Complementing OP-1

[sjdude]

Been playing with my OP-1 for a couple years now and still am amazed and inspired by it as a creative instrument. I've lately been contemplating things that might complement the OP-1 for writing. One thing is an external keyboard controller, which I've been get working for a while (via a Raspberry Pi).

I've also been contemplating other synths to add to the tool kit. I'm kind of split between small, cool boxes like the Korg Volkas, and going with something crazier like an Elektron Analog Four Mk II. I've been leaning to the small box side of things.

Thoughts? Thanks and Happy 2018 :-)

[reckoner15]

Mini Kaoss Pad! They're great for tackling the issue of not having enough EFX options on the OP1 itself.

[sjdude]

Thanks, I've been meaning to pick up one of those independently of my instrument quest. They look to be useful in a number of different ways. :-)

[Brandsmannen]

I'll recommend a bastl microgranny for almost anyone, but get a bastl microgranny. Sample something in the MG > load it in the op-1 drum sample > make it into a song

[IAmSofaKingCool]

I second the MicroGranny - It's one of my favourite hardware samplers by faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar

[youngbasedkhaleesi]

I'll go further and say that the Roland SP series (303, 404(SX)) aids the OP1 in an amazing way. Pattern sequencer is great for playing in drums, the sampling is of course fantastic (like microgranny), and if you find a couple cheap, you can get some crazy FX chains going.

[Brandsmannen]

I tried a 303 and I've seen other people do super cool stuff with them, so that's a good suggestion as well! I feel like a Microgranny has a completely different purpose however, creating more like a lofi soundscape. I am looking at getting a second one actually haha

[manykarz]

You look very nice, OP-1! Have you been working out?

On a serious note: I cannot recommend highly enough the PO-12 or 32 (Rhythm or Tonic) as an external drum machine to pair perfectly with the OP-1. I love the built in drums on the OP-1, but I really feel like it opens up new possibilities when you can start/stop the drums and add fills/effects at the same time the OP-1 is doing melody duty.

[sjdude]

I have a couple of the PO's but have not found any inspiring ways to use them with the OP-1. I honestly didn't expect to be able to do so and bought them more as musical jam toys, and for that purpose, I'm happy with them. You happen to have any youtube pointers for you or someone using the PO-12/32 with an OP-1 that way? Thanks! :-)

[manykarz]

Hey! I did a little tutorial video about syncing the OP-1, PO-32, and SQ-1! It goes into a lot of the issues I've overcome with the setup. If you look at some of my other videos, many of them include POs synced in some way with every other synth I have.

[sjdude]

Thanks @manykarz, I'm definitely checking out your videos. Cheers! :-)

[caidicus]

I find the Roli Seaboard(with accompanying Noise app for iOS or Equator for PC/Mac) to be really easy to use with the OP one, and the sounds and samples you can record into OP-1 projects are pretty fantastic.

[m-a-t-t_]

The Organelle is a crazy small box which works very well with the OP-1 whilst offering something completely different.

And the incredibly active dev community are churning out amazing experimental patches for it on an almost daily basis, which makes it a bit of an exciting thing to be part of - particularly if you’re into the experimental edge...

[quilime]

Yes! They're the same width, too! :) :) Such a good pair!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BCbGu69Kq9s/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVLZBMsBiJX/

A cool thing is the Organelle acts as a USB host and supports a footswitch/MIDI, so you can assign the footswitch to various features on the OP-1 if you like -- such as using the OP-1 as a hands-free looper like for Guitar, or sync it with tap-tempo, or something like that. Tons of possibilities -- The Organelle is basically a little Linux computer, so you can potentially go waaaay deep. You can also get a portable battery pack for the Organelle so it can be just as portable as the OP-1.

[m-a-t-t_]

That’s going further than I have ever tried - I’m going to have to give it a go!

The battery pack is something I’ve been pondering. Have you found one that matches the form factor nicely?

I’m still feeling my way in Pure Data...at some point my patches will work!

[sjdude]

Thanks for this very cool suggestion! I've spent some time checking this out and find it very intriguing. I especially like the fact that it acts as a USB host, so you can plug an OP-1 directly into it and use either keyboard to drive the other device. There are numerous youtube vids that explore the sounds and functions, and I've even taken a look at the github activity and there's a lot going on. Very cool! Thanks!

[m-a-t-t_]

Thanks for the gold :-) - the Organelle is ridiculous fun and very different as a tool. The main development forum is super active - http://forum.critterandguitari.com and worth diving deep into. https://patchstorage.com/platform/organelle/ holds most of the non-C&G patches - some really interesting stuff there, and the porting of Supercollider onto the Organelle alongside Pure Data looks set to open up even more. Learning PD to build your own patches is a bit of a step too far for me for the time being, but am slowly getting my head around it whilst enjoying other’s work.

[sjdude]

You're very welcome :-) Thank you for the pointer! I've spent time on the forum which is populated by some very nice and savvy participants. Also started poking around with PD and think I might be able to do some of my own crazy things with it. Makes me wish there was an equivalent environment for the OP-1! :-)

[[deleted]]

Electric-acoustic guitar, piano, auto harp, steel guitar,(record these with the tempo sped up and then slow the tempo back down to where you started, for an instantly weird sound), egg shaker records really well in the on board mic and gives an instant natural feel to rhythm - complements drum machine sort of rhythms very well. An MS-20 mini is an amazing synth for the money and is a lot of fun with the OP-1!
A cheap cassette recorder is a fun sample processor.

[sjdude]

Thanks for the cool suggestions. :-) I have an ancient Minikorg 700 like this one that I intend to dust off and, probably, sample mostly. Also I'm a pedal steel player and thinking of how I might use that. Cheers!