Hey Kenny, thanks for doing all of your wonderful Octatrack UA-cams. I have in the last year or so, obtained the op-1 and digitakt, so I have spent all of my time and energy on those units. I am now ready to tackle the Octatrack and have been reading the manual and watching tutorials. Your music production is of very high quality. Thanks again for doing your thing and sharing it with others.
That's great! They're very rewarding instruments. I've been tempted to get others but I think I'll stick with the Octatrack for now, there's still plenty to learn :) Thanks for watching!
I think you were very wise to work on just the Octatrack, it is such a deep instrument. I learned to many machines in a short period of time so I don't have them all mastered. I'm pretty good with the Digitakt but I'm almost afraid to start working with the Octatrack Lol but I know it will be awesome. Thanks again for your excellent tutorials
Howard Anderson Howard Anderson thanks for the support! It can get frustrating at times for me as well. Those are times when I think it’s important to assess your goals. If your goal is for something to be easy, or for your equipment to serve you as a tool, then perhaps it’s time to go back to something familiar. If the goal is to inspired, then oftentimes I find that in the Octatrack or the OP1
I'm revisiting your tutorial and the good news for me is, I'm actually understanding everything this time....lol For me the OT has been a very long and gradual learning experience, it really is like learning an instrument... Thanks for making your knowledge available to all of us.
Haha nice! Yeah I have a similar experience with my own videos, since oftentimes those videos were taken maybe a day or two after I'd learned. So now when I watch them it feels much more ingrained - or it's a technique I rarely use anymore :)
12:27 thx for the idea with let the sampling run all the time! you have absolutly right. it happend to me so often that i thought "man that was groovey why did i not sampled that before!" so i will try this on the next gig and see what happens xD
Can you have a record trig start the recording and then automatically stop it after it comes back around so it doesn't start recording over again? I tried converting the record trig with function key, among other things, all to no avail. I finally managed to get a perfect quantized recording loop (audio from iPad Gadget) by manually removing the record trig after it started. Just starting to learn this beast of a machine and I'm a bit overwhelmed atm.
What are some examples of good sample to use to explore and understand the RTRG and RTIM sections? Anything ive done is just an annoying stutter that sounds like a dying modem.
To start, I'd recommend setting your retrig length value to something that will translate sonically (unless you're going for some glitchy/IDM-type stuff). Whole numbers in this case are a step each, so by default a 1.0 length will give you 1/16th-notes. To start, I'd recommend trying out these free Samples from Mars drum chains: www.elektronauts.com/t/samples-from-mars-free-samples/17692 They're designed so that each slice is a single drum hit, so if you set your RTIM to 1.0, you should just get repeated hi-hats, kicks, snares, etc.
June 14 "I've had this for 4 months". I'm jealous... Glad your relationship is going well and that you're growing nicely together and sharing your journey with us. all the best xoxo
Awesome! The OT is such a cool machine, but we need more videos like this to explain it. It's quite hard to understand often... especially in the beginning.
Definitely...it took me several months to really get familiar, and I'm still learning so much about it. This set of tutorials is meant to be for after you kind of know your way around, and want to start getting creative with its uses. Hope you learned something!
At first i was like, i’m gonna buy OT. Looked few tutorials, understood that there is another universe inside this box that will take few years to learn, got digitakt. Even Digitakt requires learning, but i think this makes learning curve smoother. After getting familiar with Digitakt it will take less time to learn OT. It’s one of the most powerful machines on the market
Yeah I've heard great things about the Digitakt. And I've recommended it to a lot of people who feel a bit intimidated by the Octatrack, because it seems at least a little bit less to think about.
Good question! I don't believe there's a way to use audio as a trigger that way - all of the Octatrack triggers tend to be based on what you can do within the sequencer as far as I know.
cool setup. i am trying to see a video with a setup such as yours, but an actual live set, where they then show subtitles to explain all the key moves. Kinda like the way "Knobs" does for his fx demo vidz, well everyone is on that bus now but, youknowotimeanright? anywho big up nice vidz
I love the Knobs video on the Octatrack! Probably one of my favorite octatrack videos. Though I think the production value and text style may take more time than I'm willing to spend. I will however be uploading improvised sets though, so stay tuned!
nice demo. I use digitakt, digitone and octatrack on my recordings and while the octatrack has all the power, digitakt is really quick and still versatile at the same time.
