The Monomachine is fantastic, if you like digital sounds. I got it for the SID emulation, but the world of P-locks changed the way I thought about hardware. You can be up and running with the MNM in about 20 minutes. It's midi out sequencer is not as developed as the OT, but is still pretty useful.
The OT requires a couple of evenings of study to get the hang of. Then its a magic box of possibilities. I put off learning mine for a long time after an initial stumble trying to sample. When I sat down and really applied myself to learning it, I was sampling comfortably via buttons or sample trigs after one evening. I wish I'd done this sooner. Once you have samples inside it (which you can do via computer as well obviously) the real fun begins. It's my number one bit of gear.
I agree that if you have an OP-1 and an OT, you could pretty much stop buying other stuff ;)
I still don’t have the Octa and OP-1 talking to each other via MIDI though that is ultimately the goal. I’ve been setting the tempos to match and then using quantized recording on the OT. After a little while the tempos get sort of janky, though, so either an Oplab or an iConnect will definitely be of use.
Speaking of sample packs – Anyone have any recommendations of sample packs you like? Bonus points if they’re all prepped up for slicing in the OT. I’m considering splurging on some Goldbaby stuff since his samples are awesome quality. I’d prefer it if they were prepped specifically for the OT instead of just one hits but what can ya do.
Freesound.org has some great stuff but I can spend days just looking through samples.
I’m getting a little closer to having the OP-1 and OT talk to each other, but haven’t gotten to it yet. Turns out my iPad can serve as USB host for the OP-1 so that’s the way I’ll probably go, as I have an audio interface/MIDI box for the iPad and a USB hub.
I bought two OT soundpacks - Yard Sale Gear and Hell Bent On Circuits. Honestly though I haven’t used them much. I do plan to revisit them at some point though - one of the reasons I bought them was to study the Projects supplied with the soundpacks and learn about the approaches used for p-locking, scenes, etc.
I am more about sampling/processing live instruments like viola, guitar, etc. than working with a bunch of samples. I’m currently working on an OT project in which I process a Microbrute playing its sequencer.
Well @buttonbutton, I bought the Octatrack last year after reading a lot about it, listening to some works of I friend I met at the old owpeewon and asking questions athe the Elektronauts forum. It was hard to understand what was the OT really about (and I love samplers and got some iconical ones) and I was ever inclined to buy the Analog Four (I was also searching for a more complex, funky and modern drum machine).
It´s true that the learning curve of the OT is a little bit steep, but I think it´s better designed and more user-intuitive than the MPC, for example. I´m not a professional musician, have two day jobs and in the first couple of weeks I managed to get the basics messing a little bit with the box, reading the manual, watching videos on Youtube and asking around the forum. As with the OP-1, it DEFINITELY changed the way I make my beats and is an amazing machine!
Isn´t just sampling - it´s the realtime sound twisting abilities, the happy accidents, some crazy feedbacks and possibilites that just happen without you fully rationalizing them. And as I don´t have much time, I can say that I´m only scratching the surface (for example, I never tested the real time looping and the MIDI capabilities of the machine).
I recommend it a lot and the re-sale factor is great, if you think isn´t for you.
First impressions of use…
It reminds me of OctaMED on Amiga 1200 .Remember that? My first sample software. Full circle ,so that’s great.
The mono channels and mod locks on steps. (the names even similar).
And the sequencer is everything the OP-1 isn’t ,while the OP1 has all the quirky ones.The OP-1 doesn’t time stretch,but fine with old school speed change.OT opposite.
The lack of tempo or track mutes memory for banks is throwing me.
Cool thanks @LyingDalai ,yes I’d seen that.
Still seems slightly odd. I’m bound to iron out my feelings.
The layout does feel nice.Easy to find menus. Remembering what I’ve done on older patterns ,banks ,parts is a bit slow for me.
If there’s something that is a bit difficult with the Elektrons, it’s remembering what’s what.
Quite a few people actually keep small notes of what song contains what. Y’know: Pattern bank A is song such and such, Scenes 1&9 for patterns 1 thru 8, after that scenes 2&10…
Also, keeping things roughly on the same tracks from pattern to pattern and bank to bank helps immensely. Drums on tracks 1-3, bass on 4, melodies&fx on 5-6, thru tracks on 7, 8 is master.
Cool thanks @LyingDalai ,yes I'd seen that.
Still seems slightly odd. I'm bound to iron out my feelings.
The layout does feel nice.Easy to find menus. Remembering what I've done on older patterns ,banks ,parts is a bit slow for me.
Yep I understand…
Same here sometimes after some time (wow years !) of use ^^
This is because it’s not possible to name things, I guess.
Thing is, at some point you will converge towards some kind of workflow like “scene A going from & to 8 while scene B progression going from 9 to 16” or "keeping the last Scenes for Tarekith smart CF transition trick…
I would advise to create a project to just experiment a bit and get ready to loose work at first, before trying to handle the structure of it.
Things come to place naturally once you have certain workflow / need
For instance, I often keep my Part 4 for sampling external synths
Or even I will create MIDI tracks for these external synths on Bank 16, sample and slice the phrase, then use it in the rest of the project…
Let it drive you for now, don’t worry to get messy. What you learn from these experience is what you won’t lose.
