My roommate and I both have Octatracks. We both use them for completely different tasks for the most part. He will construct entire tracks on his and makes heavy use of resampling and the fader and in my case it gets used as the brain of my setup (main clock, sequencer, mixer, and looper.) We end up teaching each other a lot about the device every time we jam because our approaches are so different.
There's an amazing video out there of a guy starting with just the open inputs on the unit, raising the noise floor, and resampling it into an entire melodic masterpiece using nothing but the internal sampling capabilities... Oh, and he does it on the original octatrack as well. This thing is a beast
The best advice I ever got for the Octatrack was "pick a role and just learn THAT role". If you want it to be a mixer (it's amazing there are no other samplers with four inputs on the market!) then learn about audio routing, scenes, etc. If you want it to be a sample based synth, then only focus on the audio mangling options. This way it doesn't feel so overwhelming.
I got that same advice and it was a game changer!! Absolutely the best way to take it in is one step at a time. Thanks so much for sharing that my friend, happy 2025!
The Octatrack doesn’t *feel* old. I’m always still learning new stuff with it. I mostly use it as a sampler and performance mixer. 10 years later and I still haven’t touched pickup machines yet - but I’m still working my way there. This thing is a beast, and the best of the best still use it in all of these unique ways. It’s crazy.
@@MidlifeSynthesist I believe the term is “anachronistic” - the Octatrack is anachronistic because it is simultaneously ahead of its time and behind it. It’s out of place chronologically in the scheme of hardware history. It’s why everyone is dying for at least another refresh so we can get basic features like midi over USB or the big ask, which would be audio over usb or Overbridge.
huge shoutout to what @ezbot does with it. I bought it in spring as a sampler and now i run my whole studio through it with his fx (especially the hyper fx are just GOLDEN)
Youre absolutely right with everything you said about the OT. But what i like the most.. is that out of all tiny desk concerts, you choose the Anderson Paak one to be in your video. Cudos to that! 🙌
@@NOGASAYAN thanks so much! I think Paaks tiny desk might be one of the most mindblowing feats of musicianship I’ve ever seen live, was the perfect example🤘🏻 love to know a fellow fan🔥🔥
That's the gift I am getting on my 40th birthday. Been dreaming about it since day one but the price is still steep for a hobbyist and the live 2 fullfills the sampling / sequencing needs
Versatility is spot on. The filter distortion is unreal and I process my drum machines through it. The LFO is great for side chaining/volume shaping input audio also :).
I almost never see anyone playing the original Octatrack on YT anymore. I bought mine in 2011/2012, and it's still a central piece of my set-up. Aside from its sampling ability, it's great for those who don't have a mixer, as it has 4 1/4 inputs.
you missed one more really helpful and cool feature that is the arrangement mode. For me i use that to create full song with smooth mute changes in between tracks and in between patterns and even with scene and tempo changes. That is now my game changer because is like my ableton going down through the "scenes" which are my patterns and creating a full set
I remember going up to Flying Lotus one night after he played back when Octatrack first came out. I was all excited about it and he said, what is it. I couldn’t really explain it to him but I said well it’s sort of a hardware version of Ableton. He just smiled and walked away.
OTMK2 is like a mythological beast. Once you deserve to facing it, is like heavy punches straight on your face and then it will recompense you with the most amazing sonic journey and inspiring experimentation you ever thought
I bought an octatrack recently. Still figuring it out but am having a lot of fun doing so. At the moment it is a performance mixer for an analog 4 and a syntakt and is a sample sequencer.
In another universe I can see you being one of those apple/ samsung tech bros who speculate on all the rumors and hype up every firmware update and release
The akai force has a fader that you can map to pretty much anything as well. I personally never wanted an octatrack. No overbridge and only 8 parts was a deterrent for me. I am always curious to try one though just to see what all the hype is.
Great video and so true. never understood why they don't make an MK3 that addresses the main issues with the OT while preserving the scenses/crossfader, it would be a bestseller.
interesting thought: with the mpc 3.0 update, since you can now program macros into the qlinks, you could replicate something like the scene crossfader, with each knob being like a different pair of "scenes"
Thank you because the OT is for me also the best and most inspiring music device on the market since 2011. I do not understand why Elektron has stopped the development of this machine e.g. bring it on the level of modern technologies (Processor, In-Output quality, FX,...).
"OCTATRACK MKIII COMFIRMED!" I say this every day when I wake up. What a machine, absolutely nothing like it. It's not a sampler, it's a sampling-process-maker, you can basically invent your own workflow, and you might only invent and perfect a few of those workflows in the time you have with it. Each of the four makers you mentioned has a VERY different work ethic with the machine, and none of them "use it to its full potential"---which is a feeling I had to get over, that I was somehow not doing enough because I really only have like two flows worked out with it (basic drum machine flow and 8-track loop flow). (Well... EZBOT might be using it to its fullest potential. Those templates are crazy.)
I finally bought the OT quite recently because I know it can do some amazing things that I would like to use in my music. But what I struggle with is understanding how it works. I am not very knowledgeable when it comes to any electronic devices (bought my first smartphone in my late 30s if that gives you an idea of what kind of person I am). I definitely want to learn this, I love the stuff that some people do with it but simply I am not even starting from zero, rather from -1000 as a result of not being into all the gadgets etc. I purchased and printed Synthdawg's manual and I quite like the way he explains the things but I am afraid it will take me another 2000 years to make a full track on it. Maybe one day....
It's not you - Elektron products can do a lot but they have a comically badly designed UI. Imagine any other product where it's a feature that you can use it for a decade but still not understand how it works. Where finding out basic functions like pattern duplication requires watching a 90 minute video by a random UA-camr in the hope they mention the unlabelled shift combo that isn't even listed in the manual, which reads like programming code anyway. And a million other other things that made me want to throw it out of the window. And that was only the Digitakt! People give Elektron so much credit for making products that actively fight you when making music. I can't understand it. Why don't they just hire a competent UI designer? Ableton can do everything an OT does and a lot more and I can teach someone how it works in five minutes. That's how it should be. The product should get out of the way of the music.
