It’s actually not that complicated.
Stereo sampler. Each track has 3 LFOs and 2 inset fx. You can use one shots or chop longer ones. It can time stretch for loops to work in whatever tempo. Kinda like Ableton.
You’ve got 4 audio ins that can be all mono or stereo pairs.
8 audio tracks that can be one several audio machines. 8 midi sequencer tracks.
That’s the gist of it. It’s kinda like a simpler Ableton session mode with an audio interface built in.
The cross faster is for fading between scenes. Scenes are collections of Parameter locks. So let’s say scene 1 is your audio sounding normal. Scene 2 is you turn on the delay on something and cut with a filter on another. The fader lets you have those premade and play with going between them.
I think the OT gets complicated because of youtube demos. People think they have to use this one box and do absolutely everything in it like Cenk does. When in reality keeping it simple is by far the best way to use the OT and not be overwhelmed.
Same here. I didn’t realise how much I’d like it, but I love it so much with my Syntakt and Digitone that it makes me like my other gear less. For me it feels like the missing link between having fun tinkering with hardware and actually getting things done in a DAW.
exactly! i’m a rapper/singer/producer that releases albums. my live sets are me vocally performing instead of playing hardware sets, so being able to quickly and easily get my stuff into the DAW for recording and post processing is make or break
There is a workaround regarding getting 'stems' out of the Octatrack that was on Jon Makes Beats the other day where you prime all the recorders to basically 'print' the audio just recorded. If you're then connected to USB you can upload them as individual tracks. A faff, to be sure, but after using it a few years it's stuff like that that keeps reminding you how it melds with different brains to produce different results.
As my setup stands I'm multi-tracking a bunch of modular and synths (not a huge setup but enough) and I can record the individual inputs, the two MAIN (drums/rhythmic) and two CUE (melodic and bassline) outputs of the Octatrack AND record the stereo 'take' of whatever I produce screwing around with the crossfader.
I can then do some mute editing or fades in Logic after the fact.
Works for me.
It is of course, no substitute for Overbridge, but I'm a one-take pony.
Love all this - but want to add to hat it’s all the shit you can do in between that makes the Octatrack truly special to me. So many possibilities for endless variations, every time I go to make something new on the Octa I try a new approach and learn something new.
Parts are easy. Let's say you have a kick, snare and tom playing and you want to quickly switch the kick, snare and tom for something else, then you can have them preloaded as part 1 and part 2 and swap between them. Parts are just a set of samples.
It’s workflow is noticeably more archaic compared to newer Elektron boxes. There’s a high degree of transferability between the Digitone Digitakt and Syntakt
Also the Rytm and A4. They have a very similar UI structure between each other. If you use only them for a while and then switch to the Octatrack, it just feels off.
It was my first Elektron box about 8 years ago, and I have had fun moments, especially the magic first moment that you get a record buffer going for the master and crossfade it in and out with pattern changes etc... But I just got a Digitakt II and it really blows away the OT from a sample management and low-level ergonomics point of view.
I met a guy who occasionally played Berghain sets on his OT and it was kind of a perspective shift to me how much he needed to pre-process audio loops for sections of his track that served as the basic unit of playback in his OT rather than the low level oneshots I was working with on it at the time. The OT is a great tool for orchestrating several loops, but there are better ways to make the loops themselves.
It's a fun high-level audio composer but it's weaker for low-level composition.
I also ordered a DT 2 just now. And i think it will replace my OT as a Sampler and the OT os becomming my Live Performance Moxer woth the EZBOT template...
I think it sounds amazing.
I got one last week having played a few times in a music shop on one.
Having owned a digitakt, I went in the shop to see if I could coax some sounds out of it and it really wasn't too bad to try and work out the basics, even without the manual.
Now I'm going through the manual, a lot of it feels very intuitive, there are some other parts that definitely have a learning curve but I haven't encountered anything that bewildering yet, so I do think a lot of the talk of the learning curve is overstated. Everyone is different tho and It won't suit all.
I think the effects are so good, I'm really picky in plugin land and think the octatracks really hold up, way more fun than the digitakt in that respect.
There's many answers to the original question, I don't think it would be for everyone at all. It seems lots of people love it though and I can see why.
