octatrack and hardware controlerism

[mostapha]

Juli, I actually kind of disagree with you in the whole laptop thing. Most of the "real people" i've talked to still don't have a clue what a DJ does. Some people honestly think that everyone's sampling off records and remixing on the fly. Others honestly believe that they "had that track" back in '95 when it's part of an all-original live set that has never been released.

It's all just BS. The punters don't know any more than they ever did, and NI's marketing has done nothing to change that.

And I've never heard anyone legitimately criticize Ableton when they had any clue how to use it unless it just wasn't their preference. I talked to one guy–a touring DJ with a record contract–who had a several-year policy of walking out on anyone he saw spinning Live because he thought it wasn't possible to not pre-record your set. Just about the only thing we agreed on was that Sasha is better on CDs than he was on Ableton…but that might just be that he's doing fewer (or better) drugs now.

Now, I'm with you…the Octatrack (and all of Elektron's stuff, actually) is amazing. If someone gave me a lot of money…I'd buy the trio in a heart beat. No questions. And I'd spend a while lost and eventually figure it out. And I'd enjoy every minute of it.

But I think calling it "Ableton Live in a box," is a compliment.

And $1500 isn't too much to pay for it. If I had that much cheese to devote to a groove box, I'd own one. Compare it to everything else on the market…it kind of just wins. And technically my MBP + Maschine cost more…and gives very few extra capabilities (basically just easy integration with a DAW and a big sound library). It's just that I was going to buy the MBP anyway.

The Octatrack is on my "if I won the lottery" list.

[sidetrakd]

the octatrack is on my "if i won the lottery" list.

^^^ +1 !!!

[nukage]

I'm so used to 'try before you buy' with software that it would be so hard to justify spending that much cabbage on a thing I have no idea how to use, or even a complete understanding of the features. I just tried watching the videos on the octatrack youtube channel but I nearly fell asleep-- reading manuals was never my thing either. I guess I'll wait until I see people doing sick live setups with it, then I'll see. I'm thinking this plus a kaoss pad, kaossilator would be amazing

[Juliflash]

Hi guys...

Well as an user of an Octatrack for 2 months now I have to say that the machine is pretty amazing... Is truth that is epensive, but at the same time is very, very small and well built.

In my case I knew from the begining what to use it for, I had to choose betwen shiny apple + controllers + audio device + FX... or Octatrack. I just wanted to get rid of a laptop since I had to start using it a few years ago... and it works...

The size of my hand luggage is smaller now, less heavy and I dont have to conect almost any cable... If you use synths and external FX on stage this is an amazing device, no latency, option to mix to stereo signals...

I just think this device is totally usefull for certain people, but unusefull for others... Is a device that need to be studyed, you must read the manual at least twice, and you can achieve amazing things because it gives a lot of choices...

Personally I love reading manuals and learning, waiting to see people do it first and then copy them... it wont take you very far.

All the best.
Juli.

[nukage]

My question is. If I'm already using ableton for a combo electronic performance/dj set, will I be able to do something similar with the octatrack? Being able to do a DJ set with it would make it much easier to justify the expense..