OT: OCTA Compact midi setup

Elektron Gear Octatrack
1

Hello!

I’m getting my Octatrack (my first Elektron!) in a few days and I’m very happy about it, can’t wait:)

But now I have to figure out how to connect devices with each other. I already have Blofeld and Circuit.
I have to get some affordable midi keyboard (my current one has only usb) so I’m thinking about Novation Remote SL 37mkI because it has Midi IN / OUT / 2nd OUT / THRU. So if I’m not wrong it serves as midi thru box?

I’ve attached image that shows what I’m thnking about. Is it possible? I want to be able to record midi notes from keyboard to Octatrack’s sequencer and control some paramters with encoders etc., and play blofeld sounds with it.
With Circuit I’ll use internal sequencer so I just need clock.

I hope it’s doable but certainly need some advice:) Thnx!

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2

What you COULD do is midi keyboard into OT OT out into Blofeld, thru from blofeld into circuit and then select which instrument you want to send midi to from the OT midi page. Set the midi channels of the OT midi to auto channel of which instrument you’re sending to. Perfect.

It’s a great trick!

3

Only midi in on Blofeld… :wink:

I’m not sure Sl37 Out2 will send clock. Is Circuit’s out can be Soft Thru ?

Easier with a midi splitter like Quadra Thru.

4

after short look. you need to switch off clock inside octa if not you will get midi loops

5

?
He have to send clock to circuit. Where is you midi loop ?

6

If the Circuit is not Soft Thru (out = out + thru), I think you’ll need a midi splitter, even with Circuit as master. Circuit can be thru for sync, but you need it to be thru for notes.
Ot as master is better for audio recording.

Edit, apparently Sl37 Out2 can be Thru, your setup should be ok.

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1 Like
7

ot out 2 other device and other device out to ot in will send clock and clock and clock. means your ot will receave more than one clock signal. then it will die…
so if ot is master there is no way to connect its own midi out to own midi in.
if ot is slave internal clock off…

8

Ok you mean uncheck Clock and Transport Receive in OT.
BTW, with this setup, it wouldn’t receive clock from SL37 out.
That would be true with thru.

9

thrue:)!! dont know the device. but some send the clock too through regular midi out. midi clocking never had been no issue for me…

10

It is true for the Circuit for exemple. You can send IN clock to OUT
With the SL37 you apparently have the choice to send IN to OUT1 or OUT2, so problems may happen with IN sent to OUT1.

So you’re right to say to be aware of clock loops. :wink:

11

Thanks guys!!!

Just as I thought - some headaches ahead of me:) I want to avoid seperate midi box as much as possible - to keep setup relatively small and compact.

Any other keybard controllers that might be suitable for this kind of setup?

12

If you don’t want boxes, 2 Thru is a good feature.
A midi box is not that big. It is light usually.

I have a Taktile 49 with a very efficent synced arp, Touch pad with scale h arp, 2x16 pads with user chords, 2x8 faders/pots, buttons…can assign Pc, Cc, notes. Usb + In + Out. Light. Can be on your knees.
Suits very well Ot and A4 for me.

1 Like
13

Don’t think you’ll achieve this without a thru box. Till you get one I’d just sync the circuit manually.

14

Manually - you mean by ear right?

15

I really think a device such as iConnectMIDI4+ or MIO4 is needed at some point.
You can plug a USB hub in it and get up to 16 devices talking MIDI over USB (such as Blofeld or OP-1 for instance)
And you have up to 4 standard MIDI I+O ports…
For synchronisation with your DAW it’s also very convenient…

You might want to consider this…

16

Yep. IConnectMidi4 seems really interesting. Flagged on AF. 150€ second hand. Compared to a Kenton Usb to midi, you have a lot more !

I have a really useful A880 midi patch since 15 years, so I can’t get rid of that kind of midi gear.

@LyingDalai What about the 5th Sub in A4 ?
You agree that’s it is 7 semitones below ? :wink:

1 Like
17

Hello there!
Thanks guys you’re great:)

I know both devices (iConnectMIDI4+ and MIO4) - they’re indeed very powerful with sending/recieving midi. But honestly I was thinking about more budget-friendly solution:) so my first thought was remote sl with midi thru etc.

So the Kenton MIDI Thru 5 is suitable for my needs? Can I actually use the setup I described?

PS. I’ve found a battery powered alternative https://amptonelab.com/shop/midi-splitter/

Is it any better or going with kenton is the safest option?

Thanks!

18

Is that right? :smiley:

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19

It looks correct. :thup:
Midi Solution Quadra Thru seems ok too. Midi powered.

But your first setup seems ok too if Sl37 Out 2 can be set as Thru.

1 Like
20

Great! Thank you so much for help :ecstatic:
So probably I’ll be getting Remote SL first and I’ll see how this setup works. If it’ll cause problems I’ll get Kenton.