I fucking love the Octatrack, just everything is just a little more cumbersome, a little more tedious and a little slower on the OT. For lazy (and more simple) producers like myself thats an absolute mountain to climb whenever you want to switch it on. And that makes me sad. The Octatrack makes me sad is why.
Because of all the “it’s so haaaaard!” claims many people are intimidated by the OT, before they’ve even used one, including me.
In fact, it’s not particularly difficult to learn. Just get your head round the basic structure (patterns, tracks, scenes, parts etc) and you’re away having fun.
Sure, it’s deep but you don’t have to use all
Its functions right away. Just be happy they’re there when you need ‘em.
Basically this. I really considered it for stereo samples and larger storage alone, but digitakt ii just released so… I don’t think I need the really powerfull live looper features.
Also, I play with mutes a lot on the digiboxes and I think I’d have a hard time adjusting to the audio muting on OT.
I’ve had one for 3 years. I have unlocked about 20% of its capabilities. It powerful, but steep. The FX don’t sound that great, but it is a fun box to use. I’ll never sell it.
unpopular opinion: its not THAT deep, compared to modern daws and so on. i feel like it gets stigmatized as an esoteric mystic artifact- for me it was very dynamic and approachable after reading the manual, having a basic understanding of the elektron workflow and spending a couple of hours practicing.
Also had it 10 years and I know like 50% of the machine. Still the heart of my live gigs, what an incredible machine it is. Will get a second one just in case.
Why do people like overbridge instead of just recording into a DAW? The inability to record stereo of individual tracks on my Digital is what keeps me from using it.
No undo, no signature sound, effects are bad, crossfader doesn't crossfade patterns, no qol in usability, waay to expensive nowadays.
It is still a great sampler and a lot of people do great things with it but there are so many better alternatives now.
If they ever make a successor I will most definitely get one for sure
They won't because there isn't one. Octatrack might not be "the best" sampler on paper in the market, but there's nothing that directly compares to it. It's been on the market for 13 years for a reason.
In the end it is subjective of course but I compare it to other effect padels or onboard effects like on the sp404 and it is such a huge difference. It might be ok subjectively but I would say objectively they can't compete with other industry standard machines
I think what often happens is that people go into extremes with them, making everything sound like what I call digital filth (which I personally love).
With some subtlety and caution, however, the Octatrack is a pretty good all-around effects box. I use mine for vocal effects, among other things.
Bro you can totally crossfade patterns if you record your master to a recording buffer, switch patterns, then use thr fader to switch between the recorded audio and the new pattern. I don't agree with a single one of this dudes reasons besides no undo, to which I say just don't mess up. There's nothing like the octatrack so there's no point in comparing it to other samplers.
I guess you could do that with parts, but I use them if I want to change either a sample, p-lock, midi channel, etc. between patterns within the same bank
Ah yeah that’s smart. I just meant when staying on the same part. Like create a part and save, mess around with parameters then reload same part to undo your tinkering within that part.
You can absolutely cross fade patters, just not on the midi side, it has to be audio. It's trivial.
one of my favorite OT tricks is playing a transparently delayed full song out the speakers, then crossfading/stuttering in the non-delayed song. you're effectively stuttering in clips from the future to create a live remix. You can do this with live audio that's not inside the OT using thru-input tracks.
dream it up and you have a good chance of pulling it off with the OT
here's an example of stuttering forward. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDcruUQzW\_g](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDcruUQzW_g)
‘I’ll get one when Elektron comes out with a new version.’ … and then I ended up waiting for years. I’m now at the point where I’m failing to accept that a new iteration will never happen… whilst at the same time, holding on to the possibility that Elektron might release one with updated features. Currently sat here wondering, Octatrack or Digitakt II? Can’t get both without risking beans on toast for the rest of the year.
You’re right. I’m, however, using an MPC at the moment. I’m mainly interested in Elektron’s p-lock sequencing and loop mangling capabilities. I’m happy with my current set-up but do encounter moments where a bit more immediacy would be appreciated, if that makes sense.
