Octatrack as MIDI control center PROBLEM

Elektron Gear Octatrack
1

I am doing exactly as described in the manual on pages 127-128-129
“The MIDI OUT of an external synthesizer is connected to the Octatrack MIDI IN. The Octatrack MIDI OUT is connected to the MIDI IN of the synthesizer. A synth module is con- nected to the MIDI THRU of the synthesizer. The Octatrack can MIDI control both the syn- thesizer and the synth module. At the same time the keyboard of the synthesizer can be used to play Octatrack samples, play the synthesizer itself as well as the synth module.”

I am using a Prophet 6 as the synth, a Volca FM as the synth module and I set it up (channels, CC, etc…) exactly as described in the manual.

“The keyboard of the synthesizer can now control both the audio tracks of the Octatrack as well as play melodies on both the synthesizer itself and the synth module. To make the synthesizer play itself, simply make MIDI track 1 active. Use the keyboard to play the synthesizer module by selecting MIDI track 2. Incoming notes from the keyboard can be real time recorded on the MIDI tracks when in LIVE RECORDING mode.”

I can only hear the Prophet when I switch MIDI TRACKS, I hear the Prophet also when I switch to midi track 2 which should be the Volca Fm.

What am I doing wrong? Please describe in baby steps as the OT is very new to me.

2

Just to confirm: P6 midi out into OT midi in, OT midi out to P6 midi in, P6 midi thru into Volca midi in. And the P6 isn’t set up for omni, correct?

3

Couple of things:

OT only pipes midi to a desired midi channel when that midi track is selected

How are you monitoring the prophet? Unless you set it to ‘local off’ or mute it, it’ll carry on making its own sounds when you use its keyboard to trigger the volca.

Be careful playing the prophet keys when you have an audio track selected on the OT. By default it uses incoming notes to wreak all kinds of ridiculous havoc on your tracks, and it’s confusing as hell the first time it happens. The option that controls this is something like ‘control receive’ in the midi setup menu.

4

yes, yes, yes, yes and yes but ‘isn’t set up for omni’, would you be so kind to describe this more to me how to check this? (manual Prophet 6: http://www.davesmithinstruments.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Prophet-6-Operation-Manual.pdf )

Local is OFF