New Elektron announcement at Musikmesse (2014, Overbridge announcement)

[barryfell]

[quote=“Astrolab”]Interesting! Even if don’t use a computer anymore…

Bi-directional USB audio streaming
Overbridge makes multi tracking easy. Connect a USB cable and record multiple Elektron machine voices to separate DAW tracks in 24 bit quality. Or send audio from a DAW, process it with the analog circuitry of the Elektron machines and bring back the results to a new DAW track – all over a single USB cable and without timing issues. Overbridge even allows the Analog range of machines to be used as multi-channel USB sound cards.

Yes, this is awesome! This will free up 2 inputs on my audio interface as well

[/quote]
Yeah, which for me means I have room to add some other new hardware.

Delighted with this update as DAW integration is a must for me.

[brucewayne]

[PES]

Some people will fall off their chair or just giggle in madness

Confirmed!

[Tintao]

[quote=“PlayRecords”]@ tonight ^^ Cenk said the A4 already had the tech inside and was kept a secret… I’m guessing OT was made well before this idea.

yeah your probably right
just an editor would be a huge leap for me as I’m just not using it as much as I know I should be,
in part due to some of the convoluted structure.[/quote]
For what would you want an editor ? Edit the samples ?
If so, why not using any existing sound software to work with your samples. That’s the way i do. I make my sample using Ableton live or Soundforge, and i upload them into my octatrack.

[Muddler]

[quote=“Muddler”]Hmm…

Well, I was contemplating OT or AR for my first Elektron and I went with OT, which I’m super happy with but seeing this makes me wonder two or three things. 1. Why not OT? 2. How has this not been done before? 3. Does this mean that Elektron is also moving the way of Daws and computer integration gear?

I don’t really use computers and do not want to so I kinda could care less it’s not for the OT but it just makes me wonder if the OT is on it’s way out or at least not going to get another update?

1. Unfortunately the Octatrack hardware don’t support Overbridge. But don’t worry - it is definitely not on its way out.

2. It takes a lot of time and effort and is a rather complicated thing to achieve. It is not possible to simply tack on such technology to an analog synthesizer. The hardware and the internal digital control system must be powerful and advanced enough to make it work.

3. We will not stop making stand alone hardware. Proper hardware machines are where it’s at. But that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be able to speak more fluently with computers. That is the best of both worlds, really.[/quote]
   Thanks Jon. It’s really a good thing for A+ users.
   I’m glad to hear the OT is going strong.

[dcsux]

One view often heard here is that Elektron are great at supporting their machines, regular updates and lengthy support of all machines. I’d pretty much have go with that, hard to argue against it.

On the surface, this latest news looks great, but there is something lurking underneath.

I can’t help feel that this latest news, along with the hidden +drive on the A4, is actually symbolic of a big problem with Elektron. That is, rushing out machines, get the money in quick and everyone’s a beta-tester. But, that’s ok because they can spring a fake surprise later and people think they are getting something for nothing that they in fact paid a high price for already.

The A4 hardware always had the +drive/USB audio capability. Elektron had just not finished the software side of things. Unless of course anyone thinks the A4 was not intentionally designed with these features in mind at the offset?

Take one scenario for example. It is quite possible that someone bought a soundcard for the sole purpose of recording their A4 into a computer, or that they were going to purchase a new soundcard with a certain number of inputs + the 2 extra they would need for the A4. It could even be the case with mixers too. Might have been handy to know that the A4 would have USB audio recording capability in advance no?

I guess my point is they have held this stuff back for a reason, mainly marketing and to get the machines out and money in quickly (and yes we all know without the money coming in they couldn’t sell us these wonderful machines). And ok, Elektron might not want to let all their competitors know what they are up to, but still seems a tad devious.

A little cynical non?
I agree that clearly this was the plan from the outset, but what have the early adopters/“beta-testers” actually lost?
I bought one of the first run of A4s. It cost less then than it does now.
I’ve had >1 year of a four voice synth.
Now I have polyphony and a + drive. Later I’ll get the USB audio.
If they had held off until all these features were ready (ie. Q4 2014), I think all that would have happened is I’d have lost out on the time I have had with the A4, rather than gained anything.

And so what if some of it is marketing. They are a company after all.

[barryfell]

Strange move, I always read how everyone is happy that the Elektron boxes got them away from the computer, Get ready to plug back in.

They aren’t forcing anyone back to their computers, but they are offering the best of both words if you want it.
This further opens the door to those who like to use both as smoothly as possible, and makes their products more attractive to more people.
It’s not strange, it’s genius.

[Tintao]

This means I’m an a#%hole because the only matter for I just bought AK instead of A4 was the separate outs thing

(PSNot to be the usual hating troll: elektron shit is insane and I f£$%&ing love it)

(PPS and the uberbridgething is brilliant)

Individual ouputs will be available only if you are connected to a computer. If you want to plug them into a mixer, you cannot. So the AK’s individual ouputs keep being useful.

That could be cool if Elektron make a small external USB/Audio interface

[Paland]

One view often heard here is that Elektron are great at supporting their machines, regular updates and lengthy support of all machines. I’d pretty much have go with that, hard to argue against it.

On the surface, this latest news looks great, but there is something lurking underneath.

I can’t help feel that this latest news, along with the hidden +drive on the A4, is actually symbolic of a big problem with Elektron. That is, rushing out machines, get the money in quick and everyone’s a beta-tester. But, that’s ok because they can spring a fake surprise later and people think they are getting something for nothing that they in fact paid a high price for already.

