#434

If its in good working order, I would say yes. But I haven’t been following prices.

The only thing that I’ve seen fail over time on the OT MKI are the encoders. But I think Elektron in every case has sent the person new encoders for free (you would have to handle the soldering)

#435

So I personally bought used Octatrack Mk1 and had problems with buttons - they weren’t registering the presses often. It was still on warranty from previous owner but unfortunately the seller didn’t care to inform me that some drink was spilled on it so after I sent it to Elektron they decided that warranty was lost. It set me back 95euros so it is always something to consider that given that MK2s are newer there is lower chance of things breaking. I don’t blame Elektron and still it cost me less than used MK2 but keep in mind that as Octatracks are often centerpieces of hardware setup so they can already have a lot of wear and tear. And if you are in doubt if something works as it should be it is best to assume that it isn’t. The buttons should register every push, the encoders should work smoothly with a nice click when pressed etc.
And about looks: while I agree that on photos in internet MK1 looks so much better in reality I liked MK2 more than MK1 when I was able to compare it with the one that my friend owns.

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#436

You can go into factory settings on start up and choose to test encoder/trig/crossfader response. I can’t recall offhand how exactly to do that.

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#438

If you want something to really howl. Use a chorus, on that track assign a maxed out delay (Chorus setting) to a scene and scratch away.

Here’s an example

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#439

I spent a while flicking through this thread and got very much re-inspired to give my octatrack some love again.

I made this track using midi to sequence the bass station, using parameter locks on the arpeggiator to create ornamentation, then the rest is live resampling!

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#440

The MK2 brings gives some of the more frequently used shortcuts their own dedicated buttons, and has a tidier panel layout since the LEDs are contained within the buttons themselves. It also has a different knob response - they allow you to scroll the full parameter range with a single twist, whereas previously you had to do many little scrolls or push the encoder down to traverse the full parameter range. The deadzone on the knobs is smaller, making it feel snappier again but also more fiddly to make micro adjustments and erase plocks. Headroom on the inputs is slightly improved, making it easier to set recording gain without losing sound quality. There are a couple of MK2-exclusive bugs: one where the current page indicator LED is too similar to adjacent LEDs making it really hard to read, and another where the input gain LEDs will flash by themselves when no signal is present. They keep promising to fix these but for now they still remain.

I had a love/hate relationship with my MK1, found it inspiring and frustrating in equal measures. Took a break and grabbed a MK2, had a much nicer time. I found the UI changes made a big difference even though I considered myself a ‘power user’, and the new knob response made it much more fun for fast performance edits. Felt like the whole thing opened up I found myself using it in new ways, playing it like an instrument more as opposed to just programming it. Still think the original looks better though, something timeless about that rugged black and red design. Good match for my Thinkpads!

tl;dr the MK1 will definitely get you there, but for me personally the more ‘luxury’ experience of the MK2 was worth the additional cash.

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#441

thanks! I actually pulled the trigger on the mk1 on the basis that could always upgrade if really wanted. I don’t suppose anyone knows if the Octa would sync to Cheat Codes over midi and locked to the pattern times of coming out of CC. that would be awesome with record trigs enabled I think!

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#442

Nice one! Great use of the arranger. That bass station sounds so liquid and acid-y.

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#443

Thanks! That’s I suppose the other part of the octatrack I’ve been using (also the arranger on my other elektrons) and I don’t know why I never got around to it before.
The arranger makes it so quick to flesh out a loop into a more structured idea (surprise surprise).
It seems so obvious now, but it’s taken me maybe 5 years to realise.

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#444

Have been playing the modular with ansible earthsea lately and am really digging having more immediate control without wrist strain (fracture healed weird and now I can’t play piano – CV fixes it!). I’m looking for a similar option for drums, and potentially a good way to capture / work on material away from the synth (and also away from a computer). Specifically I’d like something that is ~not~ velocity sensitive because injury (I have to play quite lightly), and am wondering about the efficacy of using an expression pedal to control velocity while finger drumming on the OT.

I’ve owned one before and sold it, but the buttons were super friendly to my wrist and that’s important to me. I also have a Norns which I think could act as midi host for a USB expression pedal, but I really have no midi experience and would love some guidance.

#445

I’ve had mine for almost two years and, despite all the positive comments I’ve read about the Arranger, I still have not tried it. It’s high on my list for the next time I want to dive into octatrack. I think that time should be coming up soon (I hope).

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#446

this rules. knew i would regret selling my mono station eventually

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#447
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#448

What’s cool about the arp is that as opposed to notes you can enter offsets. This allows the use of modes. And with 8 possible arps you can copy and paste different modes onto a channel and get jazzy.

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#449

This weeks technique to try out was inspired by the Fact Magazine video with Barker.
In the video, they mention having several audio files that are the same series of chord variations, but played on different polysynths. Then, in the octatrack, having a channel that automatically slices the samples into individual chords. You can then create a new chord progression out of these individual stabs. By changing the sample used, one can get variations with a lot of movement, whilst retaining the same chord sequence.

Here is my attempt to use this technique, whilst also enlisting the bass station for some bassline action (sequenced by the octatrack of course, with lots of pitch bend and mod wheel data being sent). The majority of the chord stabs are all on one channel!

Here is the Barker video for reference (@ 4:12):

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#450

Awesome! Yeah the chords sound very Barker-like, I did not manage to get that close when I tried that, well done :slight_smile:

#451

What I wish the OT did and I hope its successor does is offer the ability to effect itself internally: routing channels’ audio to trigger samples or envelopes, pitch detection or threshold, etc: . A modular, essentially.

I’m sticking with it for now but if its successor doesn’t offer this kind of entanglement I think I’ll be moving on.

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#452

It’s hard to imagine that with elektron interfaces. And the company seems pretty dedicated to that particular user interface.

#453

Next to the sequencer, I think the thing that puts OT above the rest is the ability to route anything to anywhere. I don’t see it a far step programming wise (ok I’m not a programmer) to include the kind of FX or whatever that would allow for more relationships between the tracks.

But you might be right. Honestly, while the AR and DN in particular are great units, I don’t see much progression with Elektron units since the OT. I’m holding out hope they’re working on something as groundbreaking as the OT was back then.

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#454

I meant not only ability to program that but also ease of use. Such routings require good visibility of mappings.
And elektron boxes seem to have same UI since the first units

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