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Fix Incompatible Samples

The Octatrack hardware is very specific about the audio it can play: only WAV or AIFF, at 44.1 kHz, in 16- or 24-bit. Anything else is unsupported by the Octatrack.

This feature finds any incompatible files and converts them in place, wherever they live:

  • in Audio Pool
  • in individual project's own directory

The tool is called Fix Incompatible Samples in both places; where it is opened from decides what it scans:

Opened fromWhat it scans
Audio Pool's Tools tabThe Set's shared AUDIO/ pool, optionally every project's own directory too
A project's Tools tabThis project's own directory, plus any pool file its slots reference

What gets flagged​

The scan checks whether a file conforms to Elektron's specification, not whether the Octatrack happens to cope with it. A file is listed when any of these is true:

ReasonCompat badgePlays on the device?
Sample rate is not 44.1 kHzstraight faceYes, at the wrong speed and pitch
Bit depth is not 16 or 24sad faceUsually not
A format the Octatrack cannot read (MP3, FLAC, OGG, M4A, AAC)??No
A WAV or AIFF whose header cannot be parsed??Often yes

The review screen carries the same information per file in a Reason column.

Health Indicators​

Both scopes are scanned automatically in the background, when opening either:

  • Audio Pool page:
  • Project's Flex/Static tabs:

Once the scan is complete, a health glyph appears. It can either indicate:

  • The number of incompatible files found
    • Click it to go to Fix Incompatible Samples for that scope
  • Or a green check if all audio files are playable by the Octatrack

Rescanning can be re-triggered fresh by clicking on:

  • Refresh file lists in top right corner of Audio Pool page
  • Refresh project (in top right corner of project page

Fixing a single file​

Specific audio files can be converted specifically using the right-click contextual menu operation "Convert to Octatrack format":

  • In the Audio Pool (pane or page): Right-click a file whose Compat badge isn't a happy smiley.
  • On a sample slot (Flex/Static tab): Toggle on Edit mode and right-click a slot referencing an incompatible file.

Either way, conversion starts immediately in place and a progress throbber is displayed.

Every slot reference across all projects of Set is updated to reference the new converted file automatically.

When a file is resampled to 44.1 kHz, every slot playing it gets its trim points, loop point and slices moved to the new sample positions (slots count positions in samples, so they would otherwise point past where they should), and a .ot next to the file is rescaled and renamed with it. markers.work is backed up first.

Fixing all files in bulk​

Opened from the Audio Pool:

  • Option "Include all projects of Set" can be enabled to include incompatible files found in any project's own directory, not just Audio Pool.

Opened from a project:

  • Option "Include un-referenced samples of project" can be enblaed to also include files found in the project's own directory that aren't assigned to any Sample Slot.

Stopping and resuming​

A large pool can take a while to convert. The run can be stopped at any point with the Cancel button, and it stops at a file boundary, so no file is left half-converted.

Everything converted before the stop is kept, and Sample Slots references are repointed for those files as usual, so no project is left pointing at a name that no longer exists.

Nothing needs to be resumed later. Re-opening the tool runs a fresh scan: files converted earlier now conform and no longer show up, so what comes back is exactly what is left to do. Files added, removed or edited in the meantime are picked up by that same scan.

Compatibility fix​

  • Each file is converted to 44.1 kHz 16/24-bit WAV — the same high-quality conversion used during import into the pool.
  • The original file is replaced: loop.mp3 becomes loop.wav (a numbered suffix like loop-1.wav is used if that name is already taken); a 48 kHz snare.wav keeps its exact name.
  • Sample Slots references are updated automatically: every project of Set that referenced an incompatible file is updated to use converted one if needed.
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Each modified project file is backed up first (under that project's backups/ directory)

See also​