@Patrice O'Neal Clips digitakt: quicker, intuitive, forced mono samples only and many more missing features. Octatrack: slower, far less intuitive but infinitely deeper and just as rewarding.
Could you elaborate? If by working the same, you mean you set them by holding down the corresponding button and adjusting parameters, then yes they operate similarly.
Nice tutorial 👍 Guys like you tempt many to buy Elektron gear. Ok. Is it worth buying a 6 yr old Octatrack Mk I for $ 750 Or buy the new MkII. Pls suggest. Thnx
Jo Azaredo I’ve never had an mk1, but many seem to think there’s not much difference under the hood. I believe there are some extra buttons on the new one that replace some more complicated hotkeys on the last one.
I can't really tell you that, unfortunately. For me it was totally worth getting the new one, but I've seen lots of people who have enjoyed the Mk1's discounted price, and it can do pretty much everything this one can. If you're looking to save some cash it's probably a good option still!
@@grandmasterjo1 the mk2 interior, software and sound engine is also 6 years old (or the same as mk1), but the interface is much better, screen is crisp and the buttons rock! I would always go for the update, even if it's some more months to save money - you could spend reading the manual and getting rid of other equipment you don't need, or learn the one you have :D
I want to use just a mic ( no other mixer besides the Octatrack or vocal processor) straight into the Octatrack mk2. What do you suggest for a functioning AND quality microphone? Thanks.
Honestly you can't go wrong with a Shure SM58 - it's a sturdy mic, an industry standard for performance, and it'll get the job while still capturing the sound pretty well. One step above that you could consider is the Telefunken M80 - I haven't used one yet but they seem to be quite popular with singers. I personally use an Electrovoice RE20. These are often used for radio broadcast, but I saw Radiohead use one in their live set "LIve from the Basement," and I love the way it sounds. It is somewhat pricey ($400), so I would still highly recommend the Shure.
Kenny Zhao Thanks for that mic suggestion. Buuut I’s still need a preamp, right. ( I rather just plug a mic into the Octa, but no phantom power! :/ ) I used a ya helicon live play but I can’t get any sound using “thru machine “...
You can only assign one sample per track, but you can trigger any sample you have loaded in your audio pool by holding the trig and pressing up or down.
It’s great but still not enough for me to ditch my Force The Akai Force is a full production unit from the Unlimited Storage live looper sampler down to the real time Time stretching which is on par with Ableton “ I bought a Digitone I love it as Film and tv Composer also Kontakt is my go to for most things but the Digitone has some great built in sounds and the metal box is solid nice screen I don’t mind menu diving 😎 but toe to toe this divine I’m sure you can produce a full Album on but I think you are going to hit bumps along the way with the Force it’s smooth flying 🚀 but great videos I will save these in case I get one to go with my force or just to have in my studio but I might in up with the OP-1 first lol.
Orlando Pergamo I’m a owner of the Mpc Live as well I’ve been working on my Digitakt with the New 1.20 and Overbridge 2 flawless for how I produce it’s not the everyday turn on Mpc I get one shots , licks,builds,stabs, loaded in my Digitakt ! When scoring a film or underscoring or a RNB Record.
Orlando Pergamo The octa is great not for me in fact my first placement on a major Record in 2006 that landed me a Grammy Nomination! I only used a Aixom 25 and Reason also sampled in reason I can Stretch and sound with almost anything I have here I know the Octatrakt is performance sampler but I can achieve the sound I want from many other things and gear, comes down to skill and knowing what your doing there is a reason I’ve passed on the Octa not because it’s not good but because I already have things that stretch fine! And the Digitakt is a piece of art just like my OP-1
Orlando Pergamo And remember the Force was 1500$ and also my Force plays Direct via ethernet or Wi-Fi to Ableton Along with the new Arranger The Force is still a do it all I’ve worked on both mk1&2 of the OT the Live Force destroy it for Building a full record
Orlando Pergamo I understand the OT is nice I’ve used it ! And I brought up my Nomination to show I can time stretch or sample with a laptop and reasons and this was 2006, the way I produce is not clip style the way I use my Digitakt & Digitone is not how or why most by it I use the Digitakt as a One shot or to build up stabs or loops in reverse with bit reduction or LP delays to mold the sound into what I want “from there it’s ported into Logic or the Force or Live if I want to build on it more. One thing among many things I took in my 4 years on Warner Music Group BestkeptSecret was Sounds Aaron Bryant & Hason Dinero” it’s the final product that places Record not the Gear! It sounds like you know you Elektron stuff and that’s great not sure what type of music you compose ? But Myself Pop, Country,RNB,Hiphop,Jazz,EDM,Underscoring, cinematic,DanceHall,Fuley Like I said I Loveeee the Digitakt and I have Gear that costs 7 times the price of a Digitakt but the fact I can play in Sound FX or a sweet Guitar lick to complete a recorded from one of the 8 Tracks is😎 The Analog Ruth has the same Engine as far as Mangling” sounds as the OT! I don’t need anything else although FedEx will be delivering My Icon Qcon Pro today lol but other then that I might try out the 1010Music BlackBox at 599$ full Color Multitouch Grove box Who knows! In Short all of the Elecktron items I own are Perfect 😎 I did buy the Model samples and took it back the next day now those are “entry level” Elecktron items, Digitakt and up you have to master it like I did every NI Maschine Second nature to use it.
