Demystifying the Elektron Octatrack (Livestream Highlights)

[@RickyTinez]

bro... from 39:00 on is just insanity... hahah im laughing at how amazingly cool it gets with just "random" results haha!

[@RedMeansRecording]

Hah right? It's really fun.

[@EZBOT_]

Octatrack jokes on point. Looking forward to hearing what you do with this and your modular!

[@MIDERA]

I just bought one of these and got it last night. I managed to get some sounds recorded, which I feel was quite an achievement. I think the Octatrack is the Dark Souls of sampler world. I've watched this once already - will be reviewing this again as well as the other videos by EZBOT and Cuckoo to hopefully get some understanding of it. Thanks for putting this together.

[@allyouracid]

You will get there... Just don't give up, even if the learning curve appears steep, sometimes. It's worth it.

[@avengingsylph]

As someone who can't decide between this and the Digitakt.....I think I might just pull the trigger on this and live with my choice. I'll still get a Digitakt later.

[@mattkaz9604]

When you put a random LFO on slices it is bipolar, so if oyu leave your slice knob at the start, most of your triggers will be the first note. Stick it in the middle so your LFO has room to go down as well as up. Same as the retrigs - open up the time a bit if you give them deep retrig modulation. Great video, do more.

[@athaphian]

I had an octatrack mk2 for about a year and I have to say its a hugely versatile piece of gear with almost endless possibilities, its a real swiss army knife. But in the end for me, it was more frustration than enjoyment. Every time I wanted to use the octatrack to make some music, I was programming and setting this thing up for 10-20 minutes to do what I wanted and by then my inspiration was already vaporized. That is why I sold it in the end. I do miss the cool features it has, but I don't miss the frustration...

[@nastied]

Havnt tried it but I guess that happen to a lot of people who dont have more than some hours per week for this stuff. Thats Why I stay away, also to protect my creativity from dying in the learning proecess. But sure its tempting to give it a try (guessing a try isnt enough tho…)

[@jamespetersen8112]

That's why I have a lot of projects set up with all the machines the way I want them and then just load whatever type of project I want to work on and save as right away to get going...but I do understand this and that is why I'm on my 3rd one!

[@robertgarvansnyder4665]

I've owned and Octatrack for nearly 3 years, nearly sold it many times, but this video, along with E-Z Bot's recent templates, have finally got it clicking into place for me.

[@robertgray4904]

“Let’s go ahead and make this weirder”. Perfect statement to sum up the OT. Cannot wait to get one!

[@blackdownAV]

Please do more of these, i've owned and used an octatrack for years, and whilst, yes, id come across all this stuff before, you explain it in a very practical AND musical way that i have rarely seem elsewhere which inspires me to try things in a different way... again, more please!

[@BigPlasticPlant]

I love the OT, like really love it. I had to pretty much take it away on a romantic break for a month and spend 8 hours a day writing with it to be able to remember how the hell it works but I’m so glad I invested the time, it’s probably the best creative tool for me 🖤

[@mcdance1311]

I love that

[@Intraverse909]

That indeed sounds like love by most men's definition.

[@theway3058]

I knew I could count on Red Means Record. So entertaining. A must watch for those of us who have been using Elektron gear for the past 18 years and are still learning.

[@VictorSteiner]

No, No NO, please Jeremy, I talked myself out of an Octatrack so many times ... DON‘T DO IT!

[@IhorMedia]

too late...

[@allyouracid]

Sorry man, you have no alternative... I mean, you saw the video ...😁

[@BobbyLachapelle]

I have the Octa MK1 since 8 years and I'm still learning tricks on it. Learning and playing with it is so gratifying. There is so much you can do. It is certainly the deepest piece of hardware I have in the studio.

[@AvianBreak]

It’s taken me a while to get through this whole video as I learn the Octatrack, but this was such a succinct view into a very cool workflow with the device.

[@lawr.h]

Jeremy got an Octatrack, this is the best news all week! Can't wait to see where it takes you 🥰

[@robert.melter]

One of the best tutorials out there! Use my OT since 3 years and still learned things from you! Greetz

[@isaacanthonydj4124]

this is where i know someone else has 18 INT score and mine is only 15. LoL

[@isaacanthonydj4124]

like i get it, but he gets it, better.

