Octatrack First Impression // Uh oh- What have I gotten myself into

[@LiamKillen]

Interested in any of the gear in this video? Support this channel using using the affiliate purchase links below: ►Octatrack: bit.ly/3go6iuh ►Digitakt: bit.ly/3DJB4UB ►PC-12: bit.ly/2QJBTu4

[@Hysteric_Subjects]

The link to the PC 12 actually goes to a page for the PO-12!

[@drfluffy3983]

@@Hysteric_Subjects yeah didn't expect to find a poclet operator :P

[@RickyTinez]

One of the biggest midi mapping aha moments I had with the Octatrack was mapping my faders to AMP volume instead of Track Level. That way if you have a reverb or delay it continues to ring out while you cut the volume of the samples. Track volume will cut the samples AND reverb/delay tails.

[@maarzt]

nice!

[@EZBOT_]

Excellent tip!

[@LiamKillen]

#droppingknowledge thx Ricky T!

[@LiamKillen]

My guy

[@LiamKillen]

Thx for the lesson EZ!

[@JoshElliottMusic]

congrats! I bought and sold the OT twice. Regretted selling it each time. Give it an hour a day and you’ll have your head around the basics in a few weeks. EZ Bot tutorials are really good.

[@LiamKillen]

I’m getting a lesson with EZ bot today actually 😏

[@JoshElliottMusic]

@@LiamKillen Nice! That’s great. I’m sure you’ll come out with a new level of understanding. Looking forward to your OT content

[@menesfrancois]

Great video and welcome to the OT ! A few tips : As you mentioned there are a billion ways to do the same thing on the OT, eg. instead of the fill you can set the condition to 1st or make the trig a one shot trig (func+trig if I remember well) and eventually re arm the trig with Yes-Yes (activated by default I believe) to make it a one finger operation. It looks like you haven't dug into parts too much yet. They make no sense at first but they turn out to be really handy for what you were doing by changing the sample on the trig in one of the patterns. Usually it's easier to use banks as an overall full song and patterns for different bits of the song (like you showed), then parts to change samples or effect settings and even track machines if you want. It allows for better transitions so you don't have to manually input different samples on each one of your trigs but can change the track sample all at once and even come back to the original in the same pattern. Copy paste (and save !!) your Part 1 to Part 2 and just tweak what you want to change on the pattern (it will remember the Part for that pattern). Eventually you can copy the last part of a first bank to the first part of a second bank to create transitions between songs for a live set. Finally if you have saved your part, you can tweak all your settings when performing with the Faderfox and then reload the part (similar to pattern reload on the Digitakt). Track 8 as master track is super handy for resampling and effects. The fader fox is a good idea but I think the crossfader will allow you to change more settings at once with one hand, even without using the crossfader you can change the active scene directly and make abrupt changes. Finally in Mix mode, holding Func while pressing the track allows to unmute/mute multiple tracks at once (maybe it's the same on Digitakt) and you can solo by doing Cue + Track (this one took me forever to find out). I'm sure you will have fun with the OT. Looking forward to seeing what you will come up with !

[@LiamKillen]

Thanks for this addition! 🍻

[@Tapepusher]

I'm week 2 with the OTmk2 and it all clicks, I love it, it's all I've ever wanted in a sampler. Thanks to Elektronauts I already feel comfy with it. Coming from the A4mk2, it's mad that ppl avoid parts, they're the same as "kits" and it's what I reached for first! Don't suppose there's a shortcut for reloading parts, or do you just have to use the menu?

[@sawtoothwave]

@@Tapepusher FUNC+CUE reloads the part!

[@Tapepusher]

omg it's right there on the faceplate, lovely thank you!!! 🤗@@sawtoothwave

[@explodingtiger]

At first it’s frustrating but after the breakthrough it is incredibly fun and flexible

[@LiamKillen]

Love hearing this- I am committed!

[@audiolego]

@@LiamKillen I have an A4 mk1 and within a weekend I learned it thanks to macprovideo tutorial. Have you seen that manual lol ackkkk

[@enfinitesimal2810]

Appreciate the honest first take, look forward to seeing more!! I also was thinking about a knob controller, but the crossfader and scenes let you control more than 2 parameters (or literally all of them) at the same time. My favourite KZbin resources for the OT are EZBOT, Ricky Tinez, The Messy Desk and Kenny Zhao.

[@LiamKillen]

Just took a lesson with EZ!

