Frequently Asked Questions

OctaEdit is a software editor for the Elektron Octatrack DPS-1; it provides a number of integrated modules to control various aspects of Sets, Projects, Samples and so on.

OctaEdit is a cross platform application available on:

– Windows XP to 10 (Note: Please read “Status of the Windows Version?”)

– OSX 10.9 and above

OctaEdit v1: OSv1.25E | OSv1.25H | OSv1.30* | OSv1.31*

OctaEdit v2: OSv1.40 and above only

[*] OctaEdit v1 does not support editing of Micro Timing, Trig Counts or Trig Conditions for OSv1.30 and Osv1.31

Octatrack OS versions prior to OSv1.25D are not officially supported.

OSv1.25F and OSv1.25G are not supported due to bugs in the Octatrack’s OS bugs.

OSX: v1.1.001

Windows: v1.0.010 (Note: Please read “Status of the Windows Version?”)

OctaEdit v2 Beta Builds are also available:

OSX: v1.8.840 OSv1.40+ (2023 09 03)

Windows: v1.8.840 OSv1.40+ (2023 09 03)

The Windows version is currently on hiatus whilst developing a very large update for both OSX and Windows.

Why? Due to conflicts between IDE / Visual Studio and 3rd Party Libraries / Juce which will take significant time to resolve.

I can therefore spend X time and energy in working on resolving this; and then updating; or I can spend the time and energy in just updating OctaEdit for both platforms.

I’ve decided to go with the option of updating both simultaneously.

OctaEdit v2 will be a free upgrade to all existing users.

Pragmatic answer is “when it is ready”.

I do not like publishing time frames, as software development and hardware OS changes can always throw up unexpected scenarios; and I am not going to release the update just to meet an arbitrary deadline.

If you would like to be notified when the update is released; either  like the Facebook page, or keep an eye on the OctaEdit thread on Elektronauts.

The IndieGoGo campaign did not reach its target. Which means I have not been able to work on it full time and thus OctaEdit v2 has not been released yet.

OctaEdit has been built in a modular fashion, where each “module” has been created to handle one or more specific set of requirements.

Depending on the module in question, each module can interact with one or more of the other modules in OctaEdit. For example, the Sequencer module interacts with the Samples, Library and Analytics modules. The Arp Designer module interacts with the Library and Sequencer modules, and so forth.

There are 13 modules available in OctaEdit: Project, Samples, Sequencer, Arranger, Manager, Chainer, Audio Finder, Arp Designer, LFO Designer, Library, Analytics, Options and Support Modules.

The Project module provides access to all the settings of the currently loaded Project.

Entire Project configurations; or any Element (Mixer, Input, Sequencer, Memory, Metronome, Midi Settings, Midi Channels, Midi Sequencer) of a Project can be copied/pasted; or saved to / loaded from the Library module as well as being Reset to Defaults.

Entire Projects can additionally be:

• Saved
• Reloaded from previous state
• Renamed
• Cloned

The Samples module allows the ability to manage samples within a Project, add new samples from the Browser or the file system.  The Samples module additionally features the ability to edit the sample Start, Loop and End points, as well as generate and edit Slice points via slice grids.

Features include:

• Access to all available settings (Loop Mode, Timestretch Mode, Tempo, Trig Quantisation, Gain etc.)
• Add new Samples individually, or in batches including tempo calculation, the ability to automatically or manually define the target sample slots to populate; and whether to use existing Sample Settings or not.
• Export Sample and Settings to disk.
• Modify Trim Start / Loop / End points either graphically, by sample numbers, or by bars length; including the ability to Lock Start / Loop / End points and edit individually.
• Slice Samples to Grid
• Add, Delete, Delete All and Organise Slice functions.
• Modify Slice Start / Loop / End points either graphically, by sample numbers, or by bars length; including the ability to Lock Start / Loop / End points and edit individually; as well as toggling Slice Loop points individually or in bulk.
• Restore Settings on the fly (aka Undo)
• Collect Samples to the Audio Pool, Project folder, or any custom folder you specify.
• Purge unused Samples
• View Samples by any combination of Type (All, Flex, Static); Filter (All, Project, Empty or Used in Bank / Pattern / Track / Part) and optional wildcard text filter.
• Swap Samples (Keeping Sample Locks)
• Swap Samples including Sample Locks
• Overwrite Samples (Keeping Sample Locks)
• Overwrite Samples and Sample Locks
• Overwrite Samples merge Sample Locks (Keeping existing Sample Locks)
• Clone Sample
• Clone Sample and File (Creating a copy of the audio file)
• Rename Sample
• Clear Slot (Keeping Sample Locks)
• Clear Slot and Sample Locks
• Analyse Sample Slots by Slot or File Name to see where they have been used within the Set / Project.
• Generate a report of all the Samples used in the Project to the project folder and clipboard.

