Time for a kickstarter
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I get that sentiment from a “standard mixer” point of view, but hear me out…
The performance mixing capability of the Octatrack is outstanding. Yes, it’s missing dedicated gain per input (it’s stereo paired) and per track EQ (it takes an effects slot), and faders (midi implementation can compensate, but also fader/scenes!!)
…but the groundwork is there, and I think a new generation Elektron performance mixer would seem very much like an Octatrack MKIII. (with many more inputs!)
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“void” is a keyword in certain legacy albatross programming languages. I never had to develop in them, but I once had to design a course that talked about them.
“stacks” also has a meaning in that context, alas.
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100%
I think that’s why a lot of people bring it up.
The Octatrack is close already, just needs a few tweaks.
Considering how well the AH+FX turned out, they could almost combine it with some OT features but lay it out more like a mixer with EQ’s or even just filters per channel. |
I never considered it to use just filters instead of a full EQ but that might work to keep things trim and tidy.
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I did a feature request on the denon Prime4+ if it had a looper on the audio inputs, it would be very close to a standalone system, the size is a bit over the top though.
They bring each year another model with small feature creep, and we spam the forum since years for a Octatrack MK3, i hope Elektron will do it soon.
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I like that JavaScript is an albatross. Time for O’Reilly to update their book covers.
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Meanwhile, Allen & Heath, DiGiCo, SoundDevices, and SSL are all brands of the same parent company, Audiotonix…
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But this is a massive part of what makes good mixers good… you can’t downplay that.
The OT might be good to use as a performance mixer in the context of everything else it does, but it would be quickly exposed just as a mixer.
By the same token, you could theoretically use the Akai MPC or Force with a USB class compliant interface and make a performance mixer along the lines of the OT but with far more I/O… but I don’t think Akai are racing to make a mixer either.
I’d like you to be right, I wouldn’t complain at all if they brought one out. I just think it’s unlikely, and there are better placed companies who have ALL the tech in place.
(I’m saying this, but if Elektron brought out an A4/Rytm mk2 sized box with 6 stereo ins, built in fx/eq/lfos/seq, etc, I’d buy it in a heartbeat 
).
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I wish someone would make an 8 Channel Stereo Mixer with Per Channel EQ, Per Channel Effects and 3 Aux sends in a form factor around this size:
Just add another .25" to the height to add the necessary audio convertors and inputs already 
Come on Novation…give us an audio interface in this ballpark size to show TE how it should have been done
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No wonder they don’t push the envelope on form factor with their hardware…Why compete against yourself. 
Soundcraft had the right idea with their small form factor mixers, but their QA and Hardware quality is worse than Behringer in my opinion (this is based on the horrible experience I had with my Soundcraft 12MTK mixer—it fell apart after less than 2 years of minimal use in studio)
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Right… I’m saying these things hold the OT back as is… meaning these things would be required.
The BIG key here is mixer vs performance mixer. There’s a difference between how to mix from a basic studio mixer, vs what knobs/macros/access/fx/etc mean in a performance context. (yes, we all know this)
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Yeah I wanted the MTK mixers to have a build quality closer to A&H.
They just felt very cheap, glad I never pulled the trigger on one.
Yeah I’ve been wanting them to try for a while.
This mock up is pretty cramped, but it was fun to try and realize what something like that would look like.
Now after considering maybe just a filter as opposed to full EQ, it could have better knob spacing.
I still feel like I’d want actual EQ though.
Seems like there would be a good way to work that out with some creative design that didn’t feel to convoluted with Func+
If the AUX 1 & 2 weren’t there that could free up space as well.
Just onboard FX with something like Func+
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Don’t underestimate the form factor if you want this to be analog. Here is a photo of the Model 1’s inside with “only” 6 stereo channels, two stereo aux/returns, etc.:
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Close that up before something falls in to it
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Very nice to see they use per-channel PCBs. Makes repair a lot more straightforward.
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So I think one big reason that a layout like this is somewhat unrealistic is that there are just so many more components. The interface components (Potentiometers, buttons, etc) are some of the most expensive part of any product, and is a lot of the explanation for the synths of the 80s with no knobs, they were trying to save cost. The device posted above has 6 times as many knobs as the octatrack, 8 times the crossfaders (likely a very significant BOM cost in the OT, since it is very high quality and custom). This device would likely end up being at least 3x the BOM cost of the OT, and probably more. That means a massive price jump for the “next generation” of OT.
I kind of hate that this is the reality, because this basically is my dream device, but it is not realistic sadly.
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Yes, I had a broken DSub out in 2021, which just required changing the respective card. Also, as this mixer is A&H built and serviced, they have a quite dense network of authorized technicians. (The repair was reasonably priced: 170 EUR (incl. VAT) for the replacement board + 2 hrs of work for diagnostics, mounting and testing.) Since this experience, I pay more attention to good access for repair.
OH most certainly.
I’ve thought about all of that stuff, but was really more focused on what the “dream” would look like.
Something like this, even a trimmed down version, would definitely be Elektrons most expensive product.
I personally would shell out the cash if it ticked out a lot of boxes.
Judging by their offerings over the last few years, I imagine it would be much more simplified, and probably not near as many features as I thought of with this mock up.
Which would still be interesting.
It makes me wonder if they would have 2 offerings.
A small format mixer that was very streamlined but in the full sized housing.
And something like the AH+FX for effects.
I hadn’t considered it till recently, but maybe they have plans to add more effects to the AH+FX
Definitely fun to think about, and hopefully we will see some kind of effort.
I think it may be worth to take a look beyond the world of traditional console style audio mixers.
In my professional life I do a lot of work with pro AV DSP auto mixers. Those units come in 12 input x 8 output flavors, and some of them can be configured in a completely modular way. Think of a Nord Modular programming UI but to build your mixer, including building blocks such as delays, gains, EQs, filters, compressors, gates etc)
One such example is the Biamp TesiraForte line of DSP. Ive been thinking a lot about buying such a such unit and building a teensy based hardware control surface (which can exert control to Biamp over IP or RS232) to build my very own Void mixer.
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