] module; and use the [ Analytics ] function(ality) to see where used.

cut/copy/paste multiple rows in arranger

Arranger Module.

"FR- Some mechanism to turn it into an 8 voice polyphonic sampler using the 8 OT tracks - basically takes a sample and applies it to all tracks and then converts incoming midi data into partitioned note commands… I haven’t spec’d it but spitballing - something like if mono then 1 then para to 2 and it basically always spills over to the next available ““OT track (translates to voice)”” and if new voices are pressed it voice steals always from 5-6-7-8.

FR- midi to octatrack midi converter. Something where i can take a recorded sequence via midi and push that into however the OT understands it. It doesn’t have to be perfect… happy accidents can be found with the odd 4 voice bit and the weird way midi note-ons work (maybe only do 4 midi tracks and do sustained notes on one track and overflow to the non-sustained track).

Once again - not a whole lot of thought into the ““how”” (you know better anyway) - but those are two feature request ideas."

You need a midi tool box, or ask Elektron, or an aftermarket OS.

hear what you edit before save it to yout OT. Its useles to me have all the abillity of my ot in a software but use it like a blind paintet.

Limitation of the Octatrack / CF card.

I believe the feature I most want is already available but in case I’m wrong - the ability to move banks/patterns between projects.

Manager Module.

I think you allready nailed it with the ability to edit arrangments easily.

Arranger Module.

I would very simply like to be able to know if a particular slot is in use by anything in the set or if it is an orphan that may be safely cleared. The rest of the new features you have described handle everything else.

Analytics in the [ Samples ] and [ Manager ] modules does exactly that, and returns the results to the [ Analytics ] module.

Keep up the good work! For me the most important feature would be being able to easily move and copy patterns and banks across projects

Manager Module

Midi import

No comment.

Arranger control

Arranger Module.

Poliphony and side chain.

You’d need to ask Elektron, or I’d need to develop an aftermarket OS.

The ability to export .mid files from my DAW and import them into the Octatrack midi channels with note and CC messages intact.

No comment.

[colonel_mustard]

Facebook:

"FR- Some mechanism to turn it into an 8 voice polyphonic sampler using the 8 OT tracks - basically takes a sample and applies it to all tracks and then converts incoming midi data into partitioned note commands… I haven’t spec’d it but spitballing - something like if mono then 1 then para to 2 and it basically always spills over to the next available ““OT track (translates to voice)”” and if new voices are pressed it voice steals always from 5-6-7-8.

FR- midi to octatrack midi converter. Something where i can take a recorded sequence via midi and push that into however the OT understands it. It doesn’t have to be perfect… happy accidents can be found with the odd 4 voice bit and the weird way midi note-ons work (maybe only do 4 midi tracks and do sustained notes on one track and overflow to the non-sustained track).

Once again - not a whole lot of thought into the ““how”” (you know better anyway) - but those are two feature request ideas."

You need a midi tool box, or ask Elektron, or an aftermarket OS.

Response noted, but I like the way this person thinks!

Exciting times Rusty, godspeed.

[sezare56]

I was waking up like now for the survey.
Now I have a feature request, maybe already implemented :
A “Keep only slices” function, deleting unused audio.

[Rusty]

A “Keep only slices” function, deleting unused audio.

So… that straight away leads to a couple of different scenarios; without even thinking about it.

• Remove preceding audio
• Remove trailing audio
• Remove any audio not in slices
• What if slices over lap?
• etc…

Or, you know, you could just use the functionality already in OctaEdit, but you do you

[Rusty]

Response noted, but I like the way this person thinks!

Ping me about this again on the weekend… link me to the post… cogs turning.

[Grumo]

Rusty, can a Part to Scene be done? Or Page to Scene?

It should be a feature of the machine, this way we could tweak until having something nice and then don´t have to dial each parameter one by one with the scene button held.

[TobySD]

Epic reply Rusty

I’ll buy anything you make if I find use for it and my economical situation allows it.

Carry on.
Peace

[sezare56]

Remove any audio not in slices

That. Overlap or not.

[Clancy]

Would be v cool. I’m often pulling a few slices out of a long file and these files have to be loaded into flexs because of the clicky problems on statics. Means eventually doing some fiddly admin to free up memory. This feature would make the housekeeping easier

[dobermate]

@Rusty
So, this “different product” - when can we expect it to be available?

[jbone1313]

@mokomo wrote:

Feature: a python script that converts an OT/OE project file into an Ableton Project that plays just like on the OT and can be edited in Ableton (within strict constraints) … a python script that converts that Ableton Project back into an OT project

@rusty wrote:

That is not going to happen I’m afraid. Would rather be working on my own DAW / hardware.

In the below post, I explain how to print OT stems to Ableton. AFAICT, it’s the best you can do in Ableton. In my testing, it works great. There are a couple limitations, which I noted in the post. I imagine any sort of Ableton scripting would need to overcome these limitations, if possible.

Anything better will require @Rusty’s DAW thing.

Limitations

• Manual mutes do NOT really work, because the solo overrides them; however, IIRC, arrangement mutes DO work. I explored some some ways around this, but it seemed to make things much more complicated, so I gave up. For me, it is not a big deal; I can just edit my stems in my DAW to have mutes wherever I need them.
• Ableton does not record received program changes, so you cannot record your OT pattern changes. Use the arranger for changing patterns.

Transferring Octatrack audio tracks to computer?

This is insane. I have a test Ableton project setup, which seems to be working. It is as close to an automatic OT printer as I can imagine. It’s almost like Overbridge for Octatrack. No Max4Live required. It sounds like a lot of work, but you only need to set all this up one time. I don’t have time to share it and polish yet, but the basic idea is this: In OT: Setup an arrangement. Have it loop 8 times. In Ableton: Setup 8 scenes. Setup 8 MIDI tracks, one for each OT channel. Group thos…

[Rusty]

Rusty, can a Part to Scene be done? Or Page to Scene?

Yes. There is a couple of functions:

• Copy Part to Scene
• Copy Scene to Part
• Copy Scene Track to Part
• Copy Part Track to Scene

On a Part/Scene/Scene Track level; not individual pages; that is only six parameters.

[Rusty]

That. Overlap or not.

Would be v cool. I’m often pulling a few slices out of a long file and these files have to be loaded into flexs because of the clicky problems on statics. Means eventually doing some fiddly admin to free up memory. This feature would make the housekeeping easier

Chainer operates on it’s own internal file format / structure; that fully handles Octatrack samples/slices.

So you can [ Import ] an existing Octatrack sample/sliced file; which will split into separate audio files based on the slices, then rebuild from those slices.

[Rusty]

So, this “different product” - when can we expect it to be available?

Tuesday

[dobermate]

Don’t think it’s a joke, just a different product

[sezare56]

Tuesday?!?

It will be Tuesday for sure!

[Gloaming]

Would be awesome if there was trial version of the software!

[Rusty]

Post v2 release, will be looking at providing a demo with limited functionality.

The tricky thing is to find the balance between allowing the flexibility and usage to allow the demo to provide/show the capabilities; whilst also restricting it in such a way that also ensures that the demo, is, well, just that, a demo.

[Open_Mike]

Already implemented. RTFM.

[mas_akala]

What about a choice at startup that only allows 3 modules at a time to be unlocked or something?