The sticky truth about the Octatrack MKII

[@HelicopterRidesForCommunists]

The OT is like the one friend of yours from highschool who was awesome and cool and fun to hang out with, but had a lot of deep emotional issues that kept coming up and made them their own worse enemy.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

😄👌

[@Radiowias]

@@InTheShadowsOfOnesAndZerossame here lol

[@MaxChillin]

You're describing me and I need to hide now.

[@tobiaswinkler6971]

Di you need social help?

[@hostnik777]

Clearly you were never really their friend.

[@VinceWallace478]

About the stick buttons. I just opened my octa for the first time today after 3 1/2 years. After cleaning it and trying to repair one of the encoders, I screwed the faceplate back on. When screwing the faceplate back on, to stop the buttons from sticking, you need to push it a bit so the buttons align properly. For me that solved the problem. The button was just to close to the faceplate and got stuck on the frame. If that doesn’t work, maybe just use some DeOxit or something similar. That solved the sticky buttons problem for my A4 MK1

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Great, gonna fiddle a bit to see if I can "unstick" them. Tried cleaning but that didn't help. From what I can understand, it seems the plate is too tight / misfit a micromillimeter. It's understandable this can happen when it's such a tight cut.

[@mynameismynameis666]

@@MattiasHolmgren btw the octatrack buttons can be ordered at elektron and if you look at the schematics you can exchange them with a little soldering. be careful to take your time to not rip out the traces/pads - which i did at first - but even that is pretty easily fixable with a little piece of copper wire and some acryl nail coloring (or better yet: conformal coating)

[@thomasmattphoto]

"clicky" and "loud" buttons are actually a big plus - very classy I should say :) btw. awesome video, thanks for putting it together, one of the most informative review of OT online right now !

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Hey Thomas, yeah the button sounds definitely depends on where you jam. ;) I hear some people nag about the midi keyboard / synth key-strike sounds... But those never bothered me. Happy to hear you enjoy my content on the Octatrack mk2. Planning to do some more musical stuff on it soon.

[@ministry__of__truth]

I was ashamed when i got my used Virus ti2 polar and find its keyboard so noisy with its shimming keys. I’ve owned several synths which were much more older than Ti2 Polar but all keys worked perfectly without any unexpected sounds - Roland XP-30, Yamaha DX7 II, Yamaha AN1x (missing it so much)... May be it’s because of Japan quality, not sure. As i know Access used Fatar keyboards in their synths, also as many other manufacturers did.

[@ronancollins3200]

I think you're just barely scratching the surface.. The midi sequencing, live resampling and using it like a mixer with the sounds you're creating live is what makes it special and a live performance sampler. It can sequence 8 seperate pieces of gear at the same time whilst recording everything seperatlely, you can flick between the live sounds of your gear and recordings without stopping the sequencer...i.e completely mangle a recording/ then flick back to the live sounds... It's actually incredible

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Bullseye! yes, one video = scratching surface. Can't show every detail of an advanced device like this in a single video. But more to come. ;) Octatrack mk2 is super awesome for live manging indeed! Totally agree!

[@MattiasHolmgren]

I'm gonna feature it in a "One synth one song" episode shortly. A new series that I started where I use one device (mostly) to create a piece of music in a single session.

[@EVILJAMARR]

I'm curious about how you could record eight instruments at once, but it only has four inputs? If I'm using two stereo sources with the OT, I can only get two sources in. What am I missing?

[@ronancollins3200]

@@EVILJAMARR yes good point, you can sequence 8 instruments at once. But could actually only record 2 at once into the OT. You could always record all 8 at once into a DAW through an audio interface. I could do 5 at once on my motu mk3..or 10 mono

[@souliseum5437]

So wait… with this unit. Say I plug in my Roland handsomic into one input. And a Yamaha drum machine into a second input. And for shits and giggles another machine intro input 3… I can record all those instruments INTO the octa and use as the samples to lay in the sequencer? Or does it only work with dunking the samples onto the SD card?

