Considering switching to Deluge from Octatrack - Help needed :)

Hey Deluge Community!
A while ago I stumbled over this beautiful device, and currently I am collecting information if the Deluge might substitute my beloved-but-restrictive Octatrack. I read manuals and watched a lot of videos, could not find the right information, and before buying, I might need the help of experienced Deluge users and some confirmation or correction of my expectations:
How I use Octatrack:
// create sequences of 64 steps for both 8 audio tracks and up to 8 MIDI tracks for external gear
// create an arrangement, which links those sequences in any way I want (length, repeats, muted parts, ...) to have a "classic" song structure of Intro, Verse, Refrain, etc.
// play this arrangement, having Octatrack play back audio and control external gear via MIDI as defined in arrangement
// Permanently save the arrangement on a SD card
I expect that the Deluge is capable of:
// Having sequences longer than 64 steps and more than 8 Audio/Midi Tracks
// same
// same
// same
Important for the arrangement is, that the Deluge has a comfortable way of defining and editing a song structure I like and save it for later use.
Can someone please confirm that Deluge is capable of doing so? If yes, what is your experience with it? Does it work like a charm or is it more workaround-ish to achieve whole songs?
Question for Mixing scenarios:
Given the above described scenario that a whole song has been created on Deluge. For Mixing purposes, I want to:
// Change the Snare Drum volume in the whole song
// Change the Snare Drum volume only in certain parts of the song
Is that achievable?
Many thanks in advance!
Best Answer
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percussijan GermanyPosts: 50
The answers are....
... drumroll
1) Sequences and audio/MIDI tracks? Yes!
Sequences of 64 steps and more (way more!) are possible.
Number of sequenced notes is only limited by CPU power. So almost endless sequences, literally.No MIDI track limit.
MIDI tracks can automate external gear.
No Audio track limit / audio track length limit.
Limit is set by size of SD card and maybe CPU power, depending on FX/processing settings per track,
BUT audio input is limited to 2x mono or 1x stereo. So recording/processing more than 2 audio devices at the same time does not work with the deluge. You´ll need a mixer/multichannel interface.
2) Songs/arrangements? Yes!
You can easily make arrangements in A ) Song-mode: like Ableton Live session view, mute and launch clips, change parameters clip-wise or song-wise on the fly. Or B ) Arrangement-mode: Like arranging in a DAW. Build song structure, hit play, have a drink and maybe turn a few knobs.
Everything can be saved to SD card (You can copy any clip of any song to other songs as well, wich is really great)
3) Mixing? Yes!
- You can change the volume (and many more parameters) of every single step, every single drum stem (called "row" in Deluge´s kit-mode) or synth. Also whole clips can be adjusted (clip=track, btw.), as well as all params. of the whole song.
These videos might be helpful:
Hope this helps!
Post edited by percussijan on
Answers
This actually helps a lot. Very much appreciated and many thanks!
Hi, @percussijan I'm wondering about what you said about being able to change e.g. a snare volume through an entire song. This doesn't seem to be possible to me. How would one do that?
Add some clips in ARRNG view and hit [PLAY]. Then simply switch back to SONG or CLIP view and change levels or other parameters as usual. Arrangement will keep playing until end or you hit [PLAY] again.