Digitakt vs Octatrack Mega Workflow Comparison

Chapters in description
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www.thomannmusic.no/thlpg_lpk...
The Digitakt is here, and the Octatrack just got a new MKII update. Which one to choose!? They are overlapping in what they can do, but I think they are different enough to justify that Elektron keeps selling both of them.
So here's a mega workflow comparison video where I'm comparing them side by side in a number of aspects. It's a bit long, but if you're interested in this stuff, I hope you'll find the video interesting.
Cheers
CUCKOO
00:00:00 1. Introduction
00:01:52 2. Octatrack MK2
00:03:18 3. File management
00:04:35 4. Streaming, preloading to RAM
00:05:28 5. File dumping and backup
00:06:24 6. Overbridge
00:06:53 7. Inputs and outputs
00:08:23 8. Recording and trimming on Digitakt
00:10:24 9. Recording and trimming on Octatrack
00:12:56 10. Slices
00:15:37 11. Saving files on Octatrack
00:16:26 12. Compact flash travel backup
00:17:01 13. Processing live audio
00:18:26 14. Loading samples
00:21:06 15. Recording a sequence
00:23:04 16. Messing with a sequence on Digitakt, Control All
00:26:34 17. Messing with a sequence on Octatrack, Scenes
00:29:16 18. Pitch shift, Time stretch, Playback rate
00:31:01 19. Reverbs and effects
00:34:01 20. The keyboard
00:35:44 21. Loop box (pickup machine)
00:37:04 22. Single waveform "synthesis"
00:40:06 23. LFO automation
00:41:32 24. The Arranger, pattern chaining
00:43:14 25. Simple vs Choice
00:43:54 26. MIDI
00:47:36 27. MIDI arpeggiator
00:48:05 28. Trig conditions
00:49:54 29. How I use Octatrack
00:54:28 30. How I use Digitakt
00:58:21 31. "Conclusion"
00:59:42 32. patreon.com/cuckoomusic + store.truecuckoo.com

[@RickyTinez]

Just the video i was looking for! Sidenote: Great meeting you at NAMM!!

[@truecuckoo]

Hey there :) Likewise.

[@RedMeansRecording]

The section about how you use both is super helpful, thank you for that.

[@RedMeansRecording]

Also 52:23 sounds dope

[@truecuckoo]

+Red Means Recording Cool, great to hear mate!

[@ripbozo941]

ofc red slidin into electron comment sections everywhere

[@dickheadrecs]

Question for you hello must Siri thank you QQ

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

just beware the new MKII Octatrack is quite a bit different in function keys to perform tasks in comparison to the MK I model.

[@johnbeuck587]

OMG the little clock in the top left is soo cool and useful!

[@truecuckoo]

+Dark Miracle glad you noticed!! I will update it in future videos :)

[@Michael_Smith-Red_No.5]

I kept thinking of plastic pie wedges from Trivial Pursuit, but now I get why they're there.

[@Hightower2804TP]

Its not a clock, its Pac Man

[@Breisler]

Your videos both make me happy and help me make informed purchases. I've curated my synth information between a few channels and I'm always happy with every review you do. Please don't ever stop doing it.

[@EbaucheMusic]

Thanks for this video @cuckoomusic. Really nice to see an in-depth breakdown of the two machines side by side like this.

[@RandomRabOfficial]

You're tutorials are insanely good. The index points are awesome. You've single handedly turned me into a loyal Elektron fan with all these amazing videos. Your music is good too. Thanks Cuckoo.

[@truecuckoo]

+Random Rab Official thank you so much for all the kind words!! Right to my chest!

[@PatrickSugarfix]

Hey Cuckoo, Just wanted to say thank you for this. I'm still super torn between the two, but you've done an incredible job at conveying what it's like working with each of them. Cheers!

[@dapunisha7380]

thanks for your long informative videos. I got me the digitakt and they really helped me to get to know the functions yet there is so much more to learn about this machine. big up!

[@_rkrd]

Non-content related, but I like the added segment timer on the top! That with the index on the description sounds to me, like a great pattern for making long videos easily digestible.

[@TimShoebridge]

Incredibly useful and informative. Thanks very very much for taking time to do this video :)

[@Bredofication]

This is pure quality video! The progress pie is simply amazing, and your videos are just pleasant to see and very instructive! Super Cuckoo!! :D

[@jlowrie33]

Awesome video. Thank you! Just bought an Octatrack MK1 for the same price as the Digitakt. The original is still completely relevant. I love your videos. Thanks man!

