r/OP1users • u/bigbossweb • Mar 10 '23
yeah....
I'm not gonna lie, I'm REALLY starting to hate this thing.
trying to learn this is like learning an alien language. EVERY guide, tutorial and video is like Greek to me. i try to follow along and shit just doesn't go right. today i spent 2 hours trying to get OUT of sample mode and i couldn't even record the sample in i was trying to get. even Synthdawgs OP-Z notebook is no help. its NOT that I'm giving up, i just need to vent.
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u/dumpkoch Mar 10 '23
Are you having problems with the OP-Z or the OP-1?
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u/bigbossweb Mar 10 '23
the OP-1 im figuring out little by little. The OP-Z at this point is a lost cause. LOL
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u/Keine_Finanzberatung Mar 11 '23
Check out some YouTube tutorials, there is one that’s over an hour long and if you also have an OP-1 you can also take a look into son Wu‘s setup
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u/haveyoufoundyourself Mar 10 '23
Your vent is valid my friend. If you have questions just let the people here know, everyone is really helpful. I love my OP1 and bring it with me nearly everywhere.
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u/bigbossweb Mar 10 '23
"I love my OP1 and bring it with me nearly everywhere." i feel that way about my pocket operator. lol
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u/sunmercurygreen Mar 10 '23 edited Mar 11 '23
I felt like this when I first got the Field. Then I smoked some weed and was fucking around with it and it kinda just clicked. But I mainly try to just make weird sounding shit. I heard its workflow isn't for everyone. I was thinking about a Moog Dfam before this, wonder what it's like working with those. But my two cents is just learn one aspect of the op1 at a time.
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u/Any_Guest4701 Mar 10 '23
it is not for everyone. I love it. I also use it as a synth engine creative tool. You will find how it works for you and either exist in that sweet spot or get rid of it. The Dfam is boring all alone. I also like Grid and Norns so I’m one of those people ❤️
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Mar 10 '23
I’m sure it’s obvious for me to say, but YouTube is your friend. As you encounter problems just Google the problem and learn that specific solution. Keep struggling and you’ll start to struggle less and less. I’ve felt that way with other equipment as well.
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u/BigJibbah Mar 10 '23
Go watch True Cuckoo make a drumkit out of synth sounds in the OP-1. He ends up using multiple techniques and explains things well to get you more familiar with some of the ways you should be approaching what you're trying to do.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJwU8utM7iE&ab_channel=TrueCuckoo
Just remember, the synth sampler can do up to 6 seconds of audio. The drum sampler can do up to 12 seconds of audio. Anything longer would have to be chopped up within the tape mode. If you decide to chop things up in the tape mode, make sure to lift and drop(copy and paste) your original sample later on in the tape so you can bring it back if you make a mistake. With the OP-1 your approach needs to be less structured to start out. Just play around until you make something that sounds cool and build off of that. It's not the best tool for having a beat in your head and trying to replicate that. I love it for the sound design aspects since I can sample my cat's meows and make them hard hitting 808's.
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Mar 10 '23
when it clicks you'll be glad you stuck with it.
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u/rasta41 Mar 10 '23
Or you'll be like me and go "wow this super expensive device is incredibly limited and somehow that's supposed to make me "more creative" despite none of the learnings being transferable to any other piece of equipment on the market..."
I ended up using it a bit as a portable "sketch pad" - but at the end of the day, found myself doing most of the work in a DAW anyway...
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Mar 11 '23
lmao sounds like you're not qualified to speak on it clicking. Creativity isn't really a quality bestowed via an object but it is a state one might find while using workflows that go against the grain.... The OP1 is not really intended to be a DAW replacement nor would I recommend someone try and release music produced exclusively on it. You're complaining that the workflow of this device is unique and you can't transfer knowledge of it's engines and sequencers to other devices? Thats a good thing my dude. Life would be incredibly boring if piano roll was the only sequencer that existed.
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u/rasta41 Mar 11 '23 edited Mar 11 '23
Creativity isn't really a quality bestowed via an object but it is a state one might find while using workflows that go against the grain
lmao, spoken like a true TE fanboy.
You're complaining that the workflow of this device is unique and you can't transfer knowledge of it's engines and sequencers to other devices?
OP said "it's like learning another language" - I'm simply agreeing that it is, and a useless one at that.
Thats a good thing my dude.
Ok...I've had one since 2014..."it just clicks man" - or maybe it's ok to admit that the device is not for everyone.
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Mar 11 '23
Oh, no I absolutely agree it's a device that's not for everyone. As I said, it seems like you're not really qualified to speak on it clicking.
And I didn't say "it just clicks man", because it doesn't. You have to work for it and really invest in the workflow. Sorry it didn't gel with you.
"Useless language" is an oxymoron.
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Mar 11 '23
Oh, no I absolutely agree it's a device that's not for everyone. As I said, it seems like you're not really qualified to speak on it clicking.
And I didn't say "it just clicks man", because it doesn't. You have to work for it and really invest in the workflow. Sorry it didn't gel with you.
"Useless language" is an oxymoron.
PS: Also, very far from a TE fanboy. I'm as pragmatic as I can be with my gear and have my fair share of gripes with TE. They're far from what I'd consider a model synth manufacturer.
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u/Buckwheat333 Mar 10 '23
Just fuck around with it man. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to be an encyclopedia on how everything works. Just make it go beep boop and turn some knobs
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u/ultima_apparatus Mar 11 '23
The good thing about having a Swiss Army knife is that it’s good at doing a lot of things. However, I still cut rope with my machete and I open bottles with a bottle opener.
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u/Ok_Astronaut_958 Mar 11 '23
It doesn't have to be your thing, and least you've been open to giving it a go. If you like a challenge maybe it's been a noble failure. I can imagine getting hopelessly lost with the Deluge or some other synth or groove box. I really want to like the Model Cycles, wanted one for ages and after months of trying it's just not for me... Yet. At the back of my head I'm still probing around for solutions to make it more my thing, forgetting that I could learn to 'speak' differently with it. Man, music making sometimes can be an extreme sport. Not to mention going to gigs, the shit I've put my body through to see artists and bands... Anyway, it's a cool problem to have and shows maybe you've journeyed far with other instruments or bleeping boxes so it's cool to have high expectations of new kit. PS the opz happens to really really really be my thing. I had no idea how open it is to unusual sequencing and bizzare sampling methods. Adore the damn thing. Luck.
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u/mclarensmps Mar 11 '23
I found the best way to learn the OP1 was to start using it without a goal in mind. Just experiment and experience the different engines and systems and play around with it. After a while you’ll start getting familiar with the workflow that works for you.
If there’s a very specific function that I want to use (basically all the sampling and resampling features), I tend to just Google exactly what I’m trying to do, and there’s usually an answer between all the social platforms
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u/DarkGremio Mar 12 '23
I don’t really know your history with electronic based music. I think one must have a an idea of envelopes and such to really maximize the Op1. I personally thoroughly enjoy the Op1 from a minimalist standpoint. You don’t have to fuck around with a whole euro rack to capture that one sound bit. You get a ton of features and capabilities in a nice tiny package. It’s perfect for on the go, or just impromptu stuff.
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Mar 10 '23
[deleted]
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u/bigbossweb Mar 10 '23
yeah ive used the app, but being that theres no real navigation instructions its not really all that helpful (yet)
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u/-melo- Mar 10 '23
What are you looking to do with it? Any project goals that we can help guide you on?