[@whoadog8725]

It’s really not hard to learn in my opinion. The pickup machines can be a bit confounding due to the button configuration. They would be much easier to use with pedal controls like a Boss Looper.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

After learning many areas like: recorders, file handling, audio editing, overdubbing. Pattern length adjustment (per track), all different trig ”variations”… and parts. No, its quite easy and fun. Still cumbersom compared to Maschine plus/mk3. 😂 still having tons of fun sound mangling with the octatrack. 👌😄

[@tezeta3725]

You can actually use a midi pedal to control the pickup machines btw

[@MattiasHolmgren]

@tezeta3725 i know and that’s awesome for live looping 👌💪🥁

[@chris.dillon]

I could probably talk for hours about the OT. That's not to say "wow I'm so smart" but more like "geez, you can't break this thing down and you have to put the time in". My friend asked me about it and I just let him borrow it for a month. :D 8:25 overbridge: What's the future going to be? I only have an old Elektron job post to base this on and wild speculation with a bit of context. I think the next device won't be an OT MKIII. I think it will be a Monomachine type evolution. The original OT authors are not around (in a variety of sometimes sad versions of this word, I'm sorry) and available to work on it. They've hired for Rust. They are probably overhauling the firmware. They need more compute power in the thing which probably means an overhaul if not re-invention. So, I think they will reinvent it, hopefully keeping the spirit of it but renaming it. There are plenty of wishlists and speculation about what this would be so I won't repeat people's dreams here. The current platform is super old and limited, obvious in the CF card, lack of overbridge but also impressively still updated with conditional trigs essentially coming many years after it was invented if you count the MKII as essentially a case and chassis update. I think I have faith in Elektron at the moment. I hope whatever they make replaces the OT in spirit and in function.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Absolutely, it's great to see Elektron watch over their products with care. Looking forward to see what the future holds at the Elektron camp!

[@Tapepusher]

I’d take a spruced up digitakt with extra space 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@nieuweabnormaal5869]

I had also sticky buttons on Digitakt quite soon after buying. But I just pressed them quickly many times after another. Constantly tapping. That helped a lot.

[@SantiagoGT15]

I’ve heard a lot of people struggle to “get” the Octatrack, it’s easier if you think and approach it like a tracker, some things are just a matter of style for example pickup tracks and parts which are tools but not an integral part of it, you can do a lot with flex tracks and resampling from a master track

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Yeah it's many different tools in a box. It's also very capable and fun as a looper...with overdubbing. Quick soundscape toolbox!

[@KenithCopeland]

i find that too many people try to learn the entire machine at once after they get it. big mistake, the machine has so many things it can do you'll want to through the thing in the bin trying to learn it all at once. the best advice to me was to pick one thing or one machine, learn that, pick another, learn that and build on the previous

[@curtainsinmotion]

I've had mine for about five years now, using it pretty much all the time and never had any issues with sticky buttons.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Congrats! 👌 guess there are monday units… or Thomann sent me a used unit (which is possible) 😂

[@JosuaKarlson]

Had similar experiences with Elektron gear so far regarding the sticky buttons or glitchy encoders…

[@MattiasHolmgren]

I fixed trigger 1 and 3 now on my Octatrack. Just removed the buttons and cleaned a bit + scraped a bit with a sharp razorblade. 👌😄 My Digitakt has still not had any sticky issues, for a few years now. 🥁

[@teabreakbeats]

my digitakt buttons are getting sticky now! syntkat it getting tacky but not sticking yet.... annoying

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Oh yeah? Gonna sell my Syntakt, its collecting too much dust.

[@acidtechno]

amazing OT despite its querkz

[@MattiasHolmgren]

awesome!

[@PiotrstrashcanŚmietnikPiotra]

I am a beginner that is hoping to get an Octatrack at some point in the future once I have mastered all the gear that I have now ;-) I find the Digitakt to be relatively easy to use but then everyone keeps telling me that the Octatrack is completely different. Great video!

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Yeah they really remade the Ui/UX when developing rhe digitakt. Octatrack has deeper features and I really feel its fun to use once I got over the initial hurdles. Digitakt is more direct with its ”sound presets” and simpler interface. But I feel its good to have worked the Digitakt before jumping on the Octa! 👌☕️💎🥳

[@michaelk3550]

You won't regret it, especially having experience with the Digitakt or any other Elektron machine you'll have it down in a day! The octatrack has slowly garnered its own old school MPC cult base. Join our ranks!

