So... the Teenage Engineering OP-1 Field

Tarekith

I was going to suggest the Sun Wu vids as well, short and to the point. Novak The Enjoyer has some excellent videos too, inspiring stuff.

The Red Means Recording videos are interesting too from a work flow perspective, just a heads up that these days he also uses them to work through some mental issues he has. To each their own, but I find it distracting from the music making.

abf

@reasOne

These are a few tips I found around the internet or else I discovered them myself. (I don't remember which is which, but thanks to all the users who posted originally.)

to use the Synth Finger Sequencer as an arp: input octave information instead of notes

to record chords into the Endless Sequencer: input a chord, hold it for 16 beats (press the Right Arrow 15 x). now you have an instant chord to play across the keys.

to disable looping of Samples: turn Ochre and Grey knobs so the Loop Points are all the way to the right side of the display

cool tip:
point the velocity LFO at the Mode on the Drum Sampler engine so low velocity strikes play the sample once but harder velocity strikes switch the mode to Looped which gives a bit of a repeat/ stutter to it.

time stretching and stutter effects:
use the Drum Sampler
set Play Mode to Forward
assign Value LFO to Direction
Speed to 8
Amount will determine stretch amount
Destination- Drum
Parameter- Reverse
changing the Speed parameter can result in back and forward stutter sounds

the Random LFO can modulate all parameters of the selected destination which can sound amazing

Tremolo LFO can do a lot of things:

• It can do normal Tremolo and Vibrato effects if you set it somewhere below half the possible frequency and dial in mild frequency (Ochre) and amplitude (Grey) parameters.
• it can automatically shift the sound one octave up or down, like a mini-arpeggiator.
• When you crank its frequency up all the way, it enters sonic range drastically changing the sound, making it metallic and distorted. It’s basic AM/FM modulation.
• If you change the pitch of the sound only a bit, but there is a long-running delay or reverb, the difference between the two will be quite distinct.
• Since this LFO has an envelope, you can combine it with the above to make more dynamic sounds. You can, for example, use AM/FM effect to create an attack for an otherwise pure timbre.
• You can also use a downward pointing envelope with square LFO that modulates amplitude to fake a delay when all “real” FX are used for something else.
• You can use it do an attack-time bend-up or bend-down for a patch.

to use the Tremolo LFO as an arpeggiator- Speed 40, Amount (pitch) +40, Envelope flat and Square
it sounds best to play the chords with the notes in quick succession

to add effects (both track and master) to an input signal:
use the Vocoder and dial down the Orange (mix) Param to absolute minimum, this will pass “clean” input sound through the FX of the patch. set the Vocoder patch to 100 volume in the shift+2 (shift + envelope) menu.

to sync the Delay:
use speeds that are a factor 11 for Delay. (0,11,22,33…99) to get good results
a formula to set a rhythmic Delay speed based on BPM:
Speed = (BPM x 11)/24 -11
so if the bpm is 120 you get
 Speed = (120 x 11)/24 -11
 = 1320/24 -11
 = 55 -11
Speed = 44
or more simply (but rougher)
 Speed = (0.46 x BPM) - 11
 at the outermost circle the delay will repeat every bar
when you change the Blue encoder every circle is a half, so as you tighten down the blue circle you will get 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16th 1/32 delays
you can also get triplets by doing the calculation like this:
Speed = (0.69 x BPM) - 11

phone FX:
the Phone will track pitch. use Shift to get it just right and use the Telematic (blend) to get some beautiful doubling effects

to make glitch sounds:
make a Synth sound, set Phone as the FX slot (pretty high settings on Baud, GSM, and Telemetry, Tone to taste), and set the EG with a moderate Attack, some Decay, then zero Sustain and Release low. use the Value LFO and start at 5, modulating the Blue FX knob (either FX or FXf for a free-running LFO). adjust the value to taste and enjoy the glitching. for best results, play the sounds manually to Tape

mikewb

@abf said:
@reasOne

These are a few tips I found around the internet or else I discovered them myself. (I don't remember which is which, but thanks to all the users who posted originally.)

nice collection of tips! Thanks.

mikewb

@shoctalzz said:
Anybody have success buying a used Op-1 Field? I fear getting ripped off. What is a safe site to buy a used OP-1 Field?

I've never had a problem with reverb.com. I try to always pay with PayPal and make sure that it has buyer protection offered.

Tarekith

@shoctalzz said:
Anybody have success buying a used Op-1 Field? I fear getting ripped off. What is a safe site to buy a used OP-1 Field?

I got mine from Reverb.com too, great price on a mint unit. I think I paid $1600, but it was in like new condition and came with the deck saver and Analog case. I had planned on buying those already anyway, so win win for me.

Tarekith

Just be smart as usual, if you see one for $800 or something otherwise silly, it's likely a scam.

yellow_eyez

You want to get the one on reverb right now
For $1750 you get a brand new op1 f and a ko ii
I say grab it before someone else does

yellow_eyez

Op1f is , to me im ho, the best piece of music gear in the entire music/electonic world
I love this thing

And now i got the op-z sequencing it completely over BT with even encoders corresponding to each other with midi LFO

It’s crazy - TE. RULES

reasOne

I got mine on reverb.

Works great with the OB-4 and TX-6!
And of course thru aum effects and loopy pro.

Its my fav piece of gear for sure. The immediate availability of everything with no set up… and not zillions of parameters make it insanely fun and creative. Plus there’s a kinds of lil hidden out side the design things to do to get some very interesting results.

reasOne

Such as

https://youtube.com/shorts/ierysVdAzc8?si=n5dsPVBj7_y5Mf8A

Tarekith

That's great, thanks.