Octatrack Workflow #5: DAW Integration (Late Night Tips)

In this episode we're looking at how to integrate the Octatrack with Ableton Live
Elektron Octatrack + Elektron Monomachine + Moog Slim Phatty + Korg MS-20 Mini + Nord Drum + iPad Samplr + Electribe 2 + Ensoniq MR76 + iConnectMidi4+ + CME-xKey25 + Korg Volca Keys. Additional samples from Yamaha MK-100.
FB: / halution
Bandcamp: halution.bandc...

[@zpurpz]

Hey ! This video is the reason I no longer care that overbridge is not included even in MkII. Thanks for your videos! Subscribed!

[@LateNightBeatsOfficial]

Thanks for the sub! Just FYI: I don't anticipate making many more tutorial videos in the nearest future.

[@calixtetayoro5719]

@@LateNightBeatsOfficial why?

[@LateNightBeatsOfficial]

Several reasons really: my job is pretty demanding at the moment and after work I’m working on an acoustic / folk album which doesn’t translate to this channel at all. I was also constantly unhappy with the quality of my videos here, so they ended up being more frustrating than satisfying… I’ll be posting some spontaneous jams once in a while, though.

[@zpurpz]

@@LateNightBeatsOfficial ay no worries , whenever you can ..just go for it! Otherwise having fun is more important

[@calixtetayoro5719]

@@LateNightBeatsOfficial Thx for the feedback & good luck with your folk project !!

[@spaceemanspiff]

This video is SO helpful. I can't wait to start recording, thank you!!

[@LateNightBeatsOfficial]

Happy to hear! Thanks for watching!

[@PNUTTAY]

thanks for your octatrack vids! always informative and entertaining

[@elifan2523]

awesome! just about to record some stuff into my DAW tomorrow. Keep it up!!

[@LateNightBeatsOfficial]

Thanks for watching!

[@trendhopper1]

Thank you again for the usefull tips! I didn't know you could even pan the effects and by consequence get four seperate and effected mono-channels out... Nice!!!

[@LateNightBeatsOfficial]

Glad you like it! Thanks for watching.

[@danraiche4823]

Ive been waiting for this one thx mate !!!! Woot

[@LateNightBeatsOfficial]

Glad it's helpful. Anything else you want to know about the OT?

[@danraiche4823]

Do you think the OT will have overbridge one day? :) ahah

[@danraiche4823]

+dan raiche would be soo simple than recording multiple times. ( i only have 2 ext inputs to use ( the ones on my analog four) )

[@LateNightBeatsOfficial]

This model won't have Overbridge because the USB port is not equipped with audio interface capabilities (as far as I know), but I'm hoping they will release OT 2.0 (or Octatrack PRO) soon which will have Overbridge. I would upgrade immediately. :)

[@mrAlphavilla]

i have octrack 2.0, loving the overbridge..............

[@LateNightBeatsOfficial]

Wait, I haven't been up to speed on Elektron, but I don't think OB is available for the OT...

[@riddimfernandez5139]

Awesome video thanks!

[@ryanzore2481]

I love you man! This helped me a lot!

[@LateNightBeatsOfficial]

Thanks for watching!

[@tigredejadeec]

Really really useful. You have a nice channel

[@LateNightBeatsOfficial]

Thanks!

[@hypebeastdad]

Still no Overbridge

[@frallorfrallor3410]

i want to buy octatrak but only thing that holding me back its the lack of overbridge mby it not nessesary

[@LateNightBeatsOfficial]

4 outputs make it a bit easier; I’m personally gravitating towards capturing the master track. Turns out that recording everything in isolation is a bit overrated :)

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

Also OT MK2 won't have OB either.

[@LateNightBeatsOfficial]

Yeah, back when I recorded that one there were no rumours on the MK2.