@@robinr22 - the OT is very deep. There is a steep learning curve if it’s your first dive into Elektron. My first Elektron box was a Digitakt. Very, very intuitive to use. The UI is absolutely fine, easy to get started. The A4, RYTM, and Digitone are equally straightforward in my experience. Of course you can do everything on a laptop. You can go sightseeing around Rome on a laptop. I went from full hardware during the 90’s to full software. No audio or midi cables to worry about, no separate mixer needed, easy to use and every piece of software is free if you know where to look. Sounds are spot on too. So many pros but one big con - totally uninspiring to create with. Killed my desire to make music stone dead. This is why hardware gear still exists. It’s more trouble, costs a lot more but there’s a massive market for it. It’s more creative and enjoyable to use for a lot of people. We’re all different 👍
@@leftmono1016 really surprised that you found it intuitive. I'm reasonably adept at learning new systems but the tipping point for me was putting it down for a couple of weeks and then realising that it was so unintuitive that I couldn't remember even basic functionality. I think it was something like trying to expand a pattern to four bars or maybe expand the pattern but keep the grid on one of them while it played. I spent an hour trying to work it out from the manual and then rewatched the Cuckoo two hour manual and then just had a moment of clarity - why am I wasting my time fighting this awful product? I just want to have some fun and make some music. Listed it the next day. Incidentally, pretty sure I'm not alone - the person I bought it off hadn't owned it for long and the person I sold it to put it back on to the market a week later. But I'm glad YOU like it! Definitely horses for courses. I just think it's so hyped that a lot of people buy it only to have exactly the same experience - I want to have some fun, why am I putting any time into learning a device that actively impedes that? Especially the functionality is so limited - if you must have hardware, Circuit Tracks is basically the same thing with more features for 25% of the price. There's always a few mint condition ones listed near me for that reason I suspect.
Got into elektron gear about a year ago, currently have a syntakt and digitakt 2 and im very much into live performance... boy would I kill for a Octatrack mk3. I think id rather wait for that to come out than to invest in a mk2
Same here. I think that 2025 is going to be a big year for Elektron. There's the rumored release of Tonverk, but my gut is telling me that Elektron will also release an Octatrack successor by the end of 2025. My hope is that it won't just be a sampler, but a multitrack recorder. I'm thinking Elektron's answer to the Deluge.
I honesty think we won't see one. The versatility of the OT doing mostly everything goes against Elektrons modern way of gimping boxes to collect them all, it's practically a different company to back then. If we do see it surface I think it will be gimped also in some way and have things missing . I still can't believe they gimped the Digitone keys not having MIDI arp
Been eaiting for the mkiii for years, ende up buying a bunch if other gear in the meantime. Mostly pedals but yea, might end up just biting the bullet wnd buying the mkii.
I use it as a sampler for beat making (Boom Bap and Lofi) I also have an MPC X and here’s my thoughts…. My favorite part of the Octatrack is the sequencer. It reminds me of the Redrum in Reason and the Fruity Loop drum tracks. I love the left to right flow and the ability to create trig conditions. The biggest issue I have with the Octatrack is there’s no "undo" function.. Just changing a start or end point on a slice can create havoc lol… but you can always reload. The MPC has spoiled me but for some reason I can use the same sample on both devices but I don’t end up with the same results…. Which is a good thing I guess. Oh and I can’t forget the price of a new Octatrack MK2 is 😱☠️
...and the USB is STILL on that 2011 level...I really really wish they would make an MKIII with all the overbridge bells and whistles the takt series has now. And a few pads... And 4 times the DSP power... Bring it :)
Honestly my OT has been gathering dust for the last year. Might be time to bring it back out and load some new samples on it. A new sample pack makes it feel like a brand new instrument
I have 3 Elektron boxes. I swore I would never buy into the Oct hype, especially since I heard about the steep and deep learning curve. I only watched this video because I like your content. Now, you've got me waiting for the MKIII. Elektron needs to pay you sumuthin'. If you can get ME to think about getting one, there will be a lot of others too. BUT, MKIII ONLY!! Or....Ta Da.......The Tonverk.
I use mine on everything. I think it would be cool if you could play samples in poly keys with it. Also, I don't really like how it auto saves. My first box as a Korg EA-1. I like how nothing saved unless you asked it to. When you jumped patterns all parameter would jump back to previous settings. Does anyone else feel the same way or have any tips?
digitakt 2 has 3 lfo for the sample machines, but for the midi tracks only 2 lfo. if you havent tried the midi learn on the digitakt two it is a real nice workflow speed booster. especially with presets. preset per piece of hardware you sequence is a great starting point!
i finally got a used mk2! I’ve never heard anyone talk about this before i bought it, but mine had screen burn in :( Despite that, the Octatrack is the only piece of gear that ive had that i will never sell. It just does things that nothing else can.
I have the same feeling about my Analog 4 mkI. I got mine used, stupidly cheap, it has an issue with the CV outs, and the screen may be on it's last stages of life, but man, that's my desert island synth. As said on the video, this boxes are music making devices, but also can act as FX processor, or a small mixer, and that's a cherry on the top.
Have two digitakts and an octatrack, and as much as I love my octatrack, the digitakt 2 is essentially the perfect elektron sampler now. Exponentially quicker than the OT, incredibly streamlined, deeply intuitive. OT is none of those things. Still a beast though.
