OT-less Trinity users? Combined workflow

The Lounge General Discussion
1

Who is using 3 (or more) non-Octatrack Elektrons to play live or produce?

[ul]
[li]Which 3? (Could even be 2 of the same and one different)[/li]
[/ul]
[ul]
[li]What’s your workflow like with the 3 together (does one stand out)?[/li]
[li]What kind of music are you making?[/li]
[li]Why the particular 3 that you have?[/li]
[/ul]
[ul]
[li]Any plans to expand/modify your configuration?[/li]
[/ul]

There are several trinity users out there but most have an Octatrack in the mix. I don’t, so how I use them is a bit different. Hearing how others work is always informative. I’m real into process when discussing creative endeavors.

I’ll go first:
Analog Rytm, MonoMachine, Analog Four.

I work with each machine individually and squeeze as much as I can out of each to produce an entire tune with just one machine. It is, admittedly, most difficult with Analog Four, but that limitation comes through to make the A4 tunes sound distinct, just like the others. The A4 tunes often come out deeper, the Rytm’s most complex and polished, and the MonoMachine’s are most raw and crazy.

When I play live, the 3 together are like 3 decks (I’ve also been a DJ for 18 years). I run the MnM and A4 into a Mackie Mix5 that feeds Rytm’s input. Everything gets compressed/limited in the Rytm.
If one machine would be considered the “hub”, it would be Rytm. I’m often supplementing A4’s sparse but FX heavy tunes with Rytm percussion. MonoMachine and especially Rytm can both stand on their own quite well. I particularly love a heavily p-locked BBOX C0 kick hitting Rytm’s compressor.

I’m making techno, with a little bit of electro and some lofi house stuff thrown in.

These 3 boxes particularly because for my music they suit me best. I feel I can cover the most ground live with these. MonoMachine is my favorite, although I feel for composition it is most limited due to the older style sequencer. From a sound design perspective, it gives me the most far out tones and timbres. If I had to ditch one, it would be hard but probably A4 would go. 2x Rytm + MnM would be my preferred substitute configuration, mostly because Rytm feels the most flexible for performance. I could play live with 2x Rytm alone and have a good time.

Expansion, modification… I’m going to have access to 2x MonoMachines for a few days this week. I’m curious to see how that might work out, perhaps using a 2nd MnM just as a wild FX box for A4. That could be exciting. I’m much more interested in the weird quirky digital fx on MnM than using an OT the same way. The filters and dist via LFOS just make me smile every time. A 4th box would make air travel a bit difficult, so perhaps just using the headphone out of A4 and into just one MnM for FX is more prudent. 3 should be enough, right?
We’ll see!

How about you?

2

got the same trinity. don’t play live, I just noodle around and throw everything away afterwards and clear the active bank. soundwise I end up somewhere between tubeway army, chiptune and some glitchy experimentation. Maybe once I throw in some singing I’ll start recording it but so far I’m not feeling it as much as with my rock band. Motu ultralite and macbook would be ready but so far I haven’t felt the need to press record.

A4 is the brain, Rytm is hooked up to it and MnM to the rytm. they all run into a Mackie 802vlz3. A4 sequences a Minitaur and a Mos-lab 16a. MnM sequences a eurocrack case with a mutable instruments yarns 4x midi to cv and the thru port on that one goes to a sammichSID synth.

3

I use A4 MD Sid. Ultra compact all elektron line up. Sid goes into Md goes into A4. Sid sequenced by Md and clock comes from A4. The Md is the only elektron box that came with a gate input to keep that Sid noise at bay. ha

4

Some good insights.

Anyone else?

5

Why do you use them separately? Their different sounds combine so nicely. Or do you mix them together (in parallel not series) afterwards with your ages of DJ background?

6

Why are you so adverse to the Octrack, if you don’t mind answering?

7

Octa doesn’t click with me…yet

The overabundance of flashy crossfading and slicing is not the core of that machine I get it, but so far only Panda Bear has caught my attention octawise

8

I compose on them separately, writing the “meat” of a track on a single machine. This method works for me because I feel I get farthest compositionally when focusing on the parameters of one machine and what I can do within that construct. It’s a self imposed limitation that gives me immediate direction in the early stages of creation. I feel I get the most out each machine this way. Often, I’ll hit a wall sonically, due to track limits on A4 and occasionally MnM, but that gets filled in during live performance when the 3 machines come together.