[@joshuamorganmusic]

I’ve owned the OT for a little over 10 years and still discover new things/ways to get the same/more done. It’s certainly the headiest piece of gear I’ve ever owned but soooooo rewarding

[@LiamKillen]

Heady AF!

[@seanspartan2023]

I've always wanted one but I'm not sure I'm ready for that kind of a commitment yet. But if they ever come out with a mk iii, I'll probably have to get one.

[@LiamKillen]

MK 3!? That would be the day.

[@jrosado3965]

Mono sampling...what year is it? Absolutely deal breaker, even for just drums.

[@LiamKillen]

word -

[@thevisionfield7416]

What's the alternative solution?

[@ionianechoes]

The fact that track mutes are not saved with the pattern make this pretty unusable for me. I just don't get why. Who wants that?

[@LiamKillen]

Yeah I get that- I think for my workflow it’ll be okay though

[@ionianechoes]

@@LiamKillen I also understand the need to pair it with a midi controller. It's too menu intensive and very little immediate excepting for the xfader. I ended up getting an mc707 because it's interactive and makes the transitions easier. But the sampling mangling capacity decreases when you take anything different than the ot

[@iantulud]

It really took me about a year to get the machine. Now I can't part ways with it, especially for live sets.

[@LiamKillen]

Love to hear it.

[@FuZZbaLLbee]

Take notes 📝 there where so many steps setting up live recording that you will forget at least one. Of course once set up you can save it to a project as well.

[@LiamKillen]

Yes! I’ll have to create a template for sure because it will be the same workflow every time- at least for the time being

[@Soundwrecker]

I learned it and played some shows using it several years back but eventually gave it up. It's a great performance sampler, effects processor, techo sequencing powerhouse, mixer.. but you sort-of have to pick one. Ultimately I found it best at mono techno and not good for anything involving chords which didn't fit all of the music I wanted to make.

[@LiamKillen]

Yeah that’s what I’m learning!

[@dustinevans]

"controlling" the Octatrack lol ❤ it's a "beauty and the beast"

[@LiamKillen]

hahahaha totally.

[@tonybucks5709]

I own the OT mk1, 12 years old this year and still going strong. Best sampler ever made.

[@LiamKillen]

A common take 😏

[@midiotsavant]

Powerful machine, but definitely a commitment. I had mine for two years before I finally sold it. I was tired of having to relearn button shortcuts, workflows etc. if I wasn't using it every day. Two weeks away from it and man, it was frustrating to have to pull out the manual to get back up to speed on it. My smooth brain just couldn't handle retaining all the functionality. Complicated beast. Good luck!

[@LiamKillen]

Yeah I get that

[@JarenIsenbeck]

Thanks for making this video on the Octatrack, @LiamKillen. I'll have to say, based on what you've shared about the time investment required to appreciate the octatrack, this instrument feels like a big waste of time.

[@LiamKillen]

Gonna disagree with that lol. It's def a weird workflow, but def not a waste of time!

[@bryanbytes]

Update on Octatrack? Still learning / using it?

[@LiamKillen]

Still learning- very cool tool as a mixer and what I’ve noticed is that you kind of just have to pick a way to use it and go with it

[@LiamKillen]

So many ways of using it it’s overwhelming

[@bryanbytes]

For you, better for composition vs live playing?

[@SermonZermon]

regarding your point about patterns and FX on the DT you can always change them from pattern based to global. compressor and internal/external mixer can also be set to global if you hate setting things up in each new pattern :)

[@LiamKillen]

I tried that it doesn’t change the fact that params reset from one pattern to the next!

[@earlsfield]

Ah right you said you are getting one. Uh - oh... well, good luck, ask if you want to know anything via Elektronauts, i will be posting some videos on machines and sampling soon too. And also, you are right. I got mk 2 Octa and was really pissed off - Digitakt was much more fluid, and had that updated effects, you could choose starting point for each lock without slicing etc... Elektron should 've updated MK 2 to something newer to streamline the product. However, it is not at all that intimidating as most people tend to scream, its just so many features and you need to master those that work for you daily without messing up those you don't but are integral part of the machine.

[@LiamKillen]

Thanks for this! 😊

[@INFINITYREALM]

1:00 Oora music controls the Octa with a faderfox. Could reach out to him for more tips on you tube.

[@LiamKillen]

I’ve been notified! Will be checking this out tmrw- thanks!

[@oscarjmg]

Call Ricky Tinez he works now for Elektron.

[@sisonkemanentsa5153]

And Stimming

[@LiamKillen]

I spoke with him a whole back- not about the Octa though !