Orlando Pergamo I mean if I’m Being honest with myself yes the Digitakt is not a need” but it’s a great Box to get a Ideal to a full record I mean theirs people that use Ableton without a Push! But it can be done and yes I have 17 years in the Industry but I’m always open to learning things idk like I want to live record on my Digitakt but I can’t figure out how and it supports it.🤔
Hey Kenny, thanks for doing all of your wonderful Octatrack UA-cams. I have in the last year or so, obtained the op-1 and digitakt, so I have spent all of my time and energy on those units. I am now ready to tackle the Octatrack and have been reading the manual and watching tutorials.
Your music production is of very high quality. Thanks again for doing your thing and sharing it with others.
That's great! They're very rewarding instruments. I've been tempted to get others but I think I'll stick with the Octatrack for now, there's still plenty to learn :) Thanks for watching!
I think you were very wise to work on just the Octatrack, it is such a deep instrument. I learned to many machines in a short period of time so I don't have them all mastered. I'm pretty good with the Digitakt but I'm almost afraid to start working with the Octatrack Lol but I know it will be awesome. Thanks again for your excellent tutorials
Howard Anderson Howard Anderson thanks for the support! It can get frustrating at times for me as well. Those are times when I think it’s important to assess your goals. If your goal is for something to be easy, or for your equipment to serve you as a tool, then perhaps it’s time to go back to something familiar. If the goal is to inspired, then oftentimes I find that in the Octatrack or the OP1
I'm revisiting your tutorial and the good news for me is, I'm actually understanding everything this time....lol
For me the OT has been a very long and gradual learning experience, it really is like learning an instrument...
Thanks for making your knowledge available to all of us.
Haha nice! Yeah I have a similar experience with my own videos, since oftentimes those videos were taken maybe a day or two after I'd learned. So now when I watch them it feels much more ingrained - or it's a technique I rarely use anymore :)
waiting for octa mk1, and this is the best channel i've found on the subject of the octa. very well explained, easy to understand. big ups!
Thanks so much for watching!
12:27 thx for the idea with let the sampling run all the time! you have absolutly right. it happend to me so often that i thought "man that was groovey why did i not sampled that before!" so i will try this on the next gig and see what happens xD
Danke Für Nichts definitely more forgiving to have it already sampled just in case :)
thanks for sharing, this was an outstanding octa tutorial
Ben thanks so much, glad to help!
Can you have a record trig start the recording and then automatically stop it after it comes back around so it doesn't start recording over again? I tried converting the record trig with function key, among other things, all to no avail. I finally managed to get a perfect quantized recording loop (audio from iPad Gadget) by manually removing the record trig after it started. Just starting to learn this beast of a machine and I'm a bit overwhelmed atm.
What are some examples of good sample to use to explore and understand the RTRG and RTIM sections? Anything ive done is just an annoying stutter that sounds like a dying modem.
To start, I'd recommend setting your retrig length value to something that will translate sonically (unless you're going for some glitchy/IDM-type stuff). Whole numbers in this case are a step each, so by default a 1.0 length will give you 1/16th-notes.
To start, I'd recommend trying out these free Samples from Mars drum chains:
www.elektronauts.com/t/samples-from-mars-free-samples/17692
They're designed so that each slice is a single drum hit, so if you set your RTIM to 1.0, you should just get repeated hi-hats, kicks, snares, etc.
damn this tutorial has helped me so much thanks dude
Thanks for sharing your productive approach. Very helpful THANKS.
Nice video! And fresh music you got on spotify, had to check as the sample was so catchy!
