OT with mixer and a grip of synths

newgreyarea · 2013-12-17T06:30:23.000Z

Hi!

I’m hoping someone might be able to hold my hand a little with setting up my mixer and Octatrack.
I have a bunch of synths running into a Mackie 16 channel mixer.

I want to be able to sample into the OT and run everything thru it to do whatever fx stuff I want to do in realtime. So I’m think one set of inputs for the whole mix and the other inputs dedicated to sampling tracks individually.
Should I assign everything to a Sub Group then run the Sub Group out of the mixer into the OT then OT back into the mixer and out the Mains? Should I use an FX send instead?

What should I be aware of in the OT? Any settings I need to adjust?

This makes my head spin!
I just want to play live again!!

Thanks!

sicijk · 2013-12-17T07:24:39.000Z

Quite easy to do this…

I would go with BUS just for having the volume proportion.

If you want to send channels with independent volume control then you should go with SENDS (i would choose the PRE-Fader one)

But, since BUS are conceived for recording…then sample with BUS…

Even if, on my digital desk, i use AUX send PRE fader to feed the OT. But this my desk is digital and there’s no difference between the two signal path.

About OT, just b sure you dont hit red leds too long…remember you always have a lot of post-amplification to raise the level of your sampled audio.

So, just check levels using DIR or THRU then proceed with sampling if everything is fine or reduce or raise a bit the input GAIN…that’s it

Easy pie

newgreyarea · 2013-12-17T17:58:06.000Z

Great!

So I figure I’ll keep DIR A&B turned up and C&D down as those will be the sampling inputs.

So synths and OT thru the mixer back into the OT as an overall processor on track 7 & 8 then out to mains. Sub group 1 out to OT A&B for overall processing and Sub group 2 out to C&D for sampling.

Am I gonna get a feedback loop in there somewhere?

sicijk · 2013-12-18T07:47:00.000Z

I would not use DIR if there’s already a THRU machine (volume doubling and phase issues, if you dont have delay compensation active in the OT’s setup).

About feedback…do you plan to process tracks of OT going back to OT itself?
This case you would have feedback in your routing.
OT’s tracks that go to mixer then back to OT for processing…since, on OT, it’s the same physical output.
****using AuxSend you can modulate a bit of feedback also…this is really awesome, especially if you have two pairs of OT’s fx in chain (Thru+Neibor)

Anyway…
You can use the CUE out for the OT’s tracks that you want to be processed by it.
in Studio Mode configuration.
Just be aware to DO*NOT send to Cue also the Fx processor tracks (feedback!)
So…

1• MAIN OT’s Outs to Mixer, say ch.1-2 going to MixerStereoOut (NO BUS ASSIGNMENT !!);

2• CUE outs to ch.3-4 going only to Bus 1-2 OR use AuxSend (FxSend in your Mackie?) in this case… NO MixerStereoOut
(bus 1-2/or/aux 1-2 > OT inp A-B);

3• all the other synths-----to respective mixer channels and Bus assignments for processing + sampling (Bus 3-4)

Regarding point#2 it’s up to you…this way you can use a Mixer’s channel strips to Eq, amplify to saturate etc…prior to go in Thru machines/Neibor (on track 7/8?) and you choose the SEND amount from CUE Level.

theSkeve · 2013-12-29T05:12:39.000Z

i have a mackie 1202

ill post my setup once my OT arrives. i have a pretty good idea in mind how i’ll use it (and also a hardware compressor) so i’ll share it if it works / can be of use to anyone else

Martinukai · 2015-04-04T19:34:35.000Z

""theSkeve"":

i have a mackie 1202

ill post my setup once my OT arrives. i have a pretty good idea in mind how i’ll use it (and also a hardware compressor) so i’ll share it if it works / can be of use to anyone else

Old thread, I know, but how did you end up setting it up with the OT in the end? Cheers

newgreyarea · 2015-04-07T02:31:15.000Z

Well, a lot of gear has come and gone since then. I ended up with a much larger mixer to enable the use of the individual outs on the RYTM. I don’t really run much into the OT anymore. Was too much of a hassle getting everything setup and a lot of what I want to do just isn’t possible. If they make another OT with more IN’s and Out’s that would be great!!

I’m gearing up to play live again. It’ll be the OT, RYTM, my rather hefty modular and maybe a TT-303. . . . so everything may change yet again!!

Martinukai · 2015-04-07T05:57:51.000Z

Thanks for the info.

Yeah it’s difficult to know how best to work when you’re using both a mixer and an OT in your setup.

Just got a mixer so I’m looking for ideas.

Barfunkel · 2015-04-07T06:07:34.000Z

Depends on the mixer a bit. If it’s a large one with busses or lots of auxes, I’d probably just hardwire the OT to the bus outputs or the extra auxes, so I could sample anything from the mixer by just pressing a button or turning a knob.

Small mixers (like the one I have now), can be difficult though if you have lots of units you want to sample from, and you often need to deal with plugging and unplugging audiocables a lot.

nfim · 2015-04-07T17:30:41.000Z

How many sends does your mixer have?

Mine only has one, so the send goes to the OT. This way the entire mix is going to the monitors, and I can choose at any point which track I want to sample. It also keeps 2 of the OT’s inputs free. My FX pedals are permanently parked after strategic sources.

If you have more sends or the ability to create submixes you can get more creative.