Err… I mean here come the newbie questions…
Suppose I have a long (3mins+) sample (wav) of a premade loop on the CF card.
I assign the Loop to a Static machine & track and now it’s streaming from the CF card
I guess my queastion is, what are some of the things I CAN’T I do with a static machine when compared to using a flex machine?
you can’t Take Tiger Mountain (or reliably expect fast lfo tracking of sample position e.g.)
Taking Tiger Mountain (by Strategy)
Right form the OT Manual 1.25, pg 65:
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FLEX AND STATIC MACHINES
Apart from Flex samples being loaded to the RAM memory of the Octatrack and Static samples streamed from the Compact Flash card, a few other differences between the two machine types exist.
The track LFOs can not modulate the STRT parameter of a Static machine. The crossfader can, but if the modulation is too fast the Static machine will not be able to update the start point position correctly, resulting in the sample not being played. Once the Static machine catches up the sample will be played back from the correct start position. Parameter locking the STRT parameter will however make the sample play back exactly according to the
locked position.
Flex samples do not experience these limitations and will always play back from the correct position no matter how heavily modulated the STRT parameter is.
Basically: Static for large samples, Flex for small where you want to modulate the start/end points.
Thanks… I finally started down that long road , learning the octatrack.
Even though I’ve had mine for several weeks now, I finally formatted a new CF card, transfered some samples to the audio pool and started playing.
I mentioned in another thread that I record/perform non-tempo, non-beat based music, ambeint stuff, etc… I had 5 tracks loaded with static machines with samples streaming from the CF. All I’ve done so far was just trigger the tracks from the trigger buttons. Depending on if they’re set to loop they will play continuosly or stop at the end of the sample.
Now I’d like to try and create a recorded/programmed performance where the static machines fade in and out, or are momentarly triggered and that gets saved…
then playback that performance…
Would I use the sequencer for that task?.. not sure how to make a long sample only play when the trig button is pressed…(mixer?, mutes?)
Having fun learning!..
Spent many hours last night with the OT. After working with the OT in different modes, it became apparent that for the type of music i do, (non-beat / tempo based), using the OT in a in a more non-pattern, live improvisation performance mode would be where to concentrate. . Two methods I’m experimenting with,
Pre-Load samples, assigning them to tracks, triggering the tracks from the OT buttons, on/off during a live performance. No pattern sequencer in use.
Load parts one and two with different samples, assign the parts to two patterns, run the sequencer muting tracks, re-starting samples as you go. (scenes?) Can I use scenes without having to use the pattern sequencer? Some of my samples are very long and I wouldn’t want them re-starting after only 64 steps.
There is mention elsewhere on this forum of a “Free-play” or “Play Free” mode but I can’t find any mention in the manual of this mode. Is this just a name given to indicate using the OT without the pattern sequencer?
Plays Free, see page 91 or search pdf !
Thanks! guess I shouldn’t expect to see a reference in the index. 
another green noob?
could you be more explicit on what you’re aiming at? Because many things can be achieved many different ways?
If it’s an automatic fading question, you may learn how to use lfo’s, trigless trigs, live recording, scenes, the arranger, resampling
check transition tricks in search engine. One pb with long samples is that you have to either untrig a sample (nothing can be added to the track, you can’t change part/pattern), or use slowest bpm+lowest quantize grid possible. I don’t remember if free tracks has the 4 bars limit to be honest? the shorcut is funtion+bank, you have to get out of grid mode.
Why not use a sp-404/mpc500 for your purpose?
Sorry be a pain rosebud, I should have been more clear about what I was trying to do.
At the moment, I’m basically flying audio samples in and out during a live performance, twisting and mangling as I go.
Up till now, I’ve only been manually triggering the samples, One track is programmed with a very long drone/noise sample.
, the other tracks have short samples being added or taken away during a performance.
Now I’m attempting to use the sequencer, creating basically one long pattern with all the trigs programmed, using scene changes, etc…
I’m having fun learning so far, Yes, I could either use my RS7000 or MV8800 for complete linear sequencing bu I added the OT to increase my mangling abilities and also for live use with other devices.