The Sequencer module provides full access to every element of the Octatrack, from entire configurations down to parameter locks on a single step.

The Sequencer module is fully integrated with the Samples, Arp Designer and LFO Designer modules allowing quick and easy modifications on each track.

The Sequencer module is also fully integrated with the Library module allowing the ability to Save/Load any element of your setup, from your Parts, Audio/Midi/Recorder Machine configurations, Scenes through to FX Chains, Amp configurations and much, much more.

Features include:

• Seamlessly Copy / Paste / Save to Library / Load from Library / Reset to Default anything on the fly; Banks, Patterns, Parts, Scenes, Scene Tracks, Audio Machines, Audio Machine, Playback (Static, Flex, Thru, Pickup), LFO1, LFO2, LFO3, LFO Designs, FX1, FX2, FX Chains, Midi Machines, Midi Machine, Arps, Arp Designs, Control1, Control2, Control Chains, Recorders, Recorder, Channel Strips, Sequencer Settings, Tracks, Steps, Micro Timing, Trig Counts etc.
• Edit / Clear / Assign any parameter with Default, Minimum, Maximum and Random functions including Scene and Step Parameter Locks
• Sequencer Actions: Copy Banks, Patterns, Pattern and Parts, Tracks, Parts, Scenes and Recorders using the same Template / Relative logic described in the Manager section.
• Sequencer Step Actions: Copy / Clear / Randomise one, many or all Elements of one, many or all Steps simultaneously; optionally based on a “Seed” step.
• Trig Sequencer allowing the ability to graphically edit Trigs
• Copy / Paste / Load / Save / Clear / Randomise entire Audio or Midi Tracks or individual elements of tracks: Trigs, Slide, Swing, Record Trigs, Parameter Locks, Sample Locks etc
• Copy entire Bars
• Graphically edit Micro Timing allowing the ability to Fine Edit / Copy / Paste / Load / Save / Clear / Randomise; Move by Bar and Move by Step
• Graphically edit Trig Counts allowing the ability to Fine Edit / Copy / Paste / Load / Save / Clear / Randomise
• Graphically edit Parameter Locks allowing the ability to Fine Edit / Copy / Paste / Load / Save / Clear / Randomise
• Graphically edit Sample Locks allowing the ability to Fine Edit / Copy / Paste / Load / Save / Clear / Randomise
• Assign Samples to Audio Machines Default Flex and Static Slots
• Rename Parts
• Assign Crossfader Scene Settings
• And more…

The Arranger module allows the ability to edit any of the eight Arrangements with an Octatrack Set.

Note: The Arranger module is only available in OSXv1.1.400 Beta; and will be included for both OSX and Windows in the next major release.

Arranger Rows can be added, deleted and edited either individually or in bulk.

Using the Arranger Module you can edit the

• Row Patterns, Actions and Comments (REM)
• Row Offset / Lengths
• Row Scene Assignments
• Row Tempo
• Row Midi Transpose
• Row Audio and Midi Mutes

Arrangements can also be freely copied from a Source Arrangement to a Target Arrangement.

Ever had troubles working in the Arranger? OctaEdit will unleash the power of this underutilised side of the Octatrack for you.

The Manager module provides the ability to copy “Elements” and/or Samples from a Source Set/Project to a Target Set/Project; including the ability to remap sample assignments on the fly.

