Octatrack.. a few questions/issues

Elektron Gear Octatrack
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Hooking up my Octatrack mk2 to my A4mk2 and Rytm mk2 I have a few questions/issues I cannot resolve.

On all boxes I have created a blanc project.
my setup is like this:

Octatrack is the master

Analog4 main output to OT A/B input
Rytm main output to OT C/D input

Midi cable out from OT to in A4
Midi cable thru from A4 to in ARytm

On my Octatrack I have Track 1 as Thru machine from the A4
On my Octatrack I have Track 2 as Thru machine from the Rytm

No I have 2 question/issues:

  1. The signal from the 2 tracks are not the same level on the OT as on their output.
    I have dialed up the track Level, source level and Amp level, but it is still at a lower level.
    When I pluin my headphone onto the A4 and Rytm, it is way louder.
    Why is that?

  2. All 3 boxes I have setup a new project. The funny thing is when I slide the performance slider on the OT
    the Fine-Tune level on the Analog4 goes up… I cannot find out why this happens. Nothing have been setup to make a scene change.

A new thing; when I change the Track volume on the OT, the Osc1 Tuner on the A4 changes…

Menno

2

  1. Thru tracks seem to drop the level quite a bit… More so than direct, pickup, or flex/buffer monitoring… I suggest leaving mixer gain alone but raise track level and crank amp vol to compensate.
    I wouldn’t necessarily expect the headphone levels to match though, there’s more that can affect that… (OT phone balance/level, each units headphone rated output level/impedance).

  2. By default OT is sending midi from the controls and AR/A4 are set to receive it. Set audio cc out in OT midi/control menu to internal instead of int+ext…

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Hi @Open_Mike :wink:
I’m just answering #2 : OT crossfader sends CC48 midi message, corresponding to A4 fine tune. Disable CC send in Ot or CC receive in A4, or change midi channels…

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Thanks guys, I’m gonna try your suggestions

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For looping I need the same signal level coming out of the outputs as is coming in, unity gain.

For thru track I’ve found:
-Master volume: 19
-If using a master track: track level 127

-Thru: track level 127, amp vol +49

(Edit: I use main at 19 in order to be able to match volumes of different monitoring methods using their individual settings… Internal gain stage recommendations)

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I thought levels should be something similar, but unplugging the headphone from the OT, plugging it into the Rytm, it is very loud

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I’ll add OT headphones level is independant from master level, not with AR and A4.

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8

Headphone outputs on devices all use an amplifier to power the small speakers in the headphones.

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ok, but the sound from the Rytm in comparison from the A4 sould be similar. both coming into the OT

edit: both thru tracks have the source level and amp level set to +63

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And the OT is infamous for a low isignal on the inputs. I just crank the gain until the led’s start to hit yellow, then bring it back a little.

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the output dial on the A4 is at approximate 40% and on the Rytm 100% to get similar levels on the OT.

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Most boxes have differing output levels. Maybe search “gain staging” in the OT part of this forum as well, for more info. Lots more info.

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thanks, will do :wink:

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And if you do live sound, gain staging is one of the most important things to know. If you learn it you will make your sound guy less stressed out.