[@HanjoSynth]

You went to insane depth considering how short amount of time you had the OT! Excited to see what’s coming!

[@howardanderson3061]

I forgot to say....Excellent Video and thanks! I never would have thought of using the thru machines as a processor with all the power of the sequencer as well. I knew this was an option but never thought of really using them to their fullest capabilities. It's easy to get locked into a certain go to work flow...great stuff thanks

[@TMWSS]

One of my fave tricks is that if you were recording from your Digitakt using recorder buffer buffer 3 on track 1 as in your video, but set your playback trig on the first step of track 1 to be micro timed just 1/384 to the right (from memory that’s the smallest microtime available, I could be wrong), the Octatrack will instantly play the recording back ‘live’ rather than having to go through the whole recording process before playing it back. And at 1/384 ‘slow’, no human could ever tell that it wasn’t actually live. As you can’t break the time barrier, the only thing you wouldn’t be able to do is anything in your mangling that would try to speed ahead of the recording (eg. raise the pitch). But if you were to use a one shot record trig, this would only be the case the first time through the pattern. Anyway, this ‘as live’ trick leads to some really cool possibilities - you don’t have to wait for your recording to happen before the fun starts.

[@mntbighker]

That makes my head hurt, but sounds like a good suggestion.

[@mrnessss]

huh?

[@TMWSS]

@@mrnessss So when you're recording from an external audio source and then playing back what you've recorded, usually you have to wait until the entire recording cycle has ended before the playback trig on step 1 can engage (as there's nothing there to play yet). However, if you microtime the playback trig 1/384 forwards, the recording will start playing back even as you're recording it, because the sample you're making has already started to exist in memory. (The only caveat is that you can't speed up the pitch because then you'll 'get ahead' of the live recording, which obviously isn't possible.)And because such a tiny degree of microtiming is imperceptible to the human ear in terms of recognising it as being out of time, it's like the Octatrack is playing back your recording completely live.

[@mrnessss]

@@TMWSS whoa that's crazy. I just started dipping my toes in the octatrack waters and it seems pretty intimidating. But, there's no other way really than to just start messing around with it. Thanks for the info 🙏

[@livinproof718]

I want to hear more of this and try it when mine gets here

[@scttcmpbll]

Perfect timing once again, picked up an OT about a month ago and have been hoping you'd drop a vid

[@MemoryVague]

I JUST BOUGHT ONE YESTERDAY AND WAS WISHING FOR THIS VIDEO THANK YOU

[@HelicopterRidesForCommunists]

Wow man, I get it now. I have officially been inducted into the Octatrak cult. I always just assumed it was “just another” sample based drum machine, but the amount of control it gives you and all that in enables you to do is staggering. The possibilities are blowing my mind right now. I bought a Polyend Play recently and I imagine these two would be magical together.

[@ruffocracia]

I got so pumped when you mentioned the kaosspad with steroids bc I do have that kp3+ & ot og. I managed to get kp through the audio chain with cue and inputs and synced w Midi, it's bombing. This video confirms my statements and developments.

[@madtho]

That was awesome. Every device needs one of these, not so much a demo, not so much a tutorial, but a capabilidemotorial.

[@MikkelGrumBovin]

I love the way you are being you , Jeremy - You just got me hooked -AGAIN , on getting the Octatrack ! - which will give me that (un)holy Trinity - i gotta admit , i do not use my Digitone and Digitakt NEARLY enough - but its video´s like this, that change that infamity - Youre and Excellent teacher - Thanx man !

[@jamessusbilla]

WOW. soooo amazing that i'm speechless. thank *YOU* this is POWERFUL AF. i'll be watching this video many times.

[@jamessusbilla]

i'm back =) mine arrived with a quick start guide. no manual. so i'm back to you. lol.

[@1111undici1111]

Thanks for helping to unlock the magic of the iconic Octatrack!

