Elektron Octatrack

Octatrack is designed to revolutionize the concept of sampling. Never before has so much potential been offered by just one machine.

The Octatrack is an 8 track performance sampler. Recording of sounds is a breeze thanks to the intuitive user interface, but the fun really starts once the samples are inside the machine. All audio content can be heavily processed and radically transformed. Loops do not have to be restricted by tempo or tone and can always stay in sync no matter if they are pitch shifted or if the tempo of the sequencer is changed. The inflexible nature of samples is finally a thing of the past.

For the Producer
With the Octatrack you will be able to treat samples in radical ways. You will appreciate functions like changing the melody of certain sections of a vocal sample without the sample going out of sync. The extensive audio mangling capabilities paired with the user friendly interface make the Octatrack an outstanding studio tool.

For the DJ
Thanks to the immediate real time sampling function of the Octatrack you can sample your turntable and instantly play back the recorded loops. Add effects to the captured audio and use the sequencer and the assignable optical crossfader to really add a twist to your set. The Octatrack can be regarded as an extremely flexible second turntable.

For the Performer
Each of the eight stereo tracks can stream gigabyte-large samples which is great if you need backing tracks during a live gig. All samples can still be subject to time stretch and can of course also be processed by the effects or rearranged by the sequencer. The Octatrack is the most capable performance instruments available.

Track Recorders And Time Streching The Octatrack is at all times ready to sample. Sample from any of the input pairs or any internal track by using the eight constantly available Track Recorders. It's quick and rewarding and it doesn't matter if the sampled source is in a different BPM than the internal sequencer of the Octatrack. All samples can be time stretched to ensure everything stays in sync. This is live sampling made easy.

Scenes & The Crossfader The optical crossfader and the Scene functionality add a wealth of live control possibilities to the Octatrack.

Ruggedness and durability is paramount in a live setting and the smooth action 45mm crossfader meets these criteria with ease. Due to it being optical it is very resilient to both dust and humidity and with a life time rated to more than 5 million operations it is definitely going to stand the test of time.

The crossfader in conjunction with the Scene functionality makes live improvisation with the Octatrack easy and rewarding. Add sudden bursts of effects to a sound, make smooth transitions between tracks, pitch one loop up while another loop is being pitched down or completely and utterly change the sound of a whole pattern. The choice is yours.

The Next Generation S-T-E-P Sequencer The Octatrack step sequencer carries the legacy of the sequencers found in the Machinedrum and the Monomachine but offers substantial improvements.

Every track can be up to 64 steps of length and all the tracks of a pattern can have both unique length and time signature settings. This amount of control makes it easy to create intricate and continuously evolving poly rhythms.

The Micro Timing menu brings detailed and very precise note trig editing to the Octatrack. Every note trig can be nudged back and forth on a 1/384th step resolution note grid. Lightning fast flams through special repeat parameters, off-kilter stutters and organic grooves are all made possible by the Micro Timing feature.

The parameter lock feature allows individual parameter settings for all note trigs. Through the use of parameter locks the melodic structure of for example a vocal loop can be completely changed. If the loop is subject to timestretch the pitch can be altered without affecting the timing.

The MIDI Sequencer
Apart from the eight internal tracks the Octatrack offers eight dedicated MIDI tracks. Every MIDI track features an arpeggiator, three assignable LFOs and two pages of CC parameters. Micro Timing and individual track length and time signature settings further enhance the MIDI experience. The dedicated MIDI tracks make the Octatrack well-suited for controlling other instruments during a live performance.

Track LFOs and the LFO designer
The Octatrack LFOs are indispensable audio processors. The new LFO designers take things even further.

The Octatrack has plenty of LFO power under the hood. All internal tracks have three dedicated tempo-synced LFOs at their disposal, meaning 24 LFOs in total are available. The LFOs can be assigned to a wide range of parameters and are useful for adding evolving changes to samples.

The LFO designer is used to create customized LFO waveforms. A designed LFO waveform can for example be used to make rhythmic track parameter changes or, when modulating the start point of sampled drum loops, function as an instant remix tool. Each track contains an LFO designer and all designed waveforms are available for all LFOs.

The Audio Editor And Slice Points
The Octatrack audio editor has a few tricks up its sleeve apart from simply editing audio.

The graphical audio editor is where editing of imported or recorded samples takes place. Here trimming, loop point settings, normalization and, maybe most important of all, slice points are handled.

Slice points offer a flexible way of dividing a sample in different regions. Once the sample is sliced the sequencer can play back the different slices in any order. Keep shuffling the slices around until the perfect loop is obtained. Slice points make it easy to break down samples and restructure them from the ground up.

Specifications:

The Octatrack offers a variety of machines, each designed to fill a specific function. The machines can be assigned to the eight available tracks in any combination. Here some of them and their functionality are presented.

Flex machines offer the most extensive sound manipulation possibilities. A sample used within a Flex machine is loaded to the RAM memory of the Octatrack. From there it can be twisted, stretched, warbled and reassembled in multiple ways. Flex machines are unbeatable sound processors.

Thru machines do not sample or play back sounds. Instead they let the Octatrack affect incoming audio with the dual FX blocks. They are very handy in live setups.

Static machines are the perfect tool for handling extremely large samples. Samples assigned to Static machines are streamed from the Compact Flash card, thus their size can be in the order of gigabytes. Of course you can time stretch and pitch scale them as needed.

Neighbour machines listen to the output of the preceding track. Multiple tracks with Neighbour machines can form extremely powerful effects chains. They can turn the Octatrack into a deluxe effects device.

The Sequencer

• 8 internal tracks
• 16 banks per project
• 256 patterns per project
• 8 arrangements per project
• 4 parts per bank
• 16 scenes per part
• Supports swing and slide
• Micro timing
• Parameter locks
• Sample locks
• Full real-time control
• 8 track external MIDI sequencer

Track Effects

• 12/24dB Multi Mode Filter
• 2-band Parametric EQ
• DJ-style Kill EQ
• 2-10 Stage Phaser
• Flanger
• 2-5 tap Chorus
• Echo Freeze Delay
• Gatebox Plate Reverb
• Compressor
• Lo-Fi (SRR, BRR, Dist and A.M.)

Hardware

• 128x64 pixel backlit LCD
• MIDI In/Out/Thru
• 4 × 1/4″ impedance balanced audio out jacks
• 4 × 1/4″ audio in jacks
• 1 × 1/4″ stereo headphone jack
• Advanced triple DSP system
• 44.1kHz, 24-bit D/A and A/D converters
• Flash-EEPROM upgradable OS
• USB 2.0 port
• Compact Flash card reader
• Infinium optical crossfader
• 80 MB Flex RAM per project
• Static sample streaming from CF card
• Sample engine reads 24 bit samples

Balanced Audio Outputs

• Headphones out level: +15dBu
• Main/cue outputs level: +10dBu
• Output impedance: 550 Ω unbalanced
• S/N ratio: 102dBFS (20-20.000Hz)

Unbalanced Audio Inputs

• Input level: +8dBu maximum
• Audio input impedance: 9 k Ω
• S/N Ratio: 99dBFS (20-20.000Hz)

Electrical Specifications

• Unit power consumption: 8W typical, 18W maximum.
• Recommended power supply: 6V DC, 3A

Physical Specifications

• Sturdy steel chassis
• Dimensions: W340×D181×H63mm (13.4×7×2.4″) (including, audio outputs, knobs and rubber feet)
• Weight: approximately 2.4 kg (5.2 lbs)

Miscellaneous

• 16 GB high speed compact flash card included
• 2 GB of Loopmasters samples on the CF card
• USB cable included
• Printed User's manual included