[@PiotrstrashcanŚmietnikPiotra]

I am afraid I am just not smart enough lol But maybe one day….

[@kisho2679]

when expect an MK3?

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Hehe I dunno. They just launched the Digitakt 2. 👌😄☕️

[@DanizTV]

the sticky truth about Octatrack is that Octatrack is not for everyone.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Hey Daniz, haha yeah true. I like the OT for creative mangling and fresh beats making.

[@beatsbyjiro8291]

I think once you figure what you really want to do with the OT it becomes simpler, I tried building beats from the ground up on it and hated the process, but then I started chopping up samples and drums and exporting loop stems from the MPC Live or Bitwig and love it that way as it takes the ''beat' in a whole new direction I wouldnt have thought of otherwise.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Indeed good points. I feel the same way with my approach of the machine. I sample some keyboard parts into it (Summit or OP-1 field) and layer up stuff on the go with live looping stuff and mashup those recordings, its a fun and unexpected journey. 👌🥁

[@kisho2679]

is there menu cheat sheet?

[@MattiasHolmgren]

There are some unofficial manuals and cheats sheets. I made a small one for myself in a notebook.

[@LeeDaHitman]

I appreciate this review. this made me realize what i would be getting into if i purchase this device. good job sir

[@MattiasHolmgren]

My pleasure, it's a very powerful sample mangler! Super fun when you get along with it! ;)

[@BobJones-im6rj]

Its easy to get into the basics... Some of the menu navigation feels a bit odd at first but you soon adapt

[@hovermotion]

I have never bought Elektron before but it surprises me that their are issues with the buttons as the machine looks well made.. Nice info and vid..

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Yeah it is well made indeed. Probably just too tight space between the metal and the button on some occasions.

[@mudsh4rk]

I spent a few months trying to get decent at the jaw harp a couple years ago. It is a lt harder than the Octatrack, that's for sure.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Hehe thats a tough one. 👌🎉

[@ulfb5467]

Hi Mattias, I appreciate your videos. I follow several artists who praise Octatrack for its workflow (techno) and the ability to get results quickly. I prefer to stay in the box and use Bitwig/Reason plugins/Maschine MK3. What I miss is the workflow (I really like the knobs on the Maschine), the sound is no problem. Being able to work effectively with sequencers and sample mangling. Do you have any suggestions, maybe a tip for the next tutorial? Cheers.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Hi. Thanks for reaching out. Yeah, maybe we could do a video and look on this Bitwig / Maschine combo approach. Good idea! Thanks!

[@ministry__of__truth]

I wonder if this issue with sticking buttons is common for all mk2 revisions or just for made in Poland black one?

[@MattiasHolmgren]

🤷‍♂️

[@thejoshuathomas]

I look at the Octatrack how I look at the Roland MC-707, it's a performance based studio in a box, with loads of capability and quite a bit of learning to go along with it. Great bit of kit for those who are more sample based in their approach to beat/song creation. You did a wonderful job of highlighting and demonstrating its major strengths. All the best to you, Mattias.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Thanks, 🙏 yeah and for sound design / layering the Octatrack mk2 is a groovy box… once you set up recorders on the tracks… and the pattern lengths etc. Ive had fun working with it as a looper device too, overdubbing and re-timing to loop tempo is great! 👍😃 I’m having a blast designing pads and gritty layered textured on it. Like all instruments it requires time to really vibe with. 🎸😄👌 Never had the MC707, but it looks awesome.

[@thejoshuathomas]

@@MattiasHolmgren Those are great insights about some of the more advanced setup options. The 707 is more synth engine leaning in its application, but it does have very similar tools onboard to mangle and perform with. Deep programming is a shared trait.