[@FairuzOsman]

YES YES YES AND YESSSS. Looking forward for more OT videos Stimming video on the OT should be up soon as well omg both of my favourite u2bers

[@saysthetedd]

Serendipitous timing! I just ordered my first Octatrack three days ago. Thanks for this!

[@maarzt]

"Insane ass mixer that happens to be a sampler" that says it all!

[@afghamistam1860]

Was at patchwerks the other day and got a demo of this thing so filthy. I just bought an ANALOG RTYM MK1 this is gonna be next on the list! Great video!

[@BlakeWalt]

Bought an OT mk1 recently so looking forward to your vids! My jam NoWordsLeft was using this live sampling tech to record my voice and mangle it on tracks 1 to 4 in real time, that was fun ;)

[@turntheknob]

Hi Jeremy, you gave me (kind of) the experience of getting the OT and using it for the first time . Really, really well done video!

[@mrdaviderobbins]

you're so good at these videos and i 1.) love that you informatively swear and 2.) pronounce digitone and digitakt the same way i do

[@howardanderson3061]

I was wondering if you would ever take on the OT, I'm so glad you have done so. I'm always amazed at how fast you pick up on any new and complex music machine. I refer to these three Elektron devices as the "Holly Trinity", they do work well together. Looking forward to whatever you do on the OT....Mathew is a brilliant and a wonderful person as well.

[@najitin2333]

Really great video with a good mix of basics as well as more advanced stuff. I have some catching up to do with those hold lfo sync. That is such a great trick! Crazy how everybody just darts to different places with this machine, once you're past the very basics. That's what's makes it so unique. Took me a while to get even a little comfortable with it though. But once you don't feel overwhelmed by it and have a clearer idea of what to use it for and how to set it up, it's just so inspiring to use.

[@MoogTheOne]

Great tutorial on the Thru machines. I really dig the track you wrote at the end of the video.

[@TheoryOps]

Just got my black version this last week and its amazing already.

[@GiriGagan]

I am over the moon that Jeremy has an Octatrack! This Elektron box has enough to keep us going for the next couple of years at least.

[@MorbidManoeuvres]

Awesome demo man! you show alot of cool stuff and im already getting ideas.. it be interesting to put a bass riff in slice mode and start triggering it in different. for example. and love the Thru mode, very inspiring . thanks alot !

[@PfefferPercussion]

This finally helped me to get started. Thanks very much!

[@HelicopterRidesForCommunists]

So yeah I checked out EZBots content and he is the man. The mang, the myff, the legen - The OctaDad Guru. I went and bought a brand new OT and a DT after seeing your videos.

[@AndrewSouthworth]

Nice! I just got one literally 48 hours ago haha, great timing.

[@danielpirone8028]

Super handy summary! Thanks for the edit! Side note , machine drum was also before octatrack

[@FairuzOsman]

Poor machinedrum :(

[@markphiliposian8081]

EZBOT is a great teacher. Lessons on point. Great dude.

[@MrHappytheman]

Ok, J! Last minute of this stream was promising. Your Digitone stuff is brilliant and magical, bravo! I hope you're going to do that kind of granular/function per video thing with Octa too, because no one succeeded to do an hour all-in-one review of the thing. It's just too complex and one of it's own kind. The more I dive into mine the more I drown. it's interesting how your journey will turn out to be like :)

[@maarzt]

The Demystifior. That can be your Avenger name. Seriously though, this definitely added something to my understanding of the OT. Always enjoy your content.

[@seusicha]

Great video! I'm an octatrack user for some years now but still learned a lot! By the way, it's elektron 4th machine, behind Sid Station, Monomachine and Machinedrum :)

[@bigkingsha]

The closest thing to semi-modular in a box. Had mine for 6-7 years - it still blows my mind.

[@ErikStDon]

Thanks a lot “Germy”. I never wanted an Octatrack until now.

[@salehalkwarit]

Very well put together what a powerful maschine, thank you

[@MrCoyoteculler]

Ordered last week and it's at home waiting....so excited I have been looking at this thing forever and finally spent the cash. Volca bass, volca drums are what will go with it while I'm on the road in truck. When I'm at home delta cep a sequenced by eloquencer or octatrack mk2 . I'll love it or pull my hair out! Lol

[@mrclaytron]

The main issue I have with my Octatrack is that if I do not use it for a while, when I come back to it I forget how to use the damn thing lol. Great video Jeremy - looking forward to hear what you achieve with this bad boy!