[@LiamKillen]

Yeah he knows the Octa really well. I saw his double Octa jam not too long ago...holy shit lol.

[@sisonkemanentsa5153]

Check this video out, kzbin.info/www/bejne/nWWuoYyeeax2o6s

[@wallbrown1876]

@@sisonkemanentsa5153 Stimming is THE Octa expert.Then again it doesn’t have to do with expertise.That guy is just a genius.

[@videosarchive8058]

Really appreciate your first impression. I'm getting really close to going in myself. Will definitely do lessons, but would love to learn from your experience, the basics and build from there. Many thanks for the videos and I'm excited about what's in store.

[@LiamKillen]

Thanks for watching. More soon for sure 😊

[@shufflephunk]

i am amazed that i nall these years you are actually quite adept at making nice grooves, respect

[@LiamKillen]

Appreciate it :-) Cheers

[@kathleencoveny3860]

Always a pleasure tuning into your vids .. where i am certain to find a full measure of helpful content .. thanks again for your thorough recaps .. cheers !

[@LiamKillen]

🍻

[@compucorder64]

I've noticed when watching other seasoned Octatrack users using it, they run into problems, where they accidentally do something, or can't figure out why something is happening and there's a bit of headscratching. I think most users I've seen, have moments of confusion with it; definitely not the most intuitive. But then again, I think the new MPCs are like that too; beating my head against that workflow a bit myself today. But, I suppose, if you don't want to use a software DAW, then Octatrack and MPC et al are capable tools for the job. And I suppose you just have to live with their eccentricities, like the old fogey hardware grandads in semi-retirement that they are ... they are still more than capable of getting the job done ;) Flipside is that I regularly hear really good sets done on these by some of the best, so there's that.

[@LiamKillen]

Yeah more advanced DAWLESS gear is generally like that

[@MrEMann]

All I learned watching this is I have no idea what I am doing because I understand almost nothing about what you were doing. 😕

[@LiamKillen]

I am not far behind 😂

[@dorn_beats]

Don't worry! It all works with external controlers, and it's great for livesets. I don't have a tutorial, but here is a liveset, were you can see my setup: kzbin.info/www/bejne/emKQZoiPea2gpdU&ab_channel=dorn It's a bit confusing at first, but you will get the hang of it. I have one controller for the Octatrack and one for the Digitone. For the Octa I have the same filter and delay in the effect slots and have the controller setup to control filter base, filter width, delay feedback and delay send. Together with the fader you have so many possibilitys! I recommend using studio mode for external effects (I use it with an external reverb) and set Track 8 as an master channel for master effects. And bring the Digitone and the Digitakt into the Octatrack for max FX ;) Or export stems to the Octatrack and slice and rearange them in the Octatrack, magic will happen! Enjoy the ride and prepare for a lot of brain work! It's worth it!!!

[@LiamKillen]

Just took an EZ Bot lesson and WE GOOD TO GO BABY

[@illegalgiant_]

yo! your affiliate link for the pc12 is not the right link! I have beenr eally, relaly digging my digitakt, finally (taken like 2 years tbh) and am wondering which way im leaning next. its either gonna be a daw or the octotrack. appreciate the honesty as I trudge forward toward my own fork in the road

[@LiamKillen]

I thank you I’ll change that back in a bit!

[@kquat7899]

Definitely not for me.

[@LiamKillen]

fair enough.

[@jones786]

I bought one too. I have some real questions about whether the time investment will be worth it. Have definitely spent full days on the weekend just reading manuals and troubleshooting. Quickly hit an error, reached out to support, and just set it aside to come back to another time. There's no question in my mind that there could be something like the Octatrack that wasn't so hard to use, so it's frustrating to have to accept its limitations and complexity. Also questionable time investment for a hobbyist like me who is also simultaneously trying to learn several other pieces of gear. I bought an MPC One soon after this partly because I opened up to the idea that something else might be a better fit. The ultimate problem with the Octatrack is that (as I've read, at least) the developer that was primarily responsible for it left the company and they haven't been able to do any real updates or overhauls to it. Lack of Overbridge compatibility seems like a big weakness here.

[@LiamKillen]

It’s a huge commitment for shizzle. It’s just an older wotkflow

[@SoundFriendly]

I think you need to work with this device every day, if you leave it a month, you forgot it all. Very complex it seems.

