Ways to do Granular Synthesis on OP 1

OP-1 field
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Does anyone have thoughts on how to have granular synthesis on the OP 1 field? I guess there’s only two ways with the sampler and drumkit and a sample but are how can I achieve “grains” of audio that are evolving and not just static loop points?

I’ll start by saying I had a little success by loading a long sample into the drumkit and setting all the keys to have a start/end of the entire sample then tweaking parameters like pitch and panning to alter the grains. Then using the random LFO to modulate the sample start, which seems like it modulates the start/end for each key (grain) individually, and holding down as many keys as I could for the “grains”.

Wanted to know if anyone else had thoughts on how to achieve granular synthesis with some sort of “grains”.

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I would experiment with Tombola sequencer + Envelope LFO

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I do love me some granular synthesis.

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I don’t think there are any ways to do good granular synthesis on OP-1. You can set various slots in drum sample engine to different parts of the sample and then try to trigger them using some sequencer, but it’s not real granular synthesis.

The problem with normal sampler for granular is two-fold. One, you can’t modulate both start and end point by the same value at once. Two, the envelope never loops the sample during decay portion of the envelope.

TE really should just add a dedicated granular sample engine. $350 MicroFreak got two granular engines as an update.

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Excellent question and I echo the wish that teenage engineering would add some sort of “granular” option—it would be an amazing addition.

Until then, the only way to do it within the OP-1 exclusively seems to be finessing other setting/tools to do it. To that end, I am wondering if you saw this post by “lullatone” (see link below) on instagram a while back where they share how they create granular effects by using the “endless” sequencer and either automating the start point using LFO (which it sounds like you already did/do), or manually scrubbing the start point of the sample by turning the black knob on the op-1. I have found that the manual scrubbing gives the most interesting results, but it really depends on what your preference and desired outcome is. Here is the link to the post: LULLATONE on Instagram: "Granular sampling on the OP-1 Field:
I always love chopping samples up into tiny grains to scatter around to make new textures. You can do it on an OP-1 too, if you are a bit tricky. Just record your sound into the sample. Set an “endless” arpeggiator with just one note triggered. Make the timing super fast. Then scrub through the start point of your sample. You can even set an lfo to modulate the start point! It works really well with a little reverb on it, too. I try not to say every day, but I really love the OP-1 so much!
 . . . . . . #jamuray #jamuary2024 #synth @teenageengineering #musicdesigner #experimentalmusic #ambient #musicproduction #instrumental #sounddesign #geartalk #op1andchill #ambientcuration #opz #opzandchill #teenageengineering #op1field"

Hope this helps in some way.

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yea seems like there’s only workarounds/getting close but nothing that actually is granular.

I guess one way to modulate start/end at the same time would be two external midi LFO’s

wouldn’t it be nice to have a firmware update with a dedicated synth engine lol

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yea I’ve seen that method before and it does work well, only thing is only being able to hold one note down for endless, maybe setting a long release and having multiple notes in the endless sequence but still, manual scrubbing works easiest for now

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Something else I have done, but it is not self-contained in the OP-1, is to connect via the USB-C cable my iPad and record samples from the OP-1 directly into apps like Borderlands and/or Samplr, then manipulate those immediate recordings into either of those apps, then send it back to the OP-1 (again, via the USB-C connection) to either the timeline as a more live recording, or into a new(er) sample, and then using that within the OP-1. Again, not simple and straightforward, as a native granular function within the OP-1 would provide, but another roundabout workaround. I can elaborate more if this appeals.

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