I agree. I‘m playing (and owner) with all (!) Elektron-boxes. And sell the most after a while. OT2 never. And on place 2: The Digitone 2. Both a great machines
The Octatrack and Digitakt 2 both seem SO cool to me in their ability to create complex "glitching" sounds in such a tactile way. I will have to try one some day because when it comes to that style of producing, the more glitch/IDM/glitch-hop oriented approach, I don't find it satisfying to do it on the hardware I have now. The MPC is dope, but there are SOME things I don't find enjoyable on it still. Ableton with Push 2 is great when I'm in studio mode, but I love creating outside of the studio i.e. in my living room sitting in front of the window haha. I'm just so torn between saving for a Push 3, OT, or DT2 and this video didn't help! But I should just shut up and use what I have in the mean time!
Push 3 doesn’t have a proper song mode and it’s the most expensive Groovebox on the market. Be really sure you want one before splashing that much cash. I know a few people with buyers regret.
@@e-conrecords4665 Yeah, I usually build my arrangements as scenes in session view on Ableton before even getting into arrangement view, so I'd just stick to that before finishing on the computer. I find session view really useful for developing variations of themes and fills, stuff like that. I could see how the lack of that feature would be annoying for some uses, but I don't really see it as a problem.
The fact that a zillion videos are available for it doesn't necessarily make the Octatrack all that more accessible. It just shifts your time from playing around with it to endless watching videos.
the akai force runs circles around the octatrack, it just has so much more features and is so much more powerful while being easy to use compared to the OT its not even funny.
Yes, the OT's fader is a game changer. But if you "only" own a DT or DT2, you can use this : ua-cam.com/video/dlCfQ3sP-LM/v-deo.htmlsi=jIZYT0CHzShyCeTb
The Octatrack is difficult to learn especially if its your first Elektron device. Its not impossible though. I think it has that reputation for good reason.
He has both and so do I. They make a good pair. I got my deluge back when it was much cheaper though, still on 7seg screen. If I had to pick only one now it would be the deluge - OT can barely make any sound on its own, but you can get close to producing an entire track on the deluge. And now with the 1.2 community firmware you can export stems out of it.
@ I totally agree, I currently have an MPC One+, but I'm thinking about using Deluge again in the future. Is it possible to download a multitrack file from Deluge now?
ive wanted a Octo for years but knew as a groove mega box it was too much for me. gassed for a xy. bought a move and am soo happyu i did. you should limit test a move. i think youd be surprised.
@@beatsbyjiro8291 I have a few posted here and on my Insta if you want to check them out🤘🏻 This year I’m planning to use this as one if my main instruments, hope to see you there! Cheers!
Apparently the mk3 will never happen because the original designer doesn’t work at Elektron anymore. They would probably just make a new device that is similar and call it something else.
Whoa, Sweet sponsor! Despite that I rarely call/use my sales rep, I love Mike and it makes me feel good to know he’s a conversation away. Sometimes human connection is a great thing and I’m happy they’ve kept this model in a changing world.
I tried the Octatrack and a gave up... The workflow wasn't for me... I know the Analog Four and the Analog Rytm, but I couldn't do anything good with the Octatrack :) I know it's my fault !
I totally get you ! I sold my first OT and then got another and that’s when I fell in love! There’s definitely more options now thankfully! Happy 2025 my friend!
I've always wanted an Octatrack. But I struggle, especially now, given its age and audio format restrictions. Provide a new, current DPS to handle any possible input wav (bitrate, frequency, multichannel) and better storage solutions, and you've got an easy MKIII. No other box in the Elektron range demands a MKIII than the Octatrack.
Hi everyone! It may not belong here but is there any (series of) tutorial(s) which explains the most "basic" functions of each machine? I think I have a vague understanding of what the different machines are supposed to be used for but most tutorials either try to explain to whole machine within 60 minutes (which obviously is not possible) or they go so deep, that they easily lose me after 30 minutes. I would be looking for something that gets me going... and from there I'd dig deeper... once I feel comfortable enough. As a first step, I'd consider using the unit for live looping / transitions between A/B. Once I'd feel comfortable enogh, I'd probably look into the FX section, etc. Trying to build (hand's-on) experience and expertise without being overwhelmed! I do love EZBOT's videos - and they leave me speachless - but I lack too much basic knowledge to replicate the things that he does. There are indeed a lot of videos/tutorials about OT but I feel like I still haven't found the right one(s) for me! I will of course be grateful for any valuable feedback! PS: Private lessons aren't an option for me - at least not for the time being. Thanks in advance for any help and useful tips! :)
Thavius Beck has created excellent courses for most of the current Elektron lineup on AskVideo. There are two courses about the Octatrack which helped me get up and running with my mine very quickly. I just checked the site, and there's currently a 60% discount, making each course $10.
“ Some Thoughts on Elektron’s Octatrack by Merlin” is a .pdf manual you can search, I think it’s a bit more accessible than the official octatrack manual, although the tutorials at the back of the official manual could help you too!
I’ll never sell mine but I’ll also never forgive it for not being able to cross fade between scenes on MIDI tracks. That and no MIDI over USB are its biggest omissions.
I can agree to call it “King” simply because of how I feel about kings: generally very high maintenance parasites that contribute little to nothing the wellbeing of their people. I had (and loved) the Octatrack for a while, but it’s NOT a well designed device, and it takes your energies away from music. It can do many things but the vast majority are unnecessarily bureaucratic, and troubleshooting is a nightmare because of all the internal idiosyncrasies. Nowadays IMO the only thing for which it can make sense is the live input manipulation (basically a performance mixer), for everything else (and if you’re creative for that too) there are far better options out there. In my experience most people that love the Octatrack are victims to the Stockholm Syndrome: they’ve suffered so much to learn it that they now feel an unbreakable bond to the machine. To top it all off: the MK1 muddled the sound big time, I believe in the MK2 they changed the converters and that probably makes a big difference. I understand its importance from an historical perspective, the impact it had, but here’s so much good gear out there it’s absurd that we’re still celebrating this beyond the nostalgia aspect
I got rid of the OT because of the mutes killing the sound dead. No delay, reverb or note tails. I got used to jamming on the DT by using mutes, couldn’t do this on the OT. So kept the DT and sold the OT. Also the delay and reverb are better on the DT. Incredibly powerful machine though!
