Octatrack + CV.OCD - Velocity?

I have an Octatrack mk1 and would like to send velocity to eurorack drum modules some time in the future. I do have an CV.OCD that I could never figure out how to use. Tried to sync a DFAM with it in the past, but I just couldn’t figure it out. Anyone who knows how to set it up so that I will be able to both sequence and send velocity messages to drum modules?

eurorack modules don’t offer velocity. if you want dynamics you have to patch it up some other way. some drum modules have accent inputs that you can patch to but generally that’s a separate gate/trigger input.

there are a handful of eurorack modules that do have amplitude controls but it’s a separate patch point.

The only use for velocity signals I can see in your scenario, is to set up the CV.OCD so it will only send a trigger/gate when it receives a velocity message from the Octatrack that goes over a set threshold. The CV.OCD can receive Velocity messages and convert them to a CV gate signal, but it can’t send velocity information (and as @ignatius says your eurorack modules couldn’t read it anyway).

Could you explain what is the result you want to achieve? Why do you want to send velocity information to your eurorack modules?

Well, that’s what I meant. I want to send accents to drum modules. I was just thinking that it’s velocity that I’d have to send, since an accent is full on velocity or amplitude. But maybe it’s not?
So yeah, I want to learn how to use/set up the CV.OCD so that I can send what I have to send to apply accents, if possible :slight_smile:

you need to use another track on the OT. put steps where you want accents. patch out of the CVOCD to the accent inputs on your drum modules. for each drum module you want to patch an accent to you need to use another track on the OT… so it becomes impractical.

i used to hit accents on drum modules randomly using clock dividers and mults etc. or using eurorack sequencers and programming everything within the eurorack environment.

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I want to make predictable accents though. Isn’t there a way to do that without having to buy an expensive eurorack sequencer? :joy:

And what outputs on the CV.OCD do I use? Just another trigger out? To get my head around how this works, Could I then use 2 tracks on a BSP to do the same? 1 track for regular layer and another for the accent?

Pretty sure you can fire a CV OCD trigger when the velocity is higher than a provided value, which would function as an accent trigger for a given note.

Edit: yeah just have two triggers set up for the same note and on the second trigger, set a “minimum velocity” value of 100.

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You absolute can do this with CV.OCD - it works great!

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How can I have 2 triggers for the same step on one track? Is that because each track can fire of up to 4 triggers per step or how does it work?

No in the CV OCD configuration page You need to set up a second trigger out as the accent trigger out, by setting it as the same note value but set a “minimum velocity” value for the output

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Okay thanks. But I guess to make it easier for myself and to have enough triggers and midi tracks, I could get a BSP, so that I could do regular steps on for instance BSP and then use OT for accents, so that I don’t have to remember which tracks is for what. And I might get a DFAM again that has to be clocked, and my Mono Lancet needs a sequencer as well, so I could do that from BSP as well :thinking:

i don’t know the CVOCD but based on what people here are saying it sounds like you can send 2 triggers from CVOCD on 1 track from the OT… where one will be based on higher velocity which can be the accent track. i’d investigate that before getting any additional gear to solve the problem. it sounds like it’s just a matter of configuring things w/the gear you already have.

Well, that would be great, but OT might still not be enough if I want to sequence other gear. Because if I decide to go with eurorack modules I’d get Erica Synths Bass Drum, Hats D, Cymbals, Clap, Hexinverter Clap and Snare. That’s at least 8 tracks on the OT. So I still need Something to sequence Mono Lancet and to sync DFAM.

CV.OCD will also send triggers based on midi notes, so you can use one Midi track on the OT to sequence up to four drum modules by entering different notes per step. It’s an unusual way of working with the sequencer but it is possible. I might even have a sysex file for the CV.OCD already set up for this - I’ll look tomorrow and let you know.

However, and this is coming from someone with an 18u eurorack system, I don’t think a euro system would be my first choice for drums sequenced from the Octatrack. Eurorack drums only make sense to me if you are going to go crazy with logic, switches, and cv sequencing to create sequences that would be hard to replicate with a linear sequencer. I ended up getting a Vermona DRM1 for more typical analog drums (sequenced by the OT and MD) which lets me use my Euro for more unusual textures and soundscapes which is where I feel like it shines.

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Thank you :slight_smile:

I’m picky with equipment, and I don’t really like most drum machines. Actually the only thing I would go to Eurorack for is drums. And it’s not for the crazy Stuff, but for the choice of picking and choosing myself. It’s a thing I’ve considered doing for years now, so it’s not something impulsive. Each to their own :slight_smile:

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Sorry for digging up an old thread, but I am just now finally really understanding the use of the CVOCD and OT and found the thread through a search- I really have no memory of posting here before!

Did you ever sort out how to get your set-up working the way you wanted?