[@RedMeansRecording]

Haha yes. I feel that.

[@martintaylor9205]

Hi Jeremy Amazing Demo but for me at 68 yrs old far to complex, confusing menu diving, this live for me in dimmed light scenarios equals chaos I want to get Digitakt so although it can’t do what OT does less to learn, I’m wanting to ease use with minimal devices I.e small modular setup, Digitakt , Looper pedal that’s it , less is more but in live situation with OT, DT,DTone too much to think about although I know others will but I’m inspired by Surgeon, Jamie Blawan, Ihor, Ricky Tinez and you obviously but they all utilise minimal setups but in Studio creations OT perfect for experimentation Thanks for your Wonderful Tutorials Martin 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧UK

[@jolieuke]

I didn't know we can sequence effects !!! Thanks for that !

[@geecen]

Great video. I think one thing that would help to explain with the live sampling and mangling you were doing is that I think you still had the input being monitored through the master mix - I think it's easier to understand what's going on if you're just hearing what the octatrack is processing.

[@chinidadian]

Well this just dramatically increased my Octatrack GAS

[@Qwiv]

My fav thing to do with the Octi is sample the mod rig, find a sweet spot, record it, mess with the rig some more and then use the scene to fade back into th original groove like a time machine with the scene slider. Brings a sweet produced sound into a live set…. Run on sentence.. you can also make 2 base lines and flip between them with the same rather.

[@unclemick-synths]

Good presentation. I can see how it could integrate my MPC and other gear for live performance.

[@xivivix7195]

If you're following along, you may get stuck at 18:16. The loop may continue to play in its entirety. You have to make sure that Slice Mode is on for Track 5. Make sure Track 5 is the active track and double tap the SRC button. You can make sure that Slice Mode is on using Knob B.

[@atommachine]

Great i will watch this this evening great upload!

[@t1d3s]

Great stuff, this is the Octatrack video I've been waiting for! Very helpful indeed 🙏👌

[@Timbrrrdoodle]

Thanks for this vid Jeremy. I gave up on the Octatrack I purchased months ago. Hopefully this will help me try again 👍

[@martti7363]

Oh finally, such a crazy device! Good help here

[@papertarrasque]

Me: "I'm going to sell my OT and get a Digitakt to simplify my life" RMR: "No"

[@garymon]

I thought it would be fun for several modular players to pick a rock band role, and then build from their larger rack, a small portable skiff specialized for that one role. I had imagined one extra skiff that all the sound flowed into, as place for 1 additional person to live master the final sound sent to be recorded or listened to by an audience. BUUT after watching your video I think the Octatrack would be a better master mixer, mangler, master effects, etc, performance conductor of sorts. I’ve seen people play modular together but it’s always both people doing percussion, bass, rhythm, Melodie’s, samples, etc and maybe it melded and maybe it was a bit of a train wreck. So giving each person their own sonic space would reduce issues with clashing and allow them to go more wild. Also reducing options with the small portable skiff is often a source of creative choices and makes it easy to meet for “band practice”. After a while switch up the roles and each person can build a new specialized instrument and trying new things. I got sidetracked from building my modular system, so I never felt I was to the point I could legitimately start such a project. But if someone likes this idea, please steal it and I will be your first subscriber if you KZbin it or stream it. And maybe someday I can step on the GAS and finish my damn rack and join in. 🎉

[@leftmono1016]

I’ve had my OT for a couple of days now. First impression, delay and reverb not as nice as the Digitakt. Second impression - this thing is totally amazing! Just messing about I set some trigless trigs to control a freeze delay and bang, two hours gone in a flash 😀 Definitely helps to come from the Digitakt as lots of the concepts are the same.

[@OFFMike]

Thank u for the video I’m a deluge and Sp404 user, also a modular beginner and I hesitate a lot about get an OT to mangle samples Deluge is great for many things they feel like good companion and complete what the other lack of. My wallet will hate it😅

[@robertsyrett1992]

Whaaaaaaaaat?! You got one of those Elektron sampler thingies? This is gonna be nice.

