Workflow: helping tame the machines

wowzer · 2016-10-28T10:42:56.626Z

I have keys, rytm and octatrack… and love it.

Rytm is my master, since I feel most confident with that one…
it sends midi to octatrack, and octatrack sends the midi through to the keys
not only tempo, and start… but also the pattern changes come from Rytm

Both the keys and the rytm send audio to Octatrack
I used to use the Thru machines for it, but had problems with the sound…
so now they go in the Dir (=127) in the mixer menu of the Octatrack

I reserve one track in the octatrack for looping. So Track 1 is connected to Flex machine and recorder 1
The reason is, that if I record a loop, and I go to another pattern, this new pattern still has the recorder 1 and is playing exactly the same loop… this I use for song transition.

I use track 2, 3 and 4 on the OT for crossfader fills (I also use the fill mode on my Rytm and my Keys)
In octatrack I record a loop from my rytm… and slice it and make new patterns with it. Not only the order is changes, but for example also reversed. Many ways to create nice fills…

To play with the fills, I use the crossfader and scenes on the OT. The scenes turn down the volume of the incoming Rytm, and turn up the volume of the track 2, 3 or for, containing the fill loops.

Track 8 on the OT is my faster
track 5, 6 and 7 contain samples, like voices… (at the moment I am busy with ‘a thousant kisses deep’, a poem by leonard cohen.

I hope it helps… If people have remarks, of ideas… I’d love to hear about it…

Ryan · 2016-10-28T10:52:38.780Z

At some point I’m gonna have to figure a way to perform live with these things, which will completely change how I go about my elektron setup. I’ve just spent the last 2 years just on love with composing with Elektron and exploring the sound(it was my first electronic gear…before that schitz folk).

What are you doing for visuals?

wowzer · 2016-10-28T11:30:14.750Z

just a short example, I only played with only one hand, the other hand holds my telephone

don’t do visuals.

invisible_acropolis · 2016-10-28T11:55:15.863Z

Dark Trinity workflow

Is anyone using templates to make things easier?

not yet but its certainly on my to-do list… specifically for the OT I feel like I would really benefit from a consistent structure and possibly a consistent set of maybe 4-8 scenes that always do the same thing no matter what… so I can practice more from working with a particular scene and how it interacts with another particular scene - without having to start from scratch each time I make a new song. Just for some of the most basic fx or transition tricks I like to use all the time. Also I want to get a standardized track layout nailed down, 1 is always kick, 5 is always bass, that kind of thing. Otherwise its just such a chore to remember how everything is setup and whats going on when you are dealing a set of a few different songs. Not to mention after a long period of time, revisiting a song I havent played with in a while, etc.

Also Id like to have about 16mb or so of very short, universally useful samples (drums, noise swells, impacts, etc.) already loaded up and ready to go - because having to hunt down samples and transfer them over, edit/slice them and all that is a total showstopper for me when Im in the “flow” of just making music

but yeh the scenes are just screaming for a template (in my world)… think im gonna start on that today actually

btw - Octaedit really, really helps with this kind of management… gives you way more flexibility to copy/paste/save/load bits and pieces from various projects and consolidate into whatever you want

with the AK its already pretty consistent in itself - but I still want to nail down a standard track layout on that too

My main concern with all this is developing skills, muscle memory, speed, etc. - its no good to practice non-stop if the thing you are practicing on keeps changing shape all the time… makes it very difficult to retain much of the useful experience gained during practice. Thats how I feel about it anyways.

diabolik · 2016-10-28T12:23:09.019Z

I’ve currently got an the Analog keys, Analog rytm and Octatrack and I’m trying to figure out a good workflow using them all together. I’ve got everything connected and communicating, but its pretty tedious keeping track of patterns across 3 machines. I was just wondering what procedures other users use when writing on all 3. Is anyone using templates to make things easier?

dobermate · 2016-10-28T12:24:15.713Z

So, I’ve recently completed my move from computer based composition to trying out the hardware approach instead. My AK has been joined by an AR and just a week ago, the OT.

I’m now trying to think of best workflow and routing bits. My aim is to jam out as much “finished” elements as possible from AK/AR and mangling that with the OT.

Since I reckon final tweaks must be done in DAW, I’ve kept my Macbook Air with Duet FW to bounce things into (using Logic/Mixbus in there) a Presonus Monitor Station V2 for the monitor control. I have also added a Roland JU-06 that I intend to sequence from the OT.

Now, how would you guys route the different audio streams in this setup (AK, AR, OT, JU-06, Mac and Monitor Station v2)? I’m not really interested in relying on the Mac when jamming but need it to be able to receive audio easily.

Monitor Station V2 is quite well equipped in terms of in/out. Basically, it allows for running up to 3 stereo streams at the same time. It also has independent outs for Cue and Main (x2).

I’m not in a need of using multi out from AK/AR/OT.

