Definitely keep doing demos/tutorials, because you are seriously more professional and better with the details than most. Very enjoyable to watch! It did't just make me impatient to buy one, it actually enlightened me more about what it is really like, which is the thing I appreciate after watching so many Octatrack videos and not getting it yet.
Thanks so much man! I'm glad you've gotten something out of it. I'm thinking I'll start doing shorter ones, to cover interesting aspects of the Octatrack each time. It really is a deep machine :D
Merry Christmas 🎄 and hope the New-year brings in more tutorials and the best videos. Thank you for all your hard work to give us the best teachings. 🎄
Thanks so much! I've honestly been inspired by the community and comments like these to keep going. So long as you keep watching, I'll keep making em :) Happy holidays, and happy creating!
Very nice and inspiring tutorial!! Thank you. Btw. Can you tell me what your fix was at around 6:10 in the audioeditor. I‘ m always running in the same problem...
I believe it has something to do with the relationship between the slice setting in the Machine setup page, and not having any slices set up in the audio editor. Typically when that happens it's because my wave form has no slices....so I'm guessing you have to create some before it triggers anything.
Very cool. Quick question: does the Octa sound better when setting it to 24 bit? I A/B’d and I think it does. But maybe I’m just fooling myself. Then again, i normalized my samples, which I hadn’t before.
I've never been much of an audiophile so I couldn't really tell you, sorry! Would probably imagine the higher bit/sample rates give you some more information though
I haven't had an issue so far, but it is important to note that I use an adapter that switches from stereo 1/8" (headphone) to mono 1/4". This mixes down to mono and would cause phase issues with some stereo signals, but the instrument/drum sides of the OP1 are in mono. From my experience, the stereo aspect comes into play with the panning on the 4-track - none of the FX seem to be stereo, and the tracks themselves are initially mono recordings.
@@KennyZhao Thanks for your reply! I didn't know that, but I definitely got some kind of issues (I guess there were phase issues then?). I guess it was definitely due to the panning on the 4-track mixer indeed. But good to know the synths are not stereo per se. Would you mind telling me which adapter you're using to switch from 1/8" to mono 1/4" please? I've been looking for this for my op1 and qy70 (this one is definitely stereo though) :)
@@thibbrgt8223 The one I'm currently using is this one - it seems many stereo-to-mono adapters are a bit janky and occasionally unreliable. But you can spend maybe $10 on a bundle of like 3 and there should be at least a few serviceable ones in the bunch. www.amazon.com/TISINO-Stereo-Adapter-Plated-Connector/dp/B07QQBLQC3/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=stereo+headphone+to+mono+1%2F4&qid=1574041362&sr=8-4
Hey Kenny, are you doing anything special to get a decent sound level from your OP1 into your OT? (I've tried everything and the level is always extremely soft.) thanks so much for your video - super inspiring & so helpful! 🙏
so what you did on 13:40 was pressing cue&track..makes it send the audio to cue ...so you wouldnt have to change ur recorder to listen to T6. superbbb... i have so much to learn:)))
Yep, this is one of my favorite things about the Octatrack, and something that sets it apart from Ableton in my opinion - using both parts and cues, routing can be switched as part of a performance. In Live you'd have to go into the session with your mouse and adjust routing which can get pretty hairy. But here it's as simple as muting, or any other process.
Great videos! Watched a bunch and they're very insightful. Just a quick Q do you record into the OT 16bit or 24bit? There are a lot of differing opinion as to whether there's an audible difference but just wanted to know your thoughts on the matter. I am a fan of slowing things down etc (I try and avoid timestretch and slice the loops at every beat). Thanks for the good work:)
provokief personally I don’t notice a ton of difference, so I go 16-bit. I also like to keep thing un-timestretched, unless I’m planning to have any rate changes. I don’t use the Octatrack a ton for hi-fidelity work, personally I think its forte is more in structure and sequence than audio quality. But I’m also not much of a stickler for that kind of thing. thanks for watching!
Great tutorials man... really helpfull! I'm having a problem with volumes after sampling a loop from internal tracks, most of the time there is a significative difference between the volume from tracks and the loop recorded.