[@LiamKillen]

100%

[@yeorgemusic]

Great video man! Waiting for my Octatrack and ready to train my brain 😂 Curious to use this on resampling accoustic instrument loops instead of the typical drumbeats. Did you find more info on PC12 + Octatrack MIDI CC linking? I have same setup and would love to hear about it. Keep up the great work 👌

[@LiamKillen]

Thank you! Yes! Here’s a video about octa + midi: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o4SmoHuZfbtpfJI

[@patfinn2697]

Here is a video about mapping the pc12 to the OT if you haven’t found it yet kzbin.info/www/bejne/roWskHd3psuIj6s

[@LiamKillen]

Wow thanks!

[@andrij.demianczuk]

In lieu of the fill - look into setting up a scene to fade in the synth one shot. You can do all sorts of cool stuff with scene assignments to the fader

[@LiamKillen]

Oh awesome! Thank you

[@andrij.demianczuk]

Another option would be to use a different part. Parts share trigs but are machine / sample independent. I’ve done something like have T1 have the sample + trig and part 2 would still have the trig, but an empty sample. If you set the transition to plen then it will wait until the end of the pattern until the next part kicks in

[@DAMAGR]

I got a flop sweat trying to learn the OT lol, still don't know what I'm doing, and have limited it to a performance mixer for my setup using EZbot's templates. Oora or Messy Desk may have what you need for controlling the OT with another device. Ricky Tinez has some good walk-throughs, and Analog Kitchen may also have some gems buried in one of his million videos. I am getting an itch lately to mess around with using it as a live looper and finally learning how to sample chop on there. Since going dawless I don't use any samples at all, so idk what I'm really doing yet. You've probably already seen all those guys, but that's who I go to for OT stuff if it helps. 🤙🤙🤙

[@LiamKillen]

Just took a lesson with EZ!

[@terrytorain5364]

hello. do you own a roland mc 707? if so, how do you feel it compared with the octotrack? thanx.

[@LiamKillen]

I do! But I’m not THAT experienced with it yet

[@jd__h]

Have you ever tried the Push 2? Curious to know your opinion! I would say the flow isn’t as good as a digitakt and it can take a lot longer to change some parameters. But it “feels” dawless and has none of the limitations of dawless. You really only have to reach over to ableton for really specific stuff.

[@LiamKillen]

Have not! But using Ableton live for live performance has been in the back of my mind for a while now…it might be time soon.

[@iamsimonmorris]

I just acquired an Octatrak and have no history with Elektron instruments. Hearing you concerned about your prospects off getting things going.....I am now worried😆

[@LiamKillen]

Ohh baby you’re in for a wild ride

[@streetdoghanoi]

Hey dude, curious if you're still using this thing or you're now just chilling with some less mentally demanding gear? I keep thinking about getting one but I feel it might add a lot of friction to my music creation. I know I dont need one, just looks like some sort of enigma box I could get lost in and I'm kinda into that!

[@LiamKillen]

Yeah it's a lot to handle for sure. The most dense unit i've ever worked with but at the same time a lot of great producers swear by it ! Personally, i'm much more into the Analog Rytm at this point - I bought the MK2 a few weeks ago and have been absolutely loving it!

[@LiamKillen]

PS- you might be interested in my Discord ! Here's a link if you're not already joined up :-) discord.gg/xj8J2xJuBP

[@FutureFenyx]

I told myself if I learned Drambo, I’d give the Octatrak a go….still no go laughing out loud

[@LiamKillen]

If you’re interested just give it a gozies!

[@Ywz816]

Check out Kenny Zhaos videos. He also uses a faderfox to do the same things you want to do. It is definitely possible but just hard to grok via the manual.

[@LiamKillen]

I took a lesson with EZ Bot just now! It’s very much possible

[@dkamhaji]

Welcome to OctaLand! I would def consider joining your OT with your DT. and using your fadebox to control both.. The OT is great and although it has 8 tracks they get filled up a bit too fast. so you may want a master track on 8, and perhaps a Flex track dedicated to resampling, say on 7.. so that leaves you with only 6 tracks to mess with. Just saying that leaving the DT solely on Drum duties is great. both because of the mono nature of both machines.. the DT on drums leaves you alot of bandwidth on the OT for other things like slices, vocals strings, long loops etc.. Also the OT has a midi learn function for your fader knobs.. Enjoy your journey. persistence is key! Oh! and don't sleep on Octachain for creating sample chains real quick. once you master this you will not go back! I make 64 sample chains all the time! that means if you have a launchpad pro with 64 pads.. you can instantly have 64 samples at your fingertips per track..