[@ClaudeDjale]

Cuckoo, thank you very much for all the great tutorials... you make them so easy and fun....

[@bicycleninja1685]

Thank you for this. I was looking for this comparison.

[@ChrisPlough]

Thank you man - I appreciate the time and energy you put into sharing.

[@co101]

Awesomely Entertaining as well as informative! Nice Work!

[@williammindreaders1029]

THANKS cuckoo ;) it was nice to have a full comparison

[@drgoodusername]

This is your best video; I watched the entire thing. I can't wait for the MKII.

[@truecuckoo]

Cool, thanks Benito! The MKII looks nice, doesn't it!?

[@drgoodusername]

It doesn't just look nice - it should have the better audio opamps that are in the digi - from what I've read. So any audio you have in Okta actually will sound better out of the MKii. Of course this also means that some tracks may need tweaking if some of the "color" in the sound changes. The only thing I really want in MKII is trig mutes. I don't even need conditional trigs, but trig mutes like in the RYTM should be achievable on the current Okta DSP but who knows.

[@tekis0]

First time seeing one of your videos, and I really like your format!! Well done!

[@truecuckoo]

+tekis0 thanks!! I appreciate it :)

[@This1That0]

Thanks for sharing your expertise and love of these instruments.

[@dougb70]

thanks for sharing your rare flavor of creative genius with the world. Great stuff.

[@smt_]

seems like a shame they didn't use the chance to give the mk2 the updated effects and some overall polish, still seems like an amazing device but damn that DT reverb...

[@malibukentechno5761]

Great video, understand these lot better now. Thanks

[@justingoers]

Excellent overview. Thank you so much!

[@xgauzeva4121]

Incredibly helpful video and very well made. Thank you!!!!

[@baz6429]

Excellent comprehensive video. Had my heart set on the OT however by the end I was in love with the Digitakt. The sound is awesome, the workflow is very quick and while there are some limitations it feels like a very creative machine.

[@mikeexits]

I was all-in on wanting a Digitakt and Synthstrom Deluge for years, but after learning that Avey Tare has used the Octatrack to do live sets, and after doing some more research and realizing how powerful it is, now all I want is the Octatrack mkII. Oh boy, that's gonna be a journey.

[@asafherrmann4836]

Awesome video dude, super well made 👍👏

[@truecuckoo]

Thanks a lot 🙏🏼

[@forbesy8568]

So very helpful so clever with a wonderful clarity thanks for your lessons i will hook up the Patron account again shortly for your time.

[@k5r2d2]

Sir Cuckoo I am grateful for your review. Danke

[@mikebingaman3264]

I have had the Octatrack for many years and yet learned a lot from this.

[@vllyshdden2363]

Thank you so much for doing this!

[@iscariah71]

Tanx my Friend, this is the video i was waitin for....you re the best, you re so reactive.....but i still hesite between dt and ot mark2!!!!!!

[@enlnh]

Thank you so much for creating this

[@visualmusicprod8541]

Thanks for this video ! Lots of good vibes and it helps me to get in with my OT, so complex...I'm used to my old Esx, had so much fun and creative ideas... the sound of the OT seems to me too digital but the track you made at the end of this video is so cool, makes me wanna go deeper in the OT! Cheers , Lionel from France

[@Hlecktro]

As per the Octatrack commercial, I've yet to be able to transmogrify other humans in a Post-Apocolyptic Lovecraftian warehouse rave. Hopefully this feature is added in a future firmware update.

[@tubesockor]

Very pedagogical at the same time as covering a lot of both machines. Will be very helpful for a lot of people, I think. Gött jobbat!

[@HailSagan_]

Nice job - always love your stuff Cuckoo. I'd love to see a Digitone vs Analogue Four video vs of this - cheers mate

[@DayflightTrok]

Thank you, very professional comparison.

[@telexcopiomusic]

Your track is really good! Thanks Cookoo

[@WilliamWarinDhavernas]

Thanks a lot for this in depth comparison. Very nice and helpfull.

[@UncleGordon1978]

god bless you cuckoo in the end of the video you felt in love with Octatrack xD totally agree.

