Hey guys, I’m wondering if anyone has any suggestions for a simple app to record my op1 sketches directly into. I’m having a hard time negotiating the limitations of the 4track recorder. Is there a good alternative other than something complicated like ableton (looking to play and record music not stare blankly at a spreadsheet on my computer). The reason I love th op1 is that it’s a physical piece of art that makes me feel creative and would like to find a good companion app that’s intuitive and fun like the op1. It doesn’t have to be amazing, I’m more of a lo-fi type of guy anyway. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated 
Ableton Live is really ideal (as is its lookalike cousin Bitwig) for something like this, since it makes it easy to work with (and tempo-match) smaller clips as well as longer passages. However, most DAWs now have similar feature sets - it’s just down to which you feel most comfortable with. Cockos Reaper is a favorite for its no-nonsense approach and its reasonable pricing structure: https://www.reaper.fm (you can use it in demo mode indefinitely with no loss of features - just a nag screen - but a hobbyist license is cheap)
You don’t say if you’re on a Mac, Windows or Linux machine - or iOS. If Mac, you already have GarageBand.
Also, consider Ardour - a cross-platform, feature-rich DAW that you can get very inexpensively (it’s open source, but you have to pay at least a buck or two if you want the installers rather than the source code): http://ardour.org
If you’d prefer something commercial, Presonus Studio One is reasonable and pretty easy to use: https://www.presonus.com/products/studio-one/ (I think there’s a free version as well)
There are so many DAWs out there. Reason, FL Studio, Logic, Cubase, Pro Tools, Sonar, MuLab, the list goes on and on… Grab a demo or two and take a look to see if any of them click.
Why don’t you try Ableton Intro? Personally, I find Ableton really musical and easy to come up with ideas quickly. Another option would be Reaper: https://www.reaper.fm
Thanks for the replies! More specifically I’m wondering about the best ios apps iphone and/or ipad as I do have a laptop but it’s getting pretty long in the tooth and I’m thinking about just replacing it with an ipad. Are there any good ones that work well with the op-1?
cubasis, but if you’re more into 4-track-like, freeform, non-midi-bound, workflows - look into aum, too nice to ignore
This is the one I use the most:
Super simple to use. I use a USB sound card with the Camera Connection Kit to record from the OP-1.
Beatmaker 3 pairs nice with Op1. Using the Op1 sequencers to send midi to Beatmaker samples/synths/drums machines is dope. BM3 as an audio tracks daw is pretty basic atm tho. Definitely not one of its strong points yet. Does the basics ‘ok’ tho…
Yeah, Multitrack DAW is good for a tape-style recorder/mixer, as is Meteor http://www.4pocketsaudio.com/product.php?p=8. Cubasis, GarageBand, will all get the job done. Auria is pretty great, too. I’ve completed full productions on that one: http://auriaapp.com/Products/auria.
Looperverse looks super pain free and quick…I have not used it personally but this guy makes it look effortless -
Wow, thank you all for all the fantastic suggestions! These are great. I think I’m leaning toward the multitrack DAW after some research for ease of use as well as AUM never heard of that one before, it looks amazing. I do have looper verse and bm3 already but haven’t quite figured out how to record from op1 to the apps.
I do have the camera connector kit but from what I’ve been reading elsewhere on here is that I need and “audio interface” as well? I don’t know what that would look like or where to get one that works for op1. Could anyone share a link to a reasonably priced but decent one?
What do you mean by USB sound card?
Thanks again what a great community!
I wonder if the Apple rumours concerning a new (accessible) file management system on the IPAD (next OS) will allow drag and drop files from the OP-1 (just like we would with a laptop). It would certainly save any further faffing financially (and mentally) with investing in an audio interface
It is a audio interface that has a USB connection. I have a cheap Behringer UCA202 interface that doesn’t require any extra power (only the iPad or iPhone) to use it.
Just connect it to your CCK and all good. It acts as a digital sound card for the iOS device. Then you need a cable with 2 RCA connectors (left & right - normally white & red) to stereo mini plug to connect to your OP-1.
an example:
And that actually works - definitely no powered USB hub nonsense?
So i connect this up, open up Looperverse, arm LV, hit play on OP-1 and record away into LV?
What options do I have if i have another USB device i want to add? I should have a Kordbot delivered soon - whats the best interface if i want to use the KB (as a midi device) connected to the OP-1/IPAD plus the ability to record from OP-1 to IPAD/Looperverse?
Works perfectly with most apps. I don’t have Looperverse, but it should work as long as you select the right audio device from within the app. I have had my Behringer for a few years and never had any problems with power. I just plug it in to the CCK and then the iOS device and open the app required. Some apps might have a problem recognizing it, but those same apps will have problems recognizing most audio USB interfaces. It is much better now then when it all started, though.
If you add any other USB devices you will need a hub and depending on the devices you will probably need a powered HUB and possibly some type of USB HOST (app, hardware, computer program, or DAW) if you want to route any MIDI devices to the OP-1. I have a couple of apps that do the job for me (requiring a powered hub, which I have running with an external battery), but there are hardware alternatives. I have some external MIDI keyboards and I have to use a USB HOST to connect it to my OP-1.
Forgot to mention, you could also get an audio interface that is specifically usable with iOS devices (has a lightning connector, for instance) and forget the CCK.
Thanks for the info, that helps a lot!
Hello there
i’ve recently bought a behringer uca202 to send op-1 sound to ipad with cck and use Aum app,
If i mix out to usb so listening from the uca202 out, i get a terrible background noise but nothing if I mix out to ipad headphone or speakers. Are my cheap rca-jack criminals? Any clue?
You may also try blocs wave app. It is really simple. But allows recording of loops and song building. However not a complete daw. For mixing I would recommend studio one. There is a free version that works really nice.
Hmm @Telengard
Would you have an idea of what guillaume is talking about? Still haven’t purchased one…
@dinraum
I downloaded blocs wave a while ago but didn’t see much depth to it but have have just recently realized how cool it is! It’s a great starting point for finding a sound to run with, I’m really digging it, but have to contain myself from buying all the add-ons…
@MoHeyNow
As for the noise, it could be either a ground loop (my Behringer has a ground screw for that problem) or if you have the OP-1 plugged in to the USB port (with the charging all the time setting on) it could cause the problem as well. I haven't had any extra noise (besides the normal noisiness of the OP-1's output) as I never charge while I use it.