I have an Octatrack, Digitakt, and Digitone, and I’m wondering if anyone here uses the Octatrack’s Song Mode to control the DT and DN.
Here’s the workflow I’d like to achieve:
All sequencing is on the DT and DN (nothing sequenced on the OT).
The OT’s Song Mode handles pattern changes and sends the right program change to my other external synths.
I’d also like to use OT Song Mode to mute/unmute tracks on the DT/DN during playback.
Finally, I’d like to use the transpose function in OT Song Mode to transpose tracks on my Digitone.
I tried using MIDI CC to control the mutes on DT and DN, but it doesn’t work very well in practice.
Has anyone managed to set up this kind of workflow? Can OT Song Mode really act as a central “conductor” for DT and DN while still letting them handle all the sequencing?
Yes, using empty patterns with corresponding to DT and DN ones, PC SEND active in SYNC page.
PCs are sent just BEFORE pattern change
If you use midi track PCs, they are sent AFTER OT pattern change : the pattern change is one cycle late. Usable if you don’t mind to have 1 cycle latency…
No CC for transpose AFAIK.
Mutes control is PITA iirc.
You can use DT and DN pattern mutes, (purple), using duplicated patterns.
After thinking about it, I guess the best workflow would actually be to edit on all three machines at the same time — DT, DN, and OT — while using the Octatrack to change presets on my synths.
I really want to succeed in creating my music without a DAW, just using the three machines.
Ive had good luck with just using DTII and DNII in song mode together. It works well if you set it up so the Song on each has the same number of rows (otherwise it becomes confusing to navigate/edit).
Thanks for your reply! Yeah, that makes sense. I’ll set up the exact same number of rows and repetitions on both machines then. I’ll drop the idea of editing everything on the OT, it feels a bit too tedious — but I guess we don’t really have a choice. I also wish there was an option to transpose an entire row without having to change the pattern. Too bad DT1 and DN1 song mode don’t have that… Do you know if this feature exists on the MKII versions ?
Thanks for your reply! I saw that there’s a pattern transpose mode, so even if it means changing patterns to transpose, it’s better than nothing. I think I’ll move to the MKII versions since they really bring some nice improvements. Have a great day!
