Free Octatrack Sample Packs Sources And Resources For Electronic Music Producers

The Elektron Octatrack is a powerful sampler and sequencer widely used in electronic music production. While there are many commercial sample packs available, there are also numerous free sample packs that producers can access to enhance their music production capabilities. This article explores the various sources for free Octatrack samples, the types of samples available, and how to effectively utilize these resources in music production.

Overview of Octatrack Sample Packs

Octatrack sample packs are collections of sounds specifically formatted for use with the Elektron Octatrack sampler/sequencer. These packs typically contain loops, one-shot samples, and pre-sequenced patterns that can be loaded directly into the device. According to Source [1], professional sound designers create these packs with various genres in mind, including electro, house, dubstep, techno, indie dance, and drum & bass.

The samples in these packs are often pre-loaded into dedicated scenes and patterns, making them ready to play and produce immediately. Source [1] mentions that these packs contain essential elements such as basses, synths, leads, pads, atmospheres, effects, drums, and percussion. The in-house curation process ensures that every sonic element is formatted for immediate assimilation and integration, allowing producers to start making music within moments of downloading.

Free Sample Pack Sources

Several sources offer free Octatrack sample packs that producers can download and use in their music projects:

Source [2]: Modular Drums Sample Pack This source offers a free sample pack containing 4 drum kits sampled from a Eurorack Modular synth. The samples are layered, tuned, compressed, and formatted in chains specifically for the Elektron Octatrack sampler. The creator used various modules including Make Noise Telharmonic, Make Noise Erbe-Verb, MI Rings, Befaco Sallen-key filter, Roland Torcido drive, and Befaco spring reverb to create these sounds. The download also includes an Ableton Live pack with 4 drum racks, providing additional flexibility for producers using different software.

Source [4]: Zabongs Extracted Sounds This source offers a free pack of samples compiled by a user who has been using their Octatrack for three weeks. The pack contains more than 270 one-shot samples from Analog Four and Rytm, including short basses and chord stabs. The core of the pack consists of 173 ambient textures, drones, and pads, along with 126 drum loops. These samples are intended for use with the Octatrack but may also be useful for other machines that can utilize samples.

Source [5]: Chord Samples This source provides a collection of chord samples specifically formatted for the Octatrack. The creator explains that many of the sounds come from using polysynths in place of oscillators in a modular system, layering multiple chords and running them through dynamic processors. The solution was made portable for live performance using Octatrack's 'sample chains' - single files containing multiple equally-sized samples that the device automatically splits into up to 64 slices. The downloadable pack includes chord samples, .OT settings files (with many already sliced and ready to use), and MIDI files for those who want to create their own samples in the same format.

Types of Samples Available

Free Octatrack sample packs come in various types, catering to different aspects of music production:

Drum Samples and Kits Several sources offer drum samples and kits formatted specifically for the Octatrack. Source [2] provides 4 drum kits sampled from a Eurorack Modular synth, while Source [4] includes 126 drum loops. These drum samples are often processed and formatted in chains that take advantage of the Octatrack's slicing and sequencing capabilities.

Atmospheric Textures and Pads Source [4] emphasizes ambient textures, drones, and pads as a core component of their free pack, with 173 such samples included. These atmospheric elements are valuable for creating mood and atmosphere in electronic music productions.

Bass and Synth Samples Both Source [4] and Source [5] include bass samples and synth patches. Source [4] offers short basses and chord stabs, while Source [5] focuses on chord samples created through polysynths and processed through Eurorack modules.

Chord Samples and MIDI Files Source [5] provides a unique collection of chord samples formatted as 'sample chains' that the Octatrack can automatically slice. The pack includes 64 chords arranged into 8 modes with 8 inversions each, with the first half being major and the rest minor. These chords were recorded at three different pitches over one octave. The downloadable pack also includes MIDI files for producers who want to create their own samples in the same format.

One-Shot Samples Several sources offer one-shot samples that can be triggered individually or sliced and rearranged. Source [4] provides over 270 one-shot samples from Analog Four and Rytm, which can be used as building blocks for new compositions.

How to Use Octatrack Samples

The provided sources offer some insights into how to effectively use Octatrack samples in music production:

Loading and Formatting Samples Source [1] explains that Oct