Honestly, the OP-Z is INSANE

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2 жыл бұрын

Honestly, the OP-Z is INSANE
Today I wanted to just take a step back from everything and appreciate how insane of a device the OP-Z actually is. Given it's absolutely tiny form factor, the fact that it's a synth, drum machine, drum sampler, synth sampler, sequencer, song arranger, microphone, DMX controller, and Unity controller (among other things) is just absolutely wild. I think sometimes we tend to focus on the questionable build quality, but let's not forget what an entirely beastly device the OP-Z is! Enjoy the video :)
GEAR IN THIS VIDEO
Teenage Engineering OP-Z: amzn.to/2YpAU5x
Zoom Livetrak L-12 (audio recorder): amzn.to/3DlPLgE
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Пікірлер: 92

@monotronfan1 2 жыл бұрын

I cut down a cheap mouse pad and taped it to the bottom of my op-z. It prevents any bending and provides more grip. Really happy with how it performs now

@Farold_Haltermeyer 18 күн бұрын

Did that cure any double triggers?

@JakeSweeper 2 жыл бұрын

Heck, Apple used the OP-Z as an example of a 3rd party peripheral that can connect to the new iPads via usb-c/thunderbolt. It’s an interesting way to add a headphone jack to the iPad Air 4. :)

@Sadiquecat 2 жыл бұрын

550€ jack dongle LOL Jokes aside that's cool :D

@FreeBeat 2 жыл бұрын

I didn't know that, that's pretty cool!

@alecsbuga 2 жыл бұрын

@@FreeBeat Actually if you consider those TRRS adapters available for OP-Z, you actually have LineIn + Headphones out via the OP-Z. Just realised.

@wiggesobk 2 жыл бұрын

Wow that Demo was super impressive! Seems like the OP Z is easy to use like a Pocket Operator.

@motoboy6666 Жыл бұрын

2 month later: ”ive given up on the OP-Z”

@mastaboog749 Жыл бұрын

dude that jam you did mid way threw should be sold as a ringtone

@knip-pink 2 жыл бұрын

That demo blew me away wow dude 🧪

@howardanderson3061 2 жыл бұрын

opz will never leave my arsenal BTW, very impressive OP-Z chops

@tvslmusic 2 жыл бұрын

beautiful vibes

@FreeBeat 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!

@kylerogersmusic 2 жыл бұрын

The op-z is great. I picked one up a while back but haven’t put the time in to get to where I can make a quality jam with it, but the potential to do so is def there for sure. It’s an amazing throw it in your backpack synth to bring everywhere

@FreeBeat 2 жыл бұрын

Sounds like it's time to get jamming! 😁

@jamessusbilla 2 жыл бұрын

nice jam. thank *YOU*

@FreeBeat 2 жыл бұрын

Appreciate it :)

@rathnapish 2 жыл бұрын

i'd buy a new device in a heartbeat if they could reproduce it in op/1 build quality. the workflow & software is amazing. a joy to use.

@wurlinnawurl 2 жыл бұрын

Op1 has terrible build quality... All TE stuff does.. have you read any forums? See how many have problems with band new op1's? Sadly it feels better but it has just as many problems.. if you don't use it for a couple months a ton of people's op1 just quit working..

@HammyHavoc 2 жыл бұрын

I know you've retired it, and I know the build quality is terrible, but going through your videos makes me want to get in on the fun. Like nothing else.

@omarverone Жыл бұрын

I bought one two months ago and despite all said about build quality (cheap weird plastic), double triggers (that happens once in a while), i can say, i will not change it for any Akai, digitakt and even an op-1 field; the reason? it is an unique piece.

@FreeBeat Жыл бұрын

I'd Love and OP-Z 2 (field?) that's roughly the same price but higher build quality!

@omarverone Жыл бұрын

@@FreeBeat yeah or a aluminum made chassis and more easy to find battery replacement is the way to go!

@kettlecup 2 жыл бұрын

Tobias said in an episode of Midnight Operations that exporting separate audio tracks would be easy, he said it would be a matter of finding a "1" in the code and changing it to an "8". I am not sure if he was joking or if he misunderstood the question though.

@MolecularDelusion 2 жыл бұрын

How is it to link the opz with the op1? Like midi and such. Would be interesting to see if that could help with the retrigs

@richardcnrd8302 Жыл бұрын

That's some fancy ass mallwave going in

@lanceholland 2 жыл бұрын

You make it look so easy.

@FreeBeat 2 жыл бұрын

Practice practice practice!

@grouponspeam9236 2 жыл бұрын

You forgot to mention that the maximum loop length of OPZ is unquantized 16 bars, that’s really insane!

@FreeBeat 2 жыл бұрын

Definitely a flexible amount of space to work with!