[@Fauxleroid]

loosen the screws the top and just jiggle the plate away from the buttons. I had this issue with my mk1. it was the top plate slightly touching them in a couple of places. It should just need a tiny jiggle.👍

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Its indeed a too tight top plate that’s the issue. 😄

[@Fauxleroid]

@@MattiasHolmgren you can also pull the buttons off and rub the edges on your jeans to shine them up and make them a bit smoother.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

@@Fauxleroid 👌😄

[@MattiasHolmgren]

@@Fauxleroid great tips!

[@isaac.anthony]

The crossfader is def what still makes it stand out compared to anything else on the market. This is the most powerful macro control in any hardware device?

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Yeah ”one fader does it all” fader, is a loovely feature! Maschine has the touchstrip which is nice but its one parameter (performance fx) at a time. 👌😄☕️

[@lying-dalai]

Exactly. And scenes are relatively fast to setup, which makes the crossfader a bliss even in improvisation sessions.

[@Dewane1511]

Rumor has the octatrack m3 comes out next year ....

[@MattiasHolmgren]

That would be something to look forward to. 😅💪

[@imcarobello]

Hello, what great videos of yours, thank you for your content. I am from Colombia and I come to your channel to learn. I wanted to ask you if you could suddenly recommend a 61-key Midi Controller that fits well with Logic pro X. Your suggestions would be very helpful to me. Thank you!!!

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Thanks a lot! 🙏☕️ I love to use the Komplete Kontrol S61 mk2. It has a lovely keybed and if you are using some Native Instruments plugins and sounds its amazing! Other than that I also use the Novation Summit. But its a dedicated monster synth in a totally different price ballpark. And you’ve probably seen me swinging a Keystep 37 or even a small M-Audio Keystation mini from time to time. Keystep 37 is a workhorse composing keybed since its such a small formfactor infront of the computer. Happy to have you aboard!👌😄🥁

[@imcarobello]

@@MattiasHolmgren 🙌🙌🙌

[@BullyMaguire4ever]

I have been in attracted to this instrument for years, but never taking the plunge, because I feel like it seems tedious, even though it’s so appealing in a lot of ways

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Feel ya, if you worked with other more modern devices, like Digitakt, Maschine, MPC the OT is gonna feel cumbersome and awkward, its a time eater but can yield very cool beats if you spend time with it. But IMO you need a ton of that, time. The internal effects are also lends themselves to lofi due to the lofi quality.🥁😄 But if you use the cue out to send to an external hifi effect and return you can get more hifi result.

[@MrQmason]

I don't know what they going to put out to replace the Octatrack.....but , with so much time that has passed and seeing what other companies have put on the market as well as request from customers, I believe the next device is going to be a killer..... only time will tell.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Yeah they have plenty of year experience designing awesome boxes and can draw good design from other more recent products too.

[@alb_reuel]

it will definetely be a bank account killer

[@AlecDrow]

It could have been such an amazing device. Almost bought one. Thank You for this.

[@samjones3433]

I have never once had a button stick on my octatrack mk1 or mk2 just for the record

[@M0nsieurX]

@@samjones3433 Same here for the mk1. Total beast! OP is negative about it without really showing all it can do IMOHO.

[@KenSwanson-p4i]

Nice job, in the preparation of this video, Mattias. Besides the purchase price, .. this device does seem like quite the investment of time, to become functional, with .. just lock all the doors, disconnect your phone, .. and what? come out in 3 months? .. :)

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Thanks, yeah that’s what I did to learn. 😂 seriously, i spent a few evening. Looking at tutorials and reading manuals is a must to get your hear around. Start small, add functions succesively and you get the flow. 💎🐠😄

[@eyesintheskies]

Never had a problem with my analog rytm buttons sticking, and if your digitakts fine, I think it may just be bad luck, hopefully it just needs that button cleaning like you said 👍

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Yeah I tried to do some cleaning but I guess it's the front plate that's just too tight.

[@eyesintheskies]

@@MattiasHolmgren oh dear, perhaps a gentle & delicate sanding or filing of the metal would fix it.