I've been producing for about 35 years. The Octatrack is cool, but most of the features it has that people are championing are not unique. It's mostly the interface and workflow that are unique. So do they make it the GOAT? I wouldn't even put it in the running TBH. It's not intuitive - to me it is part of the first wave of "modern" sampler/sequencers that don't even try to be intuitive, that sacrifice that in an effort to put everything a DAW has in a hardware device. It's still a powerful and great instrument, I just wouldn't even begin to call it a GOAT of anything. It exists in a world of gear where "GOAT" is not a thought, where there is a relatively steady flow of new specialized, proprietary tech, endless options. It doesn't have to be the GOAT, it's just a G
1:00 because nothing better has come up since then unfortunately. even the ableton push standalone is shitty (cause of the hardware formfactor, otherwise i would use it)
My roommate and I both have Octatracks. We both use them for completely different tasks for the most part. He will construct entire tracks on his and makes heavy use of resampling and the fader and in my case it gets used as the brain of my setup (main clock, sequencer, mixer, and looper.) We end up teaching each other a lot about the device every time we jam because our approaches are so different.
Is it before or after robbing someone on the street? 😅
There's an amazing video out there of a guy starting with just the open inputs on the unit, raising the noise floor, and resampling it into an entire melodic masterpiece using nothing but the internal sampling capabilities... Oh, and he does it on the original octatrack as well. This thing is a beast
whats the vid?
@@enso3460 max marco - Octatrack: No Samples Necessary - Comb Filter Synthesis
@@enso3460 ua-cam.com/video/DhjEjB7Jgh8/v-deo.htmlsi=a2cg1mFzR1-sRYAl
max marco - octatrack: no samples necessary
Max Marco is the GOAT
The best advice I ever got for the Octatrack was "pick a role and just learn THAT role". If you want it to be a mixer (it's amazing there are no other samplers with four inputs on the market!) then learn about audio routing, scenes, etc. If you want it to be a sample based synth, then only focus on the audio mangling options. This way it doesn't feel so overwhelming.
I got that same advice and it was a game changer!! Absolutely the best way to take it in is one step at a time. Thanks so much for sharing that my friend, happy 2025!
exactly this x1000, eventually as it morphs roles in your setup, you'll slowly learn most of it. probably not all hahaha
Couldn't agree more. Long live the king. Great video!
@@JayHosking Thanks so much!! Huge salute to one of my favorite Octatrack Artists!🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 looking forward to your music in 2025 brother🤘🏻
The Octatrack doesn’t *feel* old. I’m always still learning new stuff with it. I mostly use it as a sampler and performance mixer. 10 years later and I still haven’t touched pickup machines yet - but I’m still working my way there. This thing is a beast, and the best of the best still use it in all of these unique ways. It’s crazy.
THIS!!! There’s always a new layer to uncover, and that is awesome. Thanks for watching! Cheers!
@@MidlifeSynthesist I believe the term is “anachronistic” - the Octatrack is anachronistic because it is simultaneously ahead of its time and behind it. It’s out of place chronologically in the scheme of hardware history.
It’s why everyone is dying for at least another refresh so we can get basic features like midi over USB or the big ask, which would be audio over usb or Overbridge.
huge shoutout to what @ezbot does with it. I bought it in spring as a sampler and now i run my whole studio through it with his fx (especially the hyper fx are just GOLDEN)
100%!!!
Me too! HyperFX is such a sick template!
I was wondering which template to get now that I'm experimenting with running my digitakt and digitone through the ot.
@ just get them all tbh, that patreon sub is well worth it. also substans
Youre absolutely right with everything you said about the OT. But what i like the most.. is that out of all tiny desk concerts, you choose the Anderson Paak one to be in your video. Cudos to that! 🙌
@@NOGASAYAN thanks so much! I think Paaks tiny desk might be one of the most mindblowing feats of musicianship I’ve ever seen live, was the perfect example🤘🏻 love to know a fellow fan🔥🔥
@ Absolutely! I just had to re-watch it and almost forgot about how much of a gem this is 🤩 Thanks for reminding me!
The octotrack has a headphone output unlike a new iPhone
😂👍🏼👍🏼
lol!
That's the gift I am getting on my 40th birthday. Been dreaming about it since day one but the price is still steep for a hobbyist and the live 2 fullfills the sampling / sequencing needs
Versatility is spot on. The filter distortion is unreal and I process my drum machines through it. The LFO is great for side chaining/volume shaping input audio also :).
@@mindstuff417 you said it!! Thanks so much for watching!
Record buffers/ trigs, flex machines, parts, the slider, FX, dual stereo i/o, and epic sequencing.
This!! Thanks so much for watching! Cheers!
Octatrack is GOAT!
This explains all the bleating I hear coming from my studio.
Your videos make it more accessible than it otherwise would be. THANK YOU!!!
And so are you EZ!! Happy 2025 brother🙌🏻
Even not close.
@@olafsigursons who is better on OT? voltagectrlrtv is pretty much my pick but ez bot template is a hell of a achievement
Great 14 year review.
Great to see you getting back to 100% health 💪👌
@@JamesBermingham thank you so much for your kind words my friend! Here’s hoping 2025 is an amazing year!🙌🏻
A beautiful love letter to the OT! Thanks, man. I wholeheartedly agree.
@@tobiasphilippen7883 ❤️🙌🏻
I almost never see anyone playing the original Octatrack on YT anymore. I bought mine in 2011/2012, and it's still a central piece of my set-up. Aside from its sampling ability, it's great for those who don't have a mixer, as it has 4 1/4 inputs.