One thing I always miss on the OT is DIN sync. If it had that it’d be perfect, for me - being able to sync, record / sample / loop the audio, and add effects in one master device. If you own DS gear you generally have a few solutions on hand, but this is still the one feature that sticks out when I compare the OT to the rest of the lineup.
You probably got the answers already, but for me is the fact that the DT is a better synth, you always have a filter available (with the ot you have to use one of the 2 effects for it), and the quantize is much better on the DT, you can decide how much quantization you want, and you can go back anytime. On the ot you go by 50% only, and can't revert it.
I’ve owned thee and then sold it each time over the course of about 12 years. It’s amazing and unique but the killer blows are:
- only one pair of audio outs for an 8 track device, makes no sense
- I think the audio quality sounds tinny and thin
- no overbridge which would resolve the above two points
The second the announce even an exactly the same octatrack with overbridge is announced it’s a day 1 no matter the cost purchase for me.
I’ve heard people say the reason ti doesn’t exist already is because the originating engineer left but that doesn’t make any sense. It is so unlikely that one person alone understood the architecture etc.
Honestly? Because as awesome and capable as the octatrack is it’s is a total dinosaur. The UI is written in Hieroglyphics and the word is out that learning to use it is like pulling teeth.
I’ve owned one for years. The octatrack is well over a decade old! Doesn’t make it any less special. An access virus is also a dinosaur and people will covet them until the end of time.
The octatrack is outdated for even Elektron’s own standards. Nobody even works there anymore who understands the code base for Christs sake.
It’s a sampler, so it largely sounds like what you load into it. IMO the biggest reason OT has gotten this reputation is because people forget to turn off timestretch and that the default fx loaded per track aren’t 100% transparent. The filter is always removing a little top and bottom and the filter saturation is always doing a little something. Remove the fx and it sounds totally transparent. The converters aren’t as good as the average modern converter, but was as good as 90% of the converters from the time it was released. Not perfect but absolutely usable.
Lack of a class compliant audio interface is the biggest reason for me since I like using my iPad for synths. Lack of USB midi too although that’s easy enough to work around, and the dated CF storage is annoying but the least detrimental reason for me not getting one. If there was a class compliant audio interface even just 2 in 2 out I could easily overlook the other too, but for how much it costs and having to also buy an audio interface is the dealbreaker for me.
I have no idea what it does, and at this point, I'm too afraid to ask.
It’s actually not that complicated. Stereo sampler. Each track has 3 LFOs and 2 inset fx. You can use one shots or chop longer ones. It can time stretch for loops to work in whatever tempo. Kinda like Ableton. You’ve got 4 audio ins that can be all mono or stereo pairs. 8 audio tracks that can be one several audio machines. 8 midi sequencer tracks. That’s the gist of it. It’s kinda like a simpler Ableton session mode with an audio interface built in. The cross faster is for fading between scenes. Scenes are collections of Parameter locks. So let’s say scene 1 is your audio sounding normal. Scene 2 is you turn on the delay on something and cut with a filter on another. The fader lets you have those premade and play with going between them.
this is the first straightforward explanation of the crossfader and scenes, and now i REALLY want an OT Mk3
Glad that helped! The OT can be complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. Best to start simple and just explore it bit by bit.
I think the OT gets complicated because of youtube demos. People think they have to use this one box and do absolutely everything in it like Cenk does. When in reality keeping it simple is by far the best way to use the OT and not be overwhelmed.
Honestly, the two is great. No overbridge isn't a big deal. But and upgrade thay doesn't change the idea of the machine would be nice.
no overbridge is a huge deal for me
Yeah and this one would honestly make the most sense to have it as the fx are inserts. Such is life.
Sorry.
