Hi!
Always wanted a Z, ignoring the hefty entry fee I only see one problem: that is I dont like the OP1 format nor the encoders (somehow they are not scaled to one click per value (problem?)…
The main features I find missing are:
no slicing nor parameter locks per sample/loop start/end points
(this is huge for any samplist) these are expected in future firm where?
No track rotation (once you work with it, you can’t work without it)
The resampling is not as direct as one would have hoped
(need to save and located the new file/sample and load it onto a keynote vs just instant assign.
I dont own it perhaps there are some workflow quirks /menu ping-pong that are annoying in a continuous per session workflow (?) … please share these
and perhaps there are some bugs that are a complete show stopper (?) … please share these
Just let it out … what are XY biggest flaws …
Other than the missed UI opportunity to look like something Luke Skywalker would work on between classes in Jedi School (ala EP133) I only see mass potential and no other groove box really competes, I feel I’m getting the highest quality both in terms of sequencing and audio fidelity bar none …
If you do have other grooveboxes what is your opinion on the audio quality of the sampler/ filter FX and synths compared to other boxes?
I have had my XY for two weeks now. I have used it every day for hours. The most complex track I made on it is this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YJ7ht00AG0 (a cover of Fred Again track)
the whole process taught me alot about the XY, and I, myself, love it. (I have an OP-Z also, and I enjoyed that one a lot as well)
My two cents about the XY are as follows:
There are some “missing features” that can be viewed as creativity-inducing limitations. For instance, you don’t have a “proper” side chain, but you can achieve a very close result by a clever use of an LFO, for example. And there are many such examples. Twenty second sampling time limit; 9 patterns limit per track… and on and on. I don’t mind these. Because most of these make the workflow and UI faster, more fun and intuitive (for me)
The biggest con for me at the moment is the fact that there is no time-stretching of samples. (so you can’t work with audio loops, for example, unless your project is at the same tempo as the loop). Any other limitations, you can work around them. This one, it would be very tough to. This one, I feel may come in an update, since the KO2 has it.
Other than that, there are still some bugs but nothing game breaking for me.
Is the Fred Again track100% XY ?.. It sounds excellent, production quality!
Timestreatching would be awesomeness…
Will add that vocal synthesis ala PO Speak would aslo be superb (Common TE there’s no product overlap due to price gap
Have you tried the tune up pitch down trick to bypass the twenty-second limit?
Wondering how that sounds on the XY… It sounds excellent on the EP133
Thank you again for the reply, Im loving what Im hearing form this little gemstone of a workstation
The Fred Again track is 100% opxy, one take, direct out. All the arrangement is done on the XY. That’s why I said I fell in love with it.
I haven’t tried pitching down to bypass the recording limit, yeah, it may sound good. But if you’re working with vocal loops and you need them to stay at a certain pitch, say for a remix, it wouldn’t work. That is my one big wish for the XY. Other than that, the other limitations are pretty much in TE fashion, and I am all for them. Because they translate into inspiration and fun.
There still seems to be some bugs related to loading your own samples on the unit. Quite a few people are having total lock ups or crashes when trying to browse or load their sample folders. If you think you’re going to want to rely on your own samples for making music, might be worth just waiting a bit for TE to resolve these issues once and for all.
It’s a brilliant little device otherwise.
In terms of “audio quality” compared to other synths, it’s a nice sounding grooovebox for sure but so is say the Digitakt 2 which gives you FAR more options for shaping the overall sound of your songs. I’m a firm believer that most modern gear (and a lot of older gear) is more than capable of making professional sounding productions, so I wouldn’t personally let that influence my decision to much.
yes, that is true. I can confirm. I have made some custom kits with custom samples and they have crashed the device while browsing.
Since the crash, I have decided to use only stock samples for sample via line in and/or buil-in mic until a fix is released.
The machine in its current form is so wonderful that I can personally overlook the (various) flaws. My biggest gripe is lack of sample slicing, but I’m confident it will be added. With the .25 update it’s been rock solid for me. Granted, I haven’t pushed the limits with adding sample libraries.