@randommcranderson5155 2 жыл бұрын

Unfortunately the sequencer will only let you live play when you use it for more than 4 bars as the sequencer lights don’t “zoom in” or change context, which means anything beyond 4 bars requires live play. I think if they figured out how to paginate the 4 bars of light to let you get all 16 bars of sequencer would be a big improvement.

@GazRendar 2 жыл бұрын

The device is great for the size and the price point, and loading samples on it can refresh it into almost anything. In terms of limitations though, I can only create a chain of 32 patterns...is that the true limit or am I missing something? Chaining patterns can't take up too much memory, right? If the 2nd and 3rd gen POs can handle 128 pattern chains, how can the OP-Z only string 32 together? You've touched on this as one of the biggest selling points of the Model:Cycles, but after using the OP-Z for a few months, I'd say that is my biggest gripe. Seems like it is something that could be expandable in a firmware update - so here's hoping! If anyone has a work-around for this I'd love to hear it.

@SonicVibe 2 жыл бұрын

Love my 1010 blackbox it’s small and built like a tank it’s like a smaller sp 404 but always wanted one of the opz or op1’s

@FreeBeat 2 жыл бұрын

I've been curious about the blackbox honestly, might have to check it out soon!

@SonicVibe 2 жыл бұрын

@@FreeBeat for me it’s kinda perfect song mode took a sec to learn but once you do your like o lol that’s not so hard plus they just did A big update to blackbox 2.0 They have been really good on updates

@SonicVibe 2 жыл бұрын

But I Thought you would like the circuit tracks and you didn’t so you never know how the workflow will feel to you I definitely don’t think you’ll hit the limitations that you did with the tracks on the black box though it’s pretty versatile in its current state

@Kael87full 2 ай бұрын

Hey mate thx for the content ! I also have a op-z and a mpc live 2 how could I go about sketches on the z to polishing it on the mpc I'm a noob and I don't see anyone doing this ,is it even possible?

@Sadiquecat 2 жыл бұрын

I wrote an open letter comment to Teenage Engineering, but as I finished the video your said it :D Pls new version with better build quality, and per track export ^^ The OP-Z is my dream groovebox; however I cannot afford a groovebox I'm worried to swap out every 2 years or so :/

@nastied 2 жыл бұрын

Indeed I Dont mind its twice the size, just better build . Hoping for a opz/hybrid follow up… op X? 😅

@vangoghsseveredear 2 жыл бұрын

Teenage Engineering promptly threw your letter into the recycling bin, and is going to release some weird bottled water for 200 dollars instead

@creativecollection4357 2 жыл бұрын

@@vangoghsseveredear 😂😂😂

@Sadiquecat 2 жыл бұрын

@@vangoghsseveredear The truth hurts 😂

@FreeBeat 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah I definitely feel that haha

@coyote-wang 2 жыл бұрын

The VJ part is really sick though although I cam use VJ software

@FreeBeat 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

@BIG1TOWER 2 жыл бұрын

I love my mc 101. It is not as small but it’s solid.

@FreeBeat 2 жыл бұрын

Glad you love it!

@zooblestyx 2 жыл бұрын

Pretty crafty, them Swedes

@inwex8350 2 жыл бұрын

Midsommar flesh

@zooblestyx 2 жыл бұрын

Gesundheit

@FreeBeat 2 жыл бұрын

Definitely!

@SaEvSampleEverything 2 жыл бұрын

Gotta replace stock synths with samples to make a decent track, really a challenge to make a decent sounding track with stock things, at least that's what I hear from my mates

@GerenM63 2 жыл бұрын

I'd opt for better buttons -- apparently, there are a number of people ruler-flat cases that are getting double-triggers. And agree that being able to drag sequence track files off would be nice. But, since it's a sequencer-like workflow vs the tape-style workflow of the OP-1, that would probably be asking a bunch from the hardware. That said, you can easily "bounce" each track to the computer. You might have to do a little manual alignment, but it's doable.

@FreeBeat 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah better buttons would honestly be enough for me haha.

@febbone 2 жыл бұрын

Mine broke really quick. So I contacted TE, and they refused to repair it because I bought is used(the unit was max 3 months old). It was a cool unit but definitely not worth the price

@randommcranderson5155 2 жыл бұрын

I like my OP-Z but I do all the playing for it using a Keith McMillan K-Board because the buttons scare me with all sorts of double trig issues and its build quality isn’t amazing. Did you manage to get all your double trig issues solved? I don’t have any and am considering selling the OP-Z now since its working 100% and I don’t want to get double trigs and make it worthless. I’ve seen people post things online about contact cleaner and whatnot but I’m not interested in repairing it if it breaks.

@FreeBeat 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I've been playing my OP-Z almost exclusively with my key step lately for the same reason never did get the double triggers sorted out. I'm not sure what I would do if I was in your position. On one hand, of the OP-Z is My favorite group box workflow, and I would love to have a perfectly working one. But then there's always the fear of it suddenly starting to double trigger. I guess it depends on how much you love it haha.