[@LiamKillen]

I will def be joining them! Thank you for your addition!

[@mynameisrowman]

Instead of using fill mode, which is a bit less simple than on the DT, you can use one shot trigs on the OT and arm / disarm the trigs with FUNC+YES/NO. That's more convenient in most cases :-)

[@LiamKillen]

Oh cool thanks!

[@micedevice2389]

I really enjoy reading manuals...I read them all, the one for the oven, the coffe maker ...my Makie mixer manual is almost hilarious....but man, the OT manual is a torture...Tarzanic...try to understand trig modes...trick, trigger, trigless, triggy, track....I always end asking myself; what i’ve just read??

[@LiamKillen]

You and I are different

[@micedevice2389]

@@LiamKillen Well that´s a fact....

[@jimsmith2919]

I've wanted to buy a Octatrack but so far it hasn't fit into my budget.

[@LiamKillen]

Fair

[@futureperfectmusic7746]

Check out Kenny Zhao's channel to see how he uses a midi controller to work with the OT. He has a great workflow and makes great music.

[@LiamKillen]

Thanks for this!

[@soguy]

Thanks for a great video. One thing that annoys me is the font you use for the text. Probably it's just me... 😊

[@LiamKillen]

You don’t like Pacifico font!?!? 😢

[@snoopyoverthehills]

oora has a video on using the faderfox with the octatrack. there is also a video on using the novation launch control xl with the octatrack - i dont know by whom. you‘ll find it. :)

[@LiamKillen]

Thank you!

[@AdamsBrew78]

I’m finally diving in to learn everything I can about this machine, after almost a year of barely touching my MK2 … It’s taken a while but I’m becoming less intimidated by it and realizing how its capabilities can benefit my music/creativity. For one, I’m a big fan of sequenced effects plugins (Effectrix, Turnado, Looperator) and recently discovered how well Octatrack can do the same things, but far more instant and hands on/performative .. The selection of demo tracks OT comes with was perfect for realizing this potential - as all the tracks & parts do a great job showing off the power of scene based effects. It really started clicking for me when I started instant triggering those demo scenes, then resampling interesting iterations of the output - slice, then remix. Every OT fan probably has a eureka moment like that, where something just clicks and you realize what an endless universe of potential is in this box and how much it could benefit your creativity.

[@LiamKillen]

Thank you for this addition!!

[@va941]

I always wanted to buy the original elektron machines, the silver ones....but FUCK that complexity associated with elektron devices.

[@LiamKillen]

I think it might be worth it though

[@va941]

@@LiamKillen yeah, it definetly might and Is for some, just not for me, which is a damn shame because they LOOK so dang cool 😂

[@peacefulpigeon7254]

Always enjoy your videos! Really looking forward to revisiting my Octatrack and following your explorations. Be great to see how you use it - I do find resampling a head scratch and have never found a good simple way to do this that works for me! Need to put some hours in I think….

[@LiamKillen]

There are resources but I gotta relearn that shit

[@Strepite]

When I hear more mechanical clicks on the unit than the actual sounds and music, I skip the product :)

[@LiamKillen]

Those mechanical clicks are music to my ears

[@Strepite]

@@LiamKillen haahha fair enough

[@boombap08]

Have elektron updated the fact the efx tails don’t carry over when you mute tracks? Has this been annoying to deal with?

[@LiamKillen]

Map to amp lvl and not track volume! That will solve this issue

[@boombap08]

@@LiamKillen cool thanks for the response. I have the digi boxes but am trying to learn more about the octatrack to maybe eventually add to my set up

[@danielecamarda]

How would you compare the OT to the DT after the recent firmware update?

[@LiamKillen]

The OT is infinitely more powerful, but the workflow is backwards in comparison. Digitakt is just so much more fluid in every way - but like it's not the best FX mixer in the game like the OT is, on top of being a top knotch sampler / sequencer ect.

[@musicbyethan]

Octa is like classy woman, give her time and commitment and she will open up to you in ways you never imagined. Just stick with it and soon you wont look back.

[@LiamKillen]

Lol!

[@LiamKillen]

Thanks for the analogy!

[@joshualane1716]

Finally one of these Elektron nerds backtracking on defending the Digitakt’s lack of stereo sampling. Like how they all denied it needed a song mode, but now that it has one they’re like Hooray! It’s okay to admit it has its flaws. You can still love the machine.