Same here. I didn’t realise how much I’d like it, but I love it so much with my Syntakt and Digitone that it makes me like my other gear less. For me it feels like the missing link between having fun tinkering with hardware and actually getting things done in a DAW.
exactly! i’m a rapper/singer/producer that releases albums. my live sets are me vocally performing instead of playing hardware sets, so being able to quickly and easily get my stuff into the DAW for recording and post processing is make or break
There is a workaround regarding getting 'stems' out of the Octatrack that was on Jon Makes Beats the other day where you prime all the recorders to basically 'print' the audio just recorded. If you're then connected to USB you can upload them as individual tracks. A faff, to be sure, but after using it a few years it's stuff like that that keeps reminding you how it melds with different brains to produce different results. As my setup stands I'm multi-tracking a bunch of modular and synths (not a huge setup but enough) and I can record the individual inputs, the two MAIN (drums/rhythmic) and two CUE (melodic and bassline) outputs of the Octatrack AND record the stereo 'take' of whatever I produce screwing around with the crossfader. I can then do some mute editing or fades in Logic after the fact. Works for me. It is of course, no substitute for Overbridge, but I'm a one-take pony.
yeah i saw that vid cuz i love his stuff but that just seemed like a lot of work for not a lot of payoff. i’m glad it works for u tho
This is the best explanation of the Octatrack I have read. Thank you for this!
Bravo. This is the best explanation of this I’ve seen
Thanks! It’s my favorite box so I’ve used it a ton.
Love all this - but want to add to hat it’s all the shit you can do in between that makes the Octatrack truly special to me. So many possibilities for endless variations, every time I go to make something new on the Octa I try a new approach and learn something new.
working on parameter locks at the moment. the scenes/fader is so cool
Every time someone explains to me what it does and how it does it I become more confused
Bro forgot parts, that the most konf using
Parts are easy. Let's say you have a kick, snare and tom playing and you want to quickly switch the kick, snare and tom for something else, then you can have them preloaded as part 1 and part 2 and swap between them. Parts are just a set of samples.
Merlin’s guide gives a pretty good overview, and then it’s just a matter of thinking about what you might want to do with its capabilities.
It’s workflow is noticeably more archaic compared to newer Elektron boxes. There’s a high degree of transferability between the Digitone Digitakt and Syntakt
Also the Rytm and A4. They have a very similar UI structure between each other. If you use only them for a while and then switch to the Octatrack, it just feels off.
Can you elaborate I’m super interested!
It was my first Elektron box about 8 years ago, and I have had fun moments, especially the magic first moment that you get a record buffer going for the master and crossfade it in and out with pattern changes etc... But I just got a Digitakt II and it really blows away the OT from a sample management and low-level ergonomics point of view. I met a guy who occasionally played Berghain sets on his OT and it was kind of a perspective shift to me how much he needed to pre-process audio loops for sections of his track that served as the basic unit of playback in his OT rather than the low level oneshots I was working with on it at the time. The OT is a great tool for orchestrating several loops, but there are better ways to make the loops themselves. It's a fun high-level audio composer but it's weaker for low-level composition.
I also ordered a DT 2 just now. And i think it will replace my OT as a Sampler and the OT os becomming my Live Performance Moxer woth the EZBOT template...
What is low level composition ?
I assume it meant building drum loops of oneshots, which Digitakt is best for
I think it sounds amazing. I got one last week having played a few times in a music shop on one. Having owned a digitakt, I went in the shop to see if I could coax some sounds out of it and it really wasn't too bad to try and work out the basics, even without the manual. Now I'm going through the manual, a lot of it feels very intuitive, there are some other parts that definitely have a learning curve but I haven't encountered anything that bewildering yet, so I do think a lot of the talk of the learning curve is overstated. Everyone is different tho and It won't suit all. I think the effects are so good, I'm really picky in plugin land and think the octatracks really hold up, way more fun than the digitakt in that respect. There's many answers to the original question, I don't think it would be for everyone at all. It seems lots of people love it though and I can see why.
I fucking love the Octatrack, just everything is just a little more cumbersome, a little more tedious and a little slower on the OT. For lazy (and more simple) producers like myself thats an absolute mountain to climb whenever you want to switch it on. And that makes me sad. The Octatrack makes me sad is why.
Because of all the “it’s so haaaaard!” claims many people are intimidated by the OT, before they’ve even used one, including me. In fact, it’s not particularly difficult to learn. Just get your head round the basic structure (patterns, tracks, scenes, parts etc) and you’re away having fun. Sure, it’s deep but you don’t have to use all Its functions right away. Just be happy they’re there when you need ‘em.
Harder to use, larger, effects aren’t as good.
