Octabam is an open-source firmware remixing project that lets Elektron Octatrack owners build custom versions of the OS 1.40C firmware, combining community modifications with experimental DSP features.

Rather than distributing a modified Elektron OS, the project builds a new firmware image from the user’s own copy of OS 1.40C.

If you’re an Octatrack owners, Octabam promises to give you new effects, expanded MIDI functionality, additional sound-design options and bug fixes that aren’t available in the stock firmware.

Current modules include an auxiliary send bus with delay and eight-line FDN reverb, new filter/saturation/modulation effects, six experimental per-track inserts, MIDI-driven parameter locks, expanded Octakit functionality, a LO-FI pitch fix, tempo-synced delay, and a recorder-loop click fix.

The project also provides a framework for combining future community-developed modifications into customized firmware “remixes,” with automated compatibility checks and emulation/testing tools intended to catch conflicts before an image is flashed. The project currently supports both Octatrack MKI and MKII for the shared OS 1.40C image.

Note: Octabam is an unofficial firmware modification, so back up your projects before trying this out.

If any readers have given Octabam a try, leave a comment and share your experience.