[@LiamKillen]

Hey I guess I am an Elektron fkn nerd

[@joshualane1716]

@@LiamKillen nothing wrong with it - I’m appreciating your honesty! It’s just many of their fans think it can do no wrong, and that literally every design decision was the right decision.

[@Ulvens]

Why are all your PC-12 Links, linked to Pocket Operator 12?

[@LiamKillen]

God damn that’s my mistake hard to keep track of these little errors thx for letting me know!!

[@Philodrone]

That's gonna be interesting! I am slowly paving my path using this machine. Just take your time! For now I am trying to use it as a tape machine and make some glitches/ granular processing along the way. The thing about OT is there is almost always something deeper waiting to be discovered so it's worth digging 😜

[@LiamKillen]

Very interesting

[@REALDAXH]

Definitely not for me but I hope l will buy it, just because it is so cool )))

[@LiamKillen]

Lots to consider! It's a big commitment.

[@Hysteric_Subjects]

If you haven't, (I haven't but don't have an Octa) go watch all of EZBOT's tips and tricks videos! He also has templates you might like to mess about with. I wish I could get an Octa!

[@LiamKillen]

Just took a lesson with the dude! Great guy

[@Hysteric_Subjects]

@@LiamKillen He and Jeremy are in my area someplace I'd love to run into them some time - keep hoping to catch one of the ModBang shows but they're always on weeknights.

[@guilhermerocha1555]

Can you tell us your impressions about the difference in sound quality between OT and DT? A lot of people out there say that OT sounds worse, kind of dull, less clear.

[@LiamKillen]

I have noticed nothing yet but it’s been 2 weeks. You’re the second person to mention this though

[@guilhermerocha1555]

@@LiamKillen I saw the comments that mentioned the sound degrading over time. Honestly, I've never heard that. I just heard people complaining about its converters and effects.

[@volsteh]

check synthdawg - The Octatrack Notebook if you didn't

[@LiamKillen]

Thanks! :-)

[@bjamminsincebirth3494]

How’s the OT workflow going?

[@LiamKillen]

Using it more as a mixer these days.

[@X-101]

I know Surgeon uses a smaller faderfox with the Octatrack just fine

[@LiamKillen]

I just took a lesson today and yeah it works just fine for what I’m trying to go 😏

[@okpandora]

Oh trig conditions, I’ve learnt something, 🎉 thanks :)

[@LiamKillen]

🍻

[@ianvjones]

You need to make friends with EZBOT =)

[@LiamKillen]

Just took a lesson with him 😏

[@robertsyrett1992]

Congrats on scoring an OT. I always wished I could modulate the LFOs on 2 different midi tracks with the crossfader, but alas the crossfader does not modulate the midi side of things. Is that something one can do using the Fader Fox? The idea is that LFOs modulate the midi notes, but the scale quantizer is on and makes it sound musical.

[@LiamKillen]

I’m not sure at this point!

[@robertsyrett1992]

@@LiamKillen I feel you, I got more towards the end of the video where you discuss the complex nature of learning the OT. Then I had some flashbacks to watching tons of video tutorials when on my own journey of "acceptance" learning on the mk2 when all the tutorials had mk1 units. If only I could stay awake while reading manuals!

[@isaacanthonydj4124]

i use the LCXL with my Octatrack and it's about perfect (for me) i don't even know if there is 72 perimeters to assign?

[@isaacanthonydj4124]

i'm a sucker for volume faders, must have, for me....

[@LiamKillen]

There might be!

[@LiamKillen]

Yeah I get that for sure

[@koalemos1679]

The OT changed my life as an electronic music "producer". I use that term loosely 🤣 I love it. I hate how it kinda adds credibility to GAS for me though. Like damn, the Octa changed everything for me, I bet this Pocket Operator will too! 🤦

[@LiamKillen]

I can see that happening for me as well already. Just took a lesson with EZ Bot- dude knows his shit.

[@koalemos1679]

@@LiamKillen I don't use his template as he sells it but I bought it and learned SO MUCH about how to use it as a mixer, which is one of my favorite ways to use it. I wish I could afford to snag a Digiton and Syntakt too 🥴😩

[@dirko2000]

That intro is givin me i don't even know what to say

[@LiamKillen]

😏

[@electronoirofficial]

Be prepared to tame the beast ;)

[@LiamKillen]

In the process 😏

[@audiolego]

Woww I'm watching ❤❤❤. Miss u dude

[@LiamKillen]

Cheers :-)

[@user82938]

Welcome to a world of pain. I love my OT.