Hey dude! Thanks for watching. I've also experienced that before, I'd recommend setting up your sampling workflow as recording internally from a Thru track. That way you can monitor exacty how the sample sounds going in, and tweak it before it becomes audio in your Octatrack. I have a tutorial about my preferred approach here if you want more ideas: ruclips.net/video/z1vOfuUwUzc/видео.html
Good idea! I've had some hesitation, mostly because I don't really know how I'd order them the most effectively - a lot of the earlier videos are based on limited information because I was still wrapping my head around it myself. But I'll just throw one together chronologically for now! Also appreciate that you'd want to watch them end-to-end like that!
i agree with MrBasic. i like the Ableton style of constant running explanations too. not fully so but mostly. The typical videos are a bit more cryptic or overly explained (ahem kuckoo, tho i like his vids jaja).
Super useful and inspiring thanks - wondered if you or anyone could help - I get confused by the different ways to arm tracks so you can record a track and then have it play back seamlessly. With the one shot mode on a track what’s the difference between pressing func plus cue or track button plus cue or yes button on its own and how do you arm all ? I find the personal settings in the menu a bit confusing with disable yes/no arm etc thanks!
Very good performance and tutorial, like it a lot! What do you think of the OP-Z? Is it something for you? TE promised sampling in the next firmware, that makes it very interesting. Also a very good sequencer with p-locking. I am curious about your opinion of the OP-Z.
At the moment I've pretty much got my hands full with the Octatrack haha! Just did a show using it to trigger longer samples, while mapping different parameters to the crossfader at different times - and then programmed the whole thing into a repeatable arrangement. That alone just has so many options that it seems a bit too much like 4D chess for me to be adding a whole other layer of P-locks, etc. Who knows though, I'm definitely a fan of Teenage Engineering. The OP1 continues to be my favorite tool, simply because it is so immediate. Being a keyboard player, I get a lot of joy out of stumbling across new sounds and capturing them with the Octatrack. I think the relationship between a sequencer like the OP-Z and the Octa would be pretty different. Thanks for the interesting question!
@@hakonanthonsen3543 It's actually just an Xone:23 - you can see it in the bottom right corner of the video! Two stereo RCA inputs and one for mic. I record the output of the octatrack and the mic mixdown direct from the record out.
Great to see how others are doing tracks with the Octatrack. I would easily recommend this video as a guide to prepare a set. BTW Track 8 setup is under PROJ < Audio.
I really liked the jam at the end and you are very good at explaining! I have a question: what if you wanted to record the final jam you made on different tracks. Is it easy to record them one by one in Ableton?
Question... I like that the op1 doesn’t need to be plugged into the wall. I want a good synth to go with my Octa ( Octa and synth and mic only for minimalist live performance ) but I feel like the op1 is overkill. Any suggestions ? Ideas...advice?
Sure! I'm definitely in the category of someone who's kind of gone to the far edges of possibility - OP1 with sampling options, and OB6 for options of MIDI control. I'd say what you're looking for is likely in the middle. If you need a keyboard, you'll probably want to look at some sort of mono or polysynth. If you don't need that then your options get quite expansive. I hear the Blofeld is a great complement to the Octatrack, because while it has no keyboard, has a wide range of patch presets and parameters to control via MIDI, as well as up to 25 voices! If you don't need polyphony, a Roland TB03 can be a great compact bass synth if that's what you're looking for.
The inputs of the octatrack are not weak, they have pretty much the exact same volume like the input signal. You need to set the volume to +63 in the src on the thru track. Also set the level from all tracks to 127 and adjust the volume on the amp page.. this helps alot for performance.
I mean - hate to nitpick, but if I have to max out the level on both the track and the internal preamp to match the input signal, I feel like that means the inputs are a little weak.
@@KennyZhao Nop. Its not a boost its actually just the full volume. You basically cant boost the signal by doing like I said. The only way to boost the signal is on the amp page. Leave that to 0 or lower, well or boost it there.. What happens when you use 0 at the src page is you half your input gain and then boost it up later. Many many ppl struggle with that and even say "the octatrack made my matriarch sound weak" etc.. But its actually wrong. They just messed up the gainstaging, which can be confusing. This is definately the best way to do it. Just try it out. You will see, you dont need a preamp or stuff..
