Build and Install

Builds Octabam v0.4 (what is in it) from your own copy of Octatrack OS 1.40C, in this browser tab. The OS file is read locally and nothing is uploaded.

Back up your projects

Back up your CF card before installing, or start new projects after installing. Octabam's Kits write a kits.work file into each project they load. A project created on the unit after installing needs no preparation. A project made before installing needs one preparation step, described in the build guide.

What you need

OCTATRACK_OS1.40C_dist.zip from Elektron's Octatrack MKI or MKII download page, or the OCTATRACK_OS1.40C.syx inside it.
A current desktop browser, such as Chrome.
A CompactFlash card in the unit for the card install, or a 5-pin DIN MIDI interface into the Octatrack's MIDI IN for the MIDI install.

Build

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The build takes a few seconds. The page offers three files:

file	use
`OCTATRACK_OCTABAM<tag>.bin`	card install: copy to the root of the CF card, then PROJECT → SYSTEM → OS UPGRADE.
`OCTATRACK_OS1.40C_OCTABAM<tag>.syx`	DIN MIDI install.
`OCTABAM <tag>.RMX`	optional: boots this image from the card without flashing it. Needs a unit already running an octabam image. See Switch with an RMX file.

The files contain Elektron's OS, so keep them to yourself.

Install the image

From the CF card

Use this method when the Octatrack boots normally:

On the unit, select PROJECT → SYSTEM → USB DISK MODE → YES.
Copy the .bin file to the root of the mounted CF card, not into a folder.
Eject the card from the computer, then leave USB DISK MODE on the unit. This ensures the copy has finished writing.
Select PROJECT → SYSTEM → OS UPGRADE → YES, then confirm.
Wait for the unit to finish and restart. Power-cycle it once more before testing; an OS upgrade does not clear DSP RAM.

Over DIN MIDI

Use this method if the unit cannot boot far enough to use USB DISK MODE, or if you prefer a DIN MIDI transfer:

Connect the MIDI interface's MIDI OUT to the Octatrack's MIDI IN.
Power off. Hold FUNC while powering on to open the STARTUP MENU.
Press TRIG 3 for MIDI UPGRADE and wait for “READY TO RECEIVE MIDI UPGRADE”.
Send the .syx file with a SysEx app. Do not merge other MIDI data or clock into the upgrade port. If the unit reports a checksum error, re-enter the Startup Menu and resend at a slower rate.
Wait through PREPARING FLASH and UPDATING FLASH. Do not power off or disconnect the cable during either phase.
Let the unit finish booting, then power-cycle once more.

Switch with an RMX file

An .RMX file is a whole OS image that BRAIN, the octabam menu, can boot from the CF card without writing the flash. It is an alternative to the two installs above, for a unit that already runs an octabam image:

Copy the .RMX file into /BRAIN/REMIXES/ on the CF card, creating the folders if they are missing.
On the unit, select PROJ → BRAIN → REMIXES, select the file's name and press YES at BOOT <NAME>?.
The choice is kept across reboots. To return to the flashed image, select the name under the FLASHED separator in the same list.

See BRAIN: Remixes for the details.

Confirm the installation

Open SYSTEM STATUS → OS VERSION or check the boot screen. It shows OCTABAM followed by the build tag in the file name. If it shows 1.40C, the stock OS is still installed.

To go back to stock, install Elektron's stock .bin from the CF card with the same steps, or see Safety and recovery.

How it works

The page holds the patch for Octabam v0.4: its bytes, plus instructions to copy ranges from your 1.40C. It applies the patch to the MAIN OS section of your file, rebuilds the firmware container with Elektron's container tool compiled to WebAssembly, and wraps it for the card. It refuses a file whose MAIN OS is not the 1.40C the patches were made against.

The output is byte-identical to make image for the same commit and build tag. The page shows the version and commit the patch was built from. To build from source or choose modules, see the build guide and Create your own remix.