perhaps getting an op-1?

So my uncle is offering to get me a graduation present (just graduated high school, btw...); he had gotten my older sister a new macbook, which I don't need at the moment. Knowing about my music setup, he asked if there were any piece of gear I'd want.


Anyway, it's caught my interest for a while, I'm considering the OP-1, and I wanted to hear some input from some people who've used it.

It obviously can do a ton on its own (and I think I'd really enjoy this sort of portable option for music-making), you don't have to explain that to me much.
But the main thing I was wondering was how it could integrate with the rest of my gear. I'm currently on a 1K at the center of my setup, with a few synths and effects boxes along with it.
The OP-1 would offer many more synthesis possibilities than I have now (my stuff is heavier on synths than sampling)
It would be good for getting down ideas and sketches, which can then be re-sampled into the MPC, or recreated on my other gear.
Sampling stuff into the OP-1 creates lots of options for tweaking.

Some questions:
How well could it serve the function of a 4-track tape recorder? I.e. recording the master output of my mixer. I currently use a computer and audio interface for recording final mixes, and it would be cool to be able to take the computer out of the picture entirely.
Can it be set up to work like an effects box, connecting other things to the line in, using the internal effects, and passing the wet signal straight out again?
And I looked into it a bit, and it seems that if I really wanted, I could even get MIDI integration with the rest of my setup, with this.


So there are some specific questions, of course those aren't the only factors going into my decision, any thoughts from OP-1 users here?

Sci! You will absolutely adore the OP-1, man! Such an amazing lil' dude.
(I've had mine since it first came out so if you have any questions, holler!)

1.) How well could it serve the function of a 4-track tape recorder?
- With a bit of forethought, you could use the OP as a sort of mini-DAW. I had recorded a ton of external sources to the tape. Indeed, you COULD use it as your regular recorder but the tape has a limit of SIX (6.00) minutes of recording time. You can get down pretty hard if you start bouncing your tape tracks to the "vinyl" and then back again (look at it as a sort of mix down/resampling ability). This is how many users by-pass the effects routing (one sound - one effect, one master effect for the all tape tracks).

2.) Can it be set up to work like an effects box, connecting other things to the line in, using the internal effects, and passing the wet signal straight out again?
- With a lot of fudging with, yes, you could (sort of) do this but you'll find out quickly that you're making your life harder than it should be. You will be recording to tape then applying a master effect, then bouncing to vinyl... rinse & repeat. The OP is really more about what is happening inside of it and kinda forces you to play inside it's bounds (which some times sucks because the effects are really fun in that thing!).

And yes! You could easily rope the OP down with any other MIDI gear using a Kenton box or an iConnect unit. I do not own one of those and tend to just keep everything in sync manually. One of my favorite electronic setups of all time has been the MPC 1K + OP-1. Recording back & forth between the two, resampling, applying effects (12-bit downsampling on the MPC!) is all just f*cking amazing when you're sitting down with it. I would literally press PLAY START + PLAY on the MPC & OP and rock out.

You can set up loop points on the OP's tape to keep things super-tight. Say you are working up a 16-bar chorus/verse on your MPC, you can then loop 16 bars right on the tape of the OP-1. When it is time to move to the next pattern on the MPC, you can hold down SHIFT + Right Arrow to automatically move the OP's loop points 16 bars down, now keeping your second patterns perfectly in sync. This probably doesn't make a whole lot of sense yet but once you get the OP (if you do) you will absolutely fall in love with this feature! I think we called it "ghost looping" on the OP forums.

I hope my rambling has been some sort of help.

medearis wrote:One of my favorite electronic setups of all time has been the MPC 1K + OP-1. Recording back & forth between the two, resampling, applying effects (12-bit downsampling on the MPC!) is all just f*cking amazing when you're sitting down with it. I would literally press PLAY START + PLAY on the MPC & OP and rock out.

heh, that's good to hear.

Thanks for the input, it's increasingly sounding like the fun of this thing overcomes any shortages in external connectivity.

medearis wrote:2.) Can it be set up to work like an effects box, connecting other things to the line in, using the internal effects, and passing the wet signal straight out again?
- With a lot of fudging with, yes, you could (sort of) do this but you'll find out quickly that you're making your life harder than it should be. You will be recording to tape then applying a master effect, then bouncing to vinyl... rinse & repeat. The OP is really more about what is happening inside of it and kinda forces you to play inside it's bounds (which some times sucks because the effects are really fun in that thing!).

