Learning op-z: how I actually make songs (+ comparison to op-1)

Рет қаралды 2,177

Күн бұрын

This video is for any frustrated owner of the teenage engineering op-z. In it, I describe how I use the op-z, what I think its main strengths are, and how to use these strengths to quickly compose a song.
Sorry for the glare off my scalp.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:40 Why I think you should try this workflow
1:10 Holding the op-z
3:05 What I use the op-z for
3:33 External gear note
4:01 Learning the op-z's "language"
4:30 Example: sketching a loop
9:08 What I could do from here
10:27 Why op-z covers are fun
11:00 The op-z's design vs. the op-1
13:50 Putting in the time to learn it
@teenageengineering @teenageengineeringeducation #teoperators

Пікірлер: 34

@AlexanderShelestov Жыл бұрын

There is a saying "Know your gear". And you definitely do :) Thanks for sharing!

@bearfishpie4916 Жыл бұрын

I really appreciate you taking the time to put these videos together

@johnnygoodyear270 Жыл бұрын

Good. And an extra pinch for the Zed-Talk :)

@chienperdu7256 Жыл бұрын

Your pragmatic and systematic approach really adds something in that space! Thanks! 😊

@josem.4312 Ай бұрын

A great glimpse of your music making thought processes. Thank you!!!

@windowbed Ай бұрын

Thanks for watching! It's been about a year so I keep thinking about making an updated version of this video, especially since it remains somewhat popular and the way I use my Z has changed a bit.

@krachzentrumspotify 11 ай бұрын

Very nice and refreshing view on the op-z! I also have mine for some years now and I find myself changing my view on it and how to use it for some time now. What I found out for me is actually how much "small- and flatsounding" sounds like the op-z ones can actually be an advantage in simplifying composing and also just the song itself. The OP-Z can help very much in not loosing focus with the production, eq's, etc. but always puts the focus to the very core of the songs elements. If you did it right, the sound can have this very on the point like simple but also very nice early electronic kinda aesthetic I think🌻. Please keep doing these great videos!

@windowbed 11 ай бұрын

I love hearing how everyone uses their OP-Z, so thank you for sharing your perspective! I've been challenging myself to use fewer synth tracks lately and I agree that it rewards minimalist composition. Also I've been wanting to make a video like this one again and your comment is the encouragement I needed. Thank you!

@krachzentrumspotify 11 ай бұрын

...I'm looking forward to it🌚

@Maxelforte Жыл бұрын

Very informative Thanks!

@ceverett5972 Жыл бұрын

Thank you. Looking forward to the journey.

@RedHedDes Жыл бұрын

Really enjoyed you talking about how to physically use the device more optimally. I've found myself holding it strangely on public transit, curious to try holding it vertically. Great video as always, both in content and originality! I felt the exact same way you did about the OP-1 and OP-Z, and agree 100% with your assessment + promotion of it. It's such an amazing little device.

@windowbed Жыл бұрын

Thank you! And using my op-z on public transit is a favorite of mine. It's like creating my own soundtrack for the ride.

@shaiant5316 5 ай бұрын

Excellent videos👏 thanks for the info

@windowbed 5 ай бұрын

Thank you! I may make an update to this one soon. Or a video just generally nerding out about my current setup.

@elambi Жыл бұрын

I like your interesting take on this instrument, looking forward to watching more of your videos.

@windowbed Жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching!

@zmmayer 10 ай бұрын

Great video! I also appreciate the op-z as a sketch pad, and have also completed some projects I'm really happy with. I like that you considered ergonomics at the beginning.

@windowbed 10 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching and for sharing! At this point the OP-Z has changed from a sketchpad to the "brain" of my setup and it's awesome.

@simplynotENT Жыл бұрын

Wow fantastic video

@umZedaesquina Жыл бұрын

I totally agree with you on the op1/opz...I got one a month or so ago after a year of having the opz, and man I'm struggling...I really wanted one and am trying to like it, but the lack of undo, the hard as crap multitrack time thing...I mean it's really annoying and I spend way too long trying to nail a take...just to at the last minute screw it up...meanwhile on the opz, I grab it, rough out some ideas (much better since your tutorials on step components and all the others btw) and I actually have fun...anyway thanks for all your videos!

@windowbed Жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching and commenting! I'm getting back into the op-1 now, and I'm mostly using it for sound design and creating layered/atmospheric loops. Kind of a shame to not use it for drums though.

@umZedaesquina Жыл бұрын

@@windowbed well sir, please do a series of videos on that then :D

@KarlSadler Жыл бұрын

awesome! the ops is todays Omnichord. love your ergonomics and bigger picture thinking about songwriting

@felix3931 8 ай бұрын

Hey James! Thank you so much for you videos! I´m trying to enable the mic but I can´t find any instructions- could you help me out? I really enjoy your Videos- they offer a lot of valuable information, sometimes it´s a bit hard to follow, but I guess that´s the OP-z with that many (also hidden) possibilitys.

@windowbed 8 ай бұрын

Thank you for watching! And please let me know whenever you have any questions--I know I can go pretty quickly at times. About enabling the mic, I'll first link to the normal way to turn on the mic input by holding shift on track 14: teenage.engineering/guides/op-z/input-selection Personally, I disable microphone mode and enable legacy input select in the config.json file and I bring up the input selection by pressing the Screen index button. (1 = mic, 2 = headset, 3 = USB, 4 = line module line in). Does that help?

@twot2846 4 ай бұрын

What key change octave when opz playing please ? Thank you

@windowbed 4 ай бұрын

On tracks 5-8, shift & +/- transposes notes on the active track up/down by an octave. On tracks 1-4 it will transpose notes on the active track up/down by a semitone.

@twot2846 4 ай бұрын

Thank you sir

@windowbed 4 ай бұрын

You're welcome! :)