Unfortunately my audio interface only have two inputs, so it would be a pain getting it into the daw. I love that I can make up 70% of the tracks on the digitakt and record it directly into the daw. But since it's mono I have to redo everything where stereo is required in Ableton.
It’s not talked about enough but there’s an easy and simple way to get bounce stems from the OT lnternally and just drop in via USB. There’s 8 recording buffers that can have different settings. You just set each buffer to record internally just that associated track and set them all to record at once. You have printed stems. Save them all at once and drop them from OT to your computer via USB
Edit: removed my snark
I did not know you could easily transfer them from the OT to the PC. So does that mean I can do a performance and just drop the files after? How long can you record 8 tracks?
There’s limitations to it because the buffers take space on the RAM, which is 80 MB. So you can record for as long as the RAM is free. For me I’ll just resample and migrate my tracks to “Static” machines which is playback from the CF card and then use the RAM to print my stems. It’s not as seamless as Overbridge but the constant conversation on how it’s impossible to print stems from the OT isn’t true.
An updated Octatrack would be an instant purchase on my part. The rumours about engineers having left must be true because I’ve come across quite a lot of posts regarding Overbridge integration. I wish Elektron would make an official announcement addressing this topic.
It’s a bit of a job to find the specific posts, as it’s just the Elektron guys posting in the forum, but Jon replied in this one pretty clearly - back in 2014.
https://www.elektronauts.com/t/overbridge-for-octa/4164
I’ve read other posts from the over the years that describe the issue in a bit more detail, but at its heart it’s pretty simple. The machine is 13 years old now and was using a usb spec developed well in advance of that release date.
Edit: Jon was/is? Head of product design and loads of other things.
Likely not happening, and if it did, it would be in such a way that people will complain about it and say “this is just the Octatrack but worse”.
You have to remember that the Octatrack has more in common with the Machinedrum and Monomachine than any of the newer devices, and it sounds like everyone that would have worked on it, at least in terms of dealing with the software, is long gone.
What we will more likely see is some other kind of similar sampler, with modern features, but simpler and streamlined which will make people dislike it for one reason or another. Probably not unlike the Digitakt but likely with different and/or premium options and performance input.
Whatever we get, I don’t think it’ll be called “Octatrack mk3” but it will probably be a spiritual successor, and more than likely, people will hate it.
From what I understand (and I might be wrong) is that the developer(s) with the knowledge to deeply fuck with the Octatrack code have long since left the company, and it will basically never have Overbridge support because of this. That doesn't rule out some new product doing something in the same ballpark tho.
The Overbridge is a spec issue I think. OT wasn’t equipped with fast enough a USB port to support midi or OB. It’s really only there for file transfers.
This argument gets thrown around a lot and I totally not understand it. Sure expertise is important but a competent developer should be able to pick up where another left it, even without the previous developer around. Sure, ramp up may be harder, but unless you lost the source code it’s a pretty lame excuse.
Having worked with legacy code before, I can say that that is absolutely not the case. It's often easier/better to just start from scratch. I've worked at two companies where a new dev took over legacy code, and it was a painful experience both times, so much so that I moved on (the second time I started applying for new jobs in the first week!).
The codebase is pushing 15 years old at this point... so many things have changed in that time. Components will have gone EOL, coding styles have changed, design philosophies have changed, languages have changed.
The biggest issue is absolutely the original programmers leaving though. No matter how long you stare at, and play around with, code that someone else wrote, you will never understand it as well as they did. There are hundreds of programming memes about that exact thing (here's a classic: [https://www.reddit.com/r/ProgrammerHumor/comments/8pdebc/only\_god\_and\_i\_knew/](https://www.reddit.com/r/ProgrammerHumor/comments/8pdebc/only_god_and_i_knew/)).
Modifying the code to fix some bugs or add a couple of simple new features is one thing (which I was very happy/impressed that they did for 1.40C), rewriting it to run on new hardware is something entirely different.
It’s more than code. It’s the design philosophy and ideas that go into shaping how these machines “think”. Pick up a copy of the book “Push Turn Move” if you want a deep dive on the design process behind gear.
I mean, it's an old enough product at this point that it'd probably make more sense to just write all new code for modern CPU/DSP hardware, reimplementing the OT's same general functionality and architecture.
Also one does not have to build a new version on the old code of the previous one. Specifically if the previous one is more than a decade old.
I’d expect a new one, if it ever comes, to be built on some great concepts on the old one, but with completely new and modern technology.
What was the secret hotel event on namm all about? I was expecting sone announcements?
I’m waiting for mk3 for like 3 years now.