[@gaspardmaldonado8716]

Hello @Halution It looks like the octatrack is set up as the master of your configuration (when you hit play it send transport and clock to all other's machine). If it's the case, how did you manage to sync with ableton? When I try do the same, and set ableton as slave, the tempo is very unstable, making this configuration impossible to use. I have to set ableton as master clock to have everything running correctly. Great tutorials btw, learned a lot with your videos ! Cheers

[@LateNightBeatsOfficial]

It is set up so that the in MIDI SYNC menu both receive and send clock / transport are activated. I'm hearing a lot about a lot of Ableton clock / sync issues, but apparently my system--for whatever the reason--is pretty stable.

[@tombaye]

hey man, did you manage to figure this out? I have also always had problems using the octa as a master, but dismissed it by relying only on ableton as a master. but now I have a modular system and need to use the octatrack as tha master for both my modular and ableton, in an attempt to sync everything to the most stable of them all, the octatrack. but even the brand new ableton 10's master clock still oscillates like a coke'd up LFO.

[@deeplomatmusic]

Great explication, very thank you! Just one question that I have.. Do you have MIDI latency when you starts the Otatrack by Ableton via midi sync? I have midi latency about 7.8 ms starting my octratrack from DAW. I mean when I press play in Ableton the octrack starts 7.8 ms later that makes problems with record. I actually don`t understand how I can reduce this latency in MIDI when DAW and Octatrack is on SYNC. Did you have same problems? All the best, Max

[@LateNightBeatsOfficial]

Yes, latency is an issue that's why--for this to work--you ABSOLUTELY need to have MIDI Quantization activated on the Octatrack (SYSTEM / Personalize / Quantize Live Rec). Otherwise it's a total mess :)

[@trimusfree]

Thanx a lot!

[@derrickb8791]

Thank you!

[@LateNightBeatsOfficial]

Thanks for watching!

[@collinbarr9555]

What audio interface are you using to record the tracks into ableton?

[@LateNightBeatsOfficial]

I think back then I was on Focusrite Scarlett 18i8. Now I'm on ZOOM L-20 Livetrak and it's the best mixer ever!

[@Tapepusher]

starts at 1:15 :D

[@georgesadak]

great videos brother man.... is there a way on the OT to lock tempo to patterns ? without the arranger? I d like to be able to trigger the patterns manually and have them change tempo automatically..possible? thanks

[@LateNightBeatsOfficial]

Tempos are exclusively reserved to Projects and the Arranger. My workaround is to use the arranger to only trigger the first pattern of the Bank with my new song, together with BPM and quickly (once it's active) close the arranger box. Then I can continue playing using the patterns. I'm working on a video on OT live performance that will demonstrate it in detail.

[@jorgejaramillo6374]

hi there, i am trying to change the presets in the minitaur, from the octatrack, but i can't find the way. i did it from the ableton and it was no problem... that function it's working on the moog... do you know something about it? thanks!!!

[@LateNightBeatsOfficial]

Actually program changes are pretty easy: you go to "midi note setup" (double click on playback), set the program with data encoder C and press the encoder to confirm. Make sure you have program changes set to "send" in the midi / sync menu. You then check which program changes your Moog responds to (my Slim Phatty responds to 1-99) and you select the program that you want. Those settings are part-specific, so make sure to use parts to set this up.

[@jorgejaramillo6374]

the problem is the op lab, i was connecting thru it..i bought a midi thru device, an it´s solve!! thanks!!

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

How would you use OT and A4 MK2 with Ableton without OB support?

[@LateNightBeatsOfficial]

OT the same way, the A4 MK2 has individual outputs, so essentially, you'd need an audio interface with 8 inputs (2 stereo and 4 mono) and sync them all via midi. Is it true that OB still doesn't work on the MK2's?

[@한다할말은]

Perfect! This video is OT -> AT Conversely, is AT -> OT also possible?

[@LateNightBeatsOfficial]

You mean like controlling the OT from Ableton (e.g. pattern changes)? Sure! Recording into OT from Ableton also technically possible but a bit more complicated. Thanks for watching!

