Octatrack Mk1 main output volume very low, maxed out volume settings with normalized sample

Elektron Gear Octatrack
#1

Hey everyone,

The main output volume on my Octatrack Mk1 seems to be very low.
When I play live, the sound engineer has to crank the gain on the mixer, making the OT super noisy. I’d like to avoid this.

As a test, I have a normalized kick sample being triggered.
Every volume parameter I can think of in the Octatrack has been maxed out:
Track Level: 100%
Amp Volume: +63
Main Output Volume: 100%

Even with all these parameters absolutely maxed out, my audio interface is reading the incoming signal as -11.3 db.
I’m in “normal” mode, not studio, so I’m sure I’m controlling the master output level, not the headphone output level.

Is this normal?
When I leave what I consider to be a reasonable amount of headroom in my mixes on the OT, my master outputs at around -24db.
Maybe this is expected behavior, maybe not.

Please let me know if this matches your experience?

#2

Are you using T8 as master?
Do you have any scenes active?
Are you using the main LR output, or headphone output?

A better way to test is using a normalised looped single cycle waveform.

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#3

Difference between normal and studio mode is that studio mode displays main out and cue out levels, main out level is [Function]+[Level] or encoder A when mixer is open.

Edit. My OT is definitely hotter, a looped single cycle sine wave, normalized to 0 db clips my inputs before amp volume is near maxed out (track level 127). Didn’t have time to test any further.

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