[@deastman2]

Thank you for the very helpful video. I had preordered a Digitakt, but while waiting for it to arrive, I found a deal on a used Octatrack that was too good to pass up. So now I've really jumped into the deep end with both boxes at the same time and no prior experience with any Elektron boxes other than my original Machinedrum. This video really helped me to better understand the strengths and weaknesses of each box and to start to see how I might use the two of them together. Speaking of which, it would be great to see a video demonstrating how YOU would combine the two in composition and performance.

[@UncleBoogieRF]

Your entrance into shot at the start. Awesome.

[@Turbogophertuesdays]

This is great! Always a pleasure

[@fred4276]

You are the best. I love your noises you make

[@danieljohnmorris]

THANK YOU FOR THIS!

[@DigitalStains]

Very informative, thank you!

[@gianlucacali2635]

Sic et simpliciter, thank you... You helped me a lot in my decision making...

[@davidknight754]

1,000 thumbs up if I could. This was an amazing tutorial. I just took delivery of an Octatrack 3 weeks ago. Due to the new one coming out I went ahead and returned it and will be getting MK 2. I also have a Digitakt. Being somewhat familiar with both, this tutorial really helped me out! Thanks!

[@grandmasterjo1]

David Knight. Lucky you for being able to with in time.

[@grandmasterjo1]

Lucky you

[@JupiterRexMusic]

you should just keep the old one and have 2 ;). I'm seriously considering getting a second OT for some serious overload lush insanity

[@davidknight754]

Hah! Cool idea, though I better learn how to use 1 first. If I were to do something like that I would try to have 2 Mk II so the workflow is exactly the same. But really, my plan for the Octatrack is mainly backing tracks for my live work. I want to hit a button and start a static machine and send a 20 minute soundscape out the main or que outs, and thats about it at the moment. Will dive deeper as I go though.

[@indiefilmcomposer]

Your awesome for doing this one of the best reviewers on you tube. I have the tempest and TR8, but really need something like this in my workflow to expand my sound and performance palette .....leaning towards octatrack....and right now mki version used is a good value

[@rustikinc63]

Very clear and concise job CC..........nizewerk

[@amnesyaudiotrauma5]

best video intro ever

[@banahaffar]

GREAT vid! thank you so much for this public service

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

Wow this was so helpful in decide which one to get. Thanks a million Cuckoo your videos are the best on Elektron gear. Also now I want the cool pocket Teenage engineering gear so cute and portable.

[@truecuckoo]

+Renaissance Man thank you so much mr Renessance!

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

Sure thing! OT is more complex but super powerful once you learn it!

[@HankAstral]

only 2 mins in and already outstanding. Love the image switch between the the old and new Octatracks.

[@javiermorin8148]

Hank Astral i

[@urielterry]

Cuckoo u r the best!!! best wishes from Mexico!

[@atommachine]

groovy upload i think i will look at the Mrk2 OT stay mellow...fellow

[@claudius3124]

Hey man I love your videos !! you're an awesome teacher !!! Keep On ! ;-)

[@cliverowley925]

Great Video and well explained. I know own both machines and a Digitone!!!!

[@Mapledrip40]

Fantastic man, thanks

[@Synthsound]

Thx a lot for this cool video 😀 you are incredible!!!

[@EloEast]

Great tutorial!

[@polycatband]

Very helpful!

[@myjima]

Thanks super helpful !

[@grandmasterjo1]

The summer NAMM two weeks from now should give us the perfect picture of the OT Mk II, if any. Thanks for all the effort in the comparison video. I'm sure it will help many me included.

[@LlewynDaviesTheThird]

Great explanation

[@geohashi]

Thank you for this

[@carlosfuentes4026]

Dude! your are the best!!!

[@Clemicluwho]

I love you cuckoo, thank you.

[@AaronFabbri]

Fantastic video. I want the functionality of the OT with the sound of the DT. The OT sounds flat after hearing the digitakt. Sad to hear the mkii is not bringing sound improvements. That DT reverb!

[@shortcutDJ]

lovely learned soo much

[@arturpolonski6234]

Allways cool THX 👍💖

[@fredrikw1447]

so inspired by this tutorial!

[@avantoo]

Michael Winslow would be proud of your sound effects:)

[@ramonkey2939]

Love my Octatrack mkII. This video is awesome. Nothing wrong with the digitakt I just love having more options in performance

[@2disbetter]

The Octatrack is still just so powerful. It is such a powerful tool, that embraces sampling for the really power tool it can be. I also love how the octatrack acts as a mixer, etc. Thanks for the video Cuckoo! I'll be in Sweden in 2 weeks, and it would be awesome if I bumped into you! Hahaha! Small world and all!