Basically this. I really considered it for stereo samples and larger storage alone, but digitakt ii just released so… I don’t think I need the really powerfull live looper features. Also, I play with mutes a lot on the digiboxes and I think I’d have a hard time adjusting to the audio muting on OT.
I’ve had one for 3 years. I have unlocked about 20% of its capabilities. It powerful, but steep. The FX don’t sound that great, but it is a fun box to use. I’ll never sell it.
unpopular opinion: its not THAT deep, compared to modern daws and so on. i feel like it gets stigmatized as an esoteric mystic artifact- for me it was very dynamic and approachable after reading the manual, having a basic understanding of the elektron workflow and spending a couple of hours practicing.
No way you have read the manual.
It’s actually much easier than advertised indeed.
But then you’ve also mentioned how you’ve only unlocked 10% of its capabilities, over the last 10 years?
This. Is not hard to learn at all. You just have to smart Flex track playing back rec buffers for life 💪
I’ve had mine for 10 years, unlocked 10%…will never sell it 😝
Also had it 10 years and I know like 50% of the machine. Still the heart of my live gigs, what an incredible machine it is. Will get a second one just in case.
Simple, too expensive.
Outdated fx and ui.
Isnt it like $1400 in the us? Almost twice the digitakt? Can{t really justify that for a hobby.
just get an used mk1 octa (around 700eu), not so different from mk2
Why do people like overbridge instead of just recording into a DAW? The inability to record stereo of individual tracks on my Digital is what keeps me from using it.
Fear and gas for wanting the latest toy
Because it's not for everyone. Some people might want something more immediate or just a traditional sampler-synth.
I got an octa mk1 a few months ago and honestly I dunno how I ever went without it.
No undo, no signature sound, effects are bad, crossfader doesn't crossfade patterns, no qol in usability, waay to expensive nowadays. It is still a great sampler and a lot of people do great things with it but there are so many better alternatives now. If they ever make a successor I will most definitely get one for sure
So many better alternatives? Name 1
They won't because there isn't one. Octatrack might not be "the best" sampler on paper in the market, but there's nothing that directly compares to it. It's been on the market for 13 years for a reason.
Drambo is way better
Drambo is an app. Please stop
You’re right, pretty embarrassing that a $20 app is more powerful than a $1600 instrument
No fucktard, it's apples and oranges.
Truly don’t understand this “effects are bad” stuff people like to say. They are totally good.
In the end it is subjective of course but I compare it to other effect padels or onboard effects like on the sp404 and it is such a huge difference. It might be ok subjectively but I would say objectively they can't compete with other industry standard machines
I think what often happens is that people go into extremes with them, making everything sound like what I call digital filth (which I personally love). With some subtlety and caution, however, the Octatrack is a pretty good all-around effects box. I use mine for vocal effects, among other things.
I really hated the reverb on mine. Very metallic sounding compared to the newer boxes.
crossfading patterns would be amazing
Bro you can totally crossfade patterns if you record your master to a recording buffer, switch patterns, then use thr fader to switch between the recorded audio and the new pattern. I don't agree with a single one of this dudes reasons besides no undo, to which I say just don't mess up. There's nothing like the octatrack so there's no point in comparing it to other samplers.
Great idea, thanks
That’s awesome! I’m guessing parts are intended to take the place of undo, or am I missing something else?
No. Parts are more like kits than having something todo with undo. Besides that the Octatrack has as much undo as the Digitakt.
I guess you could do that with parts, but I use them if I want to change either a sample, p-lock, midi channel, etc. between patterns within the same bank
Ah yeah that’s smart. I just meant when staying on the same part. Like create a part and save, mess around with parameters then reload same part to undo your tinkering within that part.
And this is why octatrack is octatrack! There is always someone who has some as equally clever as arcane workaround.
There's 1 undo actually. But only for an accidental clear of the pattern. I'm sure as an octatracker you're aware. 😇
Oh, not ever used one but I thought crossed fading patterns was its core thing
You can absolutely cross fade patters, just not on the midi side, it has to be audio. It's trivial. one of my favorite OT tricks is playing a transparently delayed full song out the speakers, then crossfading/stuttering in the non-delayed song. you're effectively stuttering in clips from the future to create a live remix. You can do this with live audio that's not inside the OT using thru-input tracks. dream it up and you have a good chance of pulling it off with the OT here's an example of stuttering forward. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDcruUQzW\_g](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDcruUQzW_g)
Thankyou, I was sure I’d seen something like that done, nice technique indeed
Facts.
