by Stefan Wyeth | 3,5 / 5,0 | Approximate reading time: 3 Minutes
Elektron Octatrack Alternatives for Dawless Music Production

Elektron Octatrack Alternatives for Dawless Music Production  ยท  Source: Elektron / Roland

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Need a creative outlet for your music that has to be Dawless? We’re checking out some of the best Elektron Octatrack Alternatives for music production and live performance.

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It’s not for everyone, but the Elektron Octatrack sure has stamped itself onto modern electronic music production culture. Its versatility makes it the preferred performance tool of many live electronic artists, as well as being an MPC substitute in studio.

By having a combination of Audio and MIDI sequencing features, sampling, and audio manipulation, the Octatrack is a powerful creative tool, even if you aren’t using it for live performance.

Elektron Octatrack Alternatives

What if you don’t quite have the budget for an Octatrack, or it doesn’t suit your creative process? We’re going to check out a range of options that provide similar features and a performance-orientated workflow.

Novation Circuit

The Novation Circuit grooveboxes are an affordable route to take, and you can choose between the Circuit Tracks sequencing groovebox or the Circuit Ryhthm 8-track sampler, or both, according to your needs.

Both units are portable, with up to 4 hours of battery life and they each have a range of built-in effects to help you create unique sounds in your songs. Also, the screenless interface can be creatively liberating, as it changes the focus slightly.

Novation Circuit

Novation Circuit

Novation Circuit Tracks
Novation Circuit Tracks
Customer rating:
(58)
Novation Circuit Rhythm
Novation Circuit Rhythm
Customer rating:
(27)

Roland SP-404 MKII

The SP-404 MKII offers a completely different sensibility to the Elektron instruments, with a simple WYSIWYG interface centred around the 16 bankable trigger pads.

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It provides portability and a highly intuitive workflow with a truckload of effects that are all quick to incorporate live via the control knobs above the screen. Once your samples are loaded, the 404 is a powerful creative tool without the learning curve of many other samplers.

SP404 MKII

SP404 MKII

Roland SP-404MKII
Roland SP-404MKII
Customer rating:
(62)

1010music Blackbox

The 1010music Blackbox is an extremely powerful sampling workstation in a compact format. With sequencing, sampling, beat-slicing, and sound design capabilities, the Blackbox is a versatile portable instrument.

You can use its powerful standalone features, or connect it with the rest of your setup via the MIDI and clock I/O, as well as the three separate audio outputs to process your sounds in groups.

1010music Blackbox

1010music Blackbox

1010music blackbox
1010music blackbox
Customer rating:
(71)

AKAI Professional Force

The AKAI Force is a standalone music production and performance system with sample editing, sequencing, and sound creation features under one hood.

With 4 synth engines, 16 GB of internal storage, and over 10 GB of included content, there is a range of ways to create sounds and patterns. What’s more, the sequencer has 6 different track types for working with audio, MIDI, and CV signals.

AKAI Professional Force

AKAI Professional Force

AKAI Professional Force
AKAI Professional Force
Customer rating:
(71)

Synthstrom Audible Deluge

The Synthstrom Deluge is possibly the closest competing alternative to the Octatrack, with a flexible sequencer loaded with creative features and a powerful synth engine with wavetable, FM, and subtractive synthesis workflows.

In addition, you also get multisampling with time-stretching and pitch-shifting along with live looping and layering of audio and MIDI clips. The button grid interface, however, will appeal to some users more than others, so it’s a question of style.

Synthstrom Audible Deluge

Synthstrom Audible Deluge

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Image Sources:
  • Novation Circuit: Novation
  • SP404 MKII: Roland
  • 1010music Blackbox: 1010music
  • AKAI Professional Force: AKAI Professional
  • Synthstrom Audible Deluge: Synthstrom Audible
Elektron Octatrack Alternatives for Dawless Music Production

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