Should i order or wait?

Fleuw · 2014-12-31T09:22:59.000Z

I need some advice. I know this question been asked before but i need to be shure about This.

What are the chance that there will be a “NEW” Octatrack announced at NAMM This year?
Im about to order a Octatrack today but dont want to spend BIG bucks and then realize that there will be a MKII 3-4 weeks later …would be awesome to get ur opinion or some hard facts from a Elektron employee .

Happy new year!

dust_ward · 2014-12-31T09:45:17.000Z

probably not gonna happen. doubt we’ll see any sort of OT MK II in 2015.

AR + A4 + AK + overbridge seem to be the priorities for the immediate future and thats plenty for any company to have on their plate.

its probably not super likely OT will even see a software update in the next year let alone new hardware.

TrabanT · 2014-12-31T09:52:07.000Z

my immedate reaction would have been : order, but, if you only have NAMM as a factor, then I d say WAIT ., none the less I doubt Namm will bring anything but "sorry, but we are elektron, a small company … " … and if you cant wait, get a 2nd hand OT (possobly with remaining warranty)

glidepro · 2014-12-31T10:07:52.000Z

I’d personally say that the difference between the Octatrack and a possible new version would be relatively minimal - if one looks back in Elektron’s timeline to the differences between the Machinedrum/Monomachine MK1 and MK2.

I would personally be disappointed if Elektron were to release an Octatrack MK2. It would be nice to see some existing issues/quirks addressed but not in the form of a whole new hardware update but in a software update.

I think that Elektron’s next foray into sampling will be something radically different from the Octatrack, justifying a completely new name as opposed to a mere MK2. After mashing together analogue and digital in the Rytm, it would be interesting to see that concept go further.

I realise that I’m splitting hairs with naming conventions here, so perhaps ignore me and wait - but if you like the look of the Octatrack right now I think you should buy it.

Fleuw · 2014-12-31T10:30:23.000Z

Order placed… And thanks for the advice

glidepro · 2014-12-31T10:36:52.000Z

""Fleuw"":

Order placed… And thanks for the advice

Awesome! Definitely never regretted my own purchase of it, nothing else like it

Fleuw · 2014-12-31T11:01:03.000Z

Im super excited … Cant wait to hook the Octatrack up and get confused and learn new stuff

clunky · 2014-12-31T12:20:05.000Z

I now consider the OT an unsupported product.
They are not going to fix the multitude of problems with it.
Various bugs, very poorly implemented file structure, no new functions.
and its sound, whilst good is not great nor interestingly “colored”.
About the same as my Yamaha A3000, but not a pinch on my SP808 or
S900.

The OT as good as it is, it is still a huge pile of poop (FOR ME) and after many
forays, hours and hours of delving and diving in hard,i know how to use it in many ways, but it now sits, virtually unused.

i speak for myself and know full well others are happy and seemingly productive with it
(though i’m yet to see much in the way of that, which just might be because i have not looked hard enough)

glidepro · 2014-12-31T12:50:51.000Z

""Fleuw"":

Im super excited … Cant wait to hook the Octatrack up and get confused and learn new stuff

Ha, glad you’re prepared for that period of confusion ;D

Keiowas · 2014-12-31T13:06:23.000Z

""clunky"":

I now consider the OT an unsupported product.
They are not going to fix the multitude of problems with it.
Various bugs, very poorly implemented file structure, no new functions.
and its sound, whilst good is not great nor interestingly “colored”.
About the same as my Yamaha A3000, but not a pinch on my SP808 or
S900.

The OT as good as it is, it is still a huge pile of poop (FOR ME) and after many
forays, hours and hours of delving and diving in hard,i know how to use it in many ways, but it now sits, virtually unused.

i speak for myself and know full well others are happy and seemingly productive with it
(though i’m yet to see much in the way of that, which just might be because i have not looked hard enough)

I think youre wrong about if Elektron will update octatrack. It will be more updates in the future. I know for sure.
The machine that wont leave my house.
Ii have had them all but octatrack is the most crazy and funny machine (for me).

Caelestis · 2014-12-31T14:16:45.000Z

I was in the same situation a few weeks ago. The thing that made me order it (other than itchy fingers and 15% discount) was that they quite recently sent out new batch of Octatracks after being out of stock for quite a while. It says to me that they are still supporting it and doesn’t have a replacement coming anytime soon. I was reassured when it arrived with a sticker on the back that said “Made in Sweden 2014-11”.

IF something similar to the Octatrack ever comes out from elektron, I’m sure they will work great together =)

glidepro · 2014-12-31T14:20:35.000Z

""Caelestis"":

I was in the same situation a few weeks ago. The thing that made me order it (other than itchy fingers and 15% discount) was that they quite recently sent out new batch of Octatracks after being out of stock for quite a while. It says to me that they are still supporting it and doesn’t have a replacement coming anytime soon. I was reassured when it arrived with a sticker on the back that said “Made in Sweden 2014-11”.

IF something similar to the Octatrack ever comes out from elektron, I’m sure they will work great together =)

I agree with that final thing you said there, looking at the range of Elektron gear so far, they all offer something a bit different and all work well together - cunning as you feel like you need to own them all - not being cynical there, I love it!

