I just wanted to express my glee over the fact that I am really starting to feel like I know how to use my Octatrack!
I sold my OT months ago, but it managed to find it’s way back in my stable. This is actually my second OT, the original one was sold about a year ago when I felt as though it was taking up all of my time trying to learn it.
Now though I feel like it’s probably the single best instrument I own. And only a few years ago I didn’t really see much point to samplers. It’s now to the point where I’m starting to feel like I should get out and perform with it in some way, because it’s the most jammable gear I’ve owned in ages. I’m still not recording much with it, but who cares, I’m having too much fun!
Mostly I use it to do real time sampling and then mangling of audio from my Akai Rhythm Wolf and DSI Tempest. I’m debating adding a Microbrute just to have something a bit more immediate to feed in leads and bass lines. Actually I’m going back and forth between a Microbrute and maybe a small VA like a Micron or something.
Generally speaking I use tracks 1-4 as flex machines to record audio in real time, and tracks 5-7 as thru tracks for the Tempest/RW. I’m getting really good at using the crossfader/scenes to switch between live input and captured samples. (using scenes with different parts muted) I usually create a couple parts which mix and match the live / sampled parts in different ways, then use patterns to change up the way sampled bits are played back. It’s amazing how just adding a trig or two can completely change up a bassline or a beat.
Anyway I’m really enjoying this thing and I guess the point of my anti-rant is that you can go from WTF to OMG with this thing if you just buy it, sell it, buy it again, sell it again, watch a bunch of videos, read the manual a bunch, and just have fun with it
couldn’t agree more, there are obstacles and epiphany moments, but when you start to get it you start to see the bewildering potential, it’s exciting and still daunting, the more the UI and potential become second nature, the more it feels like an instrument like you said, the A4 was easy to tame, this thing is a bit wilder and edgier - it takes time, certainly for the way i want to use it which is probably not typical
yeah, but the microbrute is about half the price and it has patching, it sounds incredible and it’s very versatile, but arturia are slower than a slow thing with bugs/updates etc, yeah it’s analog, but the digital side is a mess, although it still is playable, astonishingly flexible and unique
whilst preset synths are great, there’s nothing quite like knob per function wysiwyg, it’s cool with CV on the A4 too as well as ideal to fire into the OT as natrixgli was suggesting
The OT is my favorite piece.
It’s been fun for me to learn.
Just when I start enjoying the basics of how it works, I start to realize how that can be expanded on.
It just keeps going.
I had the Bass Station 2, returned it. I didn’t like the fixed keyboard tracking and found the sound to be a bit vanilla. I think the MB has much more character.
But I am debating a VA (i.e. Micron) because for the same price I’d get 8 voices, multis, and 37 full size keys. I already have the Tempest which is a pretty killer analog synth.
the Octatrack is really a great instrument once you decide how you want to use it. I myself have changed my octatrack approach several times and may change it again in the future. My band mate has one as well and we use it completely differently.
when i first got the machine i used it as a dj rig, now its a drum machine/mixer/sampler/midi controller but for me thats been almost two years and countless headaches, growing pains, etc… all i can say is keep using it and you will have your eureka moment
I use the Octatrack for more than 2 years now and i can´t
remember that i ever owned a machine that kept me
interested for such a long time.
I bought it because I was searching for a Midi Sequencer
for my analog/modular gear.
It was a surprise for me that the audio-part remembers
a lot of a modular too.
There´s a lot that the OT can´t do, but I still love
experimenting with it, especially combined with
other gear…
with some extra gear you can create many
“boutique” fx pedals for example…
You know Ive nearly sold the OT a bunch of times - until I play it - for instance last night I needed a bassline and nothing was gelling. Loaded up some sample chains, sound a nice SEM chain and came away with a stunning bassline.
I call it the turd polisher. You know how you always here heads saying "shit in - shit out, cant polish a turd, ect. Well the OT polishes turds to a high buff finish
Just a recreational musician with no musical ambitions but there aint anything out there that is as rewarding as the Octatrack. I have always felt that the interface been natural and working for me. Ok, I might only know and use 5% of its potential but it just means I have years of fun exploring the beast ahead.
My thoughts exactly [/quote]
Do you guys not find that when you load in an existing sample, the OT helps to create that turd somewhat before it gets to work polishing it?