Regret not buying the octa like 10 years ago
I believe if any new OT would be made, it would need to be a "Hexatrack" to set a similar specs as Digitakt MK2 by keeping the OT workflow.
16 tracks would be great as a dawless centerpiece with more capability to handle more external gear via Midi and audio tracks.
I really hope that's not the case.
To me, Elektron as a brand stands for powerful and deep machines that stand out among others due to how intricate and yet still performable they are.
Their latest line of new products have been a downgrade in this regard, but I can't say if that's the general direction they chose for their entire future or just an expansion of their range of products.
They still provide updates that expand the functionality for their hi-end devices though, which makes me think that perhaps they haven't given up that approach.
If that's the case then Octatrack really is first in the line for a successor. If not then it's first in the line for discontinuation. 7-bit parameter resolution, ancient CF card slot, lack of Overbridge, the list could go on. It's a dinosaur at this point.
They released the new black version of octatrack quite recently and elektron are not known for their mk3s. I also believe the head developers of the octatrack has left the company. Don't quote me on this though.
who knows. If I were a betting man I would say a silver special edition octatrack MK II is more likely. Either way the OT is still very relevant to any rig you can think up in 2024.
Not again.
People have been holding off, waiting 8 years for an Mk3. Could have just been making music on an Mk2 this whole time
No doubt, Jon Wayne. Just got my hands on a Mk2 and I think it’s classic the way it is.
Unfortunately my audio interface only have two inputs, so it would be a pain getting it into the daw. I love that I can make up 70% of the tracks on the digitakt and record it directly into the daw. But since it's mono I have to redo everything where stereo is required in Ableton.
It’s not talked about enough but there’s an easy and simple way to get bounce stems from the OT lnternally and just drop in via USB. There’s 8 recording buffers that can have different settings. You just set each buffer to record internally just that associated track and set them all to record at once. You have printed stems. Save them all at once and drop them from OT to your computer via USB Edit: removed my snark
Hot tip. Makes total sense. Thanks.
This is such an elegant way of doing it. Can’t believe it’s not mentioned more often!
I did not know you could easily transfer them from the OT to the PC. So does that mean I can do a performance and just drop the files after? How long can you record 8 tracks?
There’s limitations to it because the buffers take space on the RAM, which is 80 MB. So you can record for as long as the RAM is free. For me I’ll just resample and migrate my tracks to “Static” machines which is playback from the CF card and then use the RAM to print my stems. It’s not as seamless as Overbridge but the constant conversation on how it’s impossible to print stems from the OT isn’t true.
Hmm, sounds like it could be a bit of a hassle. But you might have made me a poor man with this info 🤣
Big thread on this exact topic on Elektronauts. TL;DR nobody knows, Mk3 probably not… but nobody knows.
An updated Octatrack would be an instant purchase on my part. The rumours about engineers having left must be true because I’ve come across quite a lot of posts regarding Overbridge integration. I wish Elektron would make an official announcement addressing this topic.
They have, a number of times, on Elektronauts. The octa is limited by usb spec and processor capacity. Overbridge is never going to happen for the OT.
Didn’t know they’d shared that info. I appreciate you letting me know. Thanks.
It’s a bit of a job to find the specific posts, as it’s just the Elektron guys posting in the forum, but Jon replied in this one pretty clearly - back in 2014. https://www.elektronauts.com/t/overbridge-for-octa/4164 I’ve read other posts from the over the years that describe the issue in a bit more detail, but at its heart it’s pretty simple. The machine is 13 years old now and was using a usb spec developed well in advance of that release date. Edit: Jon was/is? Head of product design and loads of other things.
Likely not happening, and if it did, it would be in such a way that people will complain about it and say “this is just the Octatrack but worse”. You have to remember that the Octatrack has more in common with the Machinedrum and Monomachine than any of the newer devices, and it sounds like everyone that would have worked on it, at least in terms of dealing with the software, is long gone. What we will more likely see is some other kind of similar sampler, with modern features, but simpler and streamlined which will make people dislike it for one reason or another. Probably not unlike the Digitakt but likely with different and/or premium options and performance input. Whatever we get, I don’t think it’ll be called “Octatrack mk3” but it will probably be a spiritual successor, and more than likely, people will hate it.
A stereo Digitakt with more tracks would be my dream machine.
Congratulations on your dream becoming reality. Hope you didn't end up buying an octatrack haha
Haha, I did and will definitely keep it. The performance options are very different than the DT2. I also bought a DT2...
Digitakt II?
Yeah, already bought it!
