Octatrack MK2 field report after 1 year of use (buying advice)

[JuanSOLO]

For the same money you get a good laptop, Ableton Live Intro (its features exceed the Octatrack’s), an audio interface (e.g. Behringer UMC1820 with twice as many inputs as the Octatrack and acceptable latency) and a plugin like Looperator or Turnado from Sugar Bytes for live effects. This setup would be more flexible, user-friendly and would have higher quality effects

umc1820 - $280
Live Intro - $99
Computer for $900
Turnado is $119 so if you get Turnado you have to subtract the amount from the Computer budget.

So with Live Intro you only have 16 tracks either Midi or Audio.
You dont get most of their instruments and not many features.

I definitely dont see how this set up would be more flexible or better quality.
The budget effects in Live aren’t anything to write home about.
Having a low rent sound card made by Bheringer sounds way iffy.
$800 computer, um yeah ok I guess so
Plus you gotta plug all this crap in to each other and hopefully your sound cards drivers are up to date with your OS.

Ocatatrack still wins for me, and used MKI’s go for about 800, you can probably find one for less if your patient.

[muzka]

Live intro only allows 4in 4 out with an audio interface

[Snipecatcher]

I don’t get the “for the same money you could…” arguments as any sort of argument at all.
You realize pretty much everyone here knows laptops and software exists, right?
You realize this forum was created primarily for users of Elektron gear, right?
Nicolas Jaar is one of my favorite artists out there. He’s an Ableton ninja and it’s amazing.
I’m happiest using my OT and I get a lot done. It’s all good.

[jcd]

[sezare56]

For the same money you get a good laptop,

My report after 4 years with OT : I barely use computers for music. Audio Editing only.
No pleasure at all to make music with computers or iPads.
I can’t see anything that would replace OT. It has fantastic limitations, great bugs.

[Philippe-2000]

My report.

Computer for music is great and extensive but a computer is not an instrument or an integrated solution for a music application on it’s own.

octatrack brings just this, but it is not self sufficient for my needs.

I end up buying both in any case!!
How both worlds integrate smoothly is my main concern.

[sezare56]

I didn’t write that ! Please modify your post before I get sick.

[ML]

#savesezare

[PomPomOne]

Righty right…

[Philippe-2000]

I didn’t write that ! Please modify your post before I get sick.

loool removed…sorry for that. I tried to mention your mention using the “quote” feature and it lead to this…

[TonyDS_1]

No pleasure at all to make music with computers or iPads.

They are great for checking out new/old gear though

[t3h]

They are great for checking out new/old gear though

Yes and for the forums

[cold_fashioned]

Perhaps that’ll be a feature on the next box from Elektron: integrated web browser that only loads elektronauts.com!

[TonyDS_1]

Yes and for the forums

Mmmm, not so sure anymore. I got a lot more done without reading this forum, will have to revisit my personal habits in that regard! More important > setting up the the new music room, finally the days have come!

[Philippe-2000]

fantastic limitations, great bugs.

[Speldosa]

I really appreciate you taking the time to write down both pros and cons. Still on the fence about this device, but after testing both the Digitakt and the Octatrack MkII today, I really felt that the crossfader on the Octatrack offers something unique and super interesting that I really haven’t seen anybody else doing. Might end up getting one.

[Zifor]

Especially if you pair it with a good midi controller. Opens a lot up!

[Hooger]

I have the OT MKII for a couple of weeks now. I miss it when I am not at home.

Never had that before with a piece of gear. My wife is getting jealous

I sold my DT and bought it mainly because of slicing, stereo-sampling, timestretching and other extra audio-editing features. Sure, it has it quirks, but all the things I have read about it being ‘too complicated’ doesn’t do the OT justice. Coming from the DT I didn’t find it all that complicated and I am discovering new things everyday (one shot trigs last night!)

Truly inspiring machine!

[J0n35y]

I’m 18 months or so into owning my MK2 and really getting into a flow with it. While I know I can get “cleaner” and more “structured” songs out of Ableton quicker, I haven’t touched my DAW in weeks.

The missus is out tonight so I figured I’d do music once the boys are in bed. Said to myself tihis morning that I should get back on Push and work with that but I’m sitting at work thinking of the Octatrack haha. Oh well! No point forcing things…

[Speldosa]

Could you exemplify how?