What a great video! Never thought about getting one seriously until this video.
@@coachangeln thanks so much! Happy to know I spiked your interest in the OT, cheers my friend!!
loved your passion, I've never really heard people talk about this bad boy - very cool will check it out
@@wisdom_and_cat_tricks thanks so much!! OT is definitely worth a look! Have an amazing 2025
Just bought the digitone 2 ! Looks phenomenal
Nice!!
@ never delved into Elektron before so will be full noob !
Love ya vids man
@ thanks my friend!
you missed one more really helpful and cool feature that is the arrangement mode. For me i use that to create full song with smooth mute changes in between tracks and in between patterns and even with scene and tempo changes. That is now my game changer because is like my ableton going down through the "scenes" which are my patterns and creating a full set
Octatrack is pretty great for sampling workflows. I am glad I own one. It takes years to get comfortable with though.
For sure, it’s a serious commitment, but worth every minute! Thanks so much for watching my friend!!🙌🏻
I remember going up to Flying Lotus one night after he played back when Octatrack first came out.
I was all excited about it and he said, what is it. I couldn’t really explain it to him but I said well it’s sort of a hardware version of Ableton. He just smiled and walked away.
I totally agree. OTMK2 is still the best gear you can get your hans on!
OTMK2 is like a mythological beast. Once you deserve to facing it, is like heavy punches straight on your face and then it will recompense you with the most amazing sonic journey and inspiring experimentation you ever thought
I bought an octatrack recently. Still figuring it out but am having a lot of fun doing so. At the moment it is a performance mixer for an analog 4 and a syntakt and is a sample sequencer.
@@ManMadeDisaster Congrats and welcome to the OT fam!! It’s a slow butn to learn it but it feels amazing when you can navigate it! Happy beatmaking!
In another universe I can see you being one of those apple/ samsung tech bros who speculate on all the rumors and hype up every firmware update and release
The akai force has a fader that you can map to pretty much anything as well. I personally never wanted an octatrack. No overbridge and only 8 parts was a deterrent for me. I am always curious to try one though just to see what all the hype is.
Ni maschine has locked states and a fader it just can’t be mapped it’s the only groovebox that can be compared to the octatrack
As a mainpiece or brain of gear, the octatrack is simply the best machine ever and probably will forever be.
Such a helpful video! Thank you 🙏🏻
@@SaraGilchrist-e7e thank you so much for being here! Happy 2025!
I think many people forget that the NORD Lead's have had Morph capabilities since 2004.
The most revolutionary Elektron device by far
@@rodrigoroque4831 🔥🔥🔥
Great video and so true. never understood why they don't make an MK3 that addresses the main issues with the OT while preserving the scenses/crossfader, it would be a bestseller.
@@tendingtropic7778 it would be sold out for months if not years! Thanks so much for watching!
Apparently one of the key developers for the OT acrimoniously left Elektron with the OT IP.
If you’re someone who likes the tactile clicky feel of Elektron buttons, the mki boxes feel even better
@@G.GordonMidi I’ve always wanted yo
Try a monomachine! Cheers my friend!
I thought the MK3 was under that red sheet! It'll be released as soon as I buy a MK2!
😂😂
interesting thought: with the mpc 3.0 update, since you can now program macros into the qlinks, you could replicate something like the scene crossfader, with each knob being like a different pair of "scenes"
@@treschlet I’ve been trying to emulate the OT scenes on my MPC XSE, hopefully with 3.0 it’ll be closer! Cheers!
The only groovebox that comes close is Ni Maschine it has lock states with a morphing feature
The Octatrack was certainly unique... It takes people a long time to even understand what all it does, because it's so different than everything else.
@@ToyKeeper absolutely agree! Have an amazing 2025 my friend!
I always read that ppl bought and sold the octa multiple times. I didn't understand. Now that I have one I understand.
@@thegreatsiberianitch 😂😂 yep! This ain’t my first Octa either😜
Thank you because the OT is for me also the best and most inspiring music device on the market since 2011. I do not understand why Elektron has stopped the development of this machine
e.g. bring it on the level of modern technologies (Processor, In-Output quality, FX,...).
If you play a musical instrument the OT is your best jam buddy.
The screen was a deciding factor for me. Also menu diving is a bummer. The MPC with the new 3.0 is right around the same $.
Good content !
Elektron boxes are definitely instruments. I have a Dt2 and Syntakt. I didn't like the Octotrakt bcus it was giving octopus... BUT NOW .... I get it.
I'm still waiting for Elektron to release the HexaDecaTrack...
😂
have you ever tried the analog rytm? what do you think?
@@tendingtropic7778 I recently got one! Still haven’t started tinkering but I’ll be sure to report as soon as I can!
4:06 The digi mkII's has three LFO's. Which is nice.
m8 has four lfos if you want….🤷🏾♂️
@@lebronsinclair8012 you can loopback on DT1 and have 10 simultaneous LFOs on one track if you want. On DT2 you can have up to 48.
@@Koettnylle thanks for pointing that out!! Gonna have to get my hands on that bad boy!
So does the OT, doesn't it?
Coincidentally, I have just committed to trying the Elektron workflow with a second hand Digitakt. This is dangerously interesting.
The original DT was my gateway drug into the Elektron world. Beware!
DT was my entry as well!! Amazing machine!!
I am doubting always, if it is too old. I also think of Synthstrom Deluge. Maybe both?
"OCTATRACK MKIII COMFIRMED!" I say this every day when I wake up. What a machine, absolutely nothing like it. It's not a sampler, it's a sampling-process-maker, you can basically invent your own workflow, and you might only invent and perfect a few of those workflows in the time you have with it. Each of the four makers you mentioned has a VERY different work ethic with the machine, and none of them "use it to its full potential"---which is a feeling I had to get over, that I was somehow not doing enough because I really only have like two flows worked out with it (basic drum machine flow and 8-track loop flow).