As I already wrote before I had not a single crash since the latest update. Apart from a few basses, leads or plucks, I actually only use samples. Mostly my own.
Maybe the quantity and organization of my samples has something to do with this. Nearly all of my samples are part of a multisampler or drum kit patch. The few single samples that I use are organized in subfolders.
But there are some other things that bother me about XY. These ultra-tiny fonts for example. Or the drum sampler tracks, where many settings always affect the entire track and not individual sounds. Last but not least I miss the note offset feature from the OP-Z.
if you’ve waited this long for z i say go for it and get that instead
i’ve got both and they’re very different animals
lack of info…i find it hard to wade thru all the crash reports and complaints to find answers to some questions, maybe if TE get the firmware more stable this won’t be the case anymore
I’d go so far to say its on another level , it’s like TE ‘‘pushed the bar’’ broke that Electron/ MPC/ NI audio standard norm we have come accustom too!
It has so much more detail in its synth tone and the samples have incredible clarity … It just sounds superior and TE are just keeping it cool working in the lab like its just another day, just another box, no hype around it …
I dont say that lightly btw, I’ve been working with samplers for 20 years and anyone with other sampling units can attest to this by sampling something crispy and dynamic like the Amen brake into XY & ElektonNIMPC & play them back side by side A/B test
prehaps upload your findings
Do you mind elaborating on how the Digital 2 vs XY for sound design?
They seam to share a similar architecture. DT has 2nd LFO (capable of audio rate / can the XY LFO?), Comb filter and some real-time re-pitch and homestretch machines yet XY seams to have far better and a more flexible FX section
…and TE must be complemented on that master compressor ‘‘the saturator’’ goes well beyond compression saturation into more of creative ways to push digital to the edge of the bits … Top marks it sound amazeballs
On the DT2 you have multiple filter types, plus a second filter which gives you not just high pass like the XY but also a second utilitarian low pass. You also have multiple ways to gain stage your signal
per track, including sample level which further has impact on the tone of the filters based on how much signal you input into them. The compressor on the XY is definitely nice sounding, but you have far more control over the compressor on the DT2 including comprehensive side chain control. We can also use up to 60 second samples on the DT2 instead of 20 seconds, and you can freely switch between samples per track on the fly with 400MB of project memory versus 64 on the XY. 3 LFOs per track, two different envelope types, multiple algorithms to play back your samples, grid slicing, Euclidean sequencing, etc etc etc.
Again, not saying the XY is bad at all, just that you do get a lot more options for creating and shaping sounds on the DT2.
We can disagree on the sound quality debate, I’m not going to swing dicks over that. If you want examples from me I have plenty of live sets on my YouTube channel that showcase what you can do with various modern grooveboxes, I think the results I get from those speak for themselves.
Ok thanks for the feedback, the mk2 is clearly a meaningful upgrade to the original, very interesting stuff …
I’ve actually seen and watched many of your videos now that I cheeked your bio. But it still doesn’t excuse that we both have ears and the XY does sound more detailed next to all the pre generation. You can surly hear this in your own room.
To pick up the glove for others brands, they have a very full sound / might even argue it’s phatter /bigger … But bigger can mean more bloated or hyped to whom is the beholder…
i would get an op-z, you can find them in the 300USD range on the internet now. its an incredible device and never ceases to amaze me. id get an xy if your budget has no real limitations, but if it has any limitations at all, get a z
Well since you all are doing a terrible job of talking me out of it … I found this in the wishlist that is quite alarming,…
I read that this thing has dual 32bit CPUs … which is way more power than the 10-year-old Octatrack has and it runs 8 tracks + 8 midi tracks, p-locks, realtime time stretch, FX, LFOs and sample chains until the sun comes down …
So can someone comment on the CPU power… is it just a matter of premature OS /firmware optimization or is the ‘‘quote’’ alluding to 5–6 tracks with incredibly busy /complex step and automation sequences? …
Thanks for the suggestion, but there are too many reasons: from synth fidelity /pro results straight from the outs to song mode and DAW like environment that set these apart … as formidable as the Z is
Fully aware of it, I see the synth engines as just tools to synthesize a tone/vibe to be resampled and further journeyed rather than playing large polyphony chords in the background …
But since you bring up a very important issue; and on that note; do samples count as two voices (stereo) or just 1? and if its 2voices can I sum a stereo to mono / by re-recording or a command?
