Playing with Digiton, Steampipe and Analog Heat FX

Produzione astratta - 12

#s012r

I stopped chasing the perfect setup. I started building one that actually lets me perform.

Over the past few months I've been refining my setup to make it as performance oriented as possible.

In this session, the Syntakt provides the core groove, the Octatrack MKII handles live effects, transitions, and real-time manipulation, while the entire mix runs through the Analog Heat +FX for compression, saturation, and overall glue.

No computer.

No plugins.

Just hardware and real-time performance.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and see how you approach your own live setup.

In this session I’m using the Syntakt as the main sound source. All transition effects are handled by the Octatrack MKII, while the final mix runs through the Analog Heat+FX, where I add compression, saturation, and a bit of analog character.

I enjoy building my live setup this way because every machine has a specific role. Instead of relying on a single box to do everything, I prefer letting each piece of gear contribute to the overall sound.

I’m curious how do you structure your live signal chain? Do you process your master bus, or do you prefer keeping the final mix completely clean?

Abstract Codex
Abstract Production
#s012r

Sometimes I switch everything else off and stay here. Just me and the machines.
Every sound begins with a gesture.
Every mistake opens a different path.
I’m not chasing perfection.
I’m searching for that moment when control fades away and instinct takes over.
That’s where Abstract Codex takes shape.
Not a genre.
A language.
#s012r

Playing with my live hardware setup with Perkons HD-01, Octatrack MK 2, Syntakt and Digitone, all processed by Analog Heat FX…..
Abstract Production - 12
#s012r

I wanted to challenge myself with a longer, continuous 11-minute performance to focus on track progression, tension building, and live transition flow. Everything you hear is a one-take recording—no overdubbing, no multitracking, and no post-mix processing. I committed entirely to the live stereo mix on the fly.

**The Hardware Architecture & Routing:**
* **Perkons HD-01:** Goes straight into Octatrack Channel A (controlled via Thru Track 6). It provides the heavy, distorted industrial low-end and raw analog drum grit.
* **Digitone:** Routed into the **Syntakt** external inputs to generate FM textures, atmospheric pads, and chords.
* **Syntakt + Digitone (Sub-mix):** The combined output of these two machines goes into Octatrack Channels B/C (controlled via Thru Track 7). Syntakt handles the driving mid-percussions, utility hats, and synth leads.
* **Octatrack Internal Tracks:** Aside from managing the external gear via Thru machines, I am utilizing the remaining internal sampler tracks to sequence and layer 2 extra claps and 3 hi-hat samples. This gives me complete control over the groove's density during transitions.

**The Hybrid Recording Process:**
Everything is leveled, panned, filtered, and glitched live using the Octatrack MK2 as the central analog-style mixer. The main master stereo output is sent directly into a single audio channel inside **Ableton Live 12**, which acts as a pure tape recorder to capture the raw energy of the performance.

I wanted to create a hypnotic, evolving techno trip rather than just a quick loop jam. I’d love to get your feedback on the overall arrangement flow, the gain staging between the Elektron trio and the Perkons, or the hybrid workflow!

Abstract Production - #s012r