The Manager Module includes a powerful copy engine that utilises one of two modes per Element; “Template” and “Relative”

Template: Use a single Element as a Source to copy to one or more Target Elements; e.g.

Copy from Source Bank 01/A to Target Bank 04/D and Target Bank 07/G and Target Bank 12/L

Relative: Use multiple Elements as a Source to copy to their relative Target Elements; e.g.

Copy from Source Bank 01/A to Target Bank 01/A and  copy from Source Bank 04/D to Target Bank 04/D and copy from Source Bank 07/G to Target Bank 12/G

Each Element in a hierarchy(e.g. when copying a Scene you specify the Bank, Part and Scene) can use either Template or Relative mode; resulting in an extremely powerful, yet very easy to use engine.

Elements that can be copied:

• Banks
• Patterns
• Pattern and Associated Parts
• Tracks
• Parts
• Scenes
• Recorders
• Arrangements

The Manager module also includes the ability to remap sample assignments on the fly.

Simply put Source Sample Slots can be “re-mapped” to Target Sample Slots.

When Elements are copied; any references to the Source Sample Slot is mapped to the Target Sample Slot; for example:

Copying: Source Bank 01/A to Target Bank 04/D and mapping Source Slot Flex 001 to Target Slot Flex 007

Result: Any where that Source Slot Flex 001 is used in Source Bank 01/A; e.g. Machine Assignments, Sample Locks etc will be mapped to Target Slot Flex 007 seamlessly in Target Bank Flex 04/D

Using the Manager module means that with just a couple of clicks entire sets can be merged together seamlessly, meaning you never have to worry about the Octatrack structure ever again.

The Chainer module allows the ability to create Sample Chains on the fly from various audio files.

Features include:

• Ability to merge up to 64 audio files into a Sample Chain
• Access to all available settings (Loop Mode, Timestretch Mode, Tempo, Trig Quantisation, Gain etc.)
• Drag/drop from OctaEdit’s Audio Finder module, Finder (OSX) and Explorer (Windows)
• Save Sample Chain to disk
• Add Sample Chain to a Sample Slot in the current Project
• Edit an existing Sample Chain
• Backup a Sample Chain and all Samples as an OctaEdit Chainer Archive
• Restore an OctaEdit Chainer Archive for further editing.

The Arp Designer module provides the ability to graphically design arpeggios that can that be applied to any midi track, and/or stored in the Library for future use.

The Arp Designer additionally features an advanced feature set including Inversion, Reverse, Randomisation and shuffling.

The Arp Designer module is additionally fully integrated with the Sequencer and Library modules.

Features include:

• Graphically design Arpreggios; available to any Midi Track
• Easy access to all Steps, Length and Key; with Default, Minimum, Maximum, Random and Rest functions per step.
• Save to the Library Module
• Load from the Library Module
• Read from the current track in the Sequencer module
• Write to any midi track in the Sequencer module
• Reset, Invert, Reverse and Randomise functions
• Move functions: Move the entire Arp Design Left, Right, Up, Down, Up by an Octave or Down by an Octave

The LFO Designer module provides the ability to graphically design LFO waveforms that can that be applied to any track, and/or stored in the Library for future use.

The LFO Designer additionally features an advanced feature set including Inversion, Reverse, Randomisation and shuffling.

The LFO Designer module is additionally fully integrated with the Sequencer and Library modules.

Features include:

• Graphically design LFO’s; available to any Audio or Midi Track
• Easy access to all Steps; with Default, Minimum, Maximum, Random and Rest functions per step.
• Save to the Library Module
• Load from the Library Module
• Read from the current track in the Sequencer module
• Write to any audio or midi track in the Sequencer module
• Reset, Invert, Reverse and Randomise functions available to Values, Interpolation or both; plus the ability toggle Interpolation on/off for all step.
• Move functions: Move the entire LFO Design Left, Right, Up, Down, Up by ten or Down by ten

The Audio Finder module is an audio browser allowing quick searching and previewing of audio files anywhere on your computer or Octatrack.

Audio files can then be automatically added to the Samples module or the Chainer module seamlessly.