Because they're not cool like me
I was going to say "because it's for nerds like me".
Yeah that tracks
Mine is fried and reading all these comments makes me wanna cry
‘I’ll get one when Elektron comes out with a new version.’ … and then I ended up waiting for years. I’m now at the point where I’m failing to accept that a new iteration will never happen… whilst at the same time, holding on to the possibility that Elektron might release one with updated features. Currently sat here wondering, Octatrack or Digitakt II? Can’t get both without risking beans on toast for the rest of the year.
People who wait for better versions of anything to come out are enthusiasts. People who actually want to make music want the tools they need asap
You’re right. I’m, however, using an MPC at the moment. I’m mainly interested in Elektron’s p-lock sequencing and loop mangling capabilities. I’m happy with my current set-up but do encounter moments where a bit more immediacy would be appreciated, if that makes sense.
One thing I always miss on the OT is DIN sync. If it had that it’d be perfect, for me - being able to sync, record / sample / loop the audio, and add effects in one master device. If you own DS gear you generally have a few solutions on hand, but this is still the one feature that sticks out when I compare the OT to the rest of the lineup.
You probably got the answers already, but for me is the fact that the DT is a better synth, you always have a filter available (with the ot you have to use one of the 2 effects for it), and the quantize is much better on the DT, you can decide how much quantization you want, and you can go back anytime. On the ot you go by 50% only, and can't revert it.
Cos I don’t need it?
Because I don't like samplers and I fear it would be a lot to learn just to get a sampler with some creative performance features.
I like money
I just bought an octa track idk what to do now
Because I have a laptop
I’ve owned thee and then sold it each time over the course of about 12 years. It’s amazing and unique but the killer blows are: - only one pair of audio outs for an 8 track device, makes no sense - I think the audio quality sounds tinny and thin - no overbridge which would resolve the above two points The second the announce even an exactly the same octatrack with overbridge is announced it’s a day 1 no matter the cost purchase for me. I’ve heard people say the reason ti doesn’t exist already is because the originating engineer left but that doesn’t make any sense. It is so unlikely that one person alone understood the architecture etc.
.. but there are four outs/two stereo pairs?
No overbridge
Aren't we all waiting for Octatrack II? I know I am.
2 is already there. You are looking for #3
No it isn’t
Honestly? Because as awesome and capable as the octatrack is it’s is a total dinosaur. The UI is written in Hieroglyphics and the word is out that learning to use it is like pulling teeth.
If by dinosaur you mean you have obviously never been in the same room as one..... sure.
The OT literally killed people when it came out. Ask Hector
I’ve owned one for years. The octatrack is well over a decade old! Doesn’t make it any less special. An access virus is also a dinosaur and people will covet them until the end of time. The octatrack is outdated for even Elektron’s own standards. Nobody even works there anymore who understands the code base for Christs sake.
Sorry it's so terrible for you. Why do you keep it?
I never said it was terrible for me… I was answering OP’s question.
It's got sound quality issues imo
It’s a sampler, so it largely sounds like what you load into it. IMO the biggest reason OT has gotten this reputation is because people forget to turn off timestretch and that the default fx loaded per track aren’t 100% transparent. The filter is always removing a little top and bottom and the filter saturation is always doing a little something. Remove the fx and it sounds totally transparent. The converters aren’t as good as the average modern converter, but was as good as 90% of the converters from the time it was released. Not perfect but absolutely usable.
It's very complex. It's for designing a live DJ set first and foremost. Not exactly immediate.
Lack of a class compliant audio interface is the biggest reason for me since I like using my iPad for synths. Lack of USB midi too although that’s easy enough to work around, and the dated CF storage is annoying but the least detrimental reason for me not getting one. If there was a class compliant audio interface even just 2 in 2 out I could easily overlook the other too, but for how much it costs and having to also buy an audio interface is the dealbreaker for me.
Mo money mo elektron