Thanks for the video. Is it better for the kick,snare + other oneshot tracks to use Static machines or Flex? To me it seems Static would make sense because they are getting less mangled as samples.
I've been trying to learn more about the diffference, and I believe Static machines have fewer options in the audio editor which makes them a little less ideal for shorter samples. Flex machines store their files in the Octatrack's RAM, making them much more responsive when doing glitchy things. Static machines stream the file from the Octatrack's card, which means they're not as versatile or accessible to the Octatrack, but can be much larger in filesize.
Thanks so much for the encouragement! I've been thinking about doing some videos for a while, and while I don't expect to get to everything, I figure it could help others :) I'm posting another video tomorrow, so stay tuned!
Cool vid. I am torn between buying MPC live, op-1, Octa mk2. I want only one so as to force myself to focus and play. Ive had all three before but can’t remember the pros and cons. I think my only gripe with the op-1 was it sounded really thin and digital...and it would pop and crackle at times. MPC live seemed...dull, maybe. The Octa mk2 didn’t sound as loud as the original sound i sampled from ( maybe I did it wrong, but other people complained about that too). Any advice?
Oh wow, you've had all three already! They all do such different things...OP1 is one of my favorite tools for inspiration. The Octatrack takes the longest time to get the hang of, but does things I've never imagined before with samples. I don't own an MPC but if it's anything like the Maschine, it's highly intuitive. In my opinion the best musical tool you can get is whatever shortens the distance between the inspiration and completion of an idea. Given one option I'd probably go with the OP1. I typically use it with Ableton, and mask any crackles with EQ and other FX. I'm also a pianist though, so the keyboard is a no-brainer for me.
AdrianVino yes it can, at least in the same capacity that an MPC can. I’m gonna do some further research and make a video on that soon, thanks for asking!
K I just went and checked. The sequencer is completely disabled on the pickup machine, partially because it's designed to be able to start and stop independently of the main clock. So you can't sequence anything, but you can still map parameter changes to scenes or LFO's, and have them move that way. The easiest solution is to flip the pickup machine to a flex machine, because it will retain the loop you record from the pickup machine - from there you can sequence everything as usual! I actually go over this technique in this other video if you wanna check that out: ruclips.net/video/M61QMTPgHIU/видео.htmlm48s
Hey, thanks for checking, and thanks for the suggestion! Awesome. I'm considering getting one, primarily for live looping of acoustic instruments, but I'm unable to get my hands on one to try, so I really appreciate the response. Thanks :)
The OT definitely encourages things to happen live in some ways! Depending on how you think about music tech, it can also be discouraging. After two years of messing with it I still haven't found an elegant way to perform with parts. The key is to design a performance around where you feel most drawn and comfortable, and minimize your interaction with the rest of it. In my case that often means ignoring the MIDI section.
Thanks! Damn I didn't know they raised prices. I gotta say it's been a fixture of my setup in the studio, because it always surprises me with the sounds it makes. I've built a number of songs around ideas I first came up with on the OP1, and while its headphone out doesn't make for the cleanest signal, I find the sound is worth it. As a performance instrument, I'd say it doesn't always play super nice with others, including the Octatrack. There's only a USB for MIDI, so you have to sync manually. And it's not super easy to save presets - you have to rename presets via a computer. But aside from that I think it's a wonderful instrument, and ultra portable to boot!
When you say you warp the stems in Ableton before loading them on the OT, what all does that process include? Do you just mean that you're making a loop, or is there more to it?
I actually warp the whole song so it stays on beat with the tempo, which involves first making sure the song starts precisely on the first downbeat, and then warping the rest of the song so it also matches the tempo. This video can probably explain the process much better than I can: ruclips.net/video/jsHnZUGl8yY/видео.htmlm38s
Ope you are totally correct. I just looked at the manual - I've never actually used REC2 to start playback after stopping it. Thanks for the correction!
Kenny Zhao If you have a pickup machine on track 6, then your recording will automatically be on recording buffer 6. So you can save and assign the sample accordingly in the same way you use a Flex machine before switching the machine off
Yeah that makes a lot more sense than what I thought was happening, where I just had to overwrite when I stopped haha. That means it also provides additional flexibility if you switch up the part so the Pickup gets replaced by a Flex - lets you go straight to slices when changing patterns...
