I’m troubleshooting a stereo routing issue with my Octatrack and Korg KP3+ and I’m hoping someone can help identify what I’m missing.
Setup
Elektron Octatrack MKII (using EZBOT 4x4 Hybrid Template in CUE Studio Mode). It also plays synths on track 5 and ambience on track 6.
Korg Kaoss Pad KP3+ input C-D for mangling the synths of track 5 only.
Analog rytm input A-B for all drums.
Audio interface connected to DAW with Ozone Imager for monitoring
The KP3+ is set to DIRECT mode and I’m testing with no FX applied.
Problem
The dry signal returning from the KP3+ into the Octatrack is not centered. The stereo image collapses into 45° toward the right side. It sounds like the stereo image is heavily right-weighted.
If I touch a KP3+ pad and activate a stereo effect (reverb/chorus/delay), the signal becomes wider and it sounds left too, but it is still heavily right-biased.
Tests I performed
KP3+ → audio interface = perfectly centered stereo image. Only problem is now the synths wont get affected by the scenes of the Octatrack
So the KP3 seems to output normal stereo.
Swapped KP3 output cables
Swapping left/right outputs flips the problem:
right-heavy becomes left-heavy
The stereo width remains the same.
Swapped KP3 input cables
No change; still right-heavy.
Tested another stereo source
Analog Rytm into Octatrack inputs works normally as stereo. In both input A/B or C/D
So It seems like the issue only occurs with:
KP3+ LINE OUT → Octatrack inputs
Even though:
KP3 → audio interface works
Octatrack inputs work with other devices
Any ideas would be appreciated. I’m mainly trying to keep the KP3 return inside the Octatrack so scenes can affect the synth stems too.
Hi @Octatr8 , from what I can see there seems to be a problem with your kp3 input somewhere.
Maybe the rca connections (or the gain encoder🤷♂️).
Try another piece of gear connected to your kp3 and monitor to see if its the same.
Check also the synth programs on the kp3 and make sure they pan their balance ok.
Does the issue still happen if you try inputs A/B with the KP? Check you don’t have a scene or LFO or p-lock on the track causing the panning. Also try direct routing of the input to the output of the OT, from the mix page.
Edit: Ah you said that if you swap cables it flips the balance, so yeah it must be something with that cable? Try using the headphone output if you have a splitter cable.
Thanks! I did another test: if I connect the KP3+ LINE OUT directly to my audio interface (same cables, same dry/direct signal), the stereo image is perfectly normal. The issue only appears when the KP3 output goes back into the Octatrack inputs. I also tested both OT inputs C/D and A/B and the behavior is identical. So at the moment I’m struggling to determine whether it’s the KP3 output interacting with the OT inputs or something else.
I tested both C/D and A/B and I get the exact same result on both input pairs. It’s both to the right like in the picture I included previously. I also disabled the A/B input from my Analog Rytm so only the KP3 return was being monitored. The issue remained. I haven’t tried the OT’s direct input monitoring from the mixer page yet, so I’ll test that next. As for scenes/LFOs, I tested with the crossfader fully on the neutral scene, and didn’t have any LFO or plocks going.
That’s the confusing part. If I connect the KP3 directly to my audio interface using the same RCA-to-TS cables, the stereo image is perfectly centered. The imbalance only happens when the KP3 is connected back into the Octatrack. I’ll still try another RCA cable pair to rule that out completely.
that if I select C+D on the Thru machine I get a perfectly centered mono signal. If I select C I get a quieter mono signal, D is louder mono, and C/D gives me a right-leaning stereo image as the picture I added.
An easy fix would be if I could make the volume of C input higher and then it balances it itself back to the center. The same happens when I directly connect my Korg Kaoss to my audio interface: if I have my channel 2 louder than channel 1, it leans more to the right.
But I didn’t seem to find a way to increase the volume of just the C input on Octatrack
Yes I tried tr8s and that works just fine in stereo.
The KP3 is being fed from the Octatrack’s CUE OUT L/R, so it’s definitely a stereo send. On Track 5, MAIN is set to 0 and CUE is set to 127, so only the stereo CUE signal is feeding the KP3.
