Very much a beginner’s question.
The tracks in the OP1 are mono only. I am not sure but I believe any stereo running through the line in gets summed and recorded as mono rather than just recording the left or right track.
The tracks in the OP1 are mono only.
When you say tracks, do you mean the 4 tracks in the tape recorder? But since you can pan those tracks in the mixer, wouldn’t that imply that it’s stereo? Or can mono be panned too? (I’m still learning about how mono/stereo works.)
Panning of mono and stereo tracks both possible but work slightly differently. In mono the panning affects the L and R output volume of the same mono audio file. In stereo the panning affects the balance of the sound, i.e. the volume of the L channel audio file and the volume of the R channel audio file are different. If you want to use a stereo file you will need to first record the left channel to an audio track on the OP1 and then the right channel to another audio track on the OP1 and then hard pan these left and right.
Hope that makes sense, I am useless at explaining stuff.
Each engine in the OP-1 is mono. Each synth, sampler etc is mono. If you pan your tracks and mix on the OP-1 your going to want to record the OP-1’s output in stereo to record your panning. Also, if you have panning and record to Mono, if it is being summed somehow you may get phase issues. If it’s not being summed this means that you will just be recording the left or right output and tracks panned to the other side will be quiet or if hard panned totally inaudible. If sampling into the the OP-1 I still suggest feeding it a stereo signal, as it will sum the channels for you. So, I suggest recording into the OP-1 and from the OP-1 in stereo. It’s just important to know that it will be summed to mono, and you will only hear your song from the OP in stereo if you indeed pan the tracks and record/monitor in stereo.
The effects in OP can have a pleasing stereo effect.Also a mix of synth instruments and drums benefit from panning (In the OP mixer) so you want the option of stereo monitor on your DAW.You can always mono mix if you want that effect for ,say, a mono synth (or save memory).
If you were stuck for audio inputs on your mac interface and had other instruments that needed monitoring/recording at the same time,then you could consider using two mono cables from two synths,but if it is just OP-1 ,use stereo into your mac.
Thanks for the really informative responses! I’m in that phase of learning where because I’m so new that I don’t understand a lot of what is said in the replies even though it’s all cogent, but I keep rereading them dozens of times, as if comprehension will suddenly emerge. So hopefully my questions make some sense.
Hope that makes sense, I am useless at explaining stuff.
I think I understood it all. Not totally useless at explaining!
If you pan your tracks and mix on the OP-1 your going to want to record the OP-1’s output in stereo to record your panning.
The effects in OP can have a pleasing stereo effect.
Also a mix of synth instruments and drums benefit from panning (In the OP mixer) so you want the option of stereo monitor on your DAW.
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From Virtual_FlannelIf you pan your tracks and mix on the OP-1 your going to want to record the OP-1's output in stereo to record your panning.
1.If, however, I do panning in my DAW (Logic), then would it be better to record OP-1 in mono?If it’s not being summed this means that you will just be recording the left or right output and tracks panned to the other side will be quiet or if hard panned totally inaudible.2.I just tested this in Logic: I recorded a note held on the OP-1 into a mono Logic track, all the while panning, through the OP-1’s mixer, hard left and right. When maxed to the left, it became inaudible. Is this precisely what you described? What does this behavior tell you?–that Logic isn’t summing the signal?If sampling into the the OP-1 I still suggest feeding it a stereo signal, as it will sum the channels for you.3.I’m lost to the reasoning on this point. What would happen if I fed a mono signal for sampling instead?
- I would still record to stereo, just make sure the OP-1 is not panned at all in this situation.2. In this situation you are just recording the right side, so yes it is not being summed.3. Say you are sampling a record and on that record the rhodes is panned hard left and the cowbell is hard right. The OP-1 will sum these to mono. When you sum you get both of the channels added together if that makes sense. If you fed it a mono signal like say a Moog synth, it would be cool and end up mono anyways. The key is if you just feed it the left or right channel, you will only hear whats on that side. I.E iin the example I gave, if you record the left channel you wouldn’t get much cowbell.Hope that clears that up, if not, please ask further and Ill try to clear it up!
1. I would still record to stereo, just make sure the OP-1 is not panned at all in this situation.
The master effects are stereo. Tracks on individual instruments are mono and will be recorded to a single tape track. Also, if you’re working within the op-1 (OT logic I guess) feel free to record the same things on multiple tracks with different synth or effect settings to widen and liven your sound.
The master effects are stereo.
But when effects are used on individual tracks, even if you’re using panning on one, they are mono?