First impressions of use..
It reminds me of OctaMED on Amiga 1200 .Remember that? My first sample software. Full circle ,so that's great.
The mono channels and mod locks on steps. (the names even similar).
And the sequencer is everything the OP-1 isn't ,while the OP1 has all the quirky ones.The OP-1 doesn't time stretch,but fine with old school speed change.OT opposite.
The lack of tempo or track mutes memory for banks is throwing me.
I’ve been remembering OctaMED fondly in recent days. And after a few weeks of stupidly yearning after the Novation Circuit, I’m refocused on just saving/setting money aside to get an Octatrack later. Bringing OctaMED into the equation just gives it all a pleasant boost.
I’ve got the Machinedrum and Monomachine now and I’ve fallen in love with Elektron style sequencing. I struggle on the OP-1 sometimes when trying to make more ‘normal’ music (which is why the step / scales / p-locking style of the Circuit has been appealing as a sibling to the OP-1 for “pick up and go out on the patio” type instrument).
I’m focusing on abusing the Monomachine and DSI Evolver for a harsh noise show at present but after the show my plan is to set back down the Midi sequencer in the the Monomachine and/or Machinedrum in tandem with the MIDI LFO option on the OP-1 which I haven’t used yet. I want to see if I can use P-Locking on the OP-1’s sounds to get the best of all worlds - get that rich automation from the Elektron box in combination with the OP-1’s synths and effects.
(Newest favorite stupid Monomachine trick - sequencing and p-locking a reverb effect track with a bit of distortion and/or sample rate reduction to get some beautiful icy clouds that can break apart suddenly).
I’m looking forward to adding the Octatrack to this setup but trying to give myself a few months still to master the Monomachine.
Bumping this as the other half gave me the all clear to get one.
BUT for some reason I am hesitant to take the plunge, I am yo-yo ing between yes no. I get anxious with the price tag.
I’m also a little put off at hearing about buggy software and the complexity of it.
How have you guys faired? I’m honestly not the most technically minded of sorts.
Also thinking and/or a novation circuit but have an Op and e2 so don’t know if that would be a waste with those two covering the ground they do. The circuit just seems simple and fun.
@hindsite buy it it is complex but that’s only down to how much it ‘can’ do. And all the different ways it ‘can’ do things. If initially you just learn the functions that you need you can be using it comfortably in a few hours. And most of that initial learning is often people getting their heads around the way that ‘bank/part/pattern/scene/sample slots etc’ are architectured. Basic sampling and sync’d sampling is way easier than people make out. The various kinds of Trigs can be a little overwhelming at first but you don’t need to get freaked out by it and just learn about each Trig type with quick trial and error experiments. There are good resources. Read ‘merlin’s guide’ and it’ll all make sense. You can learn the rest as and when you need stuff.
I haven’t used mine for couple of months while I’m mostly mixing stuff at the moment. I miss it! Something I’d never sell until something else comparable/better is released.
A few things to maybe be aware of before grabbing.
Strictly Monophonic audio tracks can be frustrating once you own it if you’re in to chords and polyphonic drum machines on one track etc. So badly wish they’d add a Dynamic Poly Machine option. Doesn’t look like tho.
Audio Sequencer doesn’t record ‘Note off’. Can be frustrating if you want to sequence some live playing with a lot of different note lengths. You have to adjust note length by hand afterward. Or you can just resample instead of sequencing.
Getting 8 separate stems out to a daw for mixing is a hassle at best. Especially if you want to record live ‘scene’ movement across all 8 tracks.
Those are my main wishlist things that sometimes bum me out. For me none of them are deal breakers tho. Just kind of dictates what I do on OT a little.
Edit - another thing that sometimes bugs me is when external sequencing. Midi tracks are polyphonic but can be problematic when you want to hold note/s through adjacent different chord shapes etc.
I mean, there might be some bugs left, as nothing is perfect, but the machine is rock solid.
If the price tag is a problem, try to find one second hand.
If you don’t like it, the resell value is stable enough for you not to loose any money…
But really, it’s a very impressive piece of hardware, with many layers… If you have other gear (e.g. little synths) they find a new life with OT sequencer and FX
@hindstate One thing to keep in mind is that you just can’t avoid reading the manual.
At least twice, all the more if it’s your first Elektron.
This is something you can start right now. After the first head scratchings, you’ll see for what it can do, with all its separate parts, and understand the tutorial video a lot better.
Another thing is that it may take a few months before finding a workflow that suits you. But it’s not a pb, even only using premade samples you can already have huge fun for months
Fast Tracker II was the first for me. 
it is complex but that’s only down to how much it ‘can’ do. And all the different ways it ‘can’ do things. If initially you just learn the functions that you need you can be using it comfortably in a few hours. And most of that initial learning is often people getting their heads around the way that ‘bank/part/pattern/scene/sample slots etc’ are architectured. Basic sampling and sync’d sampling is way easier than people make out. The various kinds of Trigs can be a little overwhelming at first but you don’t need to get freaked out by it and just learn about each Trig type with quick trial and error experiments. There are good resources. Read ‘merlin’s guide’ and it’ll all make sense. You can learn the rest as and when you need stuff.