Elektron Octatrack Sampling Workstation First Look

At Musikmesse 2010, Elektron introduced a new sampling workstation, the Elektron Octatrack:

The Octatrack is an elegant 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.

Loops are now completely elastic. They will always stay in sync no matter if they are pitch shifted or if the tempo of the sequencer is changed. Single sounds can be molded into any shape or form. The static nature of samples are finally a thing of the past.

The Elektron Octatrack has been described as “Ableton Live in a box”.

Elektron Octatrack Specifications:

  • 8 stereo tracks
  • 4 audio inputs
  • 4 audio outputs
  • Separate Headphone Output
  • USB 2.0 port
  • Compact Flash Card Reader
  • Optical Fader
  • Improved Elektron Sequencer
  • Realtime pitch shift and time stretch
  • Real Time Sampling
  • 2 Effect blocks per track

Estimated release Q4, 2010.

Official Description:

The Octatrack is designed to revolutionize the concept of sampling. Recording sounds is a breeze thanks to the intuitive user interface, but the fun really starts once the samples are inside the machine. Loops are now completely elastic. Cut up and rearrange them in real time. They will always stay in sync no matter if they are pitch shifted or if the tempo of the sequencer is changed. Single sounds can be molded into any shape or form.

The Compact Flash card allows for huge amounts of samples to be constantly accessible. The USB port is ideal when transfering sample libraries between your computer and the Octatrack. The optical fader can be assigned to any of the parameters, adding a wealth of live control possibilities.
Videos via musicradartv, gear4music1

45 thoughts on “Elektron Octatrack Sampling Workstation First Look”

  4. I'm not into this kind of tool because I'm a piano-minded "synthesist" who is happily immersed in Logic now, but considering that it was a beta model without the FX implemented yet, I think he did fine. He got my attention and showed off the thing's basics; whaddaya want for $1.98? It'll have quite a few adherents, IMO. Its going to be in the "Instruments You Get A Good Feel For" category. Let's see how the OS & full FX play out and then judge. Elektron has a weird take on things, but no one has ever said their gear didn't deliver.

  6. not the best demo. like rolf said… hope to god the OS is stable. i had a sid station back in the day and sold it for like $500 because the OS was a hunk of crap. yea yea. i miss it now, but plug ins work just the same as far as 8bit sounds go. this thing looks fun, but damn the demo was less than thrilling.

  7. I'm not into this kind of tool because I'm a piano-minded "synthesist" who is happily immersed in Logic now, but considering that it was a beta model without the FX implemented yet, I think he did fine. He got my attention and showed off the thing's basics; whaddaya want for $1.98? It'll have quite a few adherents, IMO. Its going to be in the "Instruments You Get A Good Feel For" category. Let's see how the OS & full FX play out and then judge. Elektron has a weird take on things, but no one has ever said their gear didn't deliver.

  8. I'm not into this kind of tool because I'm a piano-minded "synthesist" who is happily immersed in Logic now, but considering that it was a beta model without the FX implemented yet, I think he did fine. He got my attention and showed off the thing's basics; whaddaya want for $1.98? It'll have quite a few adherents, IMO. Its going to be in the "Instruments You Get A Good Feel For" category. Let's see how the OS & full FX play out and then judge. Elektron has a weird take on things, but no one has ever said their gear didn't deliver.

  10. The demoer wishes he was a dj instead.

    Does anyone else want to comment on what makes them excited about this? It's not doing much for me at the moment. Though I'd be interested in seeing a demo that shows off the live sampling features.

  11. The demoer wishes he was a dj instead.

    Does anyone else want to comment on what makes them excited about this? It's not doing much for me at the moment. Though I'd be interested in seeing a demo that shows off the live sampling features.

  14. Hi,

    We’ve just uploaded a secondary (more in-depth) video demo of the Elektron Octotrack – as you are probably aware, this is an exciting new product that has received lots of attention so far at Musikmesse 2010.

    We thought you may like to use our latest video on your news site, so if you do, here is the link to the vid on our YouTube channel.

    http://www.gear4music.com/tv/article/Musikmesse-2010-Elektron-gives-in-depth-look-at-Octatrack-sampler-and-sequencer/1DY/2010-03-25

    Thanks!

  15. Looks like it performs in a similar way to NI Maschine, as a piece of dedicated hardware. It definitely is an interface which could deliver some fast performance mods in a live situation. It also reminds me of exactly why i still have and work with my QY-700 as a midi sequencer. It's compact and can be self contained. It does not need a whole computer to run…. and can be gig'd with either on it's own or with other gear or a computer.

    Anyone who's hooked a UW up to a mixer and ran Traktor audio sends into it for live remixing (like I have been doing) will definitely jump on this when it comes out. I definitely want one, atleast to try and see if I can use as a live performance tool.

  16. Looks like it performs in a similar way to NI Maschine, as a piece of dedicated hardware. It definitely is an interface which could deliver some fast performance mods in a live situation. It also reminds me of exactly why i still have and work with my QY-700 as a midi sequencer. It's compact and can be self contained. It does not need a whole computer to run…. and can be gig'd with either on it's own or with other gear or a computer.

    Anyone who's hooked a UW up to a mixer and ran Traktor audio sends into it for live remixing (like I have been doing) will definitely jump on this when it comes out. I definitely want one, atleast to try and see if I can use as a live performance tool.