Any tips or ideas would be greatly appreciated :).

krusty4president · 2016-10-28T12:24:58.667Z

If there is anyone out there who could produce an awesome tutorial on this about organization and workflow, I guess it would be @cuckoomusic or @CarlMikaelBjork
Any other Elektrontubers out there that have already dunnit? I hanent found anything yet…

UkeeSoul · 2016-10-28T12:25:35.423Z

Just got the OT and playing around with it for a couple days feeling comfortable enough to start making tracks with it in a dark trinity setup with a4 and RYTM. I have previously been doing one track per pattern with the a4 and RYTM but now with OT in the mix it won’t quit work as each pattern carries over the same samples in the tracks with only 4 parts available for different “kits”. I am interested in live setups and performance rather than recording songs. Any thoughts?

vitek · 2016-10-28T12:26:19.132Z

Hi guys,

My first post in Octatrack forum, so I’d like to take the opportunity to say hi to everybody!

It started with A4, ultimately I’ve liked the workflow, so I’ve bought a RYTM, although I’ve said to myself I’m not going to spend more money on the gear, guess what

So I wen’t mental and I’ll have a Black trinity next days.

I was wondering how do you guys use this trio together, perhaps if you have any tips on routing, connecting things together and things what to try and avoid?

I love house, techno, more ambient stuff, when working with textures and melodies and I also play guitar and do a bit of vocals

I’m looking forward to hear from you guys,

Best,
Vit

Ryan · 2016-10-28T13:14:17.692Z

I’ll definitely watch that when I get a moment. Thank you for sharing.

I guess for your gigs the audience is mostly dancing instead of staring at the stage?

wowzer · 2016-10-28T13:22:19.302Z

We Used to have big screens, when screens were special (15y ago)
A vj did the visuals with resolume
I think resolume can be synced to ot, just like with ableton
But i prefer no video’s these days…

And the weird thing is, i also prefer not to perform and not to go to parties these days…
Maybe i am just getting old, soon our 2nd child will be born.

I have go be very positive about my live set to bring it on stage. Still have the contacts, it was asked a few times last 2 month, but i keep on saying no at the moment. Just because i dont feel right about the parties at the moment.

VDB · 2016-10-28T13:32:54.274Z

Hey cmb
A quick question with your pattern selector.
Couldn’t you do the same with clips in live sending program changes?
The MPC sequences are set per program, is it not possible to do the same with the analog keys/rytm?
Cheers, cool videos btw

CarlMikaelBjork · 2016-10-28T15:08:48.557Z

VDB:

Couldn’t you do the same with clips in live sending program changes?

Sure. You could do it with clips in Live containing program changes. I just wanted a more graphical UI showing what I picked. And, of course, the M4L device could also be altered to send program change.

Cosmic · 2016-10-28T15:26:12.000Z

Still trying to figure it out.

CarlMikaelBjork · 2016-10-28T15:51:26.966Z

krusty4president:

awesome tutorial on this about organization and workflow

I’m flattered that you think of me.

The workflow thing is hard since there are so many ways. The workflow is really only relevant when you’ve also established what you’d like to accomplish. But I’ll definitely put it on my ideas/to-do list. It’s a good one. I’ll see if I can find an angle.

VDB · 2016-10-28T15:55:55.131Z

Ok cool, thanks,
Other than that, this is exactly how I want to setup my gear.
Work on patterns in hardware and then launch them from push2 and add pads from there as well!
Thanks again.

William_WiLD · 2016-10-28T18:20:47.843Z

Actually that’s exactly what i tend to done at some point. So i bookmark this thread and i will update later… and yes that’s a HUGE work !

BUT i have started … what i can’t tell is when i will delivered and how …

Vandamme · 2016-12-28T20:49:17.124Z

dubathonic:

For me the answer has been to keep a notebook. Every jam I do, no matter how small, gets an entry.

Still struggling with this topic, but for the meanwhile I started to use Apple’s Music Memos app, record a jam and write down the project and patterns for each device.

DynaSoar · 2017-02-21T19:20:40.115Z

Personally, I currently use the RYTM for the Drums, the A4 For Lead & Bass Sound. And the OT as mixer, but I’m completely lost on how to make them sound them properly. I must surely miss something.

T1 - THRU - AR
T2 - NIS
T3 - FLEX
T4 - FLEX
T5 - THRU - A4
T6 - NIS
T7 - FLEX
T8 - MASTER

Any ideas for that to sound better? Maybe it’s a matter of sonority that does not match between her … I do not know.

Can it be better to make a song by machine ??

CarlMikaelBjork · 2017-02-22T04:58:35.853Z

Surely that’s down to…

sound design
awareness of eq, pan, vol
final polish (masterbus compression, limiting)

…in that order.

And also “make them sound properly” is a subjective matter. I think many of us are evry influenced of what we here recorded or on radio. This has definitely had a hefty dose of 3 - hard compression for a LOUD feeling. Which could be misleading.

In summary - no, not down to the instruments or the combinations there off.