[@LiamKillen]

I’m in it baby!!

[@Relyick]

Cool piece of gear for sure. I probably wouldn’t be able to wrap my head around it for I am a simple man 😂

[@LiamKillen]

So much commitment lol

[@Relyick]

@@LiamKillen And as my Exs always tell me; I’m afraid of commitment

[@DmitryPuffin]

I had Octa for ~6 months (it wasn't mine, friend gave it to me to explore), and I wanted to learn resampling/remixing on the fly functions, but I ended up using it as regular sampler instead. I even played couple of shows with it. Learning Octa is like learning new DAW, but with small screen and limited capabilities. I understood that this workflow is not for me. Now I'm thinking about getting Akai Force instead. Since I want a box to perform tracks that were produced in Ableton, this seems like more clever choice to me.

[@LiamKillen]

Akai force does seem boss

[@MesGuided]

Force convinced me with its bang for buck and similarity to Ableton workflow.

[@DmitryPuffin]

@@MesGuided Exactly! The only thing required is to understand Akai's specifics in terms of ui/naming, but its much simpler rather than learning Octa. Octa was first machine where I couldn't get sound running after first 15 minutes 😅 Maybe I am stupid, but that was first time in life. And back then I was familiar with Elektron workflow, because I have Machinedrum.

[@BigBadWolf..............]

Im glad more people are exploring the octatrack. It will make it so much easier to learn if I decide to get one. I mainly do Loop based music with keys,synth,bass, and guitar. I’m using the digitakt in a way that your supposed to use the octatrack. The problem I have with the octatrack is that people say the audio quality degrades over time. I know this is a common complaint and even Stimming had a mastering unit built to deal with it. Let me know in a couple of weeks if this happens please. Thanks

[@LiamKillen]

Oh really? Damn haven’t noticed but got it like 2 weeks ago

[@micedevice2389]

I think people (and Stimming), complain about the ad converters...but audio degrading over time...mmm that’s new to me. IMO audio quality is pretty good if you use 24bit deph

[@BigBadWolf..............]

@@micedevice2389 I must have misinterpreted what he was saying. I wish it had overbridge. I'm still on the fence

[@josephs2791]

I could not afford one of these, so I went with a Roland mx-1 performance mixer

[@LiamKillen]

Also a great choice!!!

[@josephs2791]

@@LiamKillen yeah, I was mainly looking for a performance mixer than anything else. I know the octatrack is great performance mixer and also can be many other things. You should try using your normal set up but just running the audio through the octatrack. I heard you can grab loops from different channels and then send it to the B side of the scene and stuff. Really neat but yeah, a lot to learn. I'm all about the quickness and fun as I'm just a dude fucking around at home making music. Roland has fun and fast stuff (as you know), so I'm excited to mess around with the mx1. It's also the only hardware mixer with dedicated side chain baby! Lol

[@j-badit-s]

Dude, i fuckng love your videos

[@LiamKillen]

Thanks for watching! 😊

[@Tolognabullets]

It's inevitable, just gotta get my wallet to agree 😂

[@LiamKillen]

😂

[@MiguelMaravilla]

I'll add that a potentially useful but slightly unrelated video you could refer to, regarding MIDI control, is OoraMusic's "How to improvise live with Octatrack using Perfourmer MKII", where he utilizes an even heftier controller (Vermona Perfourmer MKII) to create transitions, effect isolated samples on the fly, etc. Hopefully it can translate to your PC12!

[@LiamKillen]

Oora was suggested more than once! Thank you!

[@rayderrich]

The massive MIDI implementation sheet is actually great, it means you can bind loads of external hardware to internal controls.

[@LiamKillen]

I just had a lesson with EZ Bot- it actually isn't as difficult as I thought it was.

[@Tapepusher]

You can send the OT CC messages to control params but can you scale them? So when I turn a knob on the A4mk2 for e.g. it runs through 30% of a param on the OT? Or if not maybe an external MIDI device would do it. Basically on the A4mk2 I want to turn the quick perf knob down (filter cut-off) and have the OT compressor's gain and ratio turn up a little bit, like Ableton's macros

[@willsoul007]

You still using it, Liam?

[@LiamKillen]

Yup! Mostly experimenting with it as a mixer

[@REALDAXH]

Finally it is here! Thank you :)

[@LiamKillen]

cheers

[@pfmmodule5144]

One word - templates.

[@LiamKillen]

Indeed

[@piliplunder]

the octatrack is official

[@LiamKillen]

Hell yeah it is

[@MrQmason]

Awesome video, bro.......

