Retrokits RK008 - midi recorder/sequencer

Thought I probably get the answers there quicker.

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Good to ask there, I am confident Gerrit or Albert will chime in soon. I scanned the latest manual over and over but didn’t find a full description of the remote control process.

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Might be nice having the RK-008 itself be in a rack and have the remote on the desk but I’ve no clue what it can or cannot do. :slight_smile:

RK-008 in Eurorack format has been presented. Remote controllable functions in the MIDI implementation chart include Stop / Play / Record / Prev. Track / Next Track; I guess track mutes can also be controlled using note on/off.

I believe I watched one of Analog Kitchens videos where he said that that remote control thing was custom made for him by Garrit?

EDIT: would be cool if they sold it though!

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It puzzles me why anyone would need a remote control at all with such a portable device.

I’m a little ham fisted sometimes so for my live rig, some big buttons to advance to the next part, or quickly mute tracks, etc, would be a lot easier than fumbling around with those tiny buttons. Especially in the dark

I think a lot of people (incl myself) would feel the RK-008 is too small for live use.
So putting the RK-008 in a rack and have a controller nearby seems like a great idea.

I got word btw about the remote controller. They’re testing now and it seems to be a new product coming soon. I wouldn’t mind a larger RK-008 though. :slight_smile:

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Just use a midi controller that you already own. I use a Novation Launchkey Mini MK3 to select the channels via midi using the top row of pads and the bottom row for the mutes. Also Play, Rec and Stop works via the Launchkey.

Gerrit even has a script for the Launchkey on the RK008 website. But you can use any controller.

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IMO Retrokits should have put much effort in writing RK-008 documentation, with more application examples. Such a powerful tool deserves a good manual.
Also the MIDI implementation chart would benefit of a rewrite, the track select and mute options perhaps need a better description.

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That would be true for many musical tools these days. Kurzweil Music Systems were famous for their great manuals. On the other hand, given the tiktok-like attention span of the vast majority of people, such a manual would have to be cut into 1000 videos à 10 to 30 seconds, which is a lot of work.

Instead, we can also all contribute here or in the RK forum to discuss about those applications. Btw Gerrit and Albert are pretty responsive.

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Agree. But IMO a well written manual beats 100 forum topics or uninformative Youtube blablabla-tutorials any day. Do once, benefit forever.

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yup, just if anyone needs the .syx file for the launchkey mini it can be found here

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Got a reply from Gerrit, he’ll try and add some explanation on how to configure a generic controller other than the Launchkey Mk3.

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Don’t forget it’s a one-man operation, I think.

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Yep! Let me rephrase: I wish they find the time/resource to write a larger documentation, with more practical examples. So far they did a great job. :slightly_smiling_face:

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Lucien Foort (a.k.a. Analog Kitchen) uses the pads of his MiniLab 3 from Arturia the same way for e.g. mutes in some of his videos (example) before showing the custom made controller from Gerrit in the above mentioned video.

I agree with @Dr.Kunz that a proper midi implementation chart is really helpful in any manual and most manuals nowadays skimp on that part.

I think the one Gerrit delivered pretty much shows all you need or what are you missing here @Dr.Kunz?

If you want to map any controller you can find the CCs right there:

MIDI-CC Commands for the RK008:

  • Select Track: MIDI-CC 10-17
  • Mute Track: MIDI-CC 18-25
  • Transpose basekey: MIDI-CC 60
  • Midiclick notes: MIDI-CC 76, 77
  • Stop: MIDI-CC 105
  • Play: MIDI-CC 115
  • Record: MIDI-CC 117
  • Play prev Part: MIDI-CC 103
  • Play next Part: MIDI-CC 102
  • Part change: MIDI-CC 126 (Part Prev), 127 (Part Next)
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Agree that the infos are on the chart, but I think many people would benefit from more details: what those numbers mean and how to use them to configure an external device. Hopefully Retrokits will integrate their docs in future, at the moment there is enough infos here to get started.

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Anyone using the RK008 with an OT? I have a few multitimbral synths that would be cool to have some simple-ish layers of programming behind them, but aren’t important enough to dedicate OT midi tracks to. Would the RK008 work as a way of recording some extra PLocked sequences and just letting those sit and run so the OT can handle the more hands on sequencing?

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Just broke my “No Buy/No Sell” policy and scored a used 008 with a battery on Reverb.

I was an MMT-8 user briefly, way back in the day (I think the entire “studio” was CZ-101, TX-81Z, Yamaha RX17, PortaOne 4 track, and a 57), so I’m curious if running the Retrokit will be “like riding a bicycle.”

Really looking forward to a simple device that offers both long patterns and song mode.

To be continued. Why am I telling you all this? Probably anticipation, the best part of any relationship ….

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