[@StarMaze]

Maschine has indeed a nice and quick workflow. And you can put a lot of effects on it.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Yeah Ive written many lovely melodies on the Maschine. Super quick composition device with nifty feature set. 👌🥳

[@dkamhaji]

Ok - I love my Octatracks - So much that I have 2. one as a performative mixer the other as a performative sampler/sequencer. but I grew up with NI and Maschine in particular. moving into the elektron space is rather new for me - about 2 years or so.. But in my humble opinion - if the Maschine+ can take from the Octatrack's Scenes concept, that would make maschine+ even more interesting. use its touch band like the Octatrack slider, and create this A/B Scenes that can morph any setting in any track from A to B. would that even be possible to implement in that Hardware? Octatrack is coming up on 13 years or something.. way ahead of its time. that said - I think it starts difficult to wrap your head around it, but if you persist and want to learn it - its really not so crazy hard.

[@channelite]

Cool video. I have the Digitakt, but have watched alot of Octatrak videos. It does look more complicated, plus it’s expensive too. I like that it has 4 inputs. I wish the Digitakt had four inputs so it could be used as a mixer too.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Thanks, yeah the Digitakt really falls short of the I/O. Although it can stream all tracks via Overbridge. But it would have been awesome to have stereo samples as well as a way to route audio out and in for external processing (ie send effects). Even the Maschine mk3 has dedicated Line Out.

[@dudeseriously79]

Beat mangling matters

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Yes it does! 👍🥁

[@marv.mp4714]

I love these videos full of critical points. No machine is perfect. Its important know negativities.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Thank, yeah Octatrack mk2 def has upsides and down-sides. 🥁

[@stereopsis]

Thank you VERY much for this! As someone who loves the Digitakt, I've been trying to find a clear overview of the Octatrack like this for a long time. Also, fuck you, because now I want one 🤣

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Haha that was beyond good and evil. 👌😂🥁🎅I can admit the Octatrack mk2 get little flipping in my studio past months as I always fall back into producing in the daw. OT just requires so much time and I have so little of that and been spoiled with the accessibility of the TE / Maschine devices. OT is still fun and sounds gritty but, yeah, if I was 20 without family, house and business to take care I would be all over it. That said I have decided OT is gonna be more of a song starter rather than my ”finished song machine”. I’ve got a video coming up on the Syntakt soon. 🤘🎸

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Digitakt with stereo sampling (and extra I/O) would be a killer.

[@stereopsis]

@@MattiasHolmgren That is my dream machine!

[@gleannmhuire]

Excellent piece 👍

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Yes, thanks! 🙏😄💎

[@fentanyljones6956]

I miss my mk1 deeply

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Totally understandable!

[@infriad]

100% agree that Maschine has a much better workflow. I've owned the octatrack and currently have Digitone and Digitakt which are fun together but there are a lot of hiccups in the workflow that sometimes kills my inspiration. Both Maschine and Synthstrom Deluge is much better in this regard. One thought about the premium Elektron gear.. It looks absolutely awesome in the studio, on the thumbnail or whatever. I really want to make music when I look at these boxes but I would never even consider buying them if they all look like Model Cycles.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Yeah for general songwriting Maschine is killer! Super fast! The sound mangling on the Octatrack is what makes me keep it. Super fun creating evolving soundworlds on it. Wonder if Maschine will open up to more plugins in a near future!? What do you think? Played with the Deluge a bit at Superbooth but not enough to get a grip on it. Looks fun tough. 👍🥁☕️😄

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Agree, the design of the Cycles is a bit…confusion. Both color and layout… But it was geared towards another market segmet I guess. 🥁😄

[@infriad]

@@MattiasHolmgren I really hope that NI is working on a updated maschine with better cpu and memory and hopefully they’ll add more advanced vst’s. That would be a dream groovebox 😊

[@mike_qbik]

Deluge is a fantastic piece of gear. With the latest formware 4.1 plus now open source updates which are coming on daily basis make it absolute killer groovebox. Almost unbelievable that both OT and Deluge are that old yet still make people flush. Have bith and you do nit need anything else.

[@koalemos1679]

Eyyyyy, MKI Gang Gang. My buttons work good 🤷‍♂️

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Lovely! 🥁💎

[@Jefuslives]

Nice feature set. Not so nice ergonomics. Even so, the interface looks fairly intuitive once apprised of the multi function nature of the buttons.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Yeah the sky is the limit on the Octatrack once the hurdles are fought. 😄👌🥳

[@0e0]

i would even accept 2 channel class compliant audio instead of full blown overbridge

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Yeah would be sweet!!