The A4 hardware always had the +drive/USB audio capability. Elektron had just not finished the software side of things. Unless of course anyone thinks the A4 was not intentionally designed with these features in mind at the offset?

Take one scenario for example. It is quite possible that someone bought a soundcard for the sole purpose of recording their A4 into a computer, or that they were going to purchase a new soundcard with a certain number of inputs + the 2 extra they would need for the A4. It could even be the case with mixers too. Might have been handy to know that the A4 would have USB audio recording capability in advance no?

I guess my point is they have held this stuff back for a reason, mainly marketing and to get the machines out and money in quickly (and yes we all know without the money coming in they couldn’t sell us these wonderful machines). And ok, Elektron might not want to let all their competitors know what they are up to, but still seems a tad devious.

So they filled an already awesome machine, that was worth it’s cost at release, with extra goodies hoping to make it even more awesome with FREE UPDATES over time… and you… i don’t… nah you’re trolling. Almost fell for it!

[nirun]

One view often heard here is that Elektron are great at supporting their machines, regular updates and lengthy support of all machines. I’d pretty much have go with that, hard to argue against it.

On the surface, this latest news looks great, but there is something lurking underneath.

-snip-

I would much rather pay a little bit more, have my item in hand and be able to use the bulk of it’s functionality and have my funds support future development that is based on real user feedback.

It’s nice to upgrade your instrument with a click of the mouse instead of boxing it up and shipping it to Elektron for physical upgrades or to have to resell my old unit for a MK II or w/e the case may be to save a couple hundred bucks.

[poonti]

[quote="“Paland”"]

One view often heard here is that Elektron are great at supporting their machines, regular updates and lengthy support of all machines. I’d pretty much have go with that, hard to argue against it.

On the surface, this latest news looks great, but there is something lurking underneath.

I can’t help feel that this latest news, along with the hidden +drive on the A4, is actually symbolic of a big problem with Elektron. That is, rushing out machines, get the money in quick and everyone’s a beta-tester. But, that’s ok because they can spring a fake surprise later and people think they are getting something for nothing that they in fact paid a high price for already.

The A4 hardware always had the +drive/USB audio capability. Elektron had just not finished the software side of things. Unless of course anyone thinks the A4 was not intentionally designed with these features in mind at the offset?

Take one scenario for example. It is quite possible that someone bought a soundcard for the sole purpose of recording their A4 into a computer, or that they were going to purchase a new soundcard with a certain number of inputs + the 2 extra they would need for the A4. It could even be the case with mixers too. Might have been handy to know that the A4 would have USB audio recording capability in advance no?

I guess my point is they have held this stuff back for a reason, mainly marketing and to get the machines out and money in quickly (and yes we all know without the money coming in they couldn’t sell us these wonderful machines). And ok, Elektron might not want to let all their competitors know what they are up to, but still seems a tad devious.

So they filled an already awesome machine, that was worth it’s cost at release, with extra goodies hoping to make it even more awesome with FREE UPDATES over time… and you… i don’t… nah you’re trolling. Almost fell for it![/quote]
No kidding! I can’t imagine how happy everyone would have been if Elektron had delayed the release of the A4 until Q4 2014…
This is great for those of us who do use a computer/DAW (for at least recording, like I do). This now means I can do more complex arrangements, have settings saved, etc, and also throw some effects like Valhalla and Cytomic on the A4 audio, in real-time. What’s there not to like about this???
This could also help pull in a few more sales of the AR, so smart move Elektron!

[djd_oz]

Good move Elektron.

[nirun]

Also for anyone who has more knowledge on this topic, will this mean that through USB it will be possible to have finer control over CV sequencing like the VSTs that interface with expert sleepers modules?

[Dogma]

To jon - please don’t forget OT development. It’s the instrument of out generation - strong words but I believe it to be true.
I have been thinking about Expert sleepers since reading about this. I have no idea the outcomes for either,

[Tintao]

To jon - please don’t forget OT development. It’s the instrument of out generation - strong words but I believe it to be true.
I have been thinking about Expert sleepers since reading about this. I have no idea the outcomes for either,

Don’t be sad if there is no more evolutions of the machine’s softwares in the future. I own a Roland SH101 an still having fun with, if you see what i mean.
Also, i think the limitations of a machine force you to be creative.
So be creative !

[SB-SIX]

Under promise, over deliver… You hear that DSI? That’s how you get happy customers (except 1 apparently :))

[pixelife]

This is great as I’ve never been happy with the stereo recording of the A4 while jamming. Where’s the road case, though?

[bandersong]

This is honestly an amazing addition to these machines, the only sad part is HOW FAR AWAY IT IS AHHHHHH.

Q4? Should have waited a bit longer to announce, knowing that this is going to be possible is going to KILL ME during my workflow. It’s like I’m going to be recording stereo and such and just be thinking “Wow, I could be multitracking…”

[chapelierfou]

Also for anyone who has more knowledge on this topic, will this mean that through USB it will be possible to have finer control over CV sequencing like the VSTs that interface with expert sleepers modules?

Wow ! THAT is the question to me. It would be so awesome.

[jaalmadakan]

1. Unfortunately the Octatrack hardware don’t support Overbridge. But don’t worry - it is definitely not on its way out

I would pay for an hardware update to my OT to have it support such feature, and a Windows 7 based sample manager (at least something that lets me drag/drop samples in the audio pool, consolidate duplicates in the pool, preserve links if I move samples in other directories on the CF card, you get the idea.)