[@LiamKillen]

Thanks! 🍻

[@maikrobin]

Welcome to the club man! I like to say that the OT is the DT for adults ;) It takes a lot of patience to learn, but therefore it is very rewarding. The more time you put into it, the more fun you ´ll get out! (that also means to watch every related video from EZBOT and RICKY TINEZ haha)

[@LiamKillen]

Just took a lesson with EZ bot!

[@dracul74]

Congrats. I am sure it will be a lot of fun.

[@LiamKillen]

Has been so far!

[@dracul74]

@@LiamKillen nice… we are on similar journeys… next you will start buying up all the affordable synths and start sampling them like crazy :)

[@aikighost]

Ive owned 3 octatracks over the years, I now use an MPC live as my main sampler :P

[@LiamKillen]

Both great choices! :-)

[@AndrewLandry]

Meeedie 😅

[@LiamKillen]

I’m so Canadian 🇨🇦

[@davidhrivnak]

Congratulations on getting an Octatrack! It's a very deep and mysterious machine, as you've already found out, but I have a feeling you'll end up loving it once you learn it. The internal effects are great, but as far as I know there's no way to prevent reverb or delay tails from cutting off when you switch patterns. The only "solution" I've found is to use effects pedals for reverb and delay. It's actually not that hard to do with the cue outputs, and an advantage of that technique is that it frees up your Octatrack's very limited effects slots for other effects. Another advantage is that it's not hard to find reverb and delay pedals that sound a lot better than the Octatrack's internal effects. Anyway, enjoy your journey! It will likely be as frustrating as it is rewarding. 🙂

[@LiamKillen]

Oh damn really? That is such a bummer!!!

[@aseomg]

Ableton Live is my version of the Octatrack. Oh, hi Ableton *Note! *I thank the coding god that made this. lol

[@LiamKillen]

Ableton live is like in the back of head…slowly creeping it’s way forward though. There’s so many limits to DAWLESS I think that I’ll eventually make that switch

[@marcosrotllan]

Ableton is the octatrack killer. You can map scenes with a utility crosfader same way as octa does.

[@guilhermerocha1555]

@@marcosrotllan but you'd have to find a way to reproduce OT's sequencer with all its skills .

[@andrij.demianczuk]

The Octa has full CC in controls - I think the manual has a full map of the cc params. You also have to make sure to set the CC source as Ext to get it to work ;) Oh! Also check out SynthDawg’s manuals. They did an AMAZING one for the Octa too!

[@LiamKillen]

Yes! I did some more research and will be following up on this

[@dustyrhodes1655]

🤭

[@LiamKillen]

Lololol

[@bomfie]

🐙

[@LiamKillen]

👋

[@Curious_Skeptic]

Great alternative is akai midimix. $109 brand new! Buy two of these and be like less than one third of the overprice fadefox pc12! Fadefox seems like it's just insanely overpriced. Octatrack? There's no justification to the workflow! It's way to complex for the results IMHO. And, honestly used pricing is not justified. It's hyped gear, like teenage engineering! hipster gear. Which, that's just fine if it is your thing!

[@LiamKillen]

Workflow is def backwards

[@Anusideral]

1:30 How can a manufacturer sponsoring your video not influence your review? The youtube hardwaresynth shill game is fucking pathetic.

[@LiamKillen]

You are a minority

[@AutisticCuriosity]

Those drums are sooo distracting in the background please turn them down - if someone gives you free stuff and you accept it of course your influenced by them please don’t bullshit us.

[@LiamKillen]

Thx for the 💎 bro

[@marcosrotllan]

Run out of this machine. You just need a daw. This is a sampler designed by sound engineers, not musicians. The lack of faders commits you to pick some aditional midi controlller. Ah, the screen is smaller, but brighter, compared to mk1... Its ridiculously small. For a sample based techno live set seems more than enough in capable hands. I dont regret selling mk1, mk2 is still better despite the screen, and better looking for sure, with more buttons .... But believe me... Run out!

[@LiamKillen]

I dunno man it seems pretty cool based on what i've seen / heard.

[@marcosrotllan]

@@LiamKillen maschine, electribe 2, octa, mpc live, ableton. That was my path last 8 years. Prepare to forgot internal workflows, wasting time managing samples, and the most important thing.. No OVERBRIDGE. They fired the original programmer and they cant rewrite the whole code for overbridge. Seems crazy. If octa mk3 has overbridge....