And yes, they are mixed in parallel. It’s in the live mix that the performed creation takes place. Making quick, realtime decisions on how to add the last bits to the meat of a track and make it complete with the other machines. Often rearranging bits from one machine to accommodate the needs of another.

My process is constantly changing in various ways. I’m sure this method will morph into something new within the next year. Also, I’m adding a Nord Drum to use on the A4’s CV track so that I can get a bit more out of A4’s voices. Adding an Audiothingie’s P6 may come down the road for one of MnM’s midi track.

1 Like
9

I wouldn’t consider myself adverse to the Octatrack. I think 4 Elektrons is a bit excessive, and considerably more difficult to travel with when flying to gigs and always bringing your luggage as carry-on. Also, I just love synthesis. It took me years to understand, and ever since it finally clicked in my brain, I can’t get enough.
But most importantly, I just don’t feel that I need an Octatrack, with everything else I already have.

-For ext midi sequencing, I have the MnM
-For waveform chain style synthesis, I have Rytm & MnM
-For 'transition tricks" I have 3 other Elektrons to mix in and out of.
-For scenes, I have Rytm.
-For mangling, I have my own two hands on any of my Elektrons, plus MnM’s audio inputs (I love using MnM just for FX sometimes).

Of course the Octatrack does all of these things, and does them differently, but for my needs, what I already have does all of the above to my liking. If I were buying an Octatrack, the only real new additional features I would be getting are realtime sampling, time stretch, and the ability to play very long samples.

And so, as I prefer 3 Elektrons, I wonder if I were to get an Octatrack, which Elektron would it replace? And what would I lose in that swap? For my music, Rytm/A4/MnM covers a lot more ground than having an OT take one of their places in the mix.

That’s not to say I won’t grab an OT one day (because GEAR!), but I’d rather get it because I need it, and not because I want it. I may very well need it one day.

11

Are you using a computer in anyway when you are out playing live? OT can be used like a mixer with fx and loop playback. It really can be used like ableton live lite. Essentially replacing the need for a mixer and laptop. I’ve done live gigs with just a OT and a mic.

12

No computer for me when performing.
Just use it for recording and finishing off mixes in the studio.

13

You might consider a MonoMachine. All the sounds you described, it does quite well. Plus you’ll get 6 dedicated midi tracks, which can free up your MD’s midi tracks. And they’re a bit easier to sequence melodic content with too.

I am one of those rare MnM users that likes it for drums also. Takes a little bit of work with parameter locks but that BBOX really can cover some ground if you want it to.

14

MnM drums kick a$$!!

15

I wouldn’t consider myself adverse to the Octatrack. I think 4 Elektrons is a bit excessive, and considerably more difficult to travel with when flying to gigs and always bringing your luggage as carry-on. Also, I just love synthesis. It took me years to understand, and ever since it finally clicked in my brain, I can’t get enough.
But most importantly, I just don’t feel that I need an Octatrack, with everything else I already have.

-For ext midi sequencing, I have the MnM
-For waveform chain style synthesis, I have Rytm & MnM
-For 'transition tricks" I have 3 other Elektrons to mix in and out of.
-For scenes, I have Rytm.
-For mangling, I have my own two hands on any of my Elektrons, plus MnM’s audio inputs (I love using MnM just for FX sometimes).

Of course the Octatrack does all of these things, and does them differently, but for my needs, what I already have does all of the above to my liking. If I were buying an Octatrack, the only real new additional features I would be getting are realtime sampling, time stretch, and the ability to play very long samples.

And so, as I prefer 3 Elektrons, I wonder if I were to get an Octatrack, which Elektron would it replace? And what would I lose in that swap? For my music, Rytm/A4/MnM covers a lot more ground than having an OT take one of their places in the mix.

That’s not to say I won’t grab an OT one day (because GEAR!), but I’d rather get it because I need it, and not because I want it. I may very well need it one day. [/quote]
Yeah, I see your point of view. I had to decide between the MnM and OT, and I chose the OT.