  18. Yeah, anyway – there are a lot of ways to record your piano – this is not one of them. This piece is for cutting edge musicians that want a completely different sound that is totally new school. Sick!!!! I can see what it can do already!!! You will hear it's influence on up and coming albums just like all of Elektron's other gear.

  19. Yeah, anyway – there are a lot of ways to record your piano – this is not one of them. This piece is for cutting edge musicians that want a completely different sound that is totally new school. Sick!!!! I can see what it can do already!!! You will hear it's influence on up and coming albums just like all of Elektron's other gear.

  20. This is the kind of sampler I've been waiting for for a long time so I can give my old recordings some polish and a new lease of life. I can't wait to get one.

  21. This is the kind of sampler I've been waiting for for a long time so I can give my old recordings some polish and a new lease of life. I can't wait to get one.

  24. These "demos" were released 37 weeks ago and still you can't buy one. I can't stand it when manufacturers do this. In the future how about getting someone who isn't a dj but a real loop based musician to demo your product. Do you know how impotant these videos are? People see this and they go, "it sucks" end of story, they don't even waste time leaving comments. Why in the hell would you have someone who can't play one good loop using/demoing the machine doing the fkin demo? Not once but 2 awful times! It desn't even qualify as noise music this is just crap ass junk and really pisses me off because I dont know if the machine is worth the 1500 preorders you are requesting, doesn't look like it will be around very long so if you want one, with scetchy software and got 1500 bucks, have at it. I will keep banking on my Akai's for now.

  25. These "demos" were released 37 weeks ago and still you can't buy one. I can't stand it when manufacturers do this. In the future how about getting someone who isn't a dj but a real loop based musician to demo your product. Do you know how impotant these videos are? People see this and they go, "it sucks" end of story, they don't even waste time leaving comments. Why in the hell would you have someone who can't play one good loop using/demoing the machine doing the fkin demo? Not once but 2 awful times! It desn't even qualify as noise music this is just crap ass junk and really pisses me off because I dont know if the machine is worth the 1500 preorders you are requesting, doesn't look like it will be around very long so if you want one, with scetchy software and got 1500 bucks, have at it. I will keep banking on my Akai's for now.

  26. These "demos" were released 37 weeks ago and still you can't buy one. I can't stand it when manufacturers do this. In the future how about getting someone who isn't a dj but a real loop based musician to demo your product. Do you know how impotant these videos are? People see this and they go, "it sucks" end of story, they don't even waste time leaving comments. Why in the hell would you have someone who can't play one good loop using/demoing the machine doing the fkin demo? Not once but 2 awful times! It desn't even qualify as noise music this is just crap ass junk and really pisses me off because I dont know if the machine is worth the 1500 preorders you are requesting, doesn't look like it will be around very long so if you want one, with scetchy software and got 1500 bucks, have at it. I will keep banking on my Akai's for now.

  27. These "demos" were released 37 weeks ago and still you can't buy one. I can't stand it when manufacturers do this. In the future how about getting someone who isn't a dj but a real loop based musician to demo your product. Do you know how impotant these videos are? People see this and they go, "it sucks" end of story, they don't even waste time leaving comments. Why in the hell would you have someone who can't play one good loop using/demoing the machine doing the fkin demo? Not once but 2 awful times! It desn't even qualify as noise music this is just crap ass junk and really pisses me off because I dont know if the machine is worth the 1500 preorders you are requesting, doesn't look like it will be around very long so if you want one, with scetchy software and got 1500 bucks, have at it. I will keep banking on my Akai's for now.

  28. These "demos" were released 37 weeks ago and still you can't buy one. I can't stand it when manufacturers do this. In the future how about getting someone who isn't a dj but a real loop based musician to demo your product. Do you know how impotant these videos are? People see this and they go, "it sucks" end of story, they don't even waste time leaving comments. Why in the hell would you have someone who can't play one good loop using/demoing the machine doing the fkin demo? Not once but 2 awful times! It desn't even qualify as noise music this is just crap ass junk and really pisses me off because I dont know if the machine is worth the 1500 preorders you are requesting, doesn't look like it will be around very long so if you want one, with scetchy software and got 1500 bucks, have at it. I will keep banking on my Akai's for now.

  29. These "demos" were released 37 weeks ago and still you can't buy one. I can't stand it when manufacturers do this. In the future how about getting someone who isn't a dj but a real loop based musician to demo your product. Do you know how impotant these videos are? People see this and they go, "it sucks" end of story, they don't even waste time leaving comments. Why in the hell would you have someone who can't play one good loop using/demoing the machine doing the fkin demo? Not once but 2 awful times! It desn't even qualify as noise music this is just crap ass junk and really pisses me off because I dont know if the machine is worth the 1500 preorders you are requesting, doesn't look like it will be around very long so if you want one, with scetchy software and got 1500 bucks, have at it. I will keep banking on my Akai's for now.

  30. I think this unit would be great for noise music – I saw NOMEX live in Berlin and he was using something similar (maybe the unit itself???) is he a beta tester for Elektron?

  44. I s anybody actually gonna do anything musical with this thing ? every demo is some twot messing with pitch and grain.
    Based on the demos of this thing I would say it is pretty aweful. Cue a load of youtubes videos of talentless 20 somethings glitching up loops…..yawn

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