[@nomutilisateur123456]

You're the best !

[@nmc_music]

I love my Digitakt. Was gonna sell my much unloved Octatrack. After watching this, I will keep both!

[@larac8224]

Your mini mirror idea is SOOO fucking cool, you are 'fearless and inventive' as a galactian slug once said

[@truecuckoo]

+Lara Knight thank you so much Lara!! Hope to see you around. Cheers!

[@adrianroethlisberger4626]

amazing tutorial

[@GreenTeFarm]

wow!, best video start 2017.

[@trevor4835]

So succinct! 👌

[@dxtrs_mnpltr]

Aahhh Cuckoo.. genius!!

[@quirkymusic9420]

I believe you could do a "control all" feature in the octatrack by sending everything through a master track.

[@PedroCamposoficial]

thanks!!!

[@dry509]

Excellent.

[@Philippe44]

Thank you, oh patron saint of samples

[@user-vc6im8rs4p]

讲的很清晰很喜欢你的小镜子哈哈哈

[@truecuckoo]

谢谢 🙏🏼

[@batteryheadmusic]

Watched this to decide if I should "upgrade" my DT to an OT... now I need both. Thanks.

[@rimartracks7279]

I think that a noticeable difference between the two is how muting works. The octatrack mutes the *audio* but the Digitakt mutes the *trigs* for their respective tracks. Which means that if you push mute on the octatrack before the sample finishes playing it cuts out(no fx tails even). Which can be really annoying(annoys the shit out of me). The Digitakt lets it play out.

[@pazhonda1821]

Ahh yes, but there is a way around THIS. Go to the AMP page, good down your A or B button and on the screen you can see at the bottom right of the screen a notification shows up and you can mute the track by turning the encoder associated with that slot On/Off. The effect will fade out instead of CUT out. Hope that helps.

[@blankgen8003]

@@pazhonda1821 Well done !

[@OPdbx]

I really love the digitakt, and prefer it over the octatrack (mainly because of the size and price difference), but mono samples only is a big deal breaker for me. To have this limitation on a machine in 2017 that is >$500 is absurd.

[@geecen]

Hmm not sure. What are you sampling that has such important stereo information? It only has a limited RAM so you can't really use it for stems from your DAW or whatever anyway; it's much more for one hits or mangling stuff where the original stereo imaging is not really very relevant. I'm planning on getting an Octatrack, but for me the stereo vs mono kind of makes sense for these boxes. If all you want to do is play back longer stereo samples as a backing track, the Electribe sample has SD card and stereo plus a few other things, so it might suit you better.

[@nucentury08]

2.0 💯🚀🚀🚀🚀 Overbridge 2 Digitakt 2020

[@user-vh4bn4zs8c]

I have the same wire with red and white rubber grip on the Jacks! YEEEAAAAAH!)))

[@danieldemayo6209]

Your a nut....a very funny and informative one haha....now I really can't pick! Lol

[@user-wx8ot1ph4d]

Saturdays are for the boys

[@aidanvinum]

Great video. Now that’s it’s almost 2019, what has changed ? Specs, etc. ...

[@TotalBikeForever]

Love this video, the last 3 sections especially. Is the vocal/loop trick at 52:39 something you could do on the Digitakt as well? I'd be using either unit for vocals and would love this kind of functionality for live shows

[@antonythoumere6357]

Merci beaucoup

[@AdnanAlsannaa]

I don't have an Elektron instrument and very much looking to get one. I think after this video the Octatrak makes much more sense for me.

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

just be sure to invest many hours and patience in learning each one! Reading the manuals are MANDATORY with these complex boxes.

[@alienanxiety]

Great video, as always, Cuckoo. One thing you didn't cover, maybe you could give your opinion - since Digitakt seems to have much better reverb and delay, and filter for that matter, and also has trig conditions - and the Octatrack has all of it's numerous exclusive features, can you think of any way that the two units could essentially be used in conjunction as one unit, thinking of it as a 16 audio/16 midi track unit, like can you think of a way to connect them so that the octatrack can loop through the digitakt and take advantage of it's FX and trig conditions, but also have both units using the octatrack arranger and scenes slider. i am not sure how this would work, maybe route octatrack main outs into digitakt, and have digitakt outs run into octatrack? so many possibilities. Just trying to think of a way to patch it up so they essentially work as one unit, using the best of both worlds.