[@el_dani]

If anybody, then you deserved an anniversary Octatrack, because red means recording.

[@FairuzOsman]

Lol

[@iceblack24]

Instruction summery time stamps. The exact time stamp of when is told how to set your Octa. Midi settings: 04:09 Turn on transport and send clock Make track 8 into master track 05:00 Project > control > audio > track 8 master Setting up thru machine tack 6 05:40 Select track 6 > press source twice > press left arrow > select thru machine + put trig down Input selection 06:47 Go to the source page SRC (stereo is A B or C D, other options are mono) Turn on metronome 7:27 Project > control > metronome > turn up main volume Setting up effects 08:40 Double click FX1 (does not have reverb) or FX2 to select effect Setting up LFO’S to control effects 10:01 Trig conditions 11:22 Hold micro timing (left arrow, utime) > use level control for trig locks Summery of what you just did 12:58 Setting up neighbour machine on track 7 (audio track 6 goes through track 7) 13:47 Select track 7 > double click source > select neighbor > set FX you like Setting compressor master track (8) 15:00 Working with existing samples 15:28 Setting up flex machine and loading sample 15:44 Audio editor AED & slicing 17:00 To slice FUNC + AED 17:39 YES (when in slide grid AED)= slice and lock options > select linear locks 18:40 Setting up LFO for playing sample slices 21:45 Sampling form external sources 25:28 Setting up thru machine tack 3 Select track 3 > press source twice > press left arrow > select thru machine + put trig down Explanation record buffers 27:55 Setting up track 1 28:17 Recoding set-up recording buffer 3 28:50 Set up inputs C D > set trig to one2 > length 16 steps > go to track 1 > add trig on the first step With this set up, what is recorded on track 3, will play back on track 1 with the settings you gave it. Remember the recording buffer exists on track 3 One shot trig will make it record and then loop 32:39 FUNC YES to re arm trig and re sample the incoming sound on track 3 33:25 Summery 34:58 how to clear recording buffer 35:24 REC1 > FUNC + CLEAR Setting up for live slicing of incoming audio 35:53 Setting up audio editor 36:56 Setting up LFO (personal tip set the STRT point on the source page in the middle value) 37:44 Setting up track 2 as flex machine 42:27 Loop of slice on Recording buffer set up track 2 42:39 Making Rytm and slicing sample form digitone 43:40 Slicing FUNC + AED LFO set up 44:34 Fader fun 45:39 RECAP 49:44 Hope its helpful for someone :)

[@MarcusKnappMusic]

So this is the very first Octatrack video that maybe me go "Hmmm, maybe I DO want one...."

[@user82938]

41:40 Noticed you went into each LFO's page to turn down their depth. You can do this from the first LFO page where all their speed and depth is displayed to make this quicker.

[@ubiquitousreverser]

I’m surprised you were intimidated by the OT with how much it seems you really fly on the DT and learn seemingly a lot of different gear. I’ll have to come back to this later. But cool to see your using an OT, definitely nice of whoever it was that ‘hooked’ you up. 2nd channel I’ve seen that someone gets an OT gifted to them. Look forward to seeing where you go with it.

[@maarzt]

I think its because the OT DT on steroids. its its own thing. that is my takeaway from this and other vids

[@ubiquitousreverser]

@@maarzt Yeah learning the DT was a breeze for me compared to the OT. I’m familiar with the similar features I used when I had a DT, and haven’t really gotten into all the additional capabilities of the OT as the DT is like 30% of what the OT is capable of.

[@joshatlas]

awe man! I've been waiting for you to get the OT! this is great!

[@michaelshenton5760]

Oh wow! You did it.

[@wickeddubz]

I watched interview by Lem , he owned many Elektron devices, but he ditched the Octa, because Analog Rytm has more convenient features for his workflow, like scenes. Also, samples in Octa are bound to project, there are 4 soundbanks that you can map for one project. In Rytm you can play one pattern after another, switch scenes, mutes, it’s easier. Octa is good when you have to deal with loops, arrangements some other instrumens that you wanna resample and mangle on the fly. More hassle, but fun leven is also pretty high.

