OP-1 vs. Octatrack // Which is best for you?

[@64north20west]

What I like most about this channel is the dedicated analysis of the device at hand. So many channels feature a device, but they then connect it to a circus of other devices so that you get a watered down review of the main item. As for these 2, they are both great. I prefer the Elektron interface and workflow and take the learning curve as a 'bang for your buck' advantage that you can grow into. I also would not consider the OP1 field at that price.

[@SlowHaste]

Thanks so much, I’m glad you appreciate that because that’s what I enjoy doing the most! Each device is so deep and really deserves as much attention as possible IMO.

[@gabrieldelamora3701]

Wow! Thank you so much for your videos!! You are definitely on my "favorites" list for knowledge, experience and overall funnesss!!! Listening to you talk is also very soothing✨

[@SlowHaste]

Thank you so much!! I really appreciate that & am glad you’re enjoying the channel :)

[@LuisTorres-qz5kr]

Thank you very much for your insights on both these devices. I am considering the Octatrack and this vid certainly helped.

[@SlowHaste]

Glad you found it helpful!

[@station2station544]

I have an arsenal of gear in my studio from vintage analog to modern digital. One thing is for sure - I could never wrap my brain around the Octatrack. People make great use of it but even with the unit in front of me and multiple attempts with a pot of black coffee and the manual, I never found it inspirational. Frankly I couldn't work the way it wanted me to - when I get time to be creative, I'm ready to go and I need immediacy that the OT didn't provide - lot's of setup. User error on my part, but that's the way it is :). The OP-1 is simple.

[@SlowHaste]

I totally get that! I don’t think it would have clicked as well with me if I didn’t learn the Digitakt first. And even the Digitakt caused me some issues at the beginning. It’s all about what most easily coincides with your workflow 😎

[@NothingNowhereNoOne]

Sounds like you wanted it to work and still do. You gotta do a little work for a template then after that, its easy and fast. 🎉

[@tts1551]

one thing that helps me a lot when learning a machine is watching youtube tutorials instead of the manual.. it keeps me engaged and allows me to make something early just to get the motivation going

[@all1nz]

Love this - I don’t have either yet but can see how they might easily fit into my set. I would love to somehow have the Octatrack manual downloaded into my brain so I don’t have to learn it. The live resampling in the Octatrack is very tempting …. Thank you!

[@SlowHaste]

I can definitely see you thriving on the Octatrack! Especially for live stuff, there’s so much to play with. Thanks Mark!

[@Schtoopot]

I'm currently selling my OT. I'm very much a plug in and go kinda guy and I've found the immediacy of the RYTM better for my work flow

[@SlowHaste]

I'd love to get my hands on the RYTM, I haven't had a chance to play with one yet!

[@NothingNowhereNoOne]

I play Experimental Noise music and have owned both of these machines. I have only played with the op1 live. Chose is to do this because of its limitation ( which has spawned many a player to find many creative hacks). And its unforgiving nature-that made it a challenge. Greater the risk, greater the reward. Op1 Field sounds amazing . But these two boxes always call …since their inception.

[@georgekay372]

Your B-Roll game is off the charts today! I like to brag that I got my OT Mk 1 for 550€, which was one of the best deals I ever made. The headphone output is a bit broken but I’ve always got it hooked up to a mixer anyway. I’ve had both the OP-1 and the OT and only the OT is still in my studio. My autistic brain is hooked on the Elektron sequencer. Inject that shit straight into my veins. There’s nothing the OT can’t do.

[@SlowHaste]

Haha thanks, I was feeling a little spicy after shooting thumbnails in the kitchen. That table gets the coolest lighting in my house for sure. The more I use the OT, the more I agree with you about that! I want to bring it & a zoom hand recorder with me somewhere next time I travel, just to see what I can come up with.

[@peacefulpigeon7254]

Thanks for your thoughts- I love both and wondered about the sound quality of the output on both? - they use 16/24 bit samples so do you think this is limiting and do you frequently use pedals or external effects or mixers to enhance the sound for live performance? Sometimes I think the quality of the sound of the Octatrack for example seems less crisp and full compared to the Digitakt so I play it through the input of the Digitakt. Be interested to know how you work around this and your thoughts. Cheers and really love your channel.

