OT - sound quality

[Schnork]

Yes, also these threads:

Internal gain stage recommendations

Just wondering what kind of settings others are using on Octatrack, from track volume, through level and then through “main”. I have a comprehensive set of Electron boxes and want to put them through my mixer ideally with the same gain settings. So, I’m trying to get Octatrack to match Rytm and A4.

Gain Pain

Tell me this is wrong … Please ! [Edit, yes, it probably is] The Octatrack takes your decent ‘hot’ signal It drops the level at the inputs by ~12dB It then adds 12dB of gain to the recording to get you back to the original level i’m not sure that sounds like a good plan, can anyone convince me it is ! ? It’s helping me understand why my levels are all over the place with pickup machines, but i can now see it’s the same with flex and tellingly with Thru When you put a decent signal throug…

OT Master Level

Hi all, I was just wondering what level people set there master level at. I always have mine at 0. Should i bring it down to leave some headroom? Sometimes my tracks sound a bit distorted could this be the reason? Many thanks.

[brucegill]

Thank you!

[sezare56]

See also
Signal flow/gain staging diagram for Octatrack MKII
(Unity settings)

Imho most important is input signal, mixer gain.

Edit : leaving it at 0 and adjust your input signal? I’d do that but I’m not sure if it’s the best. If anyone can shime in about that…

Red is a warning (-12db imho), it doesn’t mean clipping. It can be full red without clipping with a sine wave for instance.

[darenager]

Kind of funny this is still being talked about, really easy to get the final verdict, just post an example of a sound the OT failed to capture adequately, along with the original and the OT version of the sound, it is that easy.

[thoughtstarZ]

It is really important to have lots of signal for sure. Am I right about the OT’s sampling, that it inputs at a lower volume, so that you have loads of headroom when editing it? Kinda of like in OB? It can be a bit of a pain in the ass, but it’s helped me from gaining stuff too much. I get really clean mixes with both.

[phaelam]

so I just tried it…they might be right. I cant really tell tho…

sampled first, then playback…

[darenager]

Dang, that proves it

[phaelam]

[Tchu]

Solved case, please close. Nice one @phaelam.

[sjvl]

@phaelam

then playback…

So good!!! Omg

[thoughtstarZ]

definitely over.

[Tchu]

Finally.

[Cosmic]

Im selling it now.

[Supercolor_T-120]

Sort of, it doesn’t actually record at a lower volume but any recording you make has its volume attribute set to -12db automatically, so your actual recording is full scale but you’re guaranteed a good amount of headroom.

That’s actually important to take into account when you choose between 16 and 24 bit - because the OT is undoubtedly working with fixed point internally, and one bit of audio resolution = 6db of dynamic range, the -12db pad means that things you’re sampling live are truncated to 14 bit or 22 bit at playback. 22 bit is still plenty of resolution, but14 bit is starting to push into the zone where you’ll definitely start to hear it (although a LOT less than you probably think, even 12 bit can sound pretty hi-fi if it’s recorded at a good level and the dynamic range isn’t too big.

[Unifono]

@phaelam

so I just tried it…they might be right. I cant really tell tho…

but… did you turn timestretch off??

[sezare56]

I can’t hear any difference. Seems very neutral!

@phaelam You said you don’t like guitars. You wanted to enhance them?

[sabana]

I remember years ago when the Sony Walkman came out people saying it sounds crap compared to vinyl. Now everyone wants that tape sound.

[Riuozami]

Hold on a sec,

1. what is the test that you are doing?

2. Is the time stretch on?

The playback is very bad, it cannot be right.

[Unifono]

@sezare56

Seems very neutral!

indeed. people made hit records with worse sounding material

[craig]

@Riuozami

The playback is very bad, it cannot be right.

@phaelam is taking the piss on purpose