While the OP-Z has its limitations, it also has some key strengths that set it apart.
Pattern and scene flexibility: The OP-Z offers 16 patterns and 16 scenes, providing a structured workflow. The OP-XY has 99 scenes, which is impressive, but with only nine patterns, it can feel a bit restrictive. Changes to a pattern affect every scene that uses it, which can make experimenting riskier. The OP-Z, with its 16 separate patterns, allows for more independent control and different sound changes.
Encoders: The OP-Z’s encoders feel more durable, while the OP-XY’s encoders stick out, making them more fragile and requiring extra protection. I personally find the OP-XY’s encoders to be a downgrade.
Portability: The OP-Z is much more portable—it fits in your pocket, whereas the OP-XY is more than twice the size. The encoders sticking out also make the OP-XY more cumbersome to carry around.
manually adding notes(octaves): When manually adding notes, the OP-Z allows you to jump up multiple octaves, whereas the OP-XY does not.
Performance stability: The OP-XY, even after updates, can experience occasional lag or note delay. The OP-Z, in contrast, tends to feel more responsive.
Parameter-locking the arpeggiator: The OP-Z allows parameter locks on the arpeggiator, while the OP-XY does not, limiting some creative possibilities.
Note-shifting options: The OP-Z lets you shift all notes left or right, making fine adjustments easier. This feature is absent on the OP-XY.
Manual velocity control: The OP-Z provides manual velocity adjustment, giving finer control over dynamics. The OP-XY relies solely on velocity-sensitive keys.
DMX track: The OP-Z includes a DMX track for controlling lights, which can be useful for performances. The OP-XY does not have this feature.
Video track: The OP-Z’s ability to sync video with music was a unique and creative feature. Some users, myself included, even integrated Unity animations with it. The OP-XY does not include this functionality.
BPM vibration: if you buy the module, you can have the BPM vibrate instead of hearing it. This is great, while playing live.
More ins and outs: By using different types of modules available for purchase, you technically gain more input and output options. For instance, with the Line Module, you have five different inputs and outputs. The OP-XY allows you to configure one of its line-outs for different functions, but overall it has four, and I still feel like the OP-Z offers more possibilities.
OP-XY
The OP-XY builds on the OP-Z’s foundation and introduces several major upgrades:
Multi-sampling: Allows for more detailed and expressive sound design.
Velocity-sensitive keys: A significant improvement over the OP-Z’s fixed velocity keys, adding more nuance to playing.
Expanded project storage: No longer limited to just 10 projects, making it easier to manage multiple creative ideas.
Larger sample capacity: Unlike the OP-Z’s 10-sample-per-track limit, the OP-XY offers much more flexibility.
Longer sample recording time: Up to 20 seconds per note, making it possible to spread an entire song across 24 notes within a single sample.
Upgraded filters: The OP-XY features improved filters, offering more depth and character.
Customizable pitch bend: The ability to link pitch bend to different parameters expands expressive control.
More flexible voice allocation: Unlike the OP-Z’s fixed voice count per track, the OP-XY allows for adjustable voice
Synth and drum tracks: Unlike the OP-Z, where you have four drum and four synth tracks, you can have eight of whatever you want.
Conclusion
Both devices have their strengths, and which one is better depends on how you like to work. I probably missed a lot on both sides, but that’s kind of the gist of it.
At the end of the day, I still find myself reaching for the OP-Z more often. Despite its limitations and no screen, there’s something about it that just feels right, and you don’t really need a screen if you use it enough.
PS: I almost forgot to mention that the OP-XY looks as sexy as your mom in a Christmas dress. However, I sometimes gotten an almost one second of latency, when pressing notes! If you don’t believe me, I can send you a video—but once you start loading a bunch of samples onto it, you’ll begin to notice the issues. What a shame😭
…
and TE are just keeping it cool working in the lab like its just another day, just another box, no hype around it …
Top marks it sound amazeballs 