[@SlowHaste]

Thanks pigeon! Always happy to see you stop by :). For sound quality, there’s no doubt that the Octatrack maintains the integrity of samples better than the OP-1. The OP-1 really has a unique character it imparts on things - very bright/crisp/digital, but also kind of lofi? The OT is much more “flat” sounding, but I think it allows for more freedom in post-production. For what it’s worth, when I process audio for my channel, I use the same very mild EQ patch for all of my instruments. So if you listen to an OP-1 jam, or an OT jam (at least on my channel), there isn’t really much post processing done

[@peacefulpigeon7254]

Interesting thanks - good to embrace the sound of both I guess

[@djcuda]

I’m trying to learn how to effectively chop and loop 🔁 idk how to do it and sync to the metronome to get drums on beat smh I get a headache just thinking of it lol

[@SlowHaste]

That's a good idea for a quick tutorial, I'd be happy to cover that in a future video!

[@djcuda]

@@SlowHaste oh man if you can Id be super grateful!! I’ve been also trying to play with the sequencers the only ones I can use confuses me lol the monkey one, and numbered one, this thing is a crazy boutique machine. idk how to make lofi drums, or house stuff but I’ll find out lol I’m getting comfortable with it

[@Philodrone]

I would like to sample something live, chop it and rearrange it on the fly, but it seems a bit cumbersome at first. Maybe there some tricks to do it quickly and play in chop/slot mode!

[@djcuda]

@@Philodrone yeah like If I do Something live I try to get it on beat but then end up not really adding much to it so i try to slow it down or speed it up lol

[@whoadog8725]

Both are best for me ❤️ My current setup is a OT/Syntakt/Polyend Play/ OP-1 combo. The sequencing options are almost limitless.

[@SlowHaste]

That sounds like you have all your bases covered!

[@newflanged_]

Very informative and concise! Since I played with Josh’s OP-1 I’ve been obsessed and looking for used options on Reverb 👀 Sounds like I would make a lot with it :) PS. My bae is still the Digitakt 🌝 The Octatrak sounds so intimidating but can do so much too

[@SlowHaste]

I’m glad you think I’m concise, because I think I talk too much 😅. The OP-1 would certainly make a good travel companion for you!!

[@yvesbajulaz]

You can record unquantized in octatrack. You just got check off the quantize mark in project settings

[@sndctrl]

OH REALLLY!!!!????

[@Philodrone]

I got the OT recently, but I have mixed feeling about it. It shows its age compared to DT/DN devices. There are many things that DT does better, especially in terms of interface design (visual feedback) and some sound engine stuff, like track mutes or effects for instance. I am trying to focus mainly on good aspects of the OT (looping, resampling, scenes) and let the DT do what it excels at. What I like about the OT is that you can choose if you want to work on or off the grid (sequencer or sampling long loops) and setup your machines accordingly to your project and fill the gaps in your larger setup! What makes me GAS about OP-1 is its tape engine, portability and convenience. However I would rather try to setup similar workflow on my tablet which already has a lot of those features. Do you guys have any recommendations of apps that resemble OP-1 workflow? Some apps I already own are Gauss, Koala Drambo, Borderlands and some Eventide effects. Nice video and this weird cooking situation was funny ;)

[@SlowHaste]

Thanks! Yeah I had my stuff set up in the kitchen for shooting the thumbnail and thought… cooking b-roll?? Why the hell not. I’m not sure about apps as I’ve never jumped into that myself, but hopefully someone will have some good insight for you!

[@marob1]

Hej! Learning curve and step up! I think bouth are fine, but simplicity in first in OP1 is an octatrack-killer. No deep menue-diving, fast song writing without GAS. But for me, the octatrack is an daw-killer!!! You need to study like from primary to high school and further. Brilliant first place in studio but not on an plane or vaccations. Thanx a lot and for your typical fast compact information! Ahoi

[@SlowHaste]

Hah, I like the notion of the OT as a DAW killer :). Thanks for watching!

[@pgolm]

Great B-roll! How was the Octacasserole? 😂

[@SlowHaste]

Awful, I overcooked it, basically inedible. 😅

[@omarzamudio617]

So propellerhead reason back in 1994 Was a bad ass software Swedish company

[@SlowHaste]

Ah, I didn’t know they were Swedish!

[@GeorgeLocke]

I typically go for a more floppy seltzer.

[@SlowHaste]

Definitely stealing “floppy seltzer” for my trance side project name

[@DJ-Lazy-Lodger]

really talking me dizzy;-)

[@SlowHaste]

Hahah what made you dizzy?

[@devids51]

Bruh