The Elektron Octatrack MKII Black is a high-end sampler that was created expressly to be used when performing live. The MKII model is the second edition of the Octatrack, which was originally released in 2011. The user interface has been completely redesigned so that the sampler is now even more intuitive and easier to use, and the new OLED display in particular is a real improvement, allowing the device's parameters to be read from any angle. With the Elektron Octatrack MKII, music-makers can find the perfect sample in no time, and then edit each element individually. This in-depth, radical sample manipulation – including real-time time stretch and pitch shift – is a valuable tool not only for shorter or improvised live performances, but also when meticulously composing entirely new tracks.
The Elektron Octatrack MKII Black has an internal structure which is organised hierarchically: The top level consists of the sets, which include all audio files and projects. Playing the sampler first requires a project to be loaded from the SD card, the memory architecture of which consists of 16 memory banks, eight arrangements, eight recordable channels, 128 memory locations for samples, eight MIDI tracks and, of course, the settings of the project in question. Each memory bank can store 16 patterns of 64 steps each, and four variants of each sample configuration per channel. A crossfader is included so that, much like using a DJ mixer, users can fade between what Elektron refers to as "scenes". The fader reacts very smoothly, making transitions remarkably fluid. In addition to a stereo output, there is also a cue output on the rear panel. There are also four inputs for audio signals, a headphone output, and separate MIDI in, out, and thru connections.
The Elektron Octatrack MKII Black was created for electronic music artists and DJs looking for a reliable and flexible sampler for their live performances. Samples can be recorded in real time, either via one of the many source inputs, or using the device's internal channels: Either way, playback is compatible with either the .wav or .aiff file formats. The sampling rate is 44.1kHz, while the bit rate can be set to 16 or 24 bits. The sequencer can be used to create patterns with up to 64 steps, but that is not all: Thanks to its host of functions, the Elektron Octatrack MKII Black is a versatile workstation for music of all kinds. It can be used as an audio and MIDI control centre, or as a drum machine in a live setup. Ultimately, the Octatrack is a broad-spectrum hardware device for creating, organising, and performing music in the form of samples, and thus has almost endless potential, limited only by what each individual intends to use it for.
The Swedish firm Elektron was founded in Gothenburg in 1998. The company develops tools for producers, artists, and DJs to perfect their respective crafts. The company's award-winning Overbridge software is designed to seamlessly integrate electronic musical instruments into computer-based DAWs as controllers and as external sound cards. Elektron is continuously bringing new innovations to the market in order to seamlessly integrate music into our day-to-day lives.
If the Elektron Octatrack MKII Black is being used to play or record samples, the first step is always to select one of the five integrated machines. The Static and Flex machines are designed for sample storage and playback, differing principally in the amount of memory they can access: Static is better suited to longer samples, with Flex intended more for the complex manipulation of smaller components. If, on the other hand, external signals are the basis of the active soundscape – perhaps being further altered with some of the integrated effects – the Thru machine is required. The Neighbor machine is capable of playing a signal from a connected source, i.e. another device. Last but not least, the Pickup machine can even record while the current material is being played. The three LFOs, which allow users to choose from an impressive 19 waveforms, can be used to create bipolar amplitude curves, among other things. Two effects, such as delay and reverb, can be applied per channel.