[@internalobserver]

Hi, and could you please write a little bit more details how to pattern change on OT from Ableton?

[@danraiche4823]

What level of volume on the main output of the OT would you recommend to leave some headroom?

[@LateNightBeatsOfficial]

I usually do main output at 0 and then track levels at 90; this way I can use the main output to balance the overall level between songs. Not sure if there is any scientific merit in this approach, though.

[@konradilke9682]

What do i need to do to get my eight audio tracks to show up separatly in ableton?

[@LateNightBeatsOfficial]

I guess you have to wait for a new OT with overbridge. Right now OT has no audio interface capabilities :(

[@konradilke9682]

HalutioN hm yeah i've heard about overbrigde. But how come you have separate OT tracks, OT 1 OT 2 OT 3 etc?

[@LateNightBeatsOfficial]

Because I use Cue Outputs and panning.

[@davidlarkin852]

im guessing this is not possible with a scarlett 2i4

[@LateNightBeatsOfficial]

Unfortunately not, you need at least 4 mono inputs for this to work. I mean, if you want to isolate your signal, you can still multitrack to 2 mono tracks :)

[@synthesizers]

Thanks for the video. I just resample locally each track and transfer the files over to my daw. including external synths (OT midi tracks). I think it's much easier...

[@LateNightBeatsOfficial]

Cool, but don't you lose the live performance aspect when you just arrange the blocks in your DAW?

[@synthesizers]

You are correct, if you want to record multiple tracks live, this is the way to go. i just never do, i always do one track at a time and live record it into the OT then use the (long) sample in my daw.

[@KraasRas]

okay thanks for that advice. if I'd like to use stereo inputs in ableton, I guess I don't have to balance the tracks? could I use the headphone also as additional output source and what effects in ableton do you recommend for noise compensation? question are addressed to anyone here..

[@derykmoates377]

Seems like you implied octatrack 2 would have overbridge, think again....☺️. It's a shame. And I would assume we won't see a real updated version for a long time if ever. I wonder if maybe they will make a second digitakt sized box that will maybe bridge the gaps between Digi and OT. I personally am just now looking into the OT so I like the reface mk2 unit still. But it is a shame that it isn't upgraded in any way considering it's a bit outdated. But there's still nothing else out there like it and I have bad G.A.S. for one right now. Mpc live just seems like a glorified computer/controller combo with a clunky workflow...

[@davidlarkin852]

love this video its basically my shall i keep the OT or ditch it video , and this tells me i should keep but i find the video a bit tricky to follow , its a bit too fast on the important bits arhhhhhhhhhhhh

[@LateNightBeatsOfficial]

Sorry, trying to strike a balance between my regular audience and new audience can be tricky sometimes. Is there anything I can break down for you in a comment?

[@retrogazele]

weird video ,,guy doesnt explain the most important thing how he connects the octatrack to the Pc for multirecording.. soundcard..mixer?? are your videos refering to people that already know this or new producers >?

[@LateNightBeatsOfficial]

Hey! Good comment. I haven't really given much thought to my target audience :) I just share cool things that I found and that I feel are worth sharing. That being said, I should have explained that in more detail. I'm plugging my Octatrack directly into my audio interface which is Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 and I use input 5, 6, 7 & 8 for main and cue outputs of the Octatrack. Usually they're in stereo (two stereo channels) but for this video I'm actually using 4 mono inputs to maximize the multitracking capacity of this setup. Let me know if this helped :)

[@retrogazele]

sure yes i understoud how you did it becose i do the same on my korg emx..im sure some other people whould be wondering how.. just saing . anyway keep the videos coming..THanks

[@ErikEkholm]

666666666

[@natalieazer9450]

That's a whack way to bounce.

[@LateNightBeatsOfficial]

It is far from perfect, but can you share how to do it better in real time?

[@scottreitherman2961]

You spelled wack wrong. keep on rockin tho xo