Record MIDI steps with external MIDI keyboard

Elektron Gear Octatrack
#1

Hi,

I created a new project with no audio. I wanted to test the capabilities of using the OT as my MIDI sequencer.
I’m able to easily add notes with the OT trigs but I can’t seem to record notes played from my MIDI keyboard.
I have my mid keyboard connected to my MIDI interface, the OT and various synths and romplers are connected too… When I play the keyboard on a selected OT track the proper synth or rompler is played. When I select a different track then the proper synth is played. All seems well. I just can’t record notes played from the keyboard.
I can’t figure out what I’m doing wrong.

Thanks!

#2

Notes you mean that you can trig samples?

#3

Do you have the sequencer running and in live record mode, activated by pressing rec+play and showing a blinking rec led?

4 Likes
#4

yeh make sure you are in LIVE-REC mode…

one way to test if OT is getting the message is to hit a step button, so its entered in the OT sequencer - then hold down that step and hit a key on the keyboard to see if it changes the note to whichever key you pressed… if thats working then LIVE-REC should work as well

3 Likes
#5

@EasternNoise No I’m just using midi to play external synths and romplers - hardware.

#6

I am in LIVE-REC but the OT will not record my midi keyboard. I think I can use the external midi keyboard to record trigs. I’m not in front of it right now.

#7

Yes. I’m in live record mode.

#8

Weird, if your keyboard is playing the synths through the OT tracks correctly then it should record them too…:thinking:

#9

What about midi channel ? Auto Channel ?
If your midi track has the same channel as an audio track, you can’t receive midi notes…

2 Likes
#10

I’m able to play my external synths via the OT by switching tracks. Doesn’t that mean that my routing is correct?
If I activate OT Track 1 I can play my mopho with my midi keyboard. If I activate Track 2 on the OT then I can play my FS1R with my midi keyboard. ETC.
I’m not using any Audio tracks at all. I don’t really understand this statement:
“If your midi track has the same channel as an audio track, you can’t receive midi notes…” What does this even mean? I’m sorry but not very experienced with the OT.

#11

In the manual :

HOW MIDI IS ROUTED
If an audio track and a MIDI track share the same MIDI channel, the MIDI track will block the audio track from sending out data while the audio track will block the MIDI track from receiving data.

3 Likes
#12

HOW MIDI IS ROUTED
If an audio track and a MIDI track share the same MIDI channel, the MIDI track will block the audio track from sending out data while the audio track will block the MIDI track from receiving data.

::::Yes but unfortunately that means nothing to my little mind. :slight_smile:

#13

Check if your audio tracks channels are different from your midi track channel.

Shared channel = no midi reveive for midi tracks and no midi send for audio tracks.

2 Likes
#14

thank you sezare56 for helping. I’m not quite sure by what you mean. I did not know that there are midi sends for audio tracks nor do I know where that setting is.

#15

Its in your MIDI settings

#16

Thank you, I’ll look when I get home.

#17

Unfortunately it is a limitation, you can change channels but if you don’t send nor receive midi with audio tracks you can set channels to off.

Fn + Mixer > Midi > Channels
Here you can set Auto Channel and audio tracks channels.

#18

Ok I finally got a chance to try a few things. Thank you for all the input.

  1. In record mode I can play a key on my midi keyboard while holding down a trig. The proper note will be recorded as a step.
  2. While in record mode I cannot play the keyboard freely and have the OT record what I’m playing. No holding of trigs.
    I know it’s a step sequencer but I figured this would work somehow. I’m coming from the world of my MPC1000 and QY-800 which record anything you play.
    If this is the way the OT works I’m OK with that I just want to make sure I’m not using the OT incorrectly.

Thank you

#19

There are 2 recording modes :
Grid (press Rec) for step sequencing
Live (press Rec+Play) for live midi recording

You seem to use correct midi channel for the auto channel, as you can record notes holding a trig.

I come from the world of Atari, Mc 303…909, Mpcs, Qy100 :wink:

#20

Sry for bringing this back…
Actually I like to kick old threads back if the topic is matching :slight_smile:

how do I make the OT differentiate between using a cc command and playing e.g. the corresponding note chromatic ally (e.g. I want to control the track level (cc46) by midi controller and want to play the same note (a2#) on the same audio track with the same multi functional midi keyboard?

Thanks for helping