You got it mate. Also you can assign 2 or 3 other tracks to flex with recording buffer 6 and have them all play different sequences. Get some crazy poly rhythmic stuff going on out of one loop
Yeah I don't know where it came from - I type pretty fast so maybe it has something to do with that? Anyhow, thanks for the feedback! I've mentioned to someone earlier that I'll try to minimize it, but if it ends up interrupting the flow of my videos, I might just keep doing it.
Definitely keep doing demos/tutorials, because you are seriously more professional and better with the details than most. Very enjoyable to watch! It did't just make me impatient to buy one, it actually enlightened me more about what it is really like, which is the thing I appreciate after watching so many Octatrack videos and not getting it yet.
Thanks so much man! I'm glad you've gotten something out of it. I'm thinking I'll start doing shorter ones, to cover interesting aspects of the Octatrack each time. It really is a deep machine :D
"Why is it...? OK cool" - The quote from every Octotrack user everywhere!
haha I've found it's best to just embrace those moments than get frustrated :)
Thanks for taking the time to upload this. Yes, please keep it up.
Thanks for the encouragement!
Merry Christmas 🎄 and hope the New-year brings in more tutorials and the best videos.
Thank you for all your hard work to give us the best teachings. 🎄
Thanks so much! I've honestly been inspired by the community and comments like these to keep going. So long as you keep watching, I'll keep making em :) Happy holidays, and happy creating!
Going to get an octatrack very soon. These videos help a ton making sure it's the device I need and not just the device I want.
Hey, cool video! Quick tip: you don't need a trig on a thru track. You can hold the track button and push play. It'll "trig" the track that way, too
Editable Beats ooh thanks for the heads up, I did not know that!
So many things to know on this machine. It’s nuts. Just when you think you’ve got 10% down... you find out you only know 5%
Valuable info and great musical jam!
Very nice and inspiring tutorial!! Thank you. Btw. Can you tell me what your fix was at around 6:10 in the audioeditor. I‘ m always running in the same problem...
I believe it has something to do with the relationship between the slice setting in the Machine setup page, and not having any slices set up in the audio editor. Typically when that happens it's because my wave form has no slices....so I'm guessing you have to create some before it triggers anything.
Thank you so much!!! That absolutely makes sense.... Gonna try tonight!
Very cool. Quick question: does the Octa sound better when setting it to 24 bit? I A/B’d and I think it does. But maybe I’m just fooling myself. Then again, i normalized my samples, which I hadn’t before.
I've never been much of an audiophile so I couldn't really tell you, sorry! Would probably imagine the higher bit/sample rates give you some more information though
Super useful video :) Small question though : you plug your op-1(stereo output) in Input B (mono). You don't have any audio issue doing so?
I haven't had an issue so far, but it is important to note that I use an adapter that switches from stereo 1/8" (headphone) to mono 1/4". This mixes down to mono and would cause phase issues with some stereo signals, but the instrument/drum sides of the OP1 are in mono.
From my experience, the stereo aspect comes into play with the panning on the 4-track - none of the FX seem to be stereo, and the tracks themselves are initially mono recordings.
@@KennyZhao Thanks for your reply! I didn't know that, but I definitely got some kind of issues (I guess there were phase issues then?). I guess it was definitely due to the panning on the 4-track mixer indeed. But good to know the synths are not stereo per se. Would you mind telling me which adapter you're using to switch from 1/8" to mono 1/4" please? I've been looking for this for my op1 and qy70 (this one is definitely stereo though) :)
@@thibbrgt8223 The one I'm currently using is this one - it seems many stereo-to-mono adapters are a bit janky and occasionally unreliable. But you can spend maybe $10 on a bundle of like 3 and there should be at least a few serviceable ones in the bunch. www.amazon.com/TISINO-Stereo-Adapter-Plated-Connector/dp/B07QQBLQC3/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=stereo+headphone+to+mono+1%2F4&qid=1574041362&sr=8-4
Hey Kenny, are you doing anything special to get a decent sound level from your OP1 into your OT? (I've tried everything and the level is always extremely soft.) thanks so much for your video - super inspiring & so helpful! 🙏
so what you did on 13:40 was pressing cue&track..makes it send the audio to cue ...so you wouldnt have to change ur recorder to listen to T6. superbbb... i have so much to learn:)))
Yep, this is one of my favorite things about the Octatrack, and something that sets it apart from Ableton in my opinion - using both parts and cues, routing can be switched as part of a performance. In Live you'd have to go into the session with your mouse and adjust routing which can get pretty hairy. But here it's as simple as muting, or any other process.
