The other day when I was sampling my Digitakt loops into the OT I thought “hmmm, somehow it´s missing the “ooompf”, the drums sound way punchier on the DT”. Turned out because my main mixer can´t handle the high output of the OT I had to turn down the mains of the OT which resulted in the lack of punch. When I worked with headphones a few days later I had to turn the mains up and boy was there punch in those drums!
Not saying things like this are always the solution for sound issues (whatever they may be) but very often the signal chain is effecting the sound more than the device itself.
5 Likes
Also the difference between decent modern (like less than 15 years old) converters is smaller than the change of moving your head an inch or two relative to the monitors.
1 Like
Thank you all for the technical coverage of the issue. I just would like to add. About Quality of sound and different converters people always talking. If you use your instrument as solo device it is very important stuff. But in my case it is part of a mix. For example, the best converter I’ve ever had is Ensoniq asr 10. I love this device. Clear sounding and gorgeous Programming (1992). But we are going back to reality. Every producer knows how each individual instrument is changing the mix. For best results we are changing quality, frequency and other parameters. Our final sound is our purpose. I like results of my work with Octatrack. An objective judgment about the convector is the end result of its work. This is either good or bad, it is individual for everyone. As time passes, I listen to my music and I understand whether it’s good or bad.
Which issue?
… colour the sound
Apparently not an issue with OT (with timestretch and filter / lofi fx off).
1 Like
I agree with you. 
2 Likes
Do ppl really expect OT’s converts to be at the level of a dedicated 2in2out interfaces/converts costing 500-1000 euros? Or even 300 euros? And btw, converts alone are just part of the story, another part are analog components that surround the converts.
The question is does OT ruin sounds significantly or not… imo NOT
(monitored on a decent pro system)
1 Like
It can! 
Yes I have Yamaha MSP10s, compared with a good CD player (CDX596), A/B test with OT recording / playing with a FLEX (no fx, timestrech, pitch).
I couldn’t hear the difference.
Maybe I’m too old. 
9 Likes
That was not ruined - improved 
4 Likes
I compared the test files and they are different.
Means OT is probably not transparent.
However, looks like the peaks are limited slightly in the OT waves, just about half dB.
Is it a non-linear error of the AD conversion or simply the signal was too hot?
I bet it was the later. The peak indication at the OT is tricky and the recorded wav looks attenuated in the editor which force people to drive recording to the red zone.
I am sure some or most of the complaints about sound quality can be easily cured with just keep the incoming signal strictly in orange-green.
1 Like
Lol
Go to hell!! 
How?!
I obviously need to invest more time in my OT
3 Likes
I already answered to you, same question, in another topic…
4 Likes
Ups sorry
Will try that today!
1 Like
You can’t improve the Amen break.
You can use it, enjoy it, honour it, coax it, hype it, celebrate it, reference it and you can attempt to squash it (a task you will fail at). NOT using the Amen is, in some genres, a conscious choice and thus is still using it, silently. It is the beginning and the ending. And the middle 8, and the breakdown.
5 Likes
For me, OT sounds so good going into Blackhole and then Heat, even when the samples are junk, that I stopped caring about conversion.
Those processors do such great things to the sound that even my pocket operators come out sounding like finished records. There’s a reason so much of the pro audio industry is full of signal processing. It works.
I can’t change the OT conversion, and I like the OT workflow, so I don’t worry about the things I can’t change and focus on the things I can, choosing whichever signal processing that yields a smile on my face. 
Never found myself smiling while splitting hairs as much as I smile once I’ve finished a tune.
7 Likes
I’m a few months late, but I’d take the side of “OT actually butchers your analog synths”.
I bought a Moog Matriarch just because of the samples Moog put up before release - the synth made me feel something just by sound alone, it was incredible. Some time later I started using OT mk2 as a mixer, wondering where the Moog’s magic went.
I found out the answer after a year, thanks to Stimming’s OT video on youtube - the Elektron box put a blanket over it.
It basically took away the very top end (that crunchy sizzle) and lowest end (pulsating analog bass), along with sound clarity. Comparing between headphone direct out vs OT through machine, no FX of course.
I have to agree with Stimming’s assessment, that OT converters sound like a mid range smartphone from 5 years ago. I wouldn’t mind on samples or anything, but with an analog synth where this really does matter…
I’m thinking the OT will be leaving house first opportunity.
In my experience, any digital conversion of a Moog will leave something to be desired compared to its raw sound. My Babyface did a good deal better job converting my Mother32 (when I had it), but one would hope so considering the RME is a dedicated interface and the OT is a sampler. In that respect, the OT is no slouch in the conversion department.
Of course, my Scarlett 2nd gen messed up the sound a bit as well, but nowhere near OT levels. Running through the OT the Moog sounds like a different instrument. And at that point I can either drop analog synths or the sampler. Or, you know, save up for a normal small mix console.
But I’m almost looking at dropping all of it and getting a single A4, saving myself many pains - and gaining others in the process 
You definitely followed all the gain staging advice?
Also… honestly, if you’re willing to sell the OT just because it slightly colours your Matriarch, it sounds like the right decision to me. Let go of the sample mangling, mixing, FX, sequencing, DJing, and cross-fader trickery that you don’t need.
2 Likes