@DavidDeLuge 2 жыл бұрын

I never understood why pitch bend couldn't be recorded when I had mine.

@wilmerparis2202 2 жыл бұрын

people don’t remember the first few months when the op-z came out 😪 it’s a completely different machine now

@thomp9054 2 жыл бұрын

Back in my day....

@FreeBeat 2 жыл бұрын

Absolutely!

@Azeltix 9 ай бұрын

What about today ? I saw your other videos about your OP-Z flows and the silence of TE. Would you recommend it today ?

@Maochan81 5 ай бұрын

I bought 3 times and sold 2 times. After you sell it, you realize there's nothing else to replace it. I can absolutely recommend the op-z, just please buy it new with full warranty. It's tempting to get a second had unit, but this ain't no Roland that will work 10 years later :)

@wiidlbeetle3857 2 жыл бұрын

I think the Z may be my next purchase. I was thinking of getting a drum machine but I may as well get something that does more. Or I may get and Akai One MPC or an op1. I don’t know yet. Love your vids FB

@FreeBeat 2 жыл бұрын

Haha thank you! What exactly are you looking for with the purchase? Those are three quite different machines you listed.

@wiidlbeetle3857 2 жыл бұрын

@@FreeBeat I guess I’m looking for something that’s like a standalone daw. Something I can make complete songs on but also import some sounds into if I want. Any advice would be very appreciated

@egorchik121 2 жыл бұрын

@@wiidlbeetle3857 I have a novation circuit tracks and I'm in love. Put in my own drums in it and shit is a blast

@wiidlbeetle3857 2 жыл бұрын

@@egorchik121 I ended up getting a circuit rhythm and I love this thing. I want to get the tracks one day!

@egorchik121 2 жыл бұрын

@@wiidlbeetle3857 are you more of a sample guy or you like working with different synths and shit? Cause I don't really like sampling that's why I went with tracks but idk why I always found the rhythm cool and I kinda wanna get it myself to get a little bit more into sampling

@mikemeengs5720 2 жыл бұрын

Just because it can be that small doesn't necessarily mean it should be, unless it's to cut cost...which at $600.00 isn't the case with this unit. I think it's a cool device...it's just too small! Just my opinion.

@ChristopheTornieri 2 жыл бұрын

The OP-Z is really an awesome device with incredible features but at the time there are some really weird implementation that cut down the potential. For instance, the fact that it is a usb audio interface. Great! And the fact that you can sequence external hardware or software. Great! But then, when you use a track as midi, you can mute the audio but not the send to the fx… Why?? Actually you can turn down the send on the track by turning the appropriate knob. But wait… this knob is also used as a midi cc! So I can by mistake re-enable the send… Again Why?? Another example. You have only 16 steps but hey you can use the multiplier for extending the duration of the pattern. Cool! Now you can record longer evolving chord progressions. Well yes and no because the automation are not recorded unless there is a trigger! Why?? Now there are values jumping around each time the pattern moves to a different step. Anyway, still a good device but could be incredible with just some minor fixes.

@FreeBeat 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah there's definitely a few things that need to be fixed, but if they did I think the OP-Z would be at the absolute top of the groove box game!

@robertsyrett1992 2 жыл бұрын

My iphone can do all those things as well. We live in an age of miracle and wonder :)

@BIG1TOWER 2 жыл бұрын

How many presets are on this thing?

@FreeBeat 2 жыл бұрын

Each synth engine can have up to 14 presets at any one time.

@teddybearasaurus 2 жыл бұрын

A phone with korg gadget can do that but its not quite as fun as a groovebox

@FreeBeat 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah haha nowhere near the tactile experience of hardware either. Still a great option!

@corsegerspwnd 2 жыл бұрын

If this was more priced like 300 euros i would have gotten one to use next to the PO’s

@FreeBeat 2 жыл бұрын

That would be the most underpriced device of all time hahaha

@magnusjohansson295 7 ай бұрын

Have you since changed your opinion, because of the problem with double triggers?

@pontiuspilates 2 жыл бұрын

I hate how cheaply built it feels. For a device that costs so much it is unacceptable IMO.

@wurlinnawurl 2 жыл бұрын

Yes... It is still worth it though..

@RaskolnikovR 2 жыл бұрын

I love my OPZ, but i really think the circuit tracks has a more easy to understand screenless workflow. A wonderful device but what an awful building quality.

@pianokeyjoe Жыл бұрын

ya know? that device does not look like it can do ANY of what you did with it lol! It looks like a cheesy Casio vl1 without the lcd screen. I am amazed it has all those nice sounds too. Amazing how much music tech has FINALLY reached and gone beyond my wildest dreams! Well almost, still no true mind reading music synth yet..

@FreeBeat Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!