(Well... EZBOT might be using it to its fullest potential. Those templates are crazy.)
It's perfect❤ Just lacking overbridge😢
@@samwaon ufff, that would be wild!
Off to buy one. Thanks for influencing me 😅
PS. The iPad dis hurts
You’re gonna love it!!!
Ps: no ipads where meant to hurt in this video😜
Lots of love brother!!
I finally bought the OT quite recently because I know it can do some amazing things that I would like to use in my music. But what I struggle with is understanding how it works. I am not very knowledgeable when it comes to any electronic devices (bought my first smartphone in my late 30s if that gives you an idea of what kind of person I am). I definitely want to learn this, I love the stuff that some people do with it but simply I am not even starting from zero, rather from -1000 as a result of not being into all the gadgets etc.
I purchased and printed Synthdawg's manual and I quite like the way he explains the things but I am afraid it will take me another 2000 years to make a full track on it.
Maybe one day....
Very brave! If it doesn’t work out for you, the Digitakt is still very creative but easier to learn.
Keep at it! I’ve been using it for about four years and there’s sooo much to uncover! Cheers!
It's not you - Elektron products can do a lot but they have a comically badly designed UI.
Imagine any other product where it's a feature that you can use it for a decade but still not understand how it works. Where finding out basic functions like pattern duplication requires watching a 90 minute video by a random UA-camr in the hope they mention the unlabelled shift combo that isn't even listed in the manual, which reads like programming code anyway. And a million other other things that made me want to throw it out of the window. And that was only the Digitakt!
People give Elektron so much credit for making products that actively fight you when making music. I can't understand it. Why don't they just hire a competent UI designer?
Ableton can do everything an OT does and a lot more and I can teach someone how it works in five minutes. That's how it should be. The product should get out of the way of the music.
@@robinr22 - the OT is very deep. There is a steep learning curve if it’s your first dive into Elektron.
My first Elektron box was a Digitakt. Very, very intuitive to use. The UI is absolutely fine, easy to get started. The A4, RYTM, and Digitone are equally straightforward in my experience.
Of course you can do everything on a laptop. You can go sightseeing around Rome on a laptop.
I went from full hardware during the 90’s to full software. No audio or midi cables to worry about, no separate mixer needed, easy to use and every piece of software is free if you know where to look. Sounds are spot on too.
So many pros but one big con - totally uninspiring to create with. Killed my desire to make music stone dead.
This is why hardware gear still exists. It’s more trouble, costs a lot more but there’s a massive market for it. It’s more creative and enjoyable to use for a lot of people.
We’re all different 👍
@@leftmono1016 really surprised that you found it intuitive. I'm reasonably adept at learning new systems but the tipping point for me was putting it down for a couple of weeks and then realising that it was so unintuitive that I couldn't remember even basic functionality. I think it was something like trying to expand a pattern to four bars or maybe expand the pattern but keep the grid on one of them while it played. I spent an hour trying to work it out from the manual and then rewatched the Cuckoo two hour manual and then just had a moment of clarity - why am I wasting my time fighting this awful product? I just want to have some fun and make some music. Listed it the next day.
Incidentally, pretty sure I'm not alone - the person I bought it off hadn't owned it for long and the person I sold it to put it back on to the market a week later.
But I'm glad YOU like it! Definitely horses for courses.
I just think it's so hyped that a lot of people buy it only to have exactly the same experience - I want to have some fun, why am I putting any time into learning a device that actively impedes that? Especially the functionality is so limited - if you must have hardware, Circuit Tracks is basically the same thing with more features for 25% of the price. There's always a few mint condition ones listed near me for that reason I suspect.
Dave smith’s TEMPEST is definitely more dominant but still have octa
cool video, i absolutely agree! 👍
Thanks so much! Cheers!
Got into elektron gear about a year ago, currently have a syntakt and digitakt 2 and im very much into live performance... boy would I kill for a Octatrack mk3. I think id rather wait for that to come out than to invest in a mk2
Same here. I think that 2025 is going to be a big year for Elektron. There's the rumored release of Tonverk, but my gut is telling me that Elektron will also release an Octatrack successor by the end of 2025. My hope is that it won't just be a sampler, but a multitrack recorder. I'm thinking Elektron's answer to the Deluge.
This has my hyped!
I honesty think we won't see one. The versatility of the OT doing mostly everything goes against Elektrons modern way of gimping boxes to collect them all, it's practically a different company to back then. If we do see it surface I think it will be gimped also in some way and have things missing . I still can't believe they gimped the Digitone keys not having MIDI arp
MK3 is the 6th reason, right ? I like your 5th rarely heard for OT but this machine inspires from her aesthetic . Grace cannot be explained...
@@brunodadivore9606 facts!
Been eaiting for the mkiii for years, ende up buying a bunch if other gear in the meantime. Mostly pedals but yea, might end up just biting the bullet wnd buying the mkii.
I use it as a sampler for beat making (Boom Bap and Lofi) I also have an MPC X and here’s my thoughts…. My favorite part of the Octatrack is the sequencer. It reminds me of the Redrum in Reason and the Fruity Loop drum tracks. I love the left to right flow and the ability to create trig conditions. The biggest issue I have with the Octatrack is there’s no "undo" function.. Just changing a start or end point on a slice can create havoc lol… but you can always reload. The MPC has spoiled me but for some reason I can use the same sample on both devices but I don’t end up with the same results…. Which is a good thing I guess.
Oh and I can’t forget the price of a new Octatrack MK2 is 😱☠️
Hail to the king bebé!!!
Grandeeee papá!
@@MidlifeSynthesist jjaajajjaa
...and the USB is STILL on that 2011 level...I really really wish they would make an MKIII with all the overbridge bells and whistles the takt series has now.
And a few pads...
And 4 times the DSP power...