Stumbled on this while watching every video that exists of the OP-1

This guy's crazy.
But it seems here like he's doing exactly what I was asking about—real-time effects processing of an external input.

The OP-1 is an amazing little instrument. It's a bit too fiddly to use purely as a music making machine for me, but as a sound design tool it's excellent. Unique sounds just spill out of it when you run the synths or samples through the LFO's and effects.

yo,

i have had an op-1 for a while and agree with the others - it's a great and inspiring tool.

a few things to note that relate to your questions...

the input is mono. well... i think it sums to mono anyways. each track on the 'tape' is mono, so anything you plug in will get summed and recorded there.

you could still overcome this (with some patience and ingenuity) and use it to mix your tracks in... but it's not really an intuitive process. you would get some cool results though, for sure.

you can use it as an effects loop - it works well for this... but again, mono on the way in.

the stereo effect slot in the tape page (of which there is only one) does have duplicate versions of all the FX available for each synth/sample patch and these have been modified so they are in fact stereo. how effectively they function as stereo FX depends on the effect (of course).

so you'd feed in mono (or summed stereo) and then get stereo out... could be cool.

but actually, to be honest, i love the spontaneity of this thing... i sketch ideas and create phrases and re-sample into the MPC and octatrack all the time. it's a lovely quick tool to use and the synth engines are streamlined but do have some depth. coupled with the tape and sequencers you can develop some nice sound design ideas very quickly.

so... in short, not sure if it ticks the boxes you've got, but it is a great tool. plus it's portable so you can make beats wherever and then sample em out when you get home.

hope that was helpful.


(p.s. i have used it all over this little EP and also have a bunch of tracks over here that were produced using only the OP-1 )

thanks for the input.


to clarify, the things I specifically asked about aren't the only things I'm looking for. I can see and hear that it's an amazing device; the points I asked about are just what I haven't seen much about. not in any way at all deal-breaking factors, I was just wondering.


I'm thinking I'll get one...

Do it! An MPC + OP1 is a deadly duo. Being able to sample off of radio stations on the fly via OP1 >> MPC is really powerful. I have a 24/7 jazz station where I live so there is always sampler food. Ghatta love it!

sciguy wrote:I'm thinking I'll get one...

Factor in the price of a case if you haven't already or if it doesn't come with one. I've been using the foam box since I got mine and it's trashed now!

You can 3D print all the accessories (the Crank being especially useful), and a compatible antenna is dirt cheap on eBay.

sciguy wrote:

medearis wrote:2.) Can it be set up to work like an effects box, connecting other things to the line in, using the internal effects, and passing the wet signal straight out again?
- With a lot of fudging with, yes, you could (sort of) do this but you'll find out quickly that you're making your life harder than it should be. You will be recording to tape then applying a master effect, then bouncing to vinyl... rinse & repeat. The OP is really more about what is happening inside of it and kinda forces you to play inside it's bounds (which some times sucks because the effects are really fun in that thing!).

Stumbled on this while watching every video that exists of the OP-1

This guy's crazy.
But it seems here like he's doing exactly what I was asking about—real-time effects processing of an external input.

CWO is the shet! Love that effect.

Coz wrote:

sciguy wrote:I'm thinking I'll get one...

Factor in the price of a case if you haven't already or if it doesn't come with one. I've been using the foam box since I got mine and it's trashed now!

You can 3D print all the accessories (the Crank being especially useful), and a compatible antenna is dirt cheap on eBay.

I could probably print a case if I felt like it (though it would take forever, and would have to be done in 4 separate prints that would snap together).

And totally, I saw that TE had the model files available for download on their site.
The antenna seems like it could be done with any old telescoping antenna (even just a long wire) connected to the right terminal on a 3.5mm plug.

Yeah, any wire will work with the OP-1. I used a length of old headphone cable... maybe about 4 inches or so.

Hacked it off and stuck it in the jack and I could heeeeer da radiuuuu

HOLY **** SHIT AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

I had mentioned this to my mom to tell her brother about this, and had no idea she had already gotten in touch by now. Anyway


I HAVE THE OP-1

FUUUCCKK



pretty excited, if ya couldn't tell

Nice one!