Great videos! Watched a bunch and they're very insightful. Just a quick Q do you record into the OT 16bit or 24bit? There are a lot of differing opinion as to whether there's an audible difference but just wanted to know your thoughts on the matter. I am a fan of slowing things down etc (I try and avoid timestretch and slice the loops at every beat). Thanks for the good work:)
provokief personally I don’t notice a ton of difference, so I go 16-bit. I also like to keep thing un-timestretched, unless I’m planning to have any rate changes. I don’t use the Octatrack a ton for hi-fidelity work, personally I think its forte is more in structure and sequence than audio quality. But I’m also not much of a stickler for that kind of thing. thanks for watching!
Great tutorials man... really helpfull!
I'm having a problem with volumes after sampling a loop from internal tracks, most of the time there is a significative difference between the volume from tracks and the loop recorded.
Hey dude! Thanks for watching. I've also experienced that before, I'd recommend setting up your sampling workflow as recording internally from a Thru track. That way you can monitor exacty how the sample sounds going in, and tweak it before it becomes audio in your Octatrack. I have a tutorial about my preferred approach here if you want more ideas: ruclips.net/video/z1vOfuUwUzc/видео.html
You should put all these Octatrack tutorials in a playlist.
Good idea! I've had some hesitation, mostly because I don't really know how I'd order them the most effectively - a lot of the earlier videos are based on limited information because I was still wrapping my head around it myself. But I'll just throw one together chronologically for now! Also appreciate that you'd want to watch them end-to-end like that!
i agree with MrBasic. i like the Ableton style of constant running explanations too. not fully so but mostly. The typical videos are a bit more cryptic or overly explained (ahem kuckoo, tho i like his vids jaja).
Super useful and inspiring thanks - wondered if you or anyone could help - I get confused by the different ways to arm tracks so you can record a track and then have it play back seamlessly. With the one shot mode on a track what’s the difference between pressing func plus cue or track button plus cue or yes button on its own and how do you arm all ? I find the personal settings in the menu a bit confusing with disable yes/no arm etc thanks!
Very good performance and tutorial, like it a lot! What do you think of the OP-Z? Is it something for you? TE promised sampling in the next firmware, that makes it very interesting. Also a very good sequencer with p-locking. I am curious about your opinion of the OP-Z.
At the moment I've pretty much got my hands full with the Octatrack haha! Just did a show using it to trigger longer samples, while mapping different parameters to the crossfader at different times - and then programmed the whole thing into a repeatable arrangement. That alone just has so many options that it seems a bit too much like 4D chess for me to be adding a whole other layer of P-locks, etc.
Who knows though, I'm definitely a fan of Teenage Engineering. The OP1 continues to be my favorite tool, simply because it is so immediate. Being a keyboard player, I get a lot of joy out of stumbling across new sounds and capturing them with the Octatrack. I think the relationship between a sequencer like the OP-Z and the Octa would be pretty different.
Thanks for the interesting question!
what preamp do you use for your vocals?
I'm actually just using the built-in mic preamp on my Allen & Heath mixer!
@@KennyZhao is it a zed line Allen & Heath mixer?
@@hakonanthonsen3543 It's actually just an Xone:23 - you can see it in the bottom right corner of the video! Two stereo RCA inputs and one for mic. I record the output of the octatrack and the mic mixdown direct from the record out.
Great to see how others are doing tracks with the Octatrack. I would easily recommend this video as a guide to prepare a set.
BTW Track 8 setup is under PROJ < Audio.
Ooh right thanks! And thanks for the review :D
I really liked the jam at the end and you are very good at explaining! I have a question: what if you wanted to record the final jam you made on different tracks. Is it easy to record them one by one in Ableton?
Question... I like that the op1 doesn’t need to be plugged into the wall. I want a good synth to go with my Octa ( Octa and synth and mic only for minimalist live performance ) but I feel like the op1 is overkill. Any suggestions ? Ideas...advice?
