A cool addition to your setup would be a sampler IMO. And as I am very fond of Elektron machines I would suggest a Digitakt, on which you’d be able to sample your gear, your voice, and use whatever field recording you want.
But there are chances you can cover such ground with OP-Z already, don’t you?
So maybe you can try to use your gear differently and find new workflows.
In the end, Peter is right: you can’t buy skills, practice with your actual gear. At some point you’ll figure by yourself what it is you would actually need.
what are you using to tie the whole set up together? you recording into a DAW or using the opz to make your tracks on?
yeah, a fully featured sampler could be a good addition. i’m a big fan of old ensoniq samplers, but they sure aren’t “mini gear”. i don’t know anything about contemporary samplers. but isla instruments are about to release an sp1200 clone that looks really good.
but these are all groovebox style sampler/sequencers and you sort of have many of these functions already on the opz.
in your hand percussion box, do you have a shekere as big as your head?
LP make a one-handed triangle contraption that is really good if you make disco music.
a melodica?
I’m really sorry if that came across as rude, but I really did find the suggestion that I ‘exhaust all the creative possibilities of my gear’ before I buy something new was patronising. There is literally no end to the creative possibilities of a triangle. The implication here is that I’m more focused on attainment of ‘stuff’ than with creative practice.
So, like I say, perhaps the question was bad. It came across as childish and unfocused, when it was meant to be simply wide open.It’s hard to get context across in forum posts, and quite often it goes wrong.
I obsess over sound and expression, and I do strive to understand and play with my own creative process. The simple question at the top was part of that process. We quite often allow our instruments to lead us in new directions, and new instruments cover new turf.
Thanks for the input regarding a sampler, although like you say, the Z has 4 sampler tracks already, and the KO is a crunchy little beast too, so perhaps I’ll hold back on that.
Finally, to your credit, the whole discussion has prompted me to study the tape track, which has sort of escaped me. That’ll keep me busy til I next get itchy brain.
Peter - apologies for offence caused.
No offence, no need for apologies - some people on forums appear to think that they can buy their way to inspiration, but you’re clearly more skilled, mindful, and thoughtful than that. I’m glad that it led you to find something within your existing gear to explore.
I have got the exact same gear (OP-Z, Korg NTS-1 and Keystep, but no mics, harmonicas, drums, and uncle’s pans ).
I think you want to talk synths, so here is what I’m interested in to compliment what I have. list in no particular order:
Korg Minilogue XD (I had a MS2000 which I loved but mistakenly sold, and the minilogue looks even better)
Elektron Model:Cycles
Waldorf Blofeld (recommended by a friend as a studio workhorse)
Makenoise 0 Coast
For cheaper and more portable gear:
Bastl Kastle (their instruments are interesting)
Korg Volca Modular
Korg Volca FM (but the M:C is meant to be way better)
something from the Roland Boutique Series?
Yamaha reface series?
I’m thinking in terms of expanding with new synth voices to sample from (such as minilogue XD/Blofeld/Reface), or control from the OP-Z/run alongside and add extra voices/tracks, or cheap and weird synths that could be portable.
But really should be fighting the temptation to buy anything and just focus on getting the most out of the OP-Z right now!
Yes organelle all the way mate.
You don’t need to learn pure data as there are hundreds of quality patches out there.
I have been playing with the mutable instruments open source clones on it. Absolute monster of a machine.
I got mine off ebay for 360 £ with a 2 year guarantee.
Highly recommended mate
I just bought a new guitar pedal called shallow water by Fairfield circuitry. It is one of the coolest pedals I have. I’d suggest get some FX pedals. My combo of count to five with blue sky reverb and shallow water adds some real emotion and depth. Next I’m getting a compressor pedal.
Of course, I’m a guitarist, but I love running synth and vocals through my pedallies.
Or follow the other guys advice & just make music with what you have. GAS is a real thing.
I think you should get an OP-1? No one has suggested that yet? I had an Organelle. It was ok, but nothing like an OP-1 for fun.
Even though I have an OP-Z, I still have more fun with the OP-1.
…and more recently the fantastic Synthstrom Deluge.
I’ve got the Z, a Microfreak and have just picked up a model cycles. all 3 play pretty nicely together OPZ runs usb midi into the freak, and the freak out/thru into the cycles with everything sequencable from the OPZ. percussion on the cycles, lead on the freak and chords/samples on the opz
I really like the model cycles, workflow is similar (not as good imo) but the parameters have a lot of potential in each engine
I have sort of been in the same situation as you. I started with an OP-Z and quickly started adding hardware to my collection. OP-1 came next which I love, a Behringer Cat, then a Craft Synth 2.0, and following that a Volca FM. Really like them all. I also got an Elektron Analog Heat MK1 which turns the OP-Z into an brand new device. Give it some drive and distortion and it sounds so much better. But in answer to your question, I can recommend the Roland MC-101. Just go one two days ago. I wanted some extra beats and patches for the OP-Z without having to trawl the web and transfer to the limited storage. It’s got 3000 sounds
and it’s an excellent companion for the OP-Z. Just set up it’s 4 channels to replace the ones you use least or even on channels 9 to 16 and you can add so much more texture and interest to the OP-Z. The fact it has volume sliders makes performing on the OP-Z so much more fun too. I got it cheap as it was ex-display but I’d say it’s worth full retail price for all the sounds it’s got. Highly recommended
If you have the OP-lab module and a microphone, I’d recommend getting a vocoder like the v256. That lets you sequence the vocoder harmonics and you can add all kinds of fun stuff to your music.
Get a midi to CV converter (like Endorhon.es Shuttle Control, or Polyend Poly 2) or just start out with the OP-Lab module and then get a small modular case.
I think you’d love the OP-1. There’s nothing like it IMHO. Personally, I find it incredibly inspiring. I’ve had mine since the launch back in the day and every time I use it it provides me with a creative spark.
Agree with @Davnak, if you like buying new gear for new creative possibilities modular and CV is the one from my perspective. I have a simple Eurorack modular system. You can do all this weird experimentation with CV. It feels more tangible than any other signal. You can even sample CV signals. My MPC triggers modules with CV samples. I’ve plugged audio into modules to make envelopes triggered by the peaks in a song or beat. I’m not saying anyone should do this (because who knows maybe it’ll fry a module one day), but - fun.
Also agree with @5StarNomad, OP-1. I know you’re an OP-Z user. Would love to try that thing myself.
The OP-Z and OP-1 have VERY different workflows IMO; however, I loved connecting the two via USB and then sequencing the OP-1 using the “module” track (or just doubling one of the OP-Z tracks)
).