Bring it :)
Honestly my OT has been gathering dust for the last year. Might be time to bring it back out and load some new samples on it. A new sample pack makes it feel like a brand new instrument
That’s a great idea! It’s always amazing to rediscover your old gear. 😊 🙌🏻
I have 3 Elektron boxes. I swore I would never buy into the Oct hype, especially since I heard about the steep and deep learning curve. I only watched this video because I like your content. Now, you've got me waiting for the MKIII. Elektron needs to pay you sumuthin'. If you can get ME to think about getting one, there will be a lot of others too. BUT, MKIII ONLY!! Or....Ta Da.......The Tonverk.
At least as per the leaks, Tonverk doesn't seem to have a crossfader and hence wouldn't be comparable to Octatrack.
I use mine on everything. I think it would be cool if you could play samples in poly keys with it. Also, I don't really like how it auto saves. My first box as a Korg EA-1. I like how nothing saved unless you asked it to. When you jumped patterns all parameter would jump back to previous settings. Does anyone else feel the same way or have any tips?
digitakt 2 has 3 lfo for the sample machines, but for the midi tracks only 2 lfo. if you havent tried the midi learn on the digitakt two it is a real nice workflow speed booster. especially with presets. preset per piece of hardware you sequence is a great starting point!
That’s awesome! DT2 is definitely on my wishlist! Cheers!
i finally got a used mk2! I’ve never heard anyone talk about this before i bought it, but mine had screen burn in :(
Despite that, the Octatrack is the only piece of gear that ive had that i will never sell. It just does things that nothing else can.
I have the same feeling about my Analog 4 mkI. I got mine used, stupidly cheap, it has an issue with the CV outs, and the screen may be on it's last stages of life, but man, that's my desert island synth. As said on the video, this boxes are music making devices, but also can act as FX processor, or a small mixer, and that's a cherry on the top.
Have two digitakts and an octatrack, and as much as I love my octatrack, the digitakt 2 is essentially the perfect elektron sampler now. Exponentially quicker than the OT, incredibly streamlined, deeply intuitive. OT is none of those things. Still a beast though.
I agree. I‘m playing (and owner) with all (!) Elektron-boxes. And sell the most after a while. OT2 never. And on place 2: The Digitone 2. Both a great machines
The Digitone 2 seems fire!! Thanks for watching, fellow OT Comrade! 🙌🏻🙌🏻
The Octatrack and Digitakt 2 both seem SO cool to me in their ability to create complex "glitching" sounds in such a tactile way. I will have to try one some day because when it comes to that style of producing, the more glitch/IDM/glitch-hop oriented approach, I don't find it satisfying to do it on the hardware I have now. The MPC is dope, but there are SOME things I don't find enjoyable on it still. Ableton with Push 2 is great when I'm in studio mode, but I love creating outside of the studio i.e. in my living room sitting in front of the window haha.
I'm just so torn between saving for a Push 3, OT, or DT2 and this video didn't help! But I should just shut up and use what I have in the mean time!
Push 3 doesn’t have a proper song mode and it’s the most expensive Groovebox on the market. Be really sure you want one before splashing that much cash. I know a few people with buyers regret.
@@e-conrecords4665 Yeah, I usually build my arrangements as scenes in session view on Ableton before even getting into arrangement view, so I'd just stick to that before finishing on the computer. I find session view really useful for developing variations of themes and fills, stuff like that. I could see how the lack of that feature would be annoying for some uses, but I don't really see it as a problem.
Why is no modernized MK3 offered?
Monomachine too boasts 3 LFOs per track and similarly to the OT seems to have some features and approaches that Elektron has now sadly left behind.
@@frederiktollund monomachine is on my bucket list! Lots of love and thanks for watching!
The fact that a zillion videos are available for it doesn't necessarily make the Octatrack all that more accessible. It just shifts your time from playing around with it to endless watching videos.
Just ran to hug mine 😂
❤❤❤
Elektron needs to stop playing and drop the OT3
Facts!😂
the akai force runs circles around the octatrack, it just has so much more features and is so much more powerful while being easy to use compared to the OT its not even funny.
I want mk3 👉🏻👈🏻
🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
Yes, the OT's fader is a game changer. But if you "only" own a DT or DT2, you can use this : ua-cam.com/video/dlCfQ3sP-LM/v-deo.htmlsi=jIZYT0CHzShyCeTb
Akai Force x-fader baby
The Octatrack is difficult to learn especially if its your first Elektron device. Its not impossible though. I think it has that reputation for good reason.
nice intro
Thanks so much!
If I spent a decade learning how to use a piece of gear, I would be a cultist too.
I regret selling mine. probably buy another this year lol
Lol! I’ve been there! Sold and rebought😜 cheers!!
I was literally writing the word "epic" as you said it.
😂
Which will you choose Octatrack or Deluge ?
He has both and so do I. They make a good pair. I got my deluge back when it was much cheaper though, still on 7seg screen. If I had to pick only one now it would be the deluge - OT can barely make any sound on its own, but you can get close to producing an entire track on the deluge. And now with the 1.2 community firmware you can export stems out of it.
@ I totally agree, I currently have an MPC One+, but I'm thinking about using Deluge again in the future. Is it possible to download a multitrack file from Deluge now?
Uff, have both, need both😜😂
ive wanted a Octo for years but knew as a groove mega box it was too much for me. gassed for a xy. bought a move and am soo happyu i did. you should limit test a move. i think youd be surprised.
try sp 808 from 1998
Lets hear your beats on it!
@@beatsbyjiro8291 I have a few posted here and on my Insta if you want to check them out🤘🏻 This year I’m planning to use this as one if my main instruments, hope to see you there! Cheers!
Apparently the mk3 will never happen because the original designer doesn’t work at Elektron anymore. They would probably just make a new device that is similar and call it something else.