Sure! I'm definitely in the category of someone who's kind of gone to the far edges of possibility - OP1 with sampling options, and OB6 for options of MIDI control. I'd say what you're looking for is likely in the middle. If you need a keyboard, you'll probably want to look at some sort of mono or polysynth. If you don't need that then your options get quite expansive. I hear the Blofeld is a great complement to the Octatrack, because while it has no keyboard, has a wide range of patch presets and parameters to control via MIDI, as well as up to 25 voices! If you don't need polyphony, a Roland TB03 can be a great compact bass synth if that's what you're looking for.
The inputs of the octatrack are not weak, they have pretty much the exact same volume like the input signal. You need to set the volume to +63 in the src on the thru track.
Also set the level from all tracks to 127 and adjust the volume on the amp page.. this helps alot for performance.
I mean - hate to nitpick, but if I have to max out the level on both the track and the internal preamp to match the input signal, I feel like that means the inputs are a little weak.
@@KennyZhao Nop. Its not a boost its actually just the full volume. You basically cant boost the signal by doing like I said. The only way to boost the signal is on the amp page. Leave that to 0 or lower, well or boost it there..
What happens when you use 0 at the src page is you half your input gain and then boost it up later.
Many many ppl struggle with that and even say "the octatrack made my matriarch sound weak" etc.. But its actually wrong. They just messed up the gainstaging,
which can be confusing. This is definately the best way to do it.
Just try it out. You will see, you dont need a preamp or stuff..
@@frantsel5711 so what you’re saying is that +63 is just their version of full volume, before it gets to the amp page? I suppose that makes sense.
@@KennyZhao Yes! I was also reaaally confused..
@@KennyZhao Gainstaging on the octa is a PAIN at first..
more pick up machines looping n such plz! great video!
Scott Youngblood thank you! Yeah the more I play around the more it seems pickups should be the backbone of my improv performances :)
Thanks for the video. Is it better for the kick,snare + other oneshot tracks to use Static machines or Flex? To me it seems Static would make sense because they are getting less mangled as samples.
I've been trying to learn more about the diffference, and I believe Static machines have fewer options in the audio editor which makes them a little less ideal for shorter samples. Flex machines store their files in the Octatrack's RAM, making them much more responsive when doing glitchy things. Static machines stream the file from the Octatrack's card, which means they're not as versatile or accessible to the Octatrack, but can be much larger in filesize.
Kenny Zhao thanks didn’t realise about the fewer options
Great video. You have a talent for explaining things! Keep it up!
Thanks so much for the encouragement! I've been thinking about doing some videos for a while, and while I don't expect to get to everything, I figure it could help others :) I'm posting another video tomorrow, so stay tuned!
Cool vid. I am torn between buying MPC live, op-1, Octa mk2. I want only one so as to force myself to focus and play. Ive had all three before but can’t remember the pros and cons. I think my only gripe with the op-1 was it sounded really thin and digital...and it would pop and crackle at times. MPC live seemed...dull, maybe. The Octa mk2 didn’t sound as loud as the original sound i sampled from ( maybe I did it wrong, but other people complained about that too). Any advice?
Oh wow, you've had all three already! They all do such different things...OP1 is one of my favorite tools for inspiration. The Octatrack takes the longest time to get the hang of, but does things I've never imagined before with samples. I don't own an MPC but if it's anything like the Maschine, it's highly intuitive.
In my opinion the best musical tool you can get is whatever shortens the distance between the inspiration and completion of an idea. Given one option I'd probably go with the OP1. I typically use it with Ableton, and mask any crackles with EQ and other FX. I'm also a pianist though, so the keyboard is a no-brainer for me.
Thanks for sharing! I'd be interested to see your sampling workflow as well.
Awesome! I'll probably be doing a video on that next, so stay tuned!
Hello I've been visiting your channel and you got really nice sounds, I'm enjoying it!
Bt what is the model of that small MIDI controller?
Thanks! Actually it’s an OP1 - a really awesome synth that runs super long on a charge!
@@KennyZhao Thank you really much for the information and keep doing you ;)
Very insightful tutorial, thank you.
Can the Octatrack be played as a synth? I saw a dude ( TubeDigga) turn his MPC Live into a synth.