[@aspasap]

I went back to the Digitakt after owning this for a while. It does less but does it well. That's currently back with Elektron because.. Yes, the buttons, several which just stopped working after 14 months of light use. As for the Octa, learning a complicated machine is fine and it can do some great things but it's mainly complicated thanks to a perverse workflow and too many things just aren't that good. FX with way more parameters than you need and unimpressive end results. Horrible reverb. The FX tail cutoff issue is a total pain. There are workarounds but you shouldn't need them when you're spending that much. If they were to bring out a properly reconsidered Mk3 that did things well, then what is a unique instrument would be truly worth the effort.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Agree it's a really wicked workflow on the Octatrack mk2, and I'm so looking forward to an mk3 model with reworked workflow and more recent cpu to handel better reverb, delays. ;)

[@voiceisagun]

Elektron's workflow is NOT complicated. It just requires a "tweeker" state of mind. If you like sculpting sounds and appreciate to have multiple ways to achieve what you aim, then you'll love it. They are very rewarding instruments. Thanks to the quality of the curcuits, their sound is beautiful. It's the same difference as working with sound banks or creating your own sounds. It's much more complex but not difficult. It's a logical path that requires an effort, just like any other real instrument. And yes the clicky buttons are part of the pleasure too. But in fact, they dislike crumbs and dust.

[@lebronsinclair8012]

I've given up on Eletkron. Their machines are creative but unnecessarily nerfed compared to what's coming out. With global parts issues I don't think will get stereo sampler to replace this anytime soon.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

So you use Octatrack mk2 yourself? Or a more recent sampler? Maschine? 😄

[@lebronsinclair8012]

@@MattiasHolmgren Maschine and Polyend Tracker

[@wisdom_and_cat_tricks]

Honestly, I don't get it....aside from control (surface) but how is this better than ableton using a mapped midi controller device?

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Ableton has infinitely more features, fx… and I/O (depending on your audio interface). Octatrack mk2 has dedicated hands on controls and fixed I/O and gives you a dedicated tactile HW station to work with compared to the vast DAW. Some might find that fun and refreshing, while some might find it intimidating and too limited. Whatever gets you inspired and having fun! 🍿💪🥳

[@klaun]

How can you compare a Maschine plus and an Octa?! Doesn't make any sense to me...

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Both are expensive samplers, loopers 😉 and I get a ton of questions on my thoughts on them. easy. A lot of people appreciate the rundown of features and my insight into these machines. 🎸

[@drahcirpsy]

Use it more, than ist's gone 😀

[@MattiasHolmgren]

😂💪

[@drahcirpsy]

​​​😂had it also in my digitakt its gone...over the years@@MattiasHolmgren

[@mariusboda]

Powerful, but rubbish buttons and menu navigating is shit, other than that if you have tons of time you can make really good music.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

haha, yeah, you definitely need time to work it. 😄🥁👌

[@boombap08]

Coming from a digitakt and ableton the menus aren’t that crazy. In fact its pretty straightforward once you understand the layout. They’re are literally like two pages for most sections and the you use func + to access anything with grey writing on it as a secondary function.

[@stuartbennett4301]

Never happened to me

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Great u got a non-monday issue 👌💪🎁

[@shedarfondu]

😆 i got the same shitty button on mine

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Oh yeah? 🎹

[@ChristopherOrth]

The Octatrack benefits from that old thing where people think the harder something is to use the more powerful it must be. And because the Octatrack is a travesty of user interface design, almost nobody actually learns how to truly use it. And really, when you find the edges with this device, does it really shows its age I believe. Sure, those P locks are cool, but most every other device shits all over the Octatrack when it comes down to raw capability. And one can talk highly about the cross fader, but in the end, it’s just a fader turned on its side. You could map any knob or fader to any parameter on any device and end up with the same control capabilities.

