Elektron-Users

Hey Guys,

I've never really had much luck finding out what other people are doing on the OT that is more hip hop production based. Also, many of those considering buying it only really think it is just a "sampler" and compare it to the MPC. This is mainly for you and those looking for a solution to beat making without staring at a computer.

I'd also like to hear your personal setup, workflows and favourite things or tricks you are enjoying on the OT

I'll start, and I'll try to explain in a way that makes sense to those new to the OT and those without one:

Setup:
Octatrack running as a Main mixer/MIDI hub.
Running in and out to the MAC with a Nord Rack 1 patched in as well as a guitar and a mic.

Aside from MIDI routing, this allows me to sequence and play without the MAC.

I also have an LPD 8 and MIDI Keyboard running into the OT's AutoChannel.

Workflow:
To make a beat, I set up kick, snare, perc, hats from Tracks 1 - 4, then I can lay a beat down by playin the pads on the LPD8 routed to the AutoChannel (now with unquantized record, this is HUGE)

Using the track recorders I sample a bunch of stuff from my MAC treating it like a turntable.

Tracks 5-8 already are set on these recorder trigs so now I can trigger the newly recorded samples and mangle them real time.

Or I can plug in the guitar and mic, record that, assign them to tracks 5-8 then mangle that! keep in mind i can do a traditional recording by using one-shot recorder trigs that allow a recording to play through regardless of pattern limits. this is great for laying down rap verses or long guitar riffs.

Then switching to the MIDI tracks I sequence a bass line on the Nord. I can also play some pads on the Nord via my keyboard routed to the AutoChannel.

If i want to I can then route these to the CUE outputs to further process sounds using VST's via Live on the MAC.

IF all my tracks are taken up I usually internally resample the ot beat to assign to a track and free up 3 tracks for Nord sampling.

I can then mangle these samples of the nord on the OT (while muting the nord output) and/or run them through the cue's to my mac for further processing if it needs it.

All this time I can also have tracks playing in Ableton sync'd without taking up any of the 'tracks'. But if i want to process sounds I need to use a Thru machine which will take up a track.

I can also edit the notes I played or replace them with notes I step sequence using the trig keys and keyboard for pitch scaling.

This is all done without pressing stop. The best part for me is that I have a choice whether music making is done on the MAC or on the OT. 90% of the time the MAC is used as a glorified turntable and MIDI router but most of the above can still be done without it.

Favourite things I like to do:
1. Assign filter/pitch/rate/retrigger/reverb/distortion on the faders!
2. Sound replacement via real time sampling! E.g. kick on track 1 snare on track 2. you sequence/record a beat. You copy those patterns to a new track assigned to recorders. Run a drum loop on the MAC. Manual sample hits from the loop using those recorders. The new tracks with copied patterns will now trigger the manual samples! Granted this takes timing and serious multitasking skill to get it right... when you do it's magic!.

What are you guys doin on it?

really looking forward to this thread as i'm near an OT purchase. thanks!

and welcome the the forum.

Also, forgot to mention sample locks! 4 tracks for drums not enough you say? well say you play a 16th note hat part. you can sample lock an open hat sample on every other 16th note trig you laid down. this way one track is used for an open and closed hat part that's choked because tracks are monophonic! the number of different samples one track can hold is only limited by its memory and machine limit. (practically unlimited).

Gearwise: OT, H8000, Virus TI keyboard, Motif ES-8, into Soundcraft EPM12. Both keyboards go into Radial JD6 DI, then into board's mic pre's. That's the performance rig - recording/mixing rig is separate.

I recently had a MonoMachine in the setup, but sold it, and want to get a MachineDrum (or maybe the LinnII when/if it arrives)

Operationally, OT is MIDI clock master -> H8000 -> Virus -> Motif.

I've done some MIDI recording and sequencing with the upgraded OT, though dealing with MIDI channels to prevent conflicts is like revisiting the late '80's

I started with the OT using some purchased drum loops - all good and fine - but now am programming drums in it, mentally stoking for an MD.

I like to build crazy loops with the OT + H8000, then sample those off the board.

I love doing random slice triggers on long samples.

Love Scenes too - that's a whole world of nuttiness right there.

When the MD arrives, that'll free the OT up to be a sample twisting Mecca - not that it isn't already.

I have made a slight return to DAW world. I have a partner in another country, and our remote workflow demands it. But I finally figured out how to get PT to send transport control to the OT so I do a "live" run alongside the live runs she sends me.

More new things are on the way...life is good.

Ask tIB about his workflow.

(cheap baiting, sorry)

that's right, there are still issues with MIDI conflicts - the mapping is all over the place, barely manageable. :|

also occasional glitches trying to record and midi sync the OT in Live - the only way to mixdown/bounce/export audio your complete tune.
I guess glitches are cool? lol.

In my setup, Machinedrum goes into the A/B of the octatrack - this is like the root of my setup, I take these 2 machines to play out live as I sample all other synths into the Octatrack. I would like to take out the monomachine to play but it is too much to carry! So I sample it into the Octatrack.

C/D of the octatrack is routed from a mixer which I have Nord Rack 2, Monomachine and OP1 hooked up to it. Nord and OP1 sequenced from Octatrack and sampled into it. Monotribe goes through the machinedrum and I sync that using the IMP machine from the machinedrum! They go really well with each other!

Recently I have been transporting stuff I do on the OP1 into the Octatrack and it is so much fun and creative!

Dang man... that's deadly!!

Would really love to hear a demo of OP-1 vs DPS-1 !!
It's strange these days that we now can have a small portable machine or two and make some crazy impressive music now. The next few years will be interesting!

Yeap, this setup is 'the ultimate for me' - I wont be buying anything for a long time!

OP1 is one the most entertaining and creative devices out there. It forces me to do things I would not normally do with anything else!

I have been meaning to do a video of OT and OP1 lately but busy with some projects...You never know it could pop up anytime soon

neilbaldwin wrote:
Ask tIB about his workflow.

(cheap baiting, sorry)

i dont have one! Ive been struggling with the OT of late, I just havent been making it fit. that said, i just been plain struggling since the monomachine died so Im probably asking a lot of it. Ive definitely not worked out how best to implement itthough

the best thing ive done was using the sequencers to sequence the xpander, running the xpander outs back into the mnm for maximum dub- lots of short stabs, delays, reverb etc.

as a processor its brilliant, as a sampler Im not there yet, possibly because im spoilt by other stuff.