How do you map to cross fader like that?
June 14 "I've had this for 4 months". I'm jealous... Glad your relationship is going well and that you're growing nicely together and sharing your journey with us. all the best xoxo
Some seriously clever ideas...thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much!
Awesome! The OT is such a cool machine, but we need more videos like this to explain it. It's quite hard to understand often... especially in the beginning.
Definitely...it took me several months to really get familiar, and I'm still learning so much about it. This set of tutorials is meant to be for after you kind of know your way around, and want to start getting creative with its uses. Hope you learned something!
At first i was like, i’m gonna buy OT. Looked few tutorials, understood that there is another universe inside this box that will take few years to learn, got digitakt. Even Digitakt requires learning, but i think this makes learning curve smoother. After getting familiar with Digitakt it will take less time to learn OT. It’s one of the most powerful machines on the market
Yeah I've heard great things about the Digitakt. And I've recommended it to a lot of people who feel a bit intimidated by the Octatrack, because it seems at least a little bit less to think about.
So is there a way to trigger sampling when an input level reaches a set decible?, like the SP-505 and such?
Good question! I don't believe there's a way to use audio as a trigger that way - all of the Octatrack triggers tend to be based on what you can do within the sequencer as far as I know.
Own a Digitakt and considering an Octatrack, so I’ll be watching more of your videos :)
Thanks a bunch! I'll be posting same time next week, stay tuned!
Oh, and is it possible to set Trig conditions with percentages to retrigger looooing samples? Or can this only be accomplished with manual trigs?
If I'm understanding you correctly, yes you can!
cool setup. i am trying to see a video with a setup such as yours, but an actual live set, where they then show subtitles to explain all the key moves. Kinda like the way "Knobs" does for his fx demo vidz, well everyone is on that bus now but, youknowotimeanright? anywho big up nice vidz
I love the Knobs video on the Octatrack! Probably one of my favorite octatrack videos. Though I think the production value and text style may take more time than I'm willing to spend. I will however be uploading improvised sets though, so stay tuned!
Thanks for sharing! Subbed.
great series!
Thanks so much! I'm in the process of uploading a new one today, so stay tuned!
nice demo. I use digitakt, digitone and octatrack on my recordings and while the octatrack has all the power, digitakt is really quick and still versatile at the same time.
@Patrice O'Neal Clips digitakt: quicker, intuitive, forced mono samples only and many more missing features.
Octatrack: slower, far less intuitive but infinitely deeper and just as rewarding.
Bum bum bum bum bum techno rapo was a banger!
Also, do track trigs work the same as setting scenes?
Could you elaborate? If by working the same, you mean you set them by holding down the corresponding button and adjusting parameters, then yes they operate similarly.
Nice tutorial 👍
Guys like you tempt many to buy Elektron gear.
Ok. Is it worth buying a 6 yr old Octatrack Mk I for $ 750
Or buy the new MkII.
Pls suggest. Thnx
Jo Azaredo I’ve never had an mk1, but many seem to think there’s not much difference under the hood. I believe there are some extra buttons on the new one that replace some more complicated hotkeys on the last one.
Kenny Zhao thanks Ken. I understand the difference between Mk I and II.
My doubt was. Is it worth buying a 6 yr old machine.
I can't really tell you that, unfortunately. For me it was totally worth getting the new one, but I've seen lots of people who have enjoyed the Mk1's discounted price, and it can do pretty much everything this one can. If you're looking to save some cash it's probably a good option still!
Zhao thanks again. I think I’d buy a brand new one as 3 yrs down the line it wud be 9 yrs old. Cheers
@@grandmasterjo1 the mk2 interior, software and sound engine is also 6 years old (or the same as mk1), but the interface is much better, screen is crisp and the buttons rock! I would always go for the update, even if it's some more months to save money - you could spend reading the manual and getting rid of other equipment you don't need, or learn the one you have :D
I want to use just a mic ( no other mixer besides the Octatrack or vocal processor) straight into the Octatrack mk2. What do you suggest for a functioning AND quality microphone? Thanks.
Honestly you can't go wrong with a Shure SM58 - it's a sturdy mic, an industry standard for performance, and it'll get the job while still capturing the sound pretty well. One step above that you could consider is the Telefunken M80 - I haven't used one yet but they seem to be quite popular with singers.
I personally use an Electrovoice RE20. These are often used for radio broadcast, but I saw Radiohead use one in their live set "LIve from the Basement," and I love the way it sounds. It is somewhat pricey ($400), so I would still highly recommend the Shure.