Features include:

• Browse and search for Audio file anywhere
• Filter based on Format, Channels, Bit Rate, Sample Rate, Wildcard Text Filter and if Octatrack Sample Settings exist.
• Favourites functionality for your favourite sample locations
• Audio Preview
• Send to Samples: Send one or more audio files to the Samples module adding as a Sample Slot to the current Project
• Send to Chainer: Send one or more audio files to the Chainer module adding as a Sample Slice to the current Sample Chain
• Display properties option
• Analyse files to see if already used in your Set / Project
• Clone existing files
• Show in Finder (OSX) or Explorer (Windows)

The Library module is essentially a preset manager on steroids, and provides a library of “Entries” for the various elements of both OctaEdit and the Octatrack, where literally anything can be copied, pasted, saved and loaded between Sets and Projects.

Save your Project setups, Machine configurations, LFO Designs, Parts, Scenes, FX Chains etc. from any Set and any Project and reuse them as required whenever, and wherever you want.

All of the below Elements can be freely copied/pasted; saved to, and loaded from the Library from their respective locations in OctaEdit.

Additionally, Library Entries can be imported/exported for sharing with other OctaEdit users.

Project:

• All Project Settings. (i.e. all of the following combined)
• Mixer
• Input
• Sequencer
• Memory
• Metronome
• Midi Settings
• Midi Channels
• Midi Sequencer

Sequencer:

• Banks
• Patterns
• Sequencer Settings (Settings for all Audio and Midi Tracks combined)
• Sequencer Track Settings (For both Audio and Midi tracks)
• Parts
• Scenes
• Scene Track (Single track in Scene)

Audio Machines:

• Audio Machines (All 8 ‘Audio Machine’ combined)
• Audio Machine (A single Audio Machine containing: Playback, Amp, LFO1/2/3, LFO Design, FX1 and FX2)
• Static
• Flex
• Thru
• Pickup
• Amp
• LFO1 / LFO2 / LFO3
• LFO Design
• FX Chain (Combined FX1 and FX2)
• FX1 or FX2 (Supports all FX types independently: Filter, Equalizer, DJ Equalizer, Phaser, Flanger, Chorus, Spatializer, Comb Filter, Compressor, Lo-Fi, Delay, Plate Reverb, Spring Reverb, Dark Reverb)

Audio Tracks:

• Audio Track (Including all of the below)
• Audio Trigs (Including Parameter and Sample Locks)
• Slide
• Swing
• MicroTiming
• Trig Counts
• Trig Conditions
• Recorder Trigs (Combined Rec AB, Rec CD, Rec IN and Rec OS)
• Rec AB
• Rec CD
• Rec IN
• Rec OS

Midi Machines:

• Midi Machines (All 8 ‘Midi Machine’ combined)
• Midi Machine (A single Midi Machine containing: Note, Arp, Arp Design, LFO1/2/3, LFO Design, Control1 and Control2)
• Note
• Arp (Including Arp Design)
• Arp Design
• LFO1 / LFO2 / LFO3
• LFO Design
• Control Chain (Combined Control1 and Control2)
• Control 1
• Control 2

Midi Tracks:

• Midi Track (Entire Track containing all of the below)
• Midi Trigs (inc Parameter Locks)
• Swing
• Micro Timing
• Trig Counts

Recorders:

• Recorders (All 8 ‘Recorder’ combined)
• Recorder (A single Recorder)

Arp Designs (Shared between Midi Tracks and Arp Designer)

LFO Designs (Shared between Audio and Midi Tracks and LFO Designer)

The Analytics module is a multi purpose reporting and analysis module, which provides results from the analysis engine, and is integrated with OctaEdit’s other modules.

The Analytics module provides two modes available at any time: Results and Active

Results: Provides the current results from the Analysis engine. For example, Analytics can be automatically performed when selecting Samples, to identify exactly where a sample has been utilised in a Project, and the results returned to the module.

Active: Provides the ability to identify which Banks, Patterns, Parts and Tracks are used in the current Project, Manager Source Project or Manager Target Project to allow you to identify which Elements have been used or are empty.

The Options module provides access to the all the end user options available in OctaEdit.

Options are divided on a per-module basis; allowing you to customise various settings that best suit your workflow.