JuanSOLO · 2014-12-31T16:10:31.000Z

""clunky"":

The OT as good as it is, it is still a huge pile of poop (FOR ME) and after many
forays, hours and hours of delving and diving in hard,i know how to use it in many ways, but it now sits, virtually unused.

I would sell it if I felt that way.
It might help in refraining from “pooping” on someones excited post too.

subq · 2014-12-31T16:54:39.000Z

""clunky"":

I now consider the OT an unsupported product.
They are not going to fix the multitude of problems with it.
Various bugs, very poorly implemented file structure, no new functions.
and its sound, whilst good is not great nor interestingly “colored”.
About the same as my Yamaha A3000, but not a pinch on my SP808 or
S900.

The OT as good as it is, it is still a huge pile of poop (FOR ME) and after many
forays, hours and hours of delving and diving in hard,i know how to use it in many ways, but it now sits, virtually unused.

i speak for myself and know full well others are happy and seemingly productive with it
(though i’m yet to see much in the way of that, which just might be because i have not looked hard enough)

I would have to disagree, elektron is notorious for releasing very nice firmware updates (at no charge)

…as far your personal usage/taste though, you should sell it if you don’t use it or want it (or like it)…it’s a great instrument so you probably wouldn’t have a hard time getting rid of it…you would have to pry mine out of my hands, I love it…that doesn’t mean it is perfect, it could use some improvements/fixes but like I said, elektron is good about firmware updates, I think we will see one

Huck_Farper · 2014-12-31T17:46:44.000Z

what a load of bull… octatrack is a sweet machine

dust_ward · 2014-12-31T19:02:20.000Z

when clunky’s not happy NO ONE IS HAPPY haha…

seriously though I will agree there’s a steep fucking learning curve and i feel like you either roll with it until the “aha” moment hits or pretty quickly throw up your hands and decide that the machine is useless/ broken… like anything else, you get out what you put in.

on the bright side though, i’m definitely not the most technologically savvy dude out there and i was able to figure it out so i give you pretty even odds at cracking the code.

honestly, after using the OT for over a year now i do feel like a lot of what you can do with the OT can probably be done more efficiently with a program like ableton BUT for me working with hardware has always felt more engaging and inspiring than working with a computer and i can’t think a lot of other hardware that’ll get you where the OT goes.

i guess your mileage will depend on what workflow you feel most comfortable with… efficiency vs exploration.

one tip, track down the merlins thoughts on octatrack or whatever that PDF that floats around out there is called [someone around here can point you in the right direction] cos i feel like it helps clarify a lot of stuff that is hard to understand in the manual. read both, they are now your bible.

good luck and god speed.

Zymos · 2014-12-31T19:20:12.000Z

Don’t need to go very far to find it!
http://www.elektronauts.com/files/download/24

ehrek · 2014-12-31T19:25:51.000Z

[quote=““Huck Farper””]
what a load of bull… octatrack is a sweet machine

[/quote]

+1 and ‘word’.
Long read, don’t bother,

(and to be clear, this is not directed specifically at CLUNKY, who I do respect greatly, rather the broader collective of OT owner/detractors who chime in regularly and will likely read this message)

Here is a different perspective from an admitted, dedicated, OT fanboy,

To OT owner/haters:

Don’t sell your OT
let it collect dust
Don’t work any further toward making it work for you (it sucks anyway, right?)
Keep railing on how it’s beta crap because features x/y/z don’t work as originally promised in 2011 and it’s “unsupported” (even though an update was just released).
Sidebar:
Hmmm, are people still complaining that Roland hasn’t updated the original TB-303 to sound like an acoustic bass (or bass guitar or whatever) as originally promised in 1982? hehe
To the OP: welcome brother! join us in banging on with this magnificent machine. It can’t do some things, it can do others. It is complicated. It took me 2 FULL YEARS to learn and truly appreciate.
Go watch a HadesofSpades video on YT if you need some inspiration, that guy is killing it. Not bad for unsupported beta crap, lol

dust_ward · 2014-12-31T19:51:49.000Z

man, that hades of spades stuff is totally the other side of the world from what i normally make/ listen to but this track: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lt99EZO1be4 was actually well made enough for what it is to get a “fuck yeah” outta me… dude is definitely “utilizing the technology” and i like the looped vocal a lot.

kinda reminds me of the newer dubby frontline assembly stuff, not my thing but i respect the craft that went into it.

also: two octatracks?! that dude definitely has some spendin’ money. i’d love to add a second OT to my rig some day.

i love when people bitch about missing features like its the one thing holding them back from greatness… you just gotta laugh.

Fleuw · 2014-12-31T21:45:43.000Z

Hehe i can only say to the people that complains about the OT…do ur complaining somewhere else. Its completely off topic and IT wouldnt change My mind anyway…so its just a waste of ur own time
So will probably get My OT sometime next week so u will see lots of posts from me in 2015 with weird and random questions about " how to" and other stuff with OT

Thanks for all the great tips and opinions so far…This forum is really great. Loads of knowledge and experience just a couple of “clicks” away.

Now have a great new year and a 2015 filled with awesome vibes and rhythms