[@koalemos1679]

You can map everything to the crossfader and control it all with one move. It’s way better than just a fader on its side, don’t be silly. HOWEVER, the sequencer is nowhere near as good as we pretend. Who makes a paraphonic sequencer? And it can’t do smooth motion record? A damn MC303 does smooth motion control. No delay into reverb on one channel 🙄 monophonic everything? In 2010?!?!?

[@Tapepusher]

What are the capable modern devices you guys are referring to? All those OT limitations are true but I honestly can’t find any device that will loop samples, mangle inputs with fx and sync up nicely with my A4mk2 via program charges… I’m dying to hear any alternatives.

[@koalemos1679]

@@Tapepusher Don’t get me wrong, the OT is amazing. It’s my favorite piece. It’s also out dated and the sequencer is not as good as people pretend. For instance. An MC 303 can’t send CC but it can control up to 8 devices, with polyphony up to 28 notes. That’s 20 more than the OT. The MC 303 can also do patterns up to 32 bars. The Electribe 2 Sampler again doesn’t do CC or looping. It does have more FX to choose from, it can play a sample like 6-8 octaves up and down, and it can do paraphonic playback up to 4 notes on a channel. It’s got a max poly limit of 24 but it’s really 8 after filters and fx. The MPCs do basically everything an OT does minus the crossfader. Hell, a Dj mixer does almost as much as an OT, you just don’t get a sequencer with a DJ mixer. The SP404 mkii does most of what an OT does. Or dare I say it A COMPUTER does more than an OT ever could. I’d still use my OT over most of what I’ve mentioned, I love my Electribe S2 though, but the OT is not perfect and a REAL update would be dope. Except I wouldn’t be able to afford it so I’ll be rocking an mki til I die I guess.

[@mresquidgeward5965]

​@@koalemos1679what a weird take. stopped reading when you said a dj mixer does what an octatrack does minus the sequencer. I dont even own one and I know that is bullshit.

[@koalemos1679]

@@mresquidgeward5965 Yeah, I’m definitely gonna argue with some wannabe nerd over a piece of gear you don’t even own. Shouldn’t you be asking Bob Eats what new FM synth will complete you as a person? Hint, it’s the next one coming out.

[@kaykramer9045]

I am more of a Maschine Mk3 fan. Maschine+ is also not battery powered and perhaps not super powerful as a standalone device. Nevertheless I really like the Maschine workflow. I don’t own an Octatrack, but find this instrument very interesting. It has a steep learning curve, but I think, it also has a lot to offer. Nice video, Mattias, thanks a lot for your review 🙏

[@steun86]

Obnoxious daw in a hardware case. Could not have said it better myself. I hate the octatrack. I love my octatrack. It's my main groovebox.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

Yeah same def love/hate relationship. Wish they would release one with more recent cpu / dsp power which could grant better internal fx and enhanced / reworked ui/ux.

[@macabre2007]

I love the Octatrack MKII but have 4 hang ups in addition to yours: 1. Limited RAM memory: it should be expanded, or possibly replaced with a solid-state drive for recording, which would allow for longer recording times without worrying about time limits, per track. 2. Use of Compact Flash cards: Previous experiences with a Roland Br600 damaged by a missed notch in Compact Flash card breaking one of the receiver forks makes this a point of concern; so there's a fear of costly repairs if Octatrack experiences the same issue. I'd prefer SD cards as they're more robust and much safer to enter and eject, ideally with capacities like 128GB or 256GB. 3. Audio track limitations: Currently, one audio track must be sacrificed for the master track. I'd like it to allow flexibility in track usage, such as converting MIDI tracks to audio tracks, possibly with options to create up to four master track variations. 4. The octatrack 16bit sound recording, could do with expanding perhaps to the 32bit. I have a Tascam Portacapture x8, if i feed those recordings into the Octatrack it renders them down from 32bit to 16bit.

[@NEStalgia1985]

Seems if you don't get college hands on experience with it youd never buy one

[@CC-fi3pp]

Give me clicky button any day, you hipster.

[@MattiasHolmgren]

😂🤷‍♂️

[@offthisworld]

For short, it's a disastrous machine, way too expensive and ridiculously fed to our brains through marketing. I'm gonna stay away from the brand in general, because lets not even talk about their UI.