1. I would still record to stereo, just make sure the OP-1 is not panned at all in this situation.1.aCould you explain why it would still be better to record, and presumably direct monitor as well, the OP-1 in stereo even if I'm not using it's panning abilities?3. Say you are sampling a record and on that record the rhodes is panned hard left and the cowbell is hard right. The OP-1 will sum these to mono. When you sum you get both of the channels added together if that makes sense. If you fed it a mono signal like say a Moog synth, it would be cool and end up mono anyways. The key is if you just feed it the left or right channel, you will only hear whats on that side. I.E iin the example I gave, if you record the left channel you wouldn't get much cowbell.
I think I completely understand all of that.2.aJust to make it more concrete for me, if you were to sample a mono signal into the OP-1, instead of using a dual 1/4" TS to 3.5mm stereo cable from my audio interface to my OP-1 (which I assume is how you would stereo sample), you would use a single 1/4" TS to 3.5mm mono cable? And then you would have the missing cowbell? Poor cowbell.Thanks!
1.a More preference than anything. In ableton for example I like to see both channels (left and right) so when I do pan I can visually see what content is on each channel. So if I pan left, I will see the decreased signal on the right channel.
2.a This is correct, so I would suggest using dual 1/4 inch to 3.5,...
Awesome. I haven’t tried sampling yet, anywhere, besides doing so briefly with the radio in the OP-1–found it quite fun. I imagine you answered for me a question that I would have arrived at later. Thanks.
Quote1
Are there OP-1 effects that are stereo?
Generally speaking, how do you know what effects are stereo or not? For example, I’ve read that chorus effects are considered stereo, and so presumably you would need to record/direct monitor in stereo to benefit from it, but unless I come across a tidy table telling me what effects are stereo or mono, how would you know?
A1
The master effects are stereo.In the mixer mode T3.Phone and Spring sound wide with headphones.
The best way to tell if an effect needs to be stereo is use your ears ,while soloing,just one channel(L or R) panned to centre(mono) or both,panned centre.If it sounds ok,doesnt change too much,then use it in mono if you wish.Some effect like a flanger ,may have an upward movement in one speaker and down in the other and this would noticeably stop moving when mono-fied. some effects will cancel through phase cancelation and bits will disappear or become static (stop moving).Reverbs may sound much quieter.Your ears will get use to noticing this and you will have confidence that it sounds ok(or not).
(There is a sure fire technical way of telling if there is a difference in two signals.Reverse phase one channel then mix the two signals(pan both centre) -and two identical signals should make the sound disappear to silence.Anything left is your difference).
Q2
Could I also achieve the same effect by recording the OP-1 mono in my DAW, then use the DAW’s panning instead?
A2
Yes -more control in a DAW if you are using one.
Q3
Right now, I’m using a 3.5mm to dual 1/4" TS to connect the OP-1 to my audio interface. If I don’t use OP-1’s mixer for panning, and if that means I can record to my DAW in mono, does that mean I can unplug one of the 1/4" TS plugs? And would using only 1 of the 2 1/4" TS plugs in this cable be identical to using a 3.5mm to single 1/4" TS cable?
A3
Yes it’s fine to unplug one 1/4 and record mono ,but I would only feel the need if I had something else to plug in the other channel,like a mic.@Virtual_Flannels response about ease of use is a good suggestion and choose via software what you want.
It’s not the same as a mini 1/8 TS plugged to your OP-1 output.-I have read on this forum that’s its not such a good idea to connect a mono to your stereo output for fear of some short circuit signals.Not sure how much of a danger it is but I generally avoid.Plus my Monotron manual (from korg) also warns against a mono jack in its stereo output -like its a big no no- and that’s a mono signal ,just split equally over a headphone output.
I admire your eagerness for answers and knowledge .Are you more of a live muso background just getting into music tech?
From Spheric_El :
The insert effects for each instrument are mono because they are recorded to a single tape track. The master effects, which are the same lot as the insert effects, are optimized for stereo as they effect the output of all four tracks simultaneously. The parameters are the same, but you’ll hear things like reverb around the whole stereo field instead of just, say, track 3.
Pianist -nice.You should have a lot of fun with the OP-1.That is one instrument I wish I’d been trained in,early.
The insert effects for each instrument are mono because they are recorded to a single tape track. The master effects, which are the same lot as the insert effects, are optimized for stereo as they effect the output of all four tracks simultaneously. The parameters are the same, but you’ll hear things like reverb around the whole stereo field instead of just, say, track 3.