Kenny Zhao Thanks for that mic suggestion. Buuut I’s still need a preamp, right.
( I rather just plug a mic into the Octa, but no phantom power! :/ )
I used a ya helicon live play but I can’t get any sound using “thru machine “...
AdrianVino try throwing a compressor on FX, and boost the gain to like 15
@@aidanvinum You could always run a zoom H4n with just the mic portion into the OT. Simple
Great tutorial!
Thanks for the video and explanation!
Is it possible to load multiple sounds on 1 track?
You can only assign one sample per track, but you can trigger any sample you have loaded in your audio pool by holding the trig and pressing up or down.
pls explain what you do...
great vids, thanks
Thanks for watching!
Very helpfull tutorials thanks !
Nice one
Nice Swan!
It’s great but still not enough for me to ditch my Force The Akai Force is a full production unit from the Unlimited Storage live looper sampler down to the real time Time stretching which is on par with Ableton “ I bought a Digitone I love it as Film and tv Composer also Kontakt is my go to for most things but the Digitone has some great built in sounds and the metal box is solid nice screen I don’t mind menu diving 😎 but toe to toe this divine I’m sure you can produce a full Album on but I think you are going to hit bumps along the way with the Force it’s smooth flying 🚀 but great videos I will save these in case I get one to go with my force or just to have in my studio but I might in up with the OP-1 first lol.
Orlando Pergamo I’m a owner of the Mpc Live as well I’ve been working on my Digitakt with the New 1.20 and Overbridge 2 flawless for how I produce it’s not the everyday turn on Mpc I get one shots , licks,builds,stabs, loaded in my Digitakt ! When scoring a film or underscoring or a RNB Record.
Orlando Pergamo The octa is great not for me in fact my first placement on a major Record in 2006 that landed me a Grammy Nomination! I only used a Aixom 25 and Reason also sampled in reason I can Stretch and sound with almost anything I have here I know the Octatrakt is performance sampler but I can achieve the sound I want from many other things and gear, comes down to skill and knowing what your doing there is a reason I’ve passed on the Octa not because it’s not good but because I already have things that stretch fine! And the Digitakt is a piece of art just like my OP-1
Orlando Pergamo And remember the Force was 1500$ and also my Force plays Direct via ethernet or Wi-Fi to Ableton Along with the new Arranger The Force is still a do it all I’ve worked on both mk1&2 of the OT the Live Force destroy it for Building a full record
Orlando Pergamo I understand the OT is nice I’ve used it ! And I brought up my Nomination to show I can time stretch or sample with a laptop and reasons and this was 2006, the way I produce is not clip style the way I use my Digitakt & Digitone is not how or why most by it I use the Digitakt as a One shot or to build up stabs or loops in reverse with bit reduction or LP delays to mold the sound into what I want “from there it’s ported into Logic or the Force or Live if I want to build on it more. One thing among many things I took in my 4 years on Warner Music Group BestkeptSecret was Sounds Aaron Bryant & Hason Dinero” it’s the final product that places Record not the Gear! It sounds like you know you Elektron stuff and that’s great not sure what type of music you compose ? But Myself Pop, Country,RNB,Hiphop,Jazz,EDM,Underscoring, cinematic,DanceHall,Fuley Like I said I Loveeee the Digitakt and I have Gear that costs 7 times the price of a Digitakt but the fact I can play in Sound FX or a sweet Guitar lick to complete a recorded from one of the 8 Tracks is😎 The Analog Ruth has the same Engine as far as Mangling” sounds as the OT! I don’t need anything else although FedEx will be delivering My Icon Qcon Pro today lol but other then that I might try out the 1010Music BlackBox at 599$ full Color Multitouch Grove box Who knows! In Short all of the Elecktron items I own are Perfect 😎 I did buy the Model samples and took it back the next day now those are “entry level” Elecktron items, Digitakt and up you have to master it like I did every NI Maschine Second nature to use it.
Orlando Pergamo I mean if I’m Being honest with myself yes the Digitakt is not a need” but it’s a great Box to get a Ideal to a full record I mean theirs people that use Ableton without a Push! But it can be done and yes I have 17 years in the Industry but I’m always open to learning things idk like I want to live record on my Digitakt but I can’t figure out how and it supports it.🤔
Good for Live Performance as you say
Stubborn OT community arguing errors as their features.