[@thermochopps]

LEM is awesome.

[@averageXIAOHONGSHUenjoyer]

whatever you think does not exist on the octa does in fact exist on the octatrack

[@turtlemouth]

Nice video. One of these days you're going to have to do a video that teaches me how to connect these gizmos together.

[@user82938]

44:38 You can also copy page settings. So you could go to your track where you already set up LFO-slice fun, copy that page, go back to your new Digitone track, and paste the page, so that you don't have to set it up again.

[@magneticmonopole7824]

Great stuff looking forward to more videos. Had mine a month and learned a lot here. A word of warning. If you have the 32gb Elektron CF card back up your stuff. Mine failed after a month. Common problem apparently. I replaced it with a Sandisk.

[@ryanjones5803]

Really want to watch this but don’t want to end up buying an Octatrack for the 7th time by the end of it… inevitable! And after years of owning an OT (on and off) it wasn't until this video I discovered linear locks 😂

[@KenithCopeland]

as an octatrack owner i think it would have been great if elektron had some template presets that would cater for a few typical scenarios while you are learning the machine. some of the "you need to do X for Y to work can get confusing when you are trying to learn how to program a beat for example. one things for sure, its a never ending box of goodness

[@RedMeansRecording]

That's a great idea.

[@xivivix7195]

If you're following along, you may be getting stuck at 7:16. Pressing play and not getting any sound from the external gear. It's because you need to put a playback trig into the sequencer on Track 6. Press the Record button and hit Trigger 1 on the sequencer to set up a playback trig. Seems like this step was edited out of the video.

[@maarzt]

would love to watch a video with the OT and Deluge as you mentioned at the end.

[@mattster303]

Great vid, lovely outro!

[@nym053]

The most advanced looper "pedal".

[@RedMeansRecording]

Yup!

[@jbdemo]

Awesome videos ! Thank you so much !

[@Jimantronic]

Demistified! Thanks 🙂 Loads of gear can do multi channel sequencing, but I hadn't appreciated the power of the Performance Mixer/ Remixer / Mega Looper / Sampler role. I'm aiming to set up similar functionality with a Deluge and a bunch of iPad apps including Drambo, but I have a nagging suspicion that although the setup and learning will be way simpler and technically it may be more powerful and less quirky, it might still fall short of the OT magic..

[@FuZZbaLLbee]

Was looking into the Octatrack as a sequencer. But since i already have a MPC live (sampler), i opted for the Squarp pyramid.

[@oyoyoyo7624]

Thanks so much!

[@fiscaldisco5234]

Shout out to the folks at Patchwerks they are always extremely helpful to me too

[@kudlak696]

Yess! I love it.

[@paulhoovdaddy]

More OT videos please. Nice work

[@theworldresearchlab]

so good! thank you!

[@jkirchheimer]

When naming the project, or samples etc. Func+Clear (play) clears Name, so you don’t need to remove every single Charakter

[@benhall2235]

Surely the machine drum was before the octa?

[@RedMeansRecording]

Yes

[@BenGeorge77]

he said "sequences" but pronounced it like it was a greek plural, "sequencees". 🐐

[@thomasdavid1933]

with you having spent a good amount of time with both the MC707 and Octatrack, what would you say are the pro's and con's of each. Looking for something to play samples in sets which are long, stereo and still want to be able to mess with them, and even switch between what else I am playing and then solo the sample for some time, then returning to the set. Basically which i choose must be better for performance And thank you for all the great content you provide, very balanced and clear information

[@toffchunks]

great!!! thks for sharing !!!

[@goodnota]

For Lord's sake, did Richard D James help prototyping this music machine ?! In EZBOT's hands it sounds so natural, but this shit is a pure madness (although controlled one if you tackle it :)

[@ajmossman]

Hey, @redmeansrecording I have a Deluge and an ISLA S2400. I have loved the S2400 for sound quality and great drum things, but the Deluge hasn't connected. I'm thinking about the Octa.... how do they compare/ fit in your workflow? Thanks for any insight.