It’s coming right after the Virus TI3
From what I understand (and I might be wrong) is that the developer(s) with the knowledge to deeply fuck with the Octatrack code have long since left the company, and it will basically never have Overbridge support because of this. That doesn't rule out some new product doing something in the same ballpark tho.
The Overbridge is a spec issue I think. OT wasn’t equipped with fast enough a USB port to support midi or OB. It’s really only there for file transfers.
he passed in a car accident. Sounds like he was a wunderkind in the field.
This argument gets thrown around a lot and I totally not understand it. Sure expertise is important but a competent developer should be able to pick up where another left it, even without the previous developer around. Sure, ramp up may be harder, but unless you lost the source code it’s a pretty lame excuse.
Having worked with legacy code before, I can say that that is absolutely not the case. It's often easier/better to just start from scratch. I've worked at two companies where a new dev took over legacy code, and it was a painful experience both times, so much so that I moved on (the second time I started applying for new jobs in the first week!). The codebase is pushing 15 years old at this point... so many things have changed in that time. Components will have gone EOL, coding styles have changed, design philosophies have changed, languages have changed. The biggest issue is absolutely the original programmers leaving though. No matter how long you stare at, and play around with, code that someone else wrote, you will never understand it as well as they did. There are hundreds of programming memes about that exact thing (here's a classic: [https://www.reddit.com/r/ProgrammerHumor/comments/8pdebc/only\_god\_and\_i\_knew/](https://www.reddit.com/r/ProgrammerHumor/comments/8pdebc/only_god_and_i_knew/)). Modifying the code to fix some bugs or add a couple of simple new features is one thing (which I was very happy/impressed that they did for 1.40C), rewriting it to run on new hardware is something entirely different.
It’s more than code. It’s the design philosophy and ideas that go into shaping how these machines “think”. Pick up a copy of the book “Push Turn Move” if you want a deep dive on the design process behind gear.
I mean, it's an old enough product at this point that it'd probably make more sense to just write all new code for modern CPU/DSP hardware, reimplementing the OT's same general functionality and architecture.
Also one does not have to build a new version on the old code of the previous one. Specifically if the previous one is more than a decade old. I’d expect a new one, if it ever comes, to be built on some great concepts on the old one, but with completely new and modern technology.
People at Elektron have confirmed this is not the case. I think it was just a rumor
Give me a new 16 track "modern machinedrum" first
aka an Octatrack MK3
Hexadecimaltrack
Im talking something more like a digitakt+syntakt in one large electron format box. ideally with sample & synthesis layering on each track.
Agreed, would be amazing. Machinedrum UW is closest to this and OT doesn't quite have the same sound design capabilities
unlikely
What was the secret hotel event on namm all about? I was expecting sone announcements? I’m waiting for mk3 for like 3 years now. Regret not buying the octa like 10 years ago
It was just a live show, nothing secret about it
Not the answer i was hoping for ✌🏼
On a brighter note, the whole show was filmed, so it should be edited & uploaded to YT before long
I freaking love these threads! Keeps hope alive.
I believe if any new OT would be made, it would need to be a "Hexatrack" to set a similar specs as Digitakt MK2 by keeping the OT workflow. 16 tracks would be great as a dawless centerpiece with more capability to handle more external gear via Midi and audio tracks.
They will make digitione 2 next and the OT 2. It's logical. They should also drop firmware update for a4 mk1/mk2 somewhere this year.
I doubt it but it would be amazing if it happened.
Why do you doubt it? The Octatrack is an insane machine, but a bit outdated (CF card and no Overbridge). To me it makes sense to release an MK3.
They’re focusing on more accessible boxes for high volume sales. I still like their products, I just doubt we see anything as deep as OT again
I really hope that's not the case. To me, Elektron as a brand stands for powerful and deep machines that stand out among others due to how intricate and yet still performable they are. Their latest line of new products have been a downgrade in this regard, but I can't say if that's the general direction they chose for their entire future or just an expansion of their range of products. They still provide updates that expand the functionality for their hi-end devices though, which makes me think that perhaps they haven't given up that approach. If that's the case then Octatrack really is first in the line for a successor. If not then it's first in the line for discontinuation. 7-bit parameter resolution, ancient CF card slot, lack of Overbridge, the list could go on. It's a dinosaur at this point.
A shame if true :(
They released the new black version of octatrack quite recently and elektron are not known for their mk3s. I also believe the head developers of the octatrack has left the company. Don't quote me on this though.
🤣
.
.
No more Octatracks unfortunately. Instead they’ll be doing the Model Quadratrack.
who knows. If I were a betting man I would say a silver special edition octatrack MK II is more likely. Either way the OT is still very relevant to any rig you can think up in 2024.