The Swedish company Elektron, known for its high-quality drum machines and synthesizers, said that sampling is a dying art. Therefore, in 2011, the manufacturer released Octatrack DPS-1, which is an 8-track dynamic performance sampler and sequencer 2 in 1, created to re-think sampling as an art form.

Compared to other equipment on the music market, there is no doubt that the device has a different approach to the business. But it’s not only about the activity of Elektron which wants to create a new kind of sampling. The brand seeks to convince musicians that hardware samplers are still relevant in the age of plug-ins, gigabytes of RAM and an uncountable number of tracks.

Octatrack includes a 16-step sequencer, independent pitch tune and time-stretching ("Normal" for synths, and "Beats" for percussion). The device has 8 stereo tracks for samples, and 8 tracks for a step sequencer. Samples are stored on the Compact Flash, with a maximum capacity of 64 GB (the USB connector is designed to read and transfer information to the CF card from the computer). Each track is based on "Machine". This is the term that was created by Elektron for virtual devices with the ability to generate audio or MIDI data.

The sampler has 2 main machines: "Static" and "Flex". Static machines read samples directly from the CF card, which means that the length of the samples has no limitations. "Flex" machines download samples into RAM for advanced real-time manipulation, but this type has length limitations. In addition, the "Thru" machines allow you to put sounds through external effects, while "Neighbor" receives the signal from the previous track, and creates longer chains of effects.

The length of each track of the step sequencer is absolutely independent, and has from 1 to 64 steps in the loop. As a result, Octatrack has an incredible potential in creating poly-rhythms: add a kick, snare, 1 or 2 percussions with different BPM, and the sequencer will start working. The micro-sync settings allow you to rearrange the samples back and forth in 1/384 steps, and the tracks can get their tempo adjusted.

Each track has options for cutting loops, reverse, and also assignable playback points. Moreover, they can pass through filter, compressor, reverb effects. Each machine has 3 LFOs and 1 independent, which can be automated in various ways.

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