AdrianVino yes it can, at least in the same capacity that an MPC can. I’m gonna do some further research and make a video on that soon, thanks for asking!
Look for tutorials on comb filter synthesis and single cycle waveforms. The ot is actually quite a nice synth!
When you're playing with the pitch on a pickup machine, can you sequence these (and similar) changes? - thanks
K I just went and checked. The sequencer is completely disabled on the pickup machine, partially because it's designed to be able to start and stop independently of the main clock. So you can't sequence anything, but you can still map parameter changes to scenes or LFO's, and have them move that way. The easiest solution is to flip the pickup machine to a flex machine, because it will retain the loop you record from the pickup machine - from there you can sequence everything as usual! I actually go over this technique in this other video if you wanna check that out: ruclips.net/video/M61QMTPgHIU/видео.htmlm48s
Hey, thanks for checking, and thanks for the suggestion!
Awesome. I'm considering getting one, primarily for live looping of acoustic instruments, but I'm unable to get my hands on one to try, so I really appreciate the response. Thanks :)
I just pjcked up this octatrak Pretty cool.
Thanks so much for sharing, it is super helpful and has helped me work with the pickup machine a lot better!
Glad to hear it! Yes, pickup machines don't have to be the scorned stepchild of the Octatrack haha :D
holy holies. that jam at 18:00 is fat, i wanted to see the op1 sampled making to live loop that synth part, so lush!
It just occurred to me that the OT was designed for live performance.
The OT definitely encourages things to happen live in some ways! Depending on how you think about music tech, it can also be discouraging. After two years of messing with it I still haven't found an elegant way to perform with parts. The key is to design a performance around where you feel most drawn and comfortable, and minimize your interaction with the rest of it. In my case that often means ignoring the MIDI section.
@@KennyZhao Well said. I just ordered an OT and your videos are a tremendous help. I'm also a big fan of your improvisations (I love minimal techno)
Indispensable!! 👌👌
Good to see you doing tutorials on the MK2 Octatrack. How do you like the OP-1? Was looking at one until they raised prices on them.
Thanks! Damn I didn't know they raised prices. I gotta say it's been a fixture of my setup in the studio, because it always surprises me with the sounds it makes. I've built a number of songs around ideas I first came up with on the OP1, and while its headphone out doesn't make for the cleanest signal, I find the sound is worth it.
As a performance instrument, I'd say it doesn't always play super nice with others, including the Octatrack. There's only a USB for MIDI, so you have to sync manually. And it's not super easy to save presets - you have to rename presets via a computer. But aside from that I think it's a wonderful instrument, and ultra portable to boot!
Thank! Really helping!
real nice
Thanks you!
When you say you warp the stems in Ableton before loading them on the OT, what all does that process include? Do you just mean that you're making a loop, or is there more to it?
I actually warp the whole song so it stays on beat with the tempo, which involves first making sure the song starts precisely on the first downbeat, and then warping the rest of the song so it also matches the tempo. This video can probably explain the process much better than I can: ruclips.net/video/jsHnZUGl8yY/видео.htmlm38s
Thanks
the chopped vocals sings 'eeeeat a-nus
I can't follow any of your videos
Pickup machines don't erase when you stop playback lol
Ope you are totally correct. I just looked at the manual - I've never actually used REC2 to start playback after stopping it. Thanks for the correction!
Kenny Zhao If you have a pickup machine on track 6, then your recording will automatically be on recording buffer 6. So you can save and assign the sample accordingly in the same way you use a Flex machine before switching the machine off
Yeah that makes a lot more sense than what I thought was happening, where I just had to overwrite when I stopped haha. That means it also provides additional flexibility if you switch up the part so the Pickup gets replaced by a Flex - lets you go straight to slices when changing patterns...
You got it mate. Also you can assign 2 or 3 other tracks to flex with recording buffer 6 and have them all play different sequences. Get some crazy poly rhythmic stuff going on out of one loop
the way you nervous tick hit those track buttons is amazingly annoying
Yeah I don't know where it came from - I type pretty fast so maybe it has something to do with that? Anyhow, thanks for the feedback! I've mentioned to someone earlier that I'll try to minimize it, but if it ends up interrupting the flow of my videos, I might just keep doing it.