Whoa, Sweet sponsor! Despite that I rarely call/use my sales rep, I love Mike and it makes me feel good to know he’s a conversation away. Sometimes human connection is a great thing and I’m happy they’ve kept this model in a changing world.
Totally! It’s great to support companies that still value personal connections! Cheers my friend!
I tried the Octatrack and a gave up... The workflow wasn't for me... I know the Analog Four and the Analog Rytm, but I couldn't do anything good with the Octatrack :) I know it's my fault !
I totally get you ! I sold my first OT and then got another and that’s when I fell in love! There’s definitely more options now thankfully! Happy 2025 my friend!
@@MidlifeSynthesist Thanks! Happy 2025 to you as well!
I've always wanted an Octatrack. But I struggle, especially now, given its age and audio format restrictions. Provide a new, current DPS to handle any possible input wav (bitrate, frequency, multichannel) and better storage solutions, and you've got an easy MKIII. No other box in the Elektron range demands a MKIII than the Octatrack.
The new version should have the ability to record straight to an SSD. Oh yeah, and have at least 1 Gb of memory.
Hi everyone!
It may not belong here but is there any (series of) tutorial(s) which explains the most "basic" functions of each machine?
I think I have a vague understanding of what the different machines are supposed to be used for but most tutorials either try to explain to whole machine within 60 minutes (which obviously is not possible) or they go so deep, that they easily lose me after 30 minutes.
I would be looking for something that gets me going... and from there I'd dig deeper... once I feel comfortable enough.
As a first step, I'd consider using the unit for live looping / transitions between A/B.
Once I'd feel comfortable enogh, I'd probably look into the FX section, etc.
Trying to build (hand's-on) experience and expertise without being overwhelmed!
I do love EZBOT's videos - and they leave me speachless - but I lack too much basic knowledge to replicate the things that he does.
There are indeed a lot of videos/tutorials about OT but I feel like I still haven't found the right one(s) for me!
I will of course be grateful for any valuable feedback!
PS: Private lessons aren't an option for me - at least not for the time being.
Thanks in advance for any help and useful tips! :)
Check out the manual by Synthdawg!
Thavius Beck has created excellent courses for most of the current Elektron lineup on AskVideo. There are two courses about the Octatrack which helped me get up and running with my mine very quickly. I just checked the site, and there's currently a 60% discount, making each course $10.
“ Some Thoughts on Elektron’s Octatrack by Merlin” is a .pdf manual you can search, I think it’s a bit more accessible than the official octatrack manual, although the tutorials at the back of the official manual could help you too!
I’ll never sell mine but I’ll also never forgive it for not being able to cross fade between scenes on MIDI tracks. That and no MIDI over USB are its biggest omissions.
So true!!!! I still hope Elektron give us a new update someday🤘🏻 cheers!
nah tonwerk is coming ;p
😱😱
You do know that ipads are class compliant right? They are very powerful tools my friend.
Absolutely! Extremely powerful, but they just don’t inspire me 😅 If they inspire you then rock on that Ipad my friend🤘🏻cheers!
I can agree to call it “King” simply because of how I feel about kings: generally very high maintenance parasites that contribute little to nothing the wellbeing of their people.
I had (and loved) the Octatrack for a while, but it’s NOT a well designed device, and it takes your energies away from music. It can do many things but the vast majority are unnecessarily bureaucratic, and troubleshooting is a nightmare because of all the internal idiosyncrasies.
Nowadays IMO the only thing for which it can make sense is the live input manipulation (basically a performance mixer), for everything else (and if you’re creative for that too) there are far better options out there.
In my experience most people that love the Octatrack are victims to the Stockholm Syndrome: they’ve suffered so much to learn it that they now feel an unbreakable bond to the machine.
To top it all off: the MK1 muddled the sound big time, I believe in the MK2 they changed the converters and that probably makes a big difference.
I understand its importance from an historical perspective, the impact it had, but here’s so much good gear out there it’s absurd that we’re still celebrating this beyond the nostalgia aspect
dn2 hsa 3 lfos, but no designer
It is DPS not DSP
I had ONE job😂😅
Is any synth made before 2025, still worth it in 2025? YES.
LOL, Is it though?😜 cheers!
my top 2 instruments of 2024 are Octa & Blofeld
I want my MK3… that ain’t workin lol
I got rid of the OT because of the mutes killing the sound dead. No delay, reverb or note tails.
I got used to jamming on the DT by using mutes, couldn’t do this on the OT. So kept the DT and sold the OT.
Also the delay and reverb are better on the DT.
Incredibly powerful machine though!
I think you can use the x fader and map the volume to it for the samples you’re using and it doesn’t kill the tails
@ - yes there a couple of workarounds, but nothing straightforward like just pressing mute. Unfortunately.
Cheers though 👍
@@leftmono1016 Yup its annoying I agree. I also love my DT so I get it.
use a midi controller and mute tracks with the amp volume makes that trick
@ - yes, another work around. But the DT’s mutes just work how you’d want them to work without any messing about.
I've been producing for about 35 years. The Octatrack is cool, but most of the features it has that people are championing are not unique. It's mostly the interface and workflow that are unique. So do they make it the GOAT? I wouldn't even put it in the running TBH. It's not intuitive - to me it is part of the first wave of "modern" sampler/sequencers that don't even try to be intuitive, that sacrifice that in an effort to put everything a DAW has in a hardware device. It's still a powerful and great instrument, I just wouldn't even begin to call it a GOAT of anything. It exists in a world of gear where "GOAT" is not a thought, where there is a relatively steady flow of new specialized, proprietary tech, endless options. It doesn't have to be the GOAT, it's just a G
1:00 because nothing better has come up since then unfortunately. even the ableton push standalone is shitty (cause of the hardware formfactor, otherwise i would use it)
That's no goat. That's a sampler.
Lol, Mind=BLOWN 😜😂