Of additional note is the ability to auto-backup your Projects prior to saving; or executing a copy within the Manager module.

The Support module provides detailed logging to assist with support and error tracking.

The Support module makes my life easier, and allows me to provide the highest level of support I can, to ensure that you have the best end user experience that you deserve.

Yes. The manual, currently ~400 pages is available via this link.

A number of videos of OctaEdit are available on YouTube

OctaEdit v2 has been rewritten to provide OSv1.4 support.

The pragmatic answer depends on the level of support and volume of sales.

OctaEdit is independently developed software that has been developed with no support, documentation or assistance from other parties.

As there are elements beyond my control, no guarantees can be given that events in the future will render OctaEdit inoperable, or not suitable for the intended purpose.

Unfortunately not. This is a limitation of the Compact Flash format; only allowing one device to access the card at any point in time; either the Octatrack or your computer.

This is a limitation of the Octatrack hardware.

Additionally, the Octatrack has a very limited MIDI implementation; and no SysEx implementation.

Whilst I could develop a Midi version of OctaEdit; it would be limited to only the standard parameters (i.e. not the Setup pages) of the current Part of the current Bank in the Project.

Over midi I would not even be able to provide 10% of the functionality that exists in OctaEdit.

Yes.

OctaEdit doesn’t care where a Set/Projects are. On the Octatrack, external card reader, or on your desktop. All works the same.

No. Purchases are final and no refunds are offered.

OctaEdit is not specifically sold to perform a certain task, function or activity, implicit, implied or otherwise, therefore refunds will only be provided where you have not been provided with the product you purchased.

But there is no demo?

Please refer the next question.

There will be a Demo version of OctaEdit v2 available.

There is no Demo version of OctaEdit v1.

Now would be a great time to let me know if you have any feature requests; or additional functionality that you would like added.

Yes. Please contact me for more details prior to selling.

Please note that there is a US$10 administration fee for processing the licence transfer to the new owner.

iOS just doesn’t have the capabilities to integrate with the Octatrack, due to the limited access to the machine.

Likewise, the Octatrack doesn’t have the capabilities to be integrated to by the outside world due to its poor midi specification and non existent SysEx.

So whilst an iOS app could be written, it would provide less then 10% of the functionality of OctaEdit at best.

OctaEdit is a lot more complex then just simply sending some midi CC#’s or SysEx data.

Of course, just send me an email.

What does OctaEdit mean by “Illegal Characters” ?

OctaEdit only supports UTF-8 characters even though the Octatrack supports other characters.

Legal characters include 0-1, a-z, A-Z and so forth.

Illegal characters include: ” ‘ @ * & # [ ] % | / ^ ! $ ( ) : ; ? = < >

And include characters with accents (e.g. á Á ) and umlauts (e.g. ä Ä ü Ü ö Ö) and so forth.

This is due to variations in Operating Systems (OSX / Windows), file naming conventions, languages and character sets, errors may occur when dealing with illegal characters.

OctaEdit will not load any Projects that contain illegal characters. Illegal characters can exist in Project Names, Sample Names, Part Names, Arranger Names and Arranger Rows.

Tip: It is a good idea to avoid using “special” characters as a general rule as these can cause issues in various operating systems due to not meeting standard file naming protocols, and character sets, regardless of whether or not this is possible on a piece of hardware.

It should do. I’ve only ever had a single report from a user who told me they had issues.

To mitigate any risk; I will be publishing a simple audio playback application that will utilise the same code as OctaEdit’s playback engine to ensure compatibility.

Check back to see when that is available.

No.

I am an independent software developer who has developed OctaEdit independently, with zero support or assistance from Elektron in any way, shape or form.

Neither OctaEdit, nor I, have any affiliation with Elektron Music Machines; nor is OctaEdit supported or endorsed by Elektron; nor is any intent made to seem otherwise.

Basically, I’m just another Octatrack user

Email me, or send me a private message on Elektronauts or Facebook and I will try and get back to you within 24 hours.

Remember I am just one guy, and where ever you